The VAntAGE Project - 1.12 Released!

[creatine28]

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

[EndTwist]

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...

[SirPeale]

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?

[PacManFan]

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

[lokki]

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...

[PacManFan]

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

[SirPeale]

Strange that you should have to change that in a stock compile at all.

[EndTwist]

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.

[PacManFan]

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

[lokki]

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.

[SirPeale]

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.

[PacManFan]

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

[SirPeale]

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.

[Brax]

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?

[lokki]

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....

[JoyMonkey]

[drooling] So does everything still run at full speed on a 486? [/drooling]

[lokki]

[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.

[lokki]

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

[SirPeale]

[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.

[SirPeale]

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'

[lokki]

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

[SirPeale]

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.

[JoyMonkey]

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.

[EndTwist]

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.

[lokki]

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.

[EndTwist]

No problem...

Oh, I'm working on another game, will post a pic when I get a chance. (Azurian btw)

[SirPeale]

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.

[TheGatesofBill]

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.

[PacManFan]

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

[SirPeale]

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?

[PacManFan]

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

[JoyMonkey]

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

[SirPeale]

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!

[EndTwist]

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

[SirPeale]

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.

[EndTwist]

Done and done.

[JoyMonkey]

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!

[EndTwist]

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

[JoyMonkey]

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

[lokki]

Just a quick update...

Got Azurian to work, still need to figure out the inputs