Old Computer Appreciation Thread

Folly

@Zering @AdamBeGood
I have done some experimenting with the bbc micro emulator b-em.
I have it somewhat running on the pico and I am able to run the same sort of build to run on the RPI.
I have made an experimental port for it.
(don't expect miracles, but it's quite cool)
Are you both interested.

@Zering
BTW.
Have you already tried Refight with the new source ?

AdamBeGood

@folly I'm interested. I used to play a game called Hi Bouncer so was thinking about trying that out the other day on BBC!

Folly

@adambegood said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@folly I'm interested. I used to play a game called Hi Bouncer so was thinking about trying that out the other day on BBC!

You should run Hi Bouncer with lr-mess or mame if this works.

My port is limited to the discs that are implemented.
I made it just for fun and to see if I could get it working.
There are options to add other discs in different way's,
but I haven't implemented this in the module script.
Perhaps I can/will in the future.

I tested this morning on a different sd-card of mine the module script worked.
Although it seemed it was stuck this morning, it worked though.
So, be patient if doesn't do something for a while.

The module script creates working binary's called xbeeb and xmaster and have both multiple discs in them.
The boot scripts come in ports.
They should work directly, no bios work is needed.
It will have some demo's and the 2048 game that is created by Eben Upton.
Hotkeys :
F11 is the kilograham/pico menu
Shift + F12 boots the disc.
F12 reset
EXIT with mouse closing window

Let me know what you think of it.

The script is my repository, you know what to do 😊 :
00-scriptmodules-00/ports/b-em-pico_pi.sh

Folly

@adambegood

The game HiBouncer seems to work with lr-mess.
Beats me what I have to do, though.
Can start with space and go left and right with z and x.

Zering

@folly I haven't tried Refight yet, the only thing I've done recently is update redream, but I'll get around to it!

Folly

@zering said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@folly I haven't tried Refight yet, the only thing I've done recently is update redream, but I'll get around to it!

Well, indeed that winCE thing on redream is very nice.
I have to try it some time too.

AdamBeGood

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood

The game HiBouncer seems to work with lr-mess.
Beats me what I have to do, though.
Can start with space and go left and right with z and x.

It does! Amazing! My next door neighbour had this game and I hadn't played it since I was about 7!

You have to get the candy on the floor. In the next level you have to jump on the trampoline, and then you have to get the vinyl record. I don't know about the fourth level yet.

I got Geordie Racer working as well - it's an educational game by the BBC and not very good, but we used to be able to play it in school when we were lucky. There was only one BBC for the school so you didn't get much time! The nostalgia is strong!

Folly

@adambegood

It worked.
I did the first 2 levels !

keys :
z = left
x = right
' = jump

AdamBeGood

@Zering @Folly Are either of you on Steam? I have so few friends on there - thought I might see if you guys are on that so that it isn't so disappointing when my Friend List pops up.

My ID is 90387891 if you are.

(Totally off-topic I know).

AdamBeGood

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood

It worked.
I did the first 2 levels !

keys :
z = left
x = right
' = jump

I've been playing a bit of Frenzy on BBC - I didn't even remember it until I played it, but I definitely had it when I was 7! It's a rip-off of the Arcade Game Qix. I find it pretty addictive.

Also, I've decided to add CD-I to my Pi, it's one system I've been thinking about for a bit. Hopefully I won't need any help but it's not impossible that I might have some questions at some point.

Folly

@adambegood

BBC is nice, just discovering it.
We never had these computers in the Netherlands.

Did you have any luck with the port ?

btw. I am not on steam.

AdamBeGood

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood

BBC is nice, just discovering it.
We never had these computers in the Netherlands.

Did you have any luck with the port ?

btw. I am not on steam.

It is literally the first computer I ever had growing up (and no-one used them after about 1991 as PCs got so big), so exciting for me to rediscover the BBC!

I am just going to try the port now. Reading your instructions again.

Edit: I am not really recommending you should play it a lot (I don't think it is that good, nostalgia aside - although I have given it quite a few tries now), but I have a score of 2,750 on Hi-Bouncer now. I've set a score in Frenzy also, so let me know if you play that.

Further Edit: I have some issue with my joypad but apart from that CD-I is all good. I've managed to map my buttons to the keyboard in Input, but mapping the arrow keys to the Joystick hasn't worked and I can't control Mario in Hotel Mario using my pad. Any idea?

Ps. Also thanks very much for the fantastic instructions to set that up, and the .svg for the theme!

AdamBeGood

@Folly Actually, the Zelda games aren't working for me - the intro and map screens are fine, but then there is a very gradual brightening of the actual gameplay screen but nothing ever moves. The sound isn't right either. All I can do is press P (presumably Pause), which dims and brightens the screen.

Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon and Link: The Faces of Evil are the games. Do they work for you?

Burn:Cycle also freezes in a similar way on the Title Screen. BIOS issue? I have all the files in the zip.

Thunder in Paradise doesn't work but that is a Digital Video Cartridge game, which I think we expect not to work.

Edit: Zelda's Adventure works but that is the rubbish one by all accounts (and from playing it quickly just now).

Further Edit: Black Screen after I click Play on Secret Mission also (I've tried two different CHDs).

Further Further Edit:

cdimono1.zip contain:

2969341396aa61e0143dc2351aaa6ef6 cdi200.rom
ac0d468be366779c9df633be98da250a cdi220b.rom
ac80a92c988ce07fbd6a8f21ded34cf1 cdi220.rom
3e59b8a9a423d3ecd612a32fe4e2d748 zx405037p__cdi_servo_2.1__b43t__llek9215.mc68h c705c8a_withtestrom.7201
3d20cf7550f1b723158b42a1fd5bac62 zx405042p__cdi_slave_2.0__b43t__zzmk9213.mc68h c705c8a_withtestrom.7206

Folly

@adambegood

Nice story about the BBC micro time.
I will try Frenzy. I will see how far I get with Hi-Bouncer.😁

Could you get the bbc demo's working with the bbc port ?

About the CD-I :
I have the same BIOS files so that shouldn't be a problem.
I know that not all games will work.
As you said, DVC games will definitely not work.
Last year I tried a whole bunch, but indeed, you have to have some luck.
We tried Secret Mission also in this thread, but we could get it working either :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/28434/cdi-mono-and-the-game-secret-mission
So the CD-I emulation in mame/lr-mess isn't perfect, but definitely the best available.
Perhaps there will come a time ...............that it will play all.

Further Edit: I have some issue with my joypad but apart from that CD-I is all good. I've managed to map my buttons to the keyboard in Input, but mapping the arrow keys to the Joystick hasn't worked and I can't control Mario in Hotel Mario using my pad. Any idea?

Did you look into my configs from this post ?
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/27983/ir-cd-i/32
Otherwise you can read the comments from this script ( that doesn't work anymore), but has much info about the configs :
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FollyMaddy/retropie-philips-cdi-tools/master/retropie_philips_cdi_setup.sh
I recall that my arrow keys were working but the joy-buttons were not, also the mouse didn't work correctly.
So that information is in the script.
arcadia should be cdimono1 now.

Try to rename your config, and start all over. (cdimono1.cfg)
Go to "input this machine"

Let me know if you get it working.

AdamBeGood

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood

Nice story about the BBC micro time.
I will try Frenzy. I will see how far I get with Hi-Bouncer.😁

Could you get the bbc demo's working with the bbc port ?

About the CD-I :
I have the same BIOS files so that shouldn't be a problem.
I know that not all games will work.
As you said, DVC games will definitely not work.
Last year I tried a whole bunch, but indeed, you have to have some luck.
We tried Secret Mission also in this thread, but we could get it working either :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/28434/cdi-mono-and-the-game-secret-mission
So the CD-I emulation in mame/lr-mess isn't perfect, but definitely the best available.
Perhaps there will come a time ...............that it will play all.

Further Edit: I have some issue with my joypad but apart from that CD-I is all good. I've managed to map my buttons to the keyboard in Input, but mapping the arrow keys to the Joystick hasn't worked and I can't control Mario in Hotel Mario using my pad. Any idea?

Did you look into my configs from this post ?
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/27983/ir-cd-i/32
Otherwise you can read the comments from this script ( that doesn't work anymore), but has much info about the configs :
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FollyMaddy/retropie-philips-cdi-tools/master/retropie_philips_cdi_setup.sh
I recall that my arrow keys were working but the joy-buttons were not, also the mouse didn't work correctly.
So that information is in the script.
arcadia should be cdimono1 now.

Try to rename your config, and start all over. (cdimono1.cfg)
Go to "input this machine"

Let me know if you get it working.

Hi Folly, fair enough - if games don't work for anyone currently then I can deal with that.

What about these Zelda games though? Do they work for you? They seem to be the most interesting thing on the machine so I am keen to get them working - if possible!

I did copy over your config from the thread you mentioned.

I don't know about this BBC demo you have asked me about, but I'll have a Google!

Folly

@adambegood said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

What about these Zelda games though? Do they work for you? They seem to be the most interesting thing on the machine so I am keen to get them working - if possible!

I did copy over your config from the thread you mentioned.

So that didn't work for you.
I have to install it again on my computer.
It can take a while before I am up and running again with CD-I, I have to find the games somewhere on an external hard-drive.
If I have some time, I will try that for you.

I don't know about this BBC demo you have asked me about, but I'll have a Google!

wget -nv -O /home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/scriptmodules/ports/b-em-pico_pi.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/main/00-scriptmodules-00/ports/b-em-pico_pi.sh

Download in the correct place with above command (does this automatically for you)
Install in retropie-setup (look in experimental)
Run xbeeb or xmaster from the ports section in emulationstation (should work OOB)
F11 is the gui( you can change some discs etc) , shift+F12 run disc, exit with mouse clicking X .

Folly

@adambegood

Frenzy , nice game !

AdamBeGood

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood

Frenzy , nice game !

I enjoy it!

AdamBeGood

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

What about these Zelda games though? Do they work for you? They seem to be the most interesting thing on the machine so I am keen to get them working - if possible!

I did copy over your config from the thread you mentioned.

So that didn't work for you.
I have to install it again on my computer.
It can take a while before I am up and running again with CD-I, I have to find the games somewhere on an external hard-drive.
If I have some time, I will try that for you.

I don't know about this BBC demo you have asked me about, but I'll have a Google!
wget -nv -O /home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/scriptmodules/ports/b-em-pico_pi.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/main/00-scriptmodules-00/ports/b-em-pico_pi.sh
Download in the correct place with above command (does this automatically for you)

Install in retropie-setup (look in experimental)

Run xbeeb or xmaster from the ports section in emulationstation (should work OOB)

F11 is the gui( you can change some discs etc) , shift+F12 run disc, exit with mouse clicking X .

Fair enough - if you could find out about the Zelda games, I'm very interested to establish if it is an Emulator limitation or whether it is on my side. I asked the chap over on the other CD-I thread also.

I tried the BBC Micro issue, and the first time I installed it there were a number of dependencies that I did not have, and this was blocking the install.

I tried again, and it worked!

I like this a lot - the original demo is cool, and then all the new funky demos are impressive. It's mad what people can do with old technology.

Folly

@adambegood

Nice you have it working. Very cool indeed.

Did you install something by yourself ?
All dependancy's should be installed by the module-script though.
Well, it's not important anymore, you have it working !