MemotecH 512 and APOGEE bk-01

DARKGATE73

Hi at all, my first post on this forum, explain my problem, i have installed the emu MEMOTECH 512 with the setup of RETROPIE, i have put all the files .mtx in directory MTX512, the BIOS in directory BIOS "mtx512.zip" the problem is wich don't working nothing, lr-mess or MAME mess, on lr-mess i can read "error missing files" on MAME mess only a reset for return to menu.

Same problem with Apogee-BK-01 identical problem, put the "APOGEE.zip" Bios in Directory BIOS, but don't start nothing, please someone can help me?

Thank you.

Folly

@DARKGATE73

Did you use the Valerino fork of the RetroPie-Setup to setup this system ?
Or did you use my project ? :https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29682/development-of-module-script-generator-for-lr-mess-and-mame-standalone

For mtx512 the bios file has to be called : mtx512.zip, and placed in the BIOS directory.
You can search, with google/duckduckgo, for the file in mame-0.231-merged

Searching within the forum you can find that .mtx files don't work with lr-mess/mame :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/30935/how-to-get-lots-more-memotech-mtx512-games-working

If you don't want to convert files then you have to find some mame files.
For the cass files you have to find the file mtx_cass.zip .
You can search, with google/duckduckgo, for the file in themame-sl softwarelist.
The software-list file is called mtx_cass.zip containing the software which of-course has to be extracted and placed in the roms/mtx512 directory.

loading software from cass for mtx512 :
LOAD""

For apogee the bios file has to be called : apogee.zip (not APOGEE.zip), and placed in the BIOS directory.
You can search, with google/duckduckgo, for the file in mame-0.240-roms-split_202201

The software-list file is also called apogee.zip containing the software which of-course has to be extracted and placed in the roms/apogee directory.

loading software from cass for apogee :
i => (press I at the command prompt to load)
Press TAB, goto tape control and press PLAY, exit with TAB
g => (press G at the command prompt to run)

ps, when you use my project you have to place the BIOS files in :
BIOS/mame

DARKGATE73

@Folly Thank you, i have found the correct bios, i have used your project, put all the bios on directory BIOS and directory mame, and all work perfectly.

Now i have tried also the LYNX 48K computer, the system start, but is very slow, with frameskip i see the 60% of speed.

After i have tried SUPER A'CANT console but work only a game with lr-mess, the others games or black screen, or return to menu Retropie.

Folly

@DARKGATE73

Mame or lr-mess both are quite demanding sometimes.
So the RPI3 will have a hard time, sometimes.
The RPI4 performs better though.
But sadly not for all.

You have to know that not all systems will work perfectly.
Mame is always "work in progress".

The nice thing is that we can run systems that we normally could not.

I will try that lynx 48K once, when I can.

Folly

@DARKGATE73

I added some mtx512 choices with extra hardware to test.

mtx512 + 512K + cassette ( edit : tested => freezes after loading game )
mtx512 + 512K + floppy support in basic (sdxbas)
mtx512 + 512K + floppy support in cp/m (sdxcpm)

In basic you can list files on the disk, if read correctly, by doing this command :
USER DIR
I have had 2 disks that worked with above command but they contained no loadable files so I could not test.

The cm/p will run the files from mtx_flop and the screen will be small on the right.
To fix this you can go to "video options" in the "mame gui" and get fullscreen.
Be aware that if you load a game then it loads in the other screen.
To see this correctly you have to use the default "video mode".
And, when you are in CP/M, just use DOS commands.

Let me know if you can find some software and load some things.

ps, add the bios files mtx_sdxbas.zip and mtx_sdxcpm.zip.

https://github.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/commit/3aa4ed44025eb045500bbbe4a80637eab23b4008

Folly

@DARKGATE73

I have some good results in loading .mtx files from disk using sdxbas.
You can search, with google/duckduckgo, for some mfloppy files in UnRenamedFiles-Various.

An example is (when the SNAPPO.MTX is on the disk) :
USER RUN "LOADMTX.RUN"
LOAD "SNAPPO"

Here you can find more info on loading .mtx files from floppy :
http://www.nyangau.org/loadmtx/loadmtx.htm

Folly

@DARKGATE73

I did some new research and found that .mtx files are somewhat directly supported by mame/lr-mess.

Although, I have to warn, not all will work !

I had already success with these files :
'Agrovator (1985)(Syntax Software)[a].zip'
'Arcazion (1985)(Sawyer, Chris)[a].zip'
'Backgammon (1983)(Continental Software)[a].zip'
'Blobbo (1984)(Continental Software)[a].zip'
'Bomber & Etch A Sketch (19xx)(-)(PD)[a].zip'
'Chamberoids (1984)(Megastar Games)[a].zip'

You have to use the dump loader for that.
Then it says the file is loaded and you have to do the command :
RUN

Be patient, it can take a while to load.
To speed up in :

mame use "page-down-key"
lr-mess use "space-key" (when hotkeys enabled)

You can search, with google/duckduckgo, for some mtx files in UnRenamedFiles-Various.

Folly

@jamrom2 @JimmyFromTheBay

You might want to read this thread.

DARKGATE73

@Folly Thank you friend.