What's new Pussycat too?

Yes, exactly, Paul. The code was written to check the system video format of the host machine, but still, sometimes, as you say, there are very little differences with raster management. It's often only a matter of two or three cycles that can be easily fixed by inserting a couple of NOPs or other techniques to remove any possible defects, flickering effects, etc.

I never had the chance to buy an NTSC C64 - some years ago I'd found a NTSC Vic-20 that works like a charm even with a LED TV, nice and crisp video rendering through an S-video cable. So I'll keep looking for someone with a real NTSC hardware, just to make sure it all works fine.

 

I didn't code much on the C64, I mostly coded on the Atari and had a fun time trying to learn 68000 (and failing) but enjoyed working on little Snes, like removing PAL protection. The same techniques used for the cycles are pretty universal, I did the same with DLI's on the Atari. Don't get me wrong, I'm no programmer, just was a keen learner back then.

The only NTSC computer I've ever had is the (now PAL changed) Atari 1200XL, unless items were RGB the composite just didn't work on the PAL monitors (for obvious reasons). When it came to consoles, unless the console could swap between 50 and 60Hz then I got the US or Japanese version. Things like the Xbox were dead handy with the Hz choice.

 

Paul/Daz, I've got a question for you re the Commordore PC emulator VICE.
I cannot get JELLY MONSTERS (or any VIC-20 cart for that matter) running on the damn thing - I've had the odd tape file work but getting nowhere with the ROMs.
I've read a couple of FAQs and forums such as misterfpga.net... and tried start/end addresses and still drawing a blank.
Any advice for a VICE noob other than gan and pay £80-800 for the original withdrawn due to copyright infringements ROM on Feebay?!
Cheers in advance, fellas.

PS. Version: 3.7 (GTK3 3.24.35)

Tried all RAM combinations, running the files (saved to correct games dir - even renamed some from .prg to .crt to see if that did the trick - didn't) in attach cart image / smart attach mode options etc etc and emulator just hangs...

Is it possible my ROM files are crap and I need to look in some better repository online? Tried Zimmers.net

 

I'll have a look through, I know they often are prefixed in the name with the load address. I used to know how to do it all but it's a blank, will dig through the manual. Do not throw the files, they are ok, it's purely the way you load them.

 

Righty, Jelly monsters about to be played.

Unzip any zip images, make sure it's showing the .crt image, this also applies to .prg files which I'll deal with at the end (and .d64 files too)

Go to File menu and choose Attach Cartridge, browse in the new window to jelly monsters and make a note of the address in the crt file name (A000) in this case. Now select the cart but don't double click, once highlighted look at the bottom left of the page, there's a little spinner box saying Cartridge type, spin the arrow until you see Generic, not the use cart as generic, just plain old generic. Then you will get another spinner box to the right of it called cartridge class, spin that until it matches the number you had in the name, ie 4/8K game at A000, choose that and now click attach to the right.. Jelly monsters should be up and running..If not then check that you did set the spinners boxes 100% right, it's easy to think you selected it but didn't or selected the wrong value. With carts, the first box is always Generic and the second class box must point to the load address from the file.

There's some files with 2 numbers in, I've not worked those out as yet..(Obviously I will and let you know.)

By far te easiest way is to use a Gamebase compilation, all the various load routines are preset, you just click on the game and play away..

If you want that set up let me know, it's not that large and all point and click..

With prg files, it's easiest to drag and drop them on the emulator main screen..They then load and run for you..The same works for .d64 files..Save you all the typing

You may see some with a SYS command in the name, these simply won't autorun and need that command and number typed in, I'm sure you have done this in the past and iirc things like the scott adams stuff needed a sys to start

Only crt files need the faffing about as the emulator cannot sense the load address as standard..

 

Forget all that google nonsense, if in doubt, just ask us lot, I've been around a lot of emulators, as have a lot of us. One of us is sure to know. I myself have so much free time that it's a pleasure to use it to help someone.

PS, sure you must have used the old SYS commands, so didn't go into them...

 

Many thanks, Paul.

I've only just got 5mins free tonight now and look at the time... nearly bed o'clock so I'll have to follow your top tips tomorrow.

If I don't get on with VICE then I will take your advice and go down the easier for noob's Gamebase route instead.

Cheers, Big Ears!!

Always top advice on this site - friendliest and freshest forum by far!

PS>>>> Yep, got Gorf and Jelly Monsters running in seconds... took me hours before getting nowhere fast! Just need to work out the Vic's function key equivalents mapped to a laptop keyboard and the general game keyboard controls and then I might be properly in business!!! Cheers, mate - cooking on gas now!

 

The F keys are normally mapped to the standard PC F keys. only difference is that on the PC using the X64 Vice, you don't need to press SHIFT to get F2 etc, just hit the PC F2 key

Glad it all helped and made sense...

Game controls can be set to a USB pad or just the keyboard, all setting are under Preferences, Settings, Input Settings and desired device..If it's a gamepad, make sure it's plugged in before you run XVic or it won't be recognised in XVic..

Lastly, make sure you save your settings, when you go in to the settings menu there's a tick box saying 'Save settings on exit', worth ticking that or it's easy to forget to save the settings.

Have fun...

 

Cheers, Paul.
I've had a broken tooth out and difficult to extract root taken out today at a local hospital BUT as soon as I'm feeling a bit more with it, I'll have another look at the keyboard mapping and try and get a joystick up and running through a USB interface with the VICE/Vic-20 emulation.
Last night it wasn't having any of it with any keys so I guess I must have boobed somewhere...
Thanks very much once more for all the guides and pointers, mate.

 

Any time me old mate, sorry about the old tooth, those broken ones are a real pain in every sense. Hope they gave you some pain meds to help for the after jaw ache.

Once you feel more like it you will be up and running...The controls etc are the easy bit..

 

Thanks, Paul.
I'm just on standard paracetamols but taking the max dose and it's taken the edge off.
Still a/w the hospital pharmacy to sort out the antibiotics...
Never mind - many thanks and it's given me the chance to put some decorations up on the tree whilst I sip soup!
Cheers, mate.

 

No pictures yet as I've been busy having a play with it, but my Atari Gamestation Pro (GSP from here onwards) arrived today. First impressions though, great little machine. Build quality is excellent and emulation is very good. The included wireless joysticks are much better and more comfortable than I expected. The system even has LED lights that you can change the colour of, sounds a bit daft but looks very cool anyway!

Have spent some time adding various games to a micro sd card and managed to get more 2600 and 7800 titles as well as Megadrive, Gameboy and GB Advance titles working. Some of the PAL 7800 games were either jerky or didn't run at all but the NTSC versions have all been 100%.

Still early days but I can see this getting a lot of play in AL's man cave. It's much more usable than the Atari 2600+ but having the two of them together makes for an epic retro Atari console setup.

In other news, if any of you have the Atari 50 collection on console or PC, Digital Eclipse have just realised a new free update that gives you another twelve titles including the classic Bowling for the 2600 and the utterly awesome Warbirds on the Lynx.

And finally... news just reaching us that Digital Eclipse are also releasing a Llamasoft Collection in early 2024 using the same format as Atari 50. Can't wait

 

Nice posts, Paul, about how to load games on Vic-20 emulated. And yes, the problem with this CBM machine is often related to memory management - the CRT files must be mapped to a particular address in order to function correctly. Sometimes, even normal PRG games, or the ones included in D64 files, have to be loaded in two parts, checking out the right memory address to load and run them. I remember that with VICE it was a little nightmare to just load Dig Dug the correct way because it's often provided on the web split in two PRG files, and each one must be loaded in a precise order and respecting the correct memory address. As Paul pointed out, with PRGs sometimes you have to run the game with a SYS command. And it also depends on how much memory you need to have as a virtual expansion board, which is often included in the name of the game, together with the loading address.

The Vic-20 GameBase is definitely recommended if you just want to play, without getting nuts with memory locations and running commands. For reference, the Sleeping Elephant/Denial forum is the way to go if you're looking for any information about the Vic-20.

http://sleepingelephant.com/denial/

 

Thanks Daz, here to help...Yep, the old Vic stuff is a bit of a pain, I'd forgotten about the loading stuff as I was always spoilt by the Gamebase simplicity, a guy and I called .mad often traded notes on gamebase cfg's, it started with me helping him and then he became the master of them, lovely bloke from upt Norf. He updated the Vic-20 GB, and it's config recently. If ever anyone needs gamebase help then he's your man, he's on AtariAge under .mad. He's even taken on the mantle of updating Starwindz and my Best of Atari 8bit computer Gamepack (with my blessing). Truth is, I hate databasing these days, staring at a screen for long just ache's my neck and the old attention spam is not as good as it used to be.

Anyway, enough rabbiting on, monitors to play with

Paul..

 

Many many thanks for these posts, fellas.
They are keeping me sane whilst my gob aches like hell and oozes blood both into my mush and now dripping from my nostrils... I look like one of those hell hounds from Hammer House of Horror.
Anyhow, when I'm better again I will d'load the Gamebase for the VIC and get these games then running seamlessly and easily... I have mates at work who grew up with a VIC and the last thing they need is me to go in on Fri 22 Dec (games and party day - yes, it's just like primary school at the council - same petty squabbles, name-calling and fall outs) and struggle to get anything running on me laptop to bring them the Jelly Monsters and Gorf retro rush that they crave! They would probably throw a bowl of trifle over me the minute I started quoting Daz and memory start addresses and PRG files - what the feck? Just git it working, you retro retard etc. Our man oop North sounds a great guy, Paul. I will contact him at some point if only to name drop the great Mac/P. Irvine and thank him for all the time & effort he puts in to keeping these much-loved resources current and accessible.
I also enjoyed catching up with Al there and his excellent GSP acquisition... I'm sorely tempted (once me gob heals) to get one of those cheeky set-ups too - it sounds like the dog's bolly's, Al, esp the remote control jossies, excellent compatibility/customisation and flashing lights (you sold me it on the lights alone!)
OK, must dash - have some snot to sort and some packages to send... ;-)

 

Between your mouth and Paul's arse acrobatics it's a pretty picture on here just now

Andy, I'm going to have a proper play with the GSP this weekend and will get some pictures etc posted. Is there anything in particular you want to see or know about it?

I forgot to mention earlier that I played Warlords and Super Breakout using the built in paddle controller and it felt very responsive. Warlords is fast becoming a favourite of mine.

 

Re configs, he's da man, I can answer most other things, so it's not a case of pushing you to him. I love to help, it's my one big smiley thing and it breaks up the long days of pain and low moods. So ask away, I'll either know or not, I'd never BS an answer.

Must get the Vic Gamebase back, I had to make space on drives, and I was in the low mood of emulation is not of interest time, so I dumped a lot of stuff. Got most of it back and used more HD's to cover the needs.

Bet you are getting bored of the taste of salt (I seem to remember that they recommend rinsing out with it in warm water after an extraction., apols if wrong, Bev will know).

 

Re-got the Gambase for the Vic, link to it with instructions..

It's only little 320mb

https://mega.nz/file/1oJVlaZZ#J6WHV4EFn_TjLoLycRnVGtjQEvdTxzzrH_leBr-F3qE

Edit: 2 things, after installing and running the frontend will ask to update the database, allow this, it's fine. There however is an error that you get with running the games, the script is slightly out of date and throws up a file reference error, it says you can continue to run it anyway, choose that the game will work. I'll get on to .mad and get the old script back

 

Many, many, many thanks, Paul - a TO DO this weekend without doubt for me - I'll report back, guys, with feedback.

 

Oh, Al, as regards your GSP review and try-outs etc, anything which looks fab running on the 7800 please - I'm thinking Joust, Xevious, Commando, Pole Position, Desert Falcon, Donkey Kong, Star Wars??

Cheers, mate.

Looking fwd to some high end 8bit console action!

 

I've got Pole Position loaded up already Andy, will pop the others on an SD card over the weekend and see if I can assemble a little video clip for you.

Also just saw that there is a new firmware update released which fixes a few little anomalies and also enables better SD card integration as well as adding Super Nintendo emulation. I'll be trying that out as well.

The more I've been using it, the more impressed I have become with the GSP. The paddle control is very nice, even had a few games of Pong which brought a smile to my face.

 

Blimey Al, posting at 5:45am, do you not sleep

When I worked with Maplin I was up and out before 5 as we lived the opposite side of London to my job. We lived almost in Essex and the shop was west London as was Cindy's work. I don't miss the travel..

Sounds like a nice little machine you have there, enjoy...

 

LOL!
I bet a lot of us keep strange hours these days... you know, what with up n down to toilet in the middle of the night 3-4 times and not being able to get back to sleep so you get up, sort yourself a brew and then... oh, I'll stick the computer on and check me emails/Beeb news etc etc....
Poor you Al, obsessed with Atari Owner, Paul's toilet habits, my grotty gob and having to feed your console habit!
;-)
Have a lay in tomorrow - doc's orders.
Cheers, mate - will look forward to your review.

 

Because I drink a LOT of water to clear my system of the meds etc, I tend to need to pee a lot. Annoying while in the middle of doing the dishes and the sound of the water makes you want to pee. At night, it's a pee or two, not so bad on a warm night, but when it's freezing cold it's a real bind to have to pee.

Mind you, the fridge is nearer than the toilet, maybe I should take up my old man's peeing habit

What with Serena having a fridge for her meat free stuff and us having a fridge, I'd be spoilt for choice..

 

Sorry, no C64 in my collection yet...