Tesla PMD-85 computer in RetroPie?

JimmyFromTheBay

@Folly I would love to know :)

Folly

Well, just like with windows it doesn't actually matter where your program is located.
So here you can find all collected binaries, my builds from source or backups from RetroPie and libretro buildbot.
So you can just download a binary.
For instance you should be able to use :
lr-mess_0.264_arm7l_gcc8_rpi4_probably_missing_drivers_RP_bin.7z
Then decompress it and place the lr-mess folder in, for example, Downloads, like this :
/home/pi/Downloads/lr-mess
That way you don't need root permissions.
You could rename the lr-mess folder into lr-mess0264 so you will know what version is in the folder, so it becomes :
/home/pi/Downloads/lr-mess0264
Then make your own runcommand in the emulators.cfg, for example :

lr-mess0264-pmd851-cass = "/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch --config /opt/retropie/configs/pmd851/retroarch.cfg --appendconfig /opt/retropie/configs/pmd851/retroarch.cfg.add -S /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/pmd851 -s /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/pmd851 -v -L /home/pi/Downloads/lr-mess0264/mamemess_libretro.so 'pmd851  -rompath /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/pmd851/ -cfg_directory /opt/retropie/configs/pmd851/lr-mess -c -ui_active -cass %ROM%'"

You will see that only the program folder will differ from the "original" runcommand (and for you the core name too).
For above runcommand the hash folder should not be needed.
You can keep the hash foler just in there, no need to copy it.

Well that is the basic idea.
I tested it here and it did work for me switching between versions.

Remember, do it for your own risk.
Don't blame me if somehow something goes wrong.
Then again, in my opinion there isn't much that can go wrong.

Let me know if it works for you.

Btw.
Newer lr-mess versions lack some drivers.
Not sure why, but I assume they removed drivers that are not important for the libretro core developers or they just don't have the proper tools to make a full accurate database.
Anyhow if the pmd851 isn't there you can try an older binary, for example 0251.

JimmyFromTheBay

@Folly Thanks very much, will give that a try :)

JimmyFromTheBay

@Folly Yep, works beautifully, and runs a lot better than MAME too. (Presumably will also work for anything else that needs MAMEMESS.) Many thanks again :)

Folly

@JimmyFromTheBay

Nice to hear.;-)

So now we know it was the old lr-mess version all along.

(Presumably will also work for anything else that needs MAMEMESS.)

Yep.

Btw. 0264 could be the last for Buster and Bullseye.
as mame will need newer gcc versions now to compile.
But perhaps they make a patch for that, we will see.

JimmyFromTheBay

@Folly So just to figure this out:

Let's say I want to be able to run certain MAME games using the new "mamemess" - eg Prize Space Invaders which runs a bit nastily on my old version of lr-mame - but without overwriting the old lr-mame and screwing up all my old systems. I've called it "newmame".

So I've added this line to EMULATORS.CFG in the configs/arcade folder:

lr-newmame = "/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /home/pi/Downloads/lr-mess264/mamemess_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/arcade/retroarch.cfg %ROM%"

All I've done there is take the existing, working line for lr-mame:

lr-mame = "/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-mame/mamearcade_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/arcade/retroarch.cfg %ROM%"

and replace /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-mame/mamearcade_libretro.so with /home/pi/Downloads/lr-mess264/mamemess_libretro.so, ie (what looks to me like) replace the old MESS executeable with the new MAMEMESS version.

But that crashes (log below), so what have I misunderstood? Do I need to find a different version of MAME and install that in another new folder as I did for the PMD85? I thought the whole point of the "mamemess" thing was that MAME and MESS were the same executeable?

Parameters: 
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /home/pi/Downloads/lr-mess264/mamemess_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/arcade/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/zzz-all/v4psi.zip" --verbose --appendconfig /dev/shm/retroarch.cfg'|'"/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/zzz-all/v4psi.zip.cfg"
[INFO] RetroArch 1.8.8 (Git 9552f87)
[INFO] Redirecting save file to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/zzz-all/v4psi.srm".
[INFO] Redirecting save state to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/zzz-all/v4psi.state".
[INFO] === Build =======================================
[INFO] Capabilities:  NEON VFPv3 VFPv4
[INFO] Built: Nov  2 2020
[INFO] Version: 1.8.8
[INFO] Git: 9552f87
[INFO] =================================================
[INFO] Loading dynamic libretro core from: "/home/pi/Downloads/lr-mess264/mamemess_libretro.so"
[INFO] [Environ]: GET_LANGUAGE: "0".
[INFO] [Environ]: RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SET_CORE_OPTIONS_INTL.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_CONTROLLER_INFO.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_SUPPORT_NO_GAME: yes.
[INFO] [Remaps]: remap directory: /home/pi/.config/retroarch/config/remaps
[INFO] Redirecting save file to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/zzz-all/v4psi.srm".
[INFO] Redirecting save state to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/zzz-all/v4psi.state".
[INFO] [Environ]: GET_LOG_INTERFACE.
[INFO] [Environ]: SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: "/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS".
[INFO] [Environ]: CORE_ASSETS_DIRECTORY: "/home/pi/.config/retroarch/downloads".
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: XRGB8888.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS:
[INFO] [Environ]: UNSUPPORTED (#64).
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_KEYBOARD_CALLBACK.
[libretro INFO] ------------------------
[libretro INFO] MAME 0.264 (170929e0)
[libretro INFO] ------------------------
[INFO] Content loading skipped. Implementation will load it on its own.
[libretro INFO] Starting game: "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/zzz-all/v4psi.zip"
[libretro ERROR] Driver not found: v4psi
[libretro ERROR] System not found: zzz-all
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_ROTATION: 0
[libretro ERROR] Unknown system 'v4psi'
[libretro ERROR] 
"v4psi" approximately matches the following
supported machines (best match first):

[libretro ERROR] vlsi5             286 motherboards with 5-chip VLSI chipset    (<unknown>, 198?)
[libretro ERROR] vpcii             VPC II                                       (Victor, 1987)
[libretro ERROR] vsmile            V.Smile                                      (VTech, 2005)
[libretro ERROR] psion1            Organiser I                                  (Psion, 1984)
[libretro ERROR] eps               EPS                                          (Ensoniq, 1988)
[libretro ERROR] vip               Cosmac VIP (VP-711)                          (RCA, 1977)
[libretro ERROR] vis               Video Information System MD-2500             (Tandy/Memorex, 1992)
[libretro ERROR] v4p895p3          V4P895P3/SMT V5.0                            (QDI, 199?)
[libretro ERROR] 486apio           486 APIO                                     (EFA, 199?)
[libretro ERROR] a486sio           ISA-486SIO rev. 1.2                          (Asus, 199?)
[libretro ERROR] pasopia           Personal Computer Pasopia PA7010             (Toshiba, 1982)
[libretro ERROR] phusion           Phusion                                      (VTech, 2000)
[libretro ERROR] polysix           Polysix Programmable Polyphonic Synthesizer  (Korg, 1980)
[libretro ERROR] psioncm           Organiser II CM                              (Psion, 1986)
[libretro ERROR] psionla           Organiser II LA                              (Psion, 1986)
[libretro ERROR] psionlz           Organiser II LZ                              (Psion, 1989)
[ERROR] Failed to load content
[INFO] Content ran for a total of: 00 hours, 00 minutes, 00 seconds.
[INFO] Unloading game..
[INFO] Unloading core..
[INFO] Unloading core symbols..
[INFO] [Core Options]: Saved core options file to "/home/pi/.config/retroarch/config/MAME/MAME.opt"

Folly

@JimmyFromTheBay

lr-mamemess.so only runs non-acade.
So that is why.

Here are my mamearcade.so binaries which are for arcade only :

Here is the info of that driver :
Driver v4psi (Prize Space Invaders (BWB IN2, £20, 50p/30p Play, 20" Version 1.1) (MPU4 Video)): @casino@misc@no_media@

Seems it doesn't have a good tag nor has it a non-arcade or arcade tag.
I think the mamearcade.so should have the driver but expect that the driver will not work.

Btw.
It's better to open a new topic for this as this topic is for PMD-85.

JimmyFromTheBay

@Folly Bah, doesn't work, even though it works in lr-mame with an identical command line except for the address of the executeable :(

(What's the difference between, say, the "gcc8" and "gcc10" versions?)

Folly

@JimmyFromTheBay

See here the info in my script.

JimmyFromTheBay

@Folly Cheers. I'm puzzled why it doesn't work, then, but it looks like this is the end of the road. Cheers for the assistance with the PMD 85, will be handy with other MESS systems :)

jose1711

Tried this on a PC but pressing Tab does not bring the menu. Tried changing the key bindings but that did not help either. Anyone has an idea?

Folly

@jose1711 said in Tesla PMD-85 computer in RetroPie?:

Tried this on a PC but pressing Tab does not bring the menu. Tried changing the key bindings but that did not help either. Anyone has an idea?

You tried with "lr-mess" right ?
There have been some changes recently.
You need to use retroarch's "game-focus" (default key is ~~Print-Screen~~ Scroll Lock) first in order to use "tab" for the mame UI.
Let me know if that works for you.

jose1711

@Folly Actually I used Mame (0.267) - don't really see lr-mess in packages/AUR so I guess this is a Pi-exclusive thing?

Folly

@jose1711 said in Tesla PMD-85 computer in RetroPie?:

@Folly Actually I used Mame (0.267) - don't really see lr-mess in packages/AUR so I guess this is a Pi-exclusive thing?

lr-mess is not exclusive to the pi only and mame should open up the UI when pressing tab.
You should add more info about your setup and how you installed pdm85.

jose1711

@Folly understood. my target system is x86_64 pc running arch linux (using Xorg). MAME has been installed via pacman. i downloaded pmd851.zip and a bunch of games in .zip format and placed them into /.mame/roms.

when i run mame, i locate PMD-85.1 entry. when i load it a menu is shown, i am able to Tab into context menu there but not at a later time (when I type MGLD 00 for instance).

i am pretty sure i am making a mistake in my workflow, i just don't know where (have very limited knowledge of MAME).

Folly

@jose1711

If you run mame direcly like that you need to add the option -ui_active to the command then you can use the tab key to present the UI.

More info on how to use the command-line options can be found over here.

If you use an arch linux distro you can use ArchyPie instead of RetroPie as RetroPie does not work on an arch linux distro.

My mamedev.sh module-script is adapted to work in ArchyPie.
Only a few parts are missing when running it from ArchyPie.

If you want to discuss this part then go to my topic :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29682/development-of-module-script-generator-for-lr-mess-lr-mame-and-mame-standalone

jose1711

@Folly Thank you, this was extremely useful. This is what I did:

mame -ui_active
find PMD-85.1 and load it
type MGLD 00 inside monitor mode
Tab -> File Manager -> navigate to auto (198x)(-).ptp -> Return to Previous Menu
(still in menu) Tape Control - Play
wait until the game is loaded into machine's memory
exit menu
type JUMP 2000
play the game (Left Shift/V to steer)

Couple observations/questions:

I am unable to use backspace in monitor mode (does nothing) so there is no room for typos
did not find a way to speed up tape loading
multi-game tapes (such as games-1.ptp) are lacking information about the position of the game on the tape - is trial&error the only option?

Thank you again, j

Folly

@jose1711

Good to hear that you got it working.

JimmyFromTheBay

@jose1711 said in Tesla PMD-85 computer in RetroPie?:

multi-game tapes (such as games-1.ptp) are lacking information about the position of the game on the tape - is trial&error the only option

Pretty much, combined with using savestates.

What I do is, if I've got a tape with (say) five games on it, I make five copies of it and give each one the name of a different game.

Then I load the first one, note the tape count, and make a savestate at the start of the game.

Then I go to the second file, start it at the tape count I just noted, load the second game and make a savestate at the start of the game. And so on.

Now I've got five files in the EmulationStation menu called GAME 1, GAME 2 etc (even though they're all technically the same file), and all I have to do is boot them up then load the savestate to play them instantly.