This is just tossing out an idea, but why not use an ARM chip and uClinux? That way you could actually use a C/Assembly based emulator to read iNES files and MUX out the bits to the proper pins on the cartridge board?
There's already a lot of code out to emulate various mappers, and with a majority of the processing being out in the NES Box itself, it shouldn't be intensive code.
Also uClinux has native methods for handling memory cards (CF, SD, ...) and USB.
I admit porting a mapper emulator and iNes reader to this system is no small task, and my experience with ARM chips has only been messing around with the console output on my JuiceBox, but it seems plausible.
Any thoughts?[/i]
There's already a lot of code out to emulate various mappers, and with a majority of the processing being out in the NES Box itself, it shouldn't be intensive code.
Also uClinux has native methods for handling memory cards (CF, SD, ...) and USB.
I admit porting a mapper emulator and iNes reader to this system is no small task, and my experience with ARM chips has only been messing around with the console output on my JuiceBox, but it seems plausible.
Any thoughts?[/i]