Introduction to the Hidden Ninth Bit
- π The Nintendo 64's memory cells hold nine bits of information, unlike most computers which hold eight bits.
- π€ The ninth bit is typically inaccessible to code running on the machine, unless specific hardware quirks are exploited.
- π Only one game, Mad Mask, is known to use the hidden bit purposefully, for the lens of Truth effect.
Technical Limitations and Usage
- π The ninth bit is used for rendering on the N64, specifically for anti-aliasing and storing coverage percentages.
- π Most N64 games use around 0.05 MB of the hidden 1 MB of memory, due to triple buffering.
- π€ The hidden bits can be read and written using specific modes, such as the ebus mode, but with limitations and potential corruption.