Old Computer Appreciation Thread

Folly

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

AdamBeGood

@folly Hmmmm I have a .chd, maybe the file is bad then. I'll look for your version.

Folly

@adambegood

Btw
You should use frameskipping,
It can take a while before the game starts.
It takes about 30 seconds, on my end.
With a CHD it can take longer because it's CHD is compressed.

You can check your mailbox.

AdamBeGood

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood

Btw
You should use frameskipping,
It can take a while before the game starts.
It takes about 30 seconds, on my end.
With a CHD it can take longer because it's CHD is compressed.

You can check your mailbox.

I left it for ages...

I've actually found it myself but I'll check my mailbox. I have to go out now but I'll try the Folly version later! :)

Folly

@adambegood

I have to out too.
I hear it later.

Good luck !

AdamBeGood

@folly said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@adambegood

I have to out too.
I hear it later.

Good luck !

I'm still seeing black screen, I presume I just run the .cue yep?

Should I update my MAME core?

Hope you're having a good day.

Folly

@adambegood

I had to work, thankfully no rain.

It's good to update mame.
The binary is equal or higher than 0237.

But I think it's something else.
Do other games run ?
Does lr-mess work ? (or is it the same story ?)

Check your runcommand.log.

Btw:
Autoframeskipping doesn't work that good over here.
With F9 you have to press until it's on frameskip 10 to get almost fullspeed.

AdamBeGood

@folly Let me have a play and report back. I'll have a look at the log.

Other games do work on MAME for FM Towns. lr-mess is the same story.

Edit: is this the island postie job? Glad you didn't get rained on.