Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: SirPeale on December 08, 2003, 11:11:52 pm
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VAntAGE is a great emulator for running older vertical games on old hardware.
Right now the number of games it supports is slim, and there aer a few of us who are trying to add a few more. We don't want 4000+ games like MAME, just a few, like Centipede, Dig Dug and the like.
It seems that before the author stopped development, he was in the middle of a Dig Dug driver, as there is some source included to that effect. So that's the driver I'm trying to get working first.
The hope is for a version 1.12 before the New Year (very optomistic) and looking for other people who would be interested in contributing.
Edit: we now have a release of 1.12. Not before the new year, I'm afraid. Check the official site: http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/
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This is proving to be interesting to be sure. Especially since I haven't done any coding for years.
I know the Dig Dug hardware is similar to Galaga (at least, that's what is stated in the MAME source) but making the Galaga files compatible with the DigDug stuff is daunting.
Still...not giving up. Old games on old hardware is something everyone should like.
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btw, Hive has support for digdug doesn't it. I haven't used it in AGES and don't remember how good the driver was.
but HiVE is one of the fastest emulators hands down out there (and was ported to a lot of portable devices and sold comercially). Might be what your looking for.
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I really like vantage(how could someone not like being able to use a pc with a 100mhz processor to run a vertical mame cab), but I'm not talented enough to help you. Sorry. Good luck with it though.
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I'll have to look into Hive. I'm interested in an emulator that will run on really old hardware AND have most vertical classics supported.
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I've just received an email from someone who's taken a look @ the preliminary Dig Dug driver in the VAntAGE source. He thinks he can get it working. Time will tell!
<shameless cry for help>And hey, if anyone else wants to take a crack at it, or maybe trying to shoehorn a Centipede driver into it...</shameless cry for help>
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btw, Hive has support for digdug doesn't it. I haven't used it in AGES and don't remember how good the driver was.
but HiVE is one of the fastest emulators hands down out there (and was ported to a lot of portable devices and sold comercially). Might be what your looking for.
Just (finally!) checked out HiVE. Neat program, with a couple caveats:
1) windows only.
2) requires unzipped ROMs (which isn't that big of a deal)
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If I knew anything I'd help out. Right now I'm struggling to learn the very basics of Visual Basic, which should give you an idea of about how useless I'd be.
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Playing with the source, Carlos managed to get a new driver kind of working (based on Pac Man hardware, Ponpoko). It won't make it into a build, but it's there, if not garbled. Not bad for a first attempt.
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I'm so glad there is work going on here...Vantage is one of my all time favorites. I just wish I could code. Keep it up guys...an emulator this fast and this lightweight deserves work! ;D
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Carlos did some work on the Dig Dug driver last night. See enclosed picture.
Also included a 'blackhole' driver that he can't check, as for whatever reason he can't run games with the Galaxian driver.
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Just verified his exe, and Black Hole works just fine!
Oh, and Carlos is lokki here on the boards.
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Cool! I smell more games for my upcoming/imaginery vertical upright cabinet. :D
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If there is any way I can help, Peale, just tell me. I don't know C very well, but I know VB, PHP, HTML, and am good with graphics.
[off-topic] JoyMonkey, have you tried VertiWAH (http://vertiwah.jbeffects.com) yet? [/off-topic]
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Download the source and give it a whirl! Worst case, nothing happens. Best case, you get a classic driver working for it.
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Which drivers are we looking to add? A short list might help..
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Cool! I smell more games for my upcoming/imaginery vertical upright cabinet. :D
Hi,
I was actually talking with Peale about this a while ago.
We need to start making a list of games that can be easily added to vantage.
Right now on the list I would like included we have
Congo Bongo
Kangaroo
Xevious
(Peale also wants centipede but that uses a different CPU so that will probably take longer)
What games would you guys like added?
Right now we are looking for games that use the following...
(since support is already available in vantage)
We are looking for well known classics (don't want to add every pacman bootleg out there)
Z80
NAMCO sound system
'Galaxian' style board sound system
AY-8910 sound chip
SN76496 sound chip
YM2203 sound chip
Suggestions are welcomed....
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Maybe this sounds stupid, but how do you know what to program when it comes to making the driver? How do you have any idea what to code? :-[
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Maybe this sounds stupid, but how do you know what to program when it comes to making the driver? How do you have any idea what to code? :-[
Not really stupid.... It took me a long time to figure out how mame worked (and even there a lot of things way over my head)
Vantage seems simpler than MAME (and harder but possibly because it is new)
For example to add black hole to vantage I modified the following files
boards.c (basically copied the galxian code and renamed here and there)
galboard.h (here is where the roms are loaded) Got the memory map by looking at the MAME black hole driver.
BTW: mame 36 more closely matches vantage the code is very similar
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I get it....but lets say I try to do Kangaroo, which is itself a parent rom. Would I just have to leech from mame .36? Since there is no previous code to use...
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I get it....but lets say I try to do Kangaroo, which is itself a parent rom. Would I just have to leech from mame .36? Since there is no previous code to use...
Pretty much yes... But you may not have to write as much code as you think.
Look for functions that are similar to the ones you are using...
but the graphics driver may be trickier you will probably have to code the whole thing
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alright, I'm going to take a whack at Congo Bongo. Seems to be based off the Zaxxon driver in MAME, and Zaxxon is in VAntAGE...
How do I get it to be compiled with the source (how do I make the emu recognize it?).
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I finished modifying Zaxxon files and saving them as the new drivers. I'll test it out and tell you how it goes *crosses fingers.*
EDIT: Agh, it won't compile for me! I've uploaded the drivers I created. Someone want to test it out for me? I've inlcuded all the files (CONGOVID.C, CONGOVID.H, CONGOMEM.H, CONGOSND.C, SUPFILES.H, BOARDS.C). It just needs to be extracted to the VAntAGE source folder and compiled.
Link: Congo Driver (http://www.jbeffects.com/congodrv.zip)
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I finished modifying Zaxxon files and saving them as the new drivers. I'll test it out and tell you how it goes *crosses fingers.*
EDIT: Agh, it won't compile for me! I've uploaded the drivers I created. Someone want to test it out for me? I've inlcuded all the files (CONGOVID.C, CONGOVID.H, CONGOMEM.H, CONGOSND.C, SUPFILES.H, BOARDS.C). It just needs to be extracted to the VAntAGE source folder and compiled.
Link: Congo Driver (http://www.jbeffects.com/congodrv.zip)
That was quick. I will give it a go
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Well, I have no idea if I did it correctly but we'll see...
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*waiting breathlessly*
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Well, I have no idea if I did it correctly but we'll see...
Hi,
Got it to compile.
Added congovid.o to the makefile
Created congosnd.h
Fixed a congo misspelled to conog on boards.c
The col rom still ponted to zaxxon.u98 (should be congo.u68)
Attached is screen shot
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A couple of things i noticed.
Zaxxon uses one CPU
congobongo uses 2 z80 (one for sound)
Needs a little more work
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Alright, can you zip up the files that you changed/added/modified and upload them here? (just change the extension to .txt) This way I can do some more work.
Also - How did you get it to compile?
Thanks!
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We need a central repository. Hold on I'm working on it.
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I could supply that if you'd like. I got more than enough space (I'd like to use some ;))
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That's fine then. Make a dir for each person working on the project so no code gets overwritten.
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alright, no problem. Give me about 10 minutes and it should be done.
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Hi,
It took me less than 2 minutes to merge your code with mine.
Since we both modified some of the same files
I'm using Source Safe for source control.
BTW: I did get it to compile. and ran it.
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Agh- nuts! Wont work correctly. Let me set up FTPs for each of you. 1second...
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Ok, guys (Peale, lokki), PM me for your usernames & passwords for the FTP.
All files will be here: http://vantage.jbeffects.com/
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did some more work on the Congo Bongo driver...
http://vantage.jbeffects.com/endtwist/congodrv.zip
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Here's some more to think about;
Arabian (Z80 , AY-8910 sound)
Commando (2x Z80 , 2x YM2203 sound)
Gyruss (looks complicated, lots of CPUs)
Juno First (Z80 etc. , AY-8910 sound
Karate Champ (2x Z80 , AY-8910 sound)
Rescue (2x Z80 , 2x AY-8910 sound
Son of Phoenix (2x Z80 , 2x AY-8910 sound)
Star Force (2x Z80 , custom sound)
Vulgus (2x Z80 , 2x AY-8910 sound)
Wall Street (looks complicated, S2650 CPUs)
Xevious (3x Z80 , Namco sound)
Good luck you brave, brave men.
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While I don't have time to dive into any of this, in addition to using the mame sources for Centipede, you might be able to look at
http://caesar.logiqx.com/html/emus/single/centipede_emulator.shtml
which is a standalone Centipede EMU with source in C.
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Here's some more to think about;
Arabian (Z80 , AY-8910 sound)
Commando (2x Z80 , 2x YM2203 sound)
Gyruss (looks complicated, lots of CPUs)
Juno First (Z80 etc. , AY-8910 sound
Karate Champ (2x Z80 , AY-8910 sound)
Rescue (2x Z80 , 2x AY-8910 sound
Son of Phoenix (2x Z80 , 2x AY-8910 sound)
Star Force (2x Z80 , custom sound)
Vulgus (2x Z80 , 2x AY-8910 sound)
Wall Street (looks complicated, S2650 CPUs)
Xevious (3x Z80 , Namco sound)
Good luck you brave, brave men.
Thanks, surprised I hadn't thought of vulgus....
Also Satan's hollow is now on my list....
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Dig Dug driver isn't working, it crashes the program when it's run. Sprite placement issue, maybe?
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From lokki last night:
[21:36] <lokki> my digdug has gotten worse... before at least I got a screen shot... Not it just crashes...
Yup...
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Ne'er did post that screenshot of Black Hole.
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Looks good ;)
Lokki & I have a whole list of games we're going to try and add.
Here's a preview of whats (hopefully) to come:
Zaxxon Driver
Super Zaxxon (encrypted)
Future Spy (encrypted)
title Ixion (prototype) (encrypted)
Scramble Driver
Cavelon
Super Cobra Driver
moonwar
Rescue
stratgyx
Minefield
Phoenix Driver
pleiadce
Pacman driver
Ali Baba and 40 Thieves
nmouse
Eggor
Eight Ball Action (Turns out it has 6502; can't do now)
jumpshot
Galaga Driver
digdug
xevious (once digdug is working this should be a drop in)
bosco (once digdug is working this should be a drop in)
I've added Ali Baba in, I'm just waiting for Lokki to get back to me, whether its working or not.
- EndTwist
PS: Peale - check PMs
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This is so awesome--you guys rock--the only downside to vantage was its relatively short game list and I see you guys may just change that! keep up the good work.
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This is so awesome--you guys rock--the only downside to vantage was its relatively short game list and I see you guys may just change that! keep up the good work.
We've already changed it (well, lokki and EndTwist changed it, I just supply the working test hardware) as the working games list has had working games added to it.
When a *working* release will be out is another matter.
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I've added Ali Baba in, I'm just waiting for Lokki to get back to me, whether its working or not.
PS: Peale - check PMs
Hi,
Had way too much fun with Super Zaxxon last night and I never tested Ali.... I didn't look to hard since I realized that Ali is not fully emulated in MAME...
Hopefully tonight...
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Looks good ;)
Lokki & I have a whole list of games we're going to try and add.
Here's a preview of whats (hopefully) to come:
Zaxxon Driver
Super Zaxxon (encrypted)
Future Spy (encrypted)
title Ixion (prototype) (encrypted)
Scramble Driver
Cavelon
Super Cobra Driver
moonwar
Rescue
stratgyx
Minefield
Phoenix Driver
pleiadce
Pacman driver
Ali Baba and 40 Thieves
nmouse
Eggor
Eight Ball Action (Turns out it has 6502; can't do now)
jumpshot
Galaga Driver
digdug
xevious (once digdug is working this should be a drop in)
bosco (once digdug is working this should be a drop in)
I've added Ali Baba in, I'm just waiting for Lokki to get back to me, whether its working or not.
- EndTwist
PS: Peale - check PMs
EndTwist... you forgot some of your suggestions...
- Galaxy Rescue
- Space Laser
- Space Invaders II (Midway, cocktail)
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Got Super Zaxxon to display the opening sequence of zeros, but nothing more than that so far.
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Ooh! look at the colors ;) j/k
I got moonwar to partially work - it shows the "test" screen, but doesn't get past it. I think it's because I didn't add all the buttons
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Post a screenshot! You'll have to convert it from pcx to png
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I got it working, but not fully. There is still something wrong with the controls. I can't figure it out! Coins are also registering as 99 always and player 1/2 controls are swapped. But -> it runs!
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All right! Man! I get away from the computer for 24 hours, and look what happens.
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All right! Man! I get away from the computer for 24 hours, and look what happens.
Maybe you should go away more often than. ;)
Anyways, sorry I haven't been any help, I still can't get it to compile, and I have to deal with school and finals and such.
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Anyways, sorry I haven't been any help, I still can't get it to compile, and I have to deal with school and finals and such.
Are you using DJGPP from the Mame .36 compiling page?
http://www.mame.net/compilefinal.html
And you can't do it using Windows XP. Try Windows 98.
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Umm... of course I was... :P
I'll set that up on Kanchi after school tomorrow (probably) and see if I can get something going than.
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I got it working, but not fully. There is still something wrong with the controls. I can't figure it out! Coins are also registering as 99 always and player 1/2 controls are swapped. But -> it runs!
lokki informs me that this is a spinner game, and there's no spinner support in VAntAGE. Something to work in, I suppose.
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Yeah, that's something I had figured out and told Lokki. I've been thinking about it and am wondering if it would be easy to (right now) make the spinner be the left & right joystick controls. The spinner will require a bit more work.
I had also added nmouse, but I could not get that to start, so I added moonwar. I need to get back to nmouse to see if I can get it working. Shouldn't be that hard.
I'll also see if I can do any other Invaders games.
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Is there any way to get this all compiling under xp or 2000? I'd like to take a look and contribute.
-PMF
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Is there any way to get this all compiling under xp or 2000? I'd like to take a look and contribute.
Not that we're aware of. Because there's a vast difference in architecture between 98 and XP, they're totally incompatible. Even when run in compatiblility mode.
Believe me, it'd be so much easier on a lot of us if that were the case. I have to swap out a hard drive with 98 to do anything. lokki has a laptop he does the work on. Not sure about EndTwist.
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Is there any way to get this all compiling under xp or 2000? I'd like to take a look and contribute.
-PMF
Hi,
I think the problem is with the version of DJGPP that is used. It is a pretty old version. I have read that the never version of djgpp should compile (but you will not be able to run the resulting EXE unless you are on ME or prior) on NT and greater....
But I was unable to compile vantage with the latest djgpp... (I didn't spend too much time).
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I actually have a compiling PC set up also. Win98 gui on top of DOS 7.0 works well ;). I guess we would need some dedicated compilers for this project? I can do it, but I will bundle the additions with mine, so I may not compile your stuff right away...
Also - anyone want to take a crack at my nmouse? I'll upload the stuff if that's the case.
Finally, Peale- should I set up a dedicated script for this project? Seems like people want to join.
[edit] PS - Just wanted to notify everyone that there is a semi-dedicated room for vantage on IRC. It is #vantage on irc.datasync.com [/edit]
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I actually have a compiling PC set up also. Win98 gui on top of DOS 7.0 works well ;). I guess we would need some dedicated compilers for this project? I can do it, but I will bundle the additions with mine, so I may not compile your stuff right away...
That may have to be the case. Shame to do it that way, though. Especially if you just did a frenzy of coding and would like to test to see if your code works right then. I can compile VAntAGE code in approx ten seconds on my XP 2400+, so a lesser machine likely won't take that much longer. Don't people still have POS machines with nothing on them lying around?
Also - anyone want to take a crack at my nmouse? I'll upload the stuff if that's the case.
You should upload it anyway, in any case. Someone may decide they want a crack @ it, with code to go by. It's not a matter of who does what, it's a matter of what gets done.
Finally, Peale- should I set up a dedicated script for this project? Seems like people want to join.
I don't think so. You'd get those people who just sign up, and then never do *anything* (hm, other than the idea for the project, sounds too much like me, damn my programming skills)
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Uploaded.
NMouse:
http://vantage.jbeffects.com/endtwist/nmouse_driver/
Moon War (vantage needs a "Spinner" control added to it, then this will work properly):
http://vantage.jbeffects.com/endtwist/moonwar_driver/
Note to all: If you have something to submit, email it to me (via the email on http://vantage.jbeffects.com/). I will upload it to a "other" folder on the vantage site. I will also compile if you have not yet/can't do it.
[edit] Just found (possibly) a fix for those on 2000/XP: http://clio.rice.edu/djgpp/W2K_workaround.htm [/edit]
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I've been doing a little testing by adding a game to the Vantage source, but for some reason I can't get it to compile? Is there something special you need to use in the make file? I'm using an older verison of DJGPP and Win98 . Can I just type make to get it to compile, or do I need some other type of command?
Thanks,
Steve
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What errors are you getting?
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I have just compiled Vantage on a w2k machine, I'm going to bring it home and compile on XP tonight. What driver should I start working on? Any suggestions?
-PMF
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Uploaded.
NMouse:
http://vantage.jbeffects.com/endtwist/nmouse_driver/
Moon War (vantage needs a "Spinner" control added to it, then this will work properly):
http://vantage.jbeffects.com/endtwist/moonwar_driver/
Note to all: If you have something to submit, email it to me (via the email on http://vantage.jbeffects.com/). I will upload it to a "other" folder on the vantage site. I will also compile if you have not yet/can't do it.
[edit] Just found (possibly) a fix for those on 2000/XP: http://clio.rice.edu/djgpp/W2K_workaround.htm [/edit]
Hi,
I'm at work... so I can't test...
But try this.... (was wrong in the code there)
ROMSTRUCT nmousegfx[]=
{
{"naumouse.d5",0x0000,0x0800,0x0000},
{"naumouse.h5",0x0800,0x0800,0x0000},
{"naumouse.e5",0x1000,0x0800,0x0000},
{"naumouse.j5",0x1800,0x0800,0x0000},
{"",0,0,0}
};
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What errors are you getting?
Don't remember the exact error, but it was something having to do with the file called main.c?
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I've been doing a little testing by adding a game to the Vantage source, but for some reason I can't get it to compile? Is there something special you need to use in the make file? I'm using an older verison of DJGPP and Win98 . Can I just type make to get it to compile, or do I need some other type of command?
You need the DJGPP from the Compiling Mame .36 Final page, over on mame.net. It's in the Docs section.
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I have just compiled Vantage on a w2k machine, I'm going to bring it home and compile on XP tonight. What driver should I start working on? Any suggestions?
-PMF
Check http://vantage.jbeffects.com . Pick any driver that says (undecided) next to it. I'll put your name there next to it. Also - once you are ready to upload, email me and I'll set up a place for you to upload (or if you want it on your own server, I can link you from the site).
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Unfortunately, no luck with nmouse yet. I'll take another look this weekend, but I have no time until then. If anyone else wants to, please, go right ahead!
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I have a ton of new screenshots from *working* drivers, but I just lost my webspace! I'll have to see where I can put them.
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Cosmo
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Space Laser
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Space Chaser
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One thing we'd like to do is switch from the use of pcx files for screenshots to png files. Who wants a crack @ it?
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I have a ton of new screenshots from *working* drivers, but I just lost my webspace! I'll have to see where I can put them.
not fully working... But should get there is a few more hours...
Space chaser and space laser have input issues....
And cosmo if flipped....
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Damn it lokki, stop takin all the easy games :P
If you don't mind, I'll take a crack at
10 - Rescue (undecided)
11 - stratgyx (undecided)
12 - Minefield (undecided)
So leave em for me. Also - when you're done w/those, tell me and I'll add them to the done list.
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Damn it lokki, stop takin all the easy games :P
If you don't mind, I'll take a crack at
10 - Rescue (undecided)
11 - stratgyx (undecided)
12 - Minefield (undecided)
So leave em for me. Also - when you're done w/those, tell me and I'll add them to the done list.
They are all yours...
but note...
Minefield is encrypted and
minefield stratgyx and rescue uses heavily customized drawings.
So they won't be as easy
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I've been doing a little testing by adding a game to the Vantage source, but for some reason I can't get it to compile? Is there something special you need to use in the make file? I'm using an older verison of DJGPP and Win98 . Can I just type make to get it to compile, or do I need some other type of command?
You need the DJGPP from the Compiling Mame .36 Final page, over on mame.net. It's in the Docs section.
Here's the error I'm getting, even tried the older Djgpp for .36 final
main.c:488:35: pasting "->" and "preswap" does not give a valid preprocessing to
ken
main.c:488:35: pasting "->" and "preswap" does not give a valid preprocessing to
ken
main.c:508:36: pasting "->" and "postswap" does not give a valid preprocessing t
oken
main.c:508:36: pasting "->" and "postswap" does not give a valid preprocessing t
oken
main.c:540:34: pasting "->" and "updatescreen" does not give a valid preprocessi
ng token
main.c:540:34: pasting "->" and "updatescreen" does not give a valid preprocessi
ng token
main.c:547:31: pasting "->" and "updatescreen" does not give a valid preprocessi
ng token
main.c:547:31: pasting "->" and "updatescreen" does not give a valid preprocessi
ng token
main.c:563:27: pasting "->" and "soundupdate" does not give a valid preprocessin
g token
main.c:563:27: pasting "->" and "soundupdate" does not give a valid preprocessin
g token
main.c:608:25: pasting "->" and "palupdate" does not give a valid preprocessing
token
main.c:608:25: pasting "->" and "palupdate" does not give a valid preprocessing
token
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They are all yours...
but note...
Minefield is encrypted and
minefield stratgyx and rescue uses heavily customized drawings.
So they won't be as easy
[p'oed voice] i hate you... [/p'oed voice]
Bah, I'll find something easy to try this afternoon...
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Here's the error I'm getting, even tried the older Djgpp for .36 final
main.c:488:35: pasting "->" and "preswap" does not give a valid preprocessing token
main.c:488:35: pasting "->" and "preswap" does not give a valid preprocessing token
main.c:508:36: pasting "->" and "postswap" does not give a valid preprocessing token
main.c:508:36: pasting "->" and "postswap" does not give a valid preprocessing token
main.c:540:34: pasting "->" and "updatescreen" does not give a valid preprocessing token
main.c:540:34: pasting "->" and "updatescreen" does not give a valid preprocessing token
Etc etc...
I note that the errors all repeat twice. Odd.
Have you edited this @ all, or are you trying to compile the stock source?
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I had gotten the same damn errors as that at first. I think the compiler is not installed correctly. Check your compiler header files. That garbage is the compiler breaking on the #define'd method of calling the game's driver functions.
correction:
To fix this, replace this code in main.h
#define CALLFUNC(x) \
if(pBoard->##x) \
pBoard->##x()
with this:
#define CALLFUNC(x) \
if(pBoard-> x) \
pBoard-> x()
-PMF
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I had gotten the same damn errors as that at first. I think the compiler is not installed correctly. Check your compiler header files. That garbage is the compiler breaking on the #define'd method of calling the game's driver functions.
correction:
To fix this, replace this code in main.h
#define CALLFUNC(x) \
if(pBoard->##x) \
pBoard->##x()
with this:
#define CALLFUNC(x) \
if(pBoard-> x) \
pBoard-> x()
-PMF
I guess that will get past the compile error but does vantage work?
## is string concatenation for the preprocessor.
#define TEST (a,b) a ## b
This gets changed to
ab
Not sure if this concatenation was needed in this case...
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yeah, it works. The string concatination was unneccessary in this case, You can use a space just as well.
The "Rescue" driver I'm working on is coming along nicely. I should have some screen shots later.
-PMF
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Strange that you should have to change that in a stock compile at all.
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Agh..So much to do, so little time. Literally.
Out of the 5 games I've done, only 1 has worked. The other 4, no luck. I've had no time lately. I am hoping to work on about 3 of those over the weekend and see if I can get any of those working...
When are we releasing a build? Next monday (6/14), next sat (6/19), or earlier? I would really like to get those games working in the first build, or at least a couple of the ones I can't get to work.
Here is what I'm currently stuck with:
1. Dingo
2. NMouse
3. Ali Baba
4. Congo
Working:
1. Moon War
So hopefully I can at least get one to work of the 4 non-working. Otherwise I will pass these to someone else and take a crack at others.
Also: updated http://vantage.jbeffects.com with current driver status.
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Well, I've given up trying to compile on XP. I keep running into problems with "Make". I dusted off my 98 drive, and I've been working all night on "Rescue". It's a "Scramble" hardware game, and I'm making great progress. The game loads and plays, but the inputs are all screwed up. I still have some work to do decoding the graphics and setting the color pallete correctly.
I'd like to post some screen shots, but whenever I take a screen shot as a pcx, it looks like it's being "torn" to the left every horizontal line. I think I may need to check out that pcx save code. It's probably because the screen size is declared wrong or something.
I'll take Congo Bongo off of youre hands if you'd like. Where should I upload "Rescue" to?
-PMF
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I have a ton of new screenshots from *working* drivers, but I just lost my webspace! I'll have to see where I can put them.
not fully working... But should get there is a few more hours...
Space chaser and space laser have input issues....
And cosmo if flipped....
Just a little update....
had to work late so I didn't get to do much today... I took a look at the controls for space chasers. but for some reason the controls are working (as player 2) Not sure what I'm doing wrong I'll spend some more time tomorrow.
Also yesterday I noticed that the cosmo controls where not working, and no bad guys show up. Hopefully tomorrow I can take a look at it and space laser.
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I'd like to post some screen shots, but whenever I take a screen shot as a pcx, it looks like it's being "torn" to the left every horizontal line. I think I may need to check out that pcx save code. It's probably because the screen size is declared wrong or something.
It depends on what application you use to view them. I can't view them in Paint Shop Pro (same problem you mention) but I can in Open Office. Hopefully we can ditch pcx alltogether and implement png instead.
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Taking your suggestion Peale, I've just put in a png file screen shot function. It doesn't work entirely correctly saving images yet. It saves scambled graphics, but it's a start. You'll need to download and build the latest libpng and zlib. I'll upload the new files to the server later.
I also managed to de-scramble the graphics on Rescue, all that's left is setting the correct color pallete and mapping the remaining inputs.
-PMF
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Man! This project is really coming together now! I wonder how hard it will be to put Centipede in. I know it uses a completely different CPU than the other VAntAGE titles, which uses a highly optimized Z80 driver.
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Wow, this is amazing guys! Good work.
I love making use of old underpowered computers.
So whats the current list of working games? What do you hope to get working?
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Man! This project is really coming together now! I wonder how hard it will be to put Centipede in. I know it uses a completely different CPU than the other VAntAGE titles, which uses a highly optimized Z80 driver.
Hi,
I noticed last night that vantage includes wars of the bugs... A nice little centipede clone (with joystick).
Not the same I know....
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[drooling] So does everything still run at full speed on a 486? [/drooling]
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[drooling] So does everything still run at full speed on a 486? [/drooling]
Been doing all my testing on a PII 700. But I have no reson to believe it will not run on slower machines.
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When are we releasing a build? Next monday (6/14), next sat (6/19), or earlier? I would really like to get those games working in the first build, or at least a couple of the ones I can't get to work.
Well I was still planning on releasing this Sunday 6/13. But I have not had as much time as I would have liked to work on this lately. So if we want to wait to the 19, I could use the extra time.
Let me know what works best for you guys.
Thanks
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[drooling] So does everything still run at full speed on a 486? [/drooling]
Depends on the game. I can run Galaxian, (Ms) Pac Man, Space Invaders and the like full speed on a 486 DX4/100. Galaga I can get 55 if I turn off the throttle. Gunsmoke barely plays @ all. A very low end pentium would likely play everything full frame. I'll have to see if I can dig one up.
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Well I was still planning on releasing this Sunday 6/13. But I have not had as much time as I would have liked to work on this lately. So if we want to wait to the 19, I could use the extra time.
I don't think it really matters when we release. Sunday sounds good to me.
Heh...we need a 'press release'
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Well I was still planning on releasing this Sunday 6/13. But I have not had as much time as I would have liked to work on this lately. So if we want to wait to the 19, I could use the extra time.
I don't think it really matters when we release. Sunday sounds good to me.
Heh...we need a 'press release'
Thank you for volunteering to write one... :-)
If every one else agrees that we should release on sunday. Please send me all the code by friday night. I will merge all the code and test on saturday for Sunday release. (pm me for my e-mail).
Should we include in progress games? (not working)
Thanks
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Thank you for volunteering to write one... :-)
No problem, but where do I submit it?
Should we include in progress games? (not working)
I say yes. That way if someone else wants to take a crack @ it they can, a la Mame.
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Is there a way to up the brightness in VAntAGE? If not, could an option be added easily?
Personally I'd prefer it if non-working/wip drivers weren't included in the release.
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Thank you for volunteering to write one... :-)
No problem, but where do I submit it?
Should we include in progress games? (not working)
I say yes. That way if someone else wants to take a crack @ it they can, a la Mame.
I can set up a place for everyone to upload to? and I'll just send out the "global release" username/password before the day of the release.
Also - I agree with Peale. Toss in the non-working games just if someone wants to take a crack at it. Besides - it makes it sound like we did more ;)! I still don't know about Sunday, because there are some games I would like to finish, but I still have a bit of school-related stuff in the way. If it was me, I'd say at earliest, Tuesday, but whatever.
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I can set up a place for everyone to upload to? and I'll just send out the "global release" username/password before the day of the release.
E-mail would work easier for me.
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No problem...
Oh, I'm working on another game, will post a pic when I get a chance. (Azurian btw)
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We had originally planned for a Sunday release, but looks like we're going to push it a few days to clean up some code.
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Just announcing that I'm going to be pulling out of this project. There are a bunch of people working on it, and I have my hand in way to many things.
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Here's a preliminary screen shot of Rescue, I'm uploading code to the ftp server now. The Rescue driver is mainly done ~ 80% , it needs the colors, background, sound , and inputs finished.
-PMF
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Just announcing that I'm going to be pulling out of this project. There are a bunch of people working on it, and I have my hand in way to many things.
Too bad, we'll miss you. You're always welcome back.
Here's a preliminary screen shot of Rescue, I'm uploading code to the ftp server now. The Rescue driver is mainly done ~ 80% , it needs the colors, background, sound , and inputs finished.
I note that's a png file. Did you convert it, or is that a result of the new png code?
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It's converted, I need to de-page the video memory back into a linear frame buffer to save to the png file, right now, it uses the Vesa non-linear method of screen writes.
The png save code actually works well, it's the arrangement of the video memory that's the problem.
-PMF
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On a somewhat related note, here's a list of the VAntAGE v1.1 games with their control type, number of buttons, and number of simultaneous players. I put this together to try and get an idea of what kind of control panel I'd need for a VAntAGE cab. I'll update it when the new VAntAGE release goes public...
http://mame.joymonkey.com/vantage.html
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We're still working. Should have a 1.12 release before long.
For our 1.20 release we're looking to:
- Add .png support (in progress)
- Add 6502 support (Centipede, Burger Time)
- more and more working drivers!
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Check the news on http://vantage.jbeffects.com (official VAntAGE project website, by the way)
Also - I added that list that joymonkey posted. Will keep it updated for each release.
http://vantage.jbeffects.com/index.php?mode=working
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You should add my directory to the programmers list. Although I'm not contributing much, there's stuff in the folder there that will help the 6502 updates.
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Done and done.
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Maybe a little more off topic than my last post but...
I was going through the list of VAntAGE 1.1 games and pasting in the new details when I came to MoonWar. Probably the greatest flyer of all time:
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyerdb&subpage=flyer&id=696&image=1
Classic stuff!
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It's in the next release. Doesn't work properly though, because a spinner/dial control in VAntAGE doesn't exist.
Like love the flyer tho ;)
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I just updated the VAntAGE list with all the current WIP games.
Overall, the list looking very promissing! There's 103 games altogether - the future/past is looking brighter...
http://mame.joymonkey.com/vantage.html
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Just a quick update...
Got Azurian to work, still need to figure out the inputs
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Peale,
Congrats on this project! I know you were trying to get this off the ground for a long time, and it seems as if you have finally got it.
/me cant wait for the final result!
Erik
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Thanks, Erik!
Why'd it take you so long to become a member?
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Thanks, Erik!
Why'd it take you so long to become a member?
because im a bad little boy LOL :)
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Quick update....
Fixed the inputs on cosmos and it is now playable...
Started working on Jumpshot and still have to figure out inputs but it is coming along
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Any ideas on a 1.12 release date? Or is everyone working like crazy to bring it to 1.2?
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I think we're going to have it this weekend.
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Any chance of releasing a WIP binary, just to satisfy the few of us that are frothing at the mouth for a new VAntAGE release?
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Any chance of releasing a WIP binary, just to satisfy the few of us that are frothing at the mouth for a new VAntAGE release?
PM me and I can send you a copy. Should come out any day now... And we do need some testing done. (since my setup does not have sound I can't test that)
Thanks
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If you would like another tester...
send it to drakewoodring(AT)cinci.rr.com (replace the obvious)
I'm running on a two fast computers so I wouldn't test speed. I might be able to throw them on my wifes notebook. Its a 450 celery... but it would probably be better for testing weird and crappy video cards.
I can give you my system specs if you are looking to test on any specific machines.
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I've updated the site (http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/) with the news update, and the newest version.
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I just got an old Pentium 75Mhz running (no sound yet), so i'll put the new games through their paces and see what kind of FPS they're getting...
Am I correct in assuming it works with Mame 0.36 roms?
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The new games added use the latest roms from MAME.
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Here's some results:
Test system: Pentium 75Mhz, 16mb RAM, 1mb onboard VGA, no sound.
Running ArcadeOS 2.50 from a 16mb compactflash card.
:( azurian : won't run, see error message in photo
:( blkhole : won't run, see error message in photo
:D cosmo : works great, 60fps (full speed) without tweeking
:( dingo : won't run (black screen, no errors)
:( futspy : won't run, see error message in photo
:D jumpshot : works great, 60fps (full speed) without tweeking
:) moonwar : works, 60fps (full speed) without tweeking but I need to configure mouse/spinner
:-\ rescue : graphics garbled, runs at 60fps though
:D schasrcv : works great, 60fps (full speed) without tweeking
:-\ spclaser : runs but has issues (seems to keep restarting every 3 seconds)
:( szaxxon : won't run, see error message in photo
The games that give the error below might be finding the computer a bit tight to work with, I'll have to try on a slightly faster or slower machine and see chat happens.
Nice progress though, keep it up!
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Yeah, dingo isn't workin yet. Gotta get to fixing that...
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I could never get it to work on my P4
Apparently there is a problem with the dpmi (memory manager) if the physical memory is greater than 256MB. there are supposed to be workarounds for this. But I never got them to work.
Try galaxian. (was not modified) if this does not work then this is likely the problem.
(ROMS are too big and don't fit).
More info at
http://clio.rice.edu/djgpp/r5bug02.txt
http://clio.rice.edu/cwsdpmi/
one more
http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/v2faq/faq15_1.html
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I tried 1.12 with a P120, 32mb ram and it's giving me the same errors for azurian, blkhole, futspy. Szaxxon gets as far as the boot screen now, but still no dice.
I'm using SmartDrive, maybe I should try disabling it...
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I tried 1.12 with a P120, 32mb ram and it's giving me the same errors for azurian, blkhole, futspy. Szaxxon gets as far as the boot screen now, but still no dice.
I'm using SmartDrive, maybe I should try disabling it...
Strange.... Szaxxon and futspy all they do is get to the boot screen.
Did you try galaxian?
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I just did some testing, and I was able to run everything (almost) fine. Must be something about your system. Likely something to do with the memory. Is himem.sys loaded? CWSDPMI.ZIP unzipped in your root dir?
lokki: there seems to be some graphics glitches with Galaxian, at least on my system. The fast shoot Galaxian seems to work okay, however. How does it look on your system?
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Strange.... Szaxxon and futspy all they do is get to the boot screen.
Did you try galaxian?
I tried Galaxian and got the same error, I also tried with Vantage 1.1 and it did the same thing, so it must be a problem with my system; I'll check out the memory handlers in my config.sys later, that must be whats up; like Peale says
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Peale, you might want to put Vantage 1.1 back on the PC2Jamma site for download, since the 1.12 zip only includes the executeable people might have trouble without the config and readme files.
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Peale, you might want to put Vantage 1.1 back on the PC2Jamma site for download, since the 1.12 zip only includes the executeable people might have trouble without the config and readme files.
Funny, I noticed the exact same thing just a couple minutes ago. I'm making a full zip right now.
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All right, this is *weird*. I've uploaded the new file, but I can't download it. I keep getting the old file. No, it's not my cache. I tried it from another machine that I had not checked the site with previously. Maybe the host machine caches downloadable files or something?
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All right, this is *weird*. I've uploaded the new file, but I can't download it. I keep getting the old file. No, it's not my cache. I tried it from another machine that I had not checked the site with previously. Maybe the host machine caches downloadable files or something?
Very strange. I just tried to download it and got the old file too. Try giving it a different filename maybe?
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If I do that I have to redo nearly the entire site.
There's no logical explaination for it.
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I just did some testing, and I was able to run everything (almost) fine. Must be something about your system. Likely something to do with the memory. Is himem.sys loaded? CWSDPMI.ZIP unzipped in your root dir?
lokki: there seems to be some graphics glitches with Galaxian, at least on my system. The fast shoot Galaxian seems to work okay, however. How does it look on your system?
I ran it yesterday (but did not play for long) and I did not notice any problems with it.
Tried 1.11 and see if you get the same glitches
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I ran it yesterday (but did not play for long) and I did not notice any problems with it.
Tried 1.11 and see if you get the same glitches
Just did. Nope, works fine.
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The file must have been cached somewhere on MameWorld. Now it downloads fine.
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I just did some testing, and I was able to run everything (almost) fine. Must be something about your system. Likely something to do with the memory. Is himem.sys loaded? CWSDPMI.ZIP unzipped in your root dir?
lokki: there seems to be some graphics glitches with Galaxian, at least on my system. The fast shoot Galaxian seems to work okay, however. How does it look on your system?
Just gave galaxian a go.. works fine I don't see any glitches.
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How very odd! I tried it several ways with the same result.
I'll try it on this system. You know what happens if you turn the throttle off on this system while it's running VAntAGE? You get a framerate of like 3000FPS.
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Seems to be no problems with Moonwar ;)
Gotta work on Dingo though...and we need more to do!
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Seems to be no problems with Moonwar ;)
Gotta work on Dingo though...and we need more to do!
You could implement png support. Requires upgrading the zlib and png libraries, though.
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I might have a bum copy of cwsdpmi.exe, but I wasn't able to get a lot of the new games to run on *this* machine. Including the games in the Galaxian driver. I'll see if I can find another copy and try again.
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Tried a couple different versions. It's likely *my* machine. I'll have to get some responses from others. Who wants to test?
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On a somewhat related note, here's a list of the VAntAGE v1.1 games with their control type, number of buttons, and number of simultaneous players. I put this together to try and get an idea of what kind of control panel I'd need for a VAntAGE cab. I'll update it when the new VAntAGE release goes public...
http://mame.joymonkey.com/vantage.html
Thanks for producing this list - it's helping me do exactly the same :) Have there been any updates to the list that will affect the number of buttons I'll need?
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Don't think so. I don't think there's any games in VAntAGE that take more than two buttons.
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Don't think so. I don't think there's any games in VAntAGE that take more than two buttons.
Cool, although that's not what the aforementioned list says :) Having said this, I wasn't planning to add a spinner to the CP, so that eliminates two of the three games listed as needing three buttons, so I'll have to take a look at Gunsmoke to see whether it's worth having a third button.
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D'oh! Should have read the list first.
Spinner support is *not* yet in VAntAGE. It's a 'hope we add it sometime if Real Life allows us to'.,
Gunsmoke is...okay. It's supported, but we've kicked around the idea of removing it because it's not a real old game like the rest of them are. It's kind of out of place.
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lokki: what do you think about adding 'The End' in there? Seems to run on the same hardware as Scramble.
And just a gentle *bump* since the project has had other contenders for some time.
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lokki: what do you think about adding 'The End' in there?
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Man, Vantage would be awesome, and it's got every game my parents like, EXCEPT the MsPacMan fast hack (Fast MsPacman, slow ghosts), and if my mom can't have this, I might as well not make the desktop arcade cab I planned. Oh well, (Trys to get MAME running on a P120 4gig SCSI with 24 MEG of ram.)
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Since MS Pacman is working on Vantage and MS pacman fast hack uses the same roms as mspacman... (only one rom is different)
You should be able to rename mspacmnf to mspacman
open the .zip file and rename pacfast.6f
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Thank you! I'll try that, can't belive I didn't think of that!
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If you want fast ms. pacman all you have to do is start up the game and go into the dipswitch settings and activate the speedup. You only have to do this once as vantage will remember your setting the next time you play the game.
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If you want fast ms. pacman all you have to do is start up the game and go into the dipswitch settings and activate the speedup. You only have to do this once as vantage will remember your setting the next time you play the game.
No, thats not the fast hack that most arcades have. Thats just a sped up version of mspacman, thats why I said "Fast MsPacMan, slow ghosts" in my post.
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Just realized that roms have different names between mame and vantage.
What you want to do is open the mspacman for vantage. and replace boot2 with pacfast.6f.
Sorry I can't test it.
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If you want fast ms. pacman all you have to do is start up the game and go into the dipswitch settings and activate the speedup.