Old Computer Appreciation Thread

[testudo]

@folly

How does one add the aa440 or aa4001? I could not find it as a listed system in the set-up script, or as a default emulator selection.

Edit:
One step forwards, two steps back. I "corrupted" the aa301.cfg file and had to go the delete folders, remove and reinstall the Archimedes 310 slot device route. No matter what I delete and reinstall I get this screen when booting now:

I am wondering if I need to start with a fresh Retropie Setup script, since the same error occurs after multiple re-installs of the emulator.

[Folly]

@testudo

Strange, don't know exactly, but it looks like your bios files are corrupted.

You could try and remove all your Archimedes installs in RetroPie-Setup the normal way and then try to reinstall.

Of course you are free to wipe and begin from scratch, if that suits you.

The systems are in the default, see here :

I added the 440 and 440/1 to the special systems.
All Archimedes systems use now archimedes as rom directory with these installs.
I have changed this because otherwise we get so many different rom directories.
(only if you install them from the `special systems' though !)
Here is my commit :
link

I got INVASION running now with the Archimedes 440/1 and 4Mb ram :

[testudo]

@folly
You are a retro treasure!!! I wiped the old aa310 and archimedes folders & files, then dropped in your new commit and added the 440/1. I am now happily back in business exploring the Archimedes game catalog .

Not yet seeing how this system was a supposedly superior rival to the Amiga, at least on the gaming front, but continuing to try it out.

[Folly]

@testudo

Acorn Archimedes has been added to the cygnus-blue-flames theme.
Thank you @DTEAM !

[testudo]

@folly

Currently on holiday, but will check it out when I return. I have been making my own Carbon themes for lesser known/utilized or forked systems like X68000, PC98, Atomiswave, Naomi, etc...

[Folly]

@testudo

Can you join this thread, in time ?
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29961/request-for-artists-working-on-themes-needs-for-lr-mess-mame-additions

Here we are working on the lesser known systems adding them to themes.
I have also forked the carbon theme, as you will see in the thread.
Perhaps it's an idea to "commit" your work.

[AdamBeGood]

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@AdamBeGood

Reply on your old posts about Alltynex and Mad Stalker.

With the added "-ram 6M" for fmtowns (works good with mame):

• Alltynex is working now
• Mad Stalker can be loaded now, but it freezes when you want to play
  (Can you test your version again of Mad Stalker ?)

Pictures of Alltynex (works also in lr-mess, but has some slowdowns on start):

Pictures of Mad Stalker (it freezes on the second picture) :

@Folly Can you give me a quick reminder on how the hell to do this? How do I get ram - 6m working? Do I need to download your fork again?

[Folly]

@adambegood

You can update my script if you want.
Everything is described in the first part of the first post.
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29682/development-of-module-script-generator-for-lr-mess-and-mame-standalone/1
The fmtowns system with -ram 6M is install-able from the special systems with slotdevices.

Or if you have fmtowns already installed you can just add -ram 6M in the lines like this :
In /opt/retropie/configs/fmtowns/emulators.cfg

lr-mess-system-fmtowns_-ram_6M-cdrm = "/home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/scriptmodules/run_mess.sh /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-mess/mess_libretro.so /opt/retropie/configs/fmtowns/retroarch.cfg \fmtowns /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame -autoframeskip -ui_active -ram 6M -cdrm %ROM%"
mame-system-fmtowns_-ram_6M-cdrm = "/opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -v -c -ui_active fmtowns -ram 6M -cdrm %ROM%"
mame-system-fmtowns_-ram_6M-cdrm-autoframeskip = "/opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -v -c -autoframeskip -ui_active fmtowns -ram 6M -cdrm %ROM%"

Good luck.
Let me know if you get it working ;-)

[AdamBeGood]

@folly So if I already have fmtowns then I can just amend the emulators.cfg lines for this? I do have that installed, so that should be easy. I'll try that tomorrow!

[Folly]

@adambegood

Yes indeed, this would work.

But you should check the "front-end" script later on.
I works really amazing ;-)

[AdamBeGood]

@folly I am sure the script is great, and when I have the time I'll definitely look at it.

Allyntex is looking good on mess, Turbo Outrun runs much better on mame now - definitely playable.

I get Blank Screen with Mad Stalker - which emulator selection are you using for that?

[Folly]

@adambegood

I used mame for "Mad Stalker" but it freezes and therefor is not playable.

I was thinking maybe you have a better version.

I read that fmtowns hash tables are improved in mame 0.235 .
This should mean better game compatibility.
We should test this in the future.

[AdamBeGood]

@folly I'll give it a go again but my version wasn't even getting that far...

More compatibility is always good!

[testudo]

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood

I used mame for "Mad Stalker" but it freezes and therefor is not playable.

I was thinking maybe you have a better version.

I read that fmtowns hash tables are improved in mame 0.235 .
This should mean better game compatibility.
We should test this in the future.

Bump. Finally got both Mad Stalker versions I have to fully boot, but encountering the freezing issue you mention. I hope to have some time to get back to exploring more of these retro games and systems, if work slows down enough over the holiday time...

[Folly]

@testudo

Great, I like to hear about your tests ;-)

[AdamBeGood]

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@testudo

Great, I like to hear about your tests ;-)

Seconded! Good work.

[Folly]

@adambegood @testudo

Finally I got MAD STALKER working.
Tested with fmtmarty, but should work with fmtowns too.

In :
/opt/retropie/emulators/mame/hash/fmtowns_cd.xml
You can find that the mouse on port 2 has to be disabled with this game.

So you can use a game specific runcommand emulators.cfg line.
Then disable the mouse in the mame gui.
After that the game-specific config is written after quitting the game.
Next time it will use this config if the game is booted with the game-specific line again.
(It works with both mame and lr-mess)

[AdamBeGood]

@folly Great effort! I'll try this out when I get the chance. Brilliant detective work.

[AdamBeGood]

@adambegood I've had a go now but I get a black screen when the game shoud lanuch. I'm using mame fmtowns -6m

I'll have another try in a bit.

[Folly]

@adambegood

-6m is not needed with this game it works with the default (2m).
-6m is not bad though ;-) .

Make sure you load with game-specific, otherwise, when you edit the mouse setting, other games will have no mouse.

Good luck !

I use these files (running the .cue with fmtowns) :
pi@raspberrypi:~/RetroPie/roms/fmtmarty $ sha1sum M*
876ab6b804a0f3da6fd1cbeb1a7d2230e2adfcc3 Mad Stalker.ccd
24807473d74f384bc130400fa7287803812c0012 Mad Stalker.cue
05280e943e6fd90c64a495e4c8e3c65df6a3481d Mad Stalker.img
f2883a900489beef51f3880ff697b1635e72eaa5 Mad Stalker.sub