Bugfix 0.62 for the fMSX emulator

[Snatcher]

Check the readme file, but the only thing I really did was fixeng teh variable that holds the RAM size.

I really wanted to boot the Snatcher Translation, and it works great!

BW, this fixes all the MSX games that didn't run because they had RAM requirements higher than 128 KB,

-- Snatcher

[marketkid82]

Cool, I hope I can get this one to work :Pray:

[Isulduir]

There was nothing wrong with the fmsx 0.61+ as far as I could see. I was able to run several games, MX1 And MX2 games. I even had Metal Gear 2 running, which required extra memory and a second rom setting. See this site on how to use the FMSX emulator. It has some very usefull information. http://grblitz.overclocked.org/cconstal.htm
And this supposed fix does not work you cant even enter the config page without it freezing. Which is needed to set up the keyboard. Even if you use your old config file from the previous version this program still locks up when using keyboard or config selections. In fact I tried to run several games that I could run no problem before and they wont run. The FMSX0.61+ emulator is overlooked due to its complexity of all the different settings that are required for some of the different roms. There is a chart for some of them at the above URL. Several of the roms will run on setting it to msx1 or msx2 type. Lets see I had 22 roms running on it. And I just started using it 2 days ago. FMSX 0.61+ has a really cool overlay keyboard that pops up at the press of a button for keyboard input. Pretty ingenious. And you can also still see the game screen because there is a cutaway in the overlay to theright half of the screen. UAE-PSP could use this badly.

[Snatcher]

Originally Posted by Isulduir

There was nothing wrong with the fmsx 0.61+ as far as I could see. I was able to run several games, MX1 And MX2 games. I even had Metal Gear 2 running, which required extra memory and a second rom setting. See this site on how to use the FMSX emulator. It has some very usefull information. http://grblitz.overclocked.org/cconstal.htm
And this supposed fix does not work you cant even enter the config page without it freezing. Which is needed to set up the keyboard.

That is quite odd. There were only 1 or two lines changed to the code, and it is only regarding the size of the RAM that is decklared to the game. Nothing else was changed and the release (albeit that) is identical.

I am testing on an american 1.5 PSP, but that should make no difference at all. And regarding the (RAM and other) options, they are hard coded in the PSP release. The only thing done, regarding these (hardcoded) options, is that the RAM size is declared at the allocated size, (instead of the 4 16KB RAM pages that were on by default, 256 are used.. which is the real allocated RAM in the emulator)

As you can see in the following lines:

/* Allocate VRAMPages*16kB for VRAM */
if(Verbose) _printf("OK\nAllocating %dkB for VRAM...",VRAMPages*16);
// if(!(VRAM=malloc(VRAMPage s*0x4000))) { PRINTFAILED;return(0); }
{
static char VRAM_buffer[8*0x4000];
VRAM=VRAM_buffer;
if( VRAMPages>8 ){
Error_mes("‚È‚ñ‚©VRAMƒy�[ƒW�”8’´‚¦‚Ă邵ŠëŒ¯");
}
}
_memset(VRAM,0x00,VRAMPag es*0x4000);
Chunks[CCount++]=VRAM;

/* Allocate RAMPages*16kB for RAM */
if(Verbose) _printf("OK\nAllocating %dx16kB RAM pages...",RAMPages);
// if(!(RAMData=malloc(RAMPa ges*0x4000))) { PRINTFAILED;return(0); }
{
static char RAMData_buffer[256*0x4000];
RAMData=RAMData_buffer;
if( RAMPages>256 ){
Error_mes("‚È‚ñ‚©RAMƒy�[ƒW�”256’´‚¦‚Ă邵ŠëŒ¯");
}
}
_memset( RAMData, NORAM, RAMPages*0x4000);
Chunks[CCount++]=RAMData;

This version of the emulator has the RAM and VRAM hardcoded (vs the parameters, which were malloced in the original, non psp, version of the code)

So in the original release, they were allocated as well, but the variables RAMPages and VRAMPages were set to 4 and 2. I changed that to reflect the maximum values (256 and 8), and as a result the snatcher MSX translation now runs. I've tested my library of games, and all work well, as tehy did before, but the one that didn't does now.

Also, I've had no trouble with the KEY CONFIG menu at all. As explained avobe and in teh readme file, those are the only changes I made and they are really minumum.

[Tidegear]

Did you fix the bug where pressing a button mapped to F2 also hits F1?

[Mr__Foxhound]

So, how do I get this to work now? I want to play MG 1 and 2, but I couldn't get the other one to work. Do you have a good readme on this?

[Snatcher]

The post by Isildur up there contains a valuable link regarding how to set up the emulator. The requirements are exactly the same as for the original release of it.

[crusher]

I must ask, is there something wrong with the state saving? I tried to save a state file but I can't get it to work. It just stays there accessing the memory stick for several minutes without anything happening. I had to turn off the power sadly, as nothing seemed to happened at all.

So I'd be happy if someone could please inform me if I'm doing something wrong. Thanks. :)

[Snatcher]

I guess you are trying to save to floppy from a game within the emulator. To acomplish that, you have to have an "empty floppy" on drive a.

[crusher]

Nah, I'm just trying the save state file option from the emulator menu...

Quick save/load seems to work but it will be cleared once you turn off the emulator.

[Mr__Foxhound]

Yeah, I read all through that link, and I still can't get it to work. I did everything that it said, but nothing. I would set it all up, go to power, press O, and the screen would go black and the MS light would flash. After that, it would kick me out to the PSP menu. What gives? Am I missing something?

[Snatcher]

Originally Posted by Tidegear

Did you fix the bug where pressing a button mapped to F2 also hits F1?

Done, and added the possibility to save up to three Key settings, in order to have a custom layout for games with specific needs (Snatcher comes to mind) and other games.

EDIT:

I apologize. I included all the changes in the 0.61+ release and assumed that it indeed corrected the F1/F2 bug. But I see that it is not corrected in that release, neither in this one. I'll try to work that one out...

Sorry about the inconvenience....


EDIT 2:

Now, it is fixed. Version 0.62a+ is out and F2 maps correctly now.

[Snatcher]

Originally Posted by crusher

I must ask, is there something wrong with the state saving? I tried to save a state file but I can't get it to work. It just stays there accessing the memory stick for several minutes without anything happening. I had to turn off the power sadly, as nothing seemed to happened at all.

So I'd be happy if someone could please inform me if I'm doing something wrong. Thanks.

I think I know what causes this. It must be the RAM size (In that case I might have to put a setting to change it manualy).

I just did a save state, and indeed it takes a long time. But it does work, the problem is that each save state is 4MB in size... (the RAM size)

I'll see what I can do about it tomorrow (since I don't have the source code here with me).

[WraithLeader]

Great release, helps out guite a bit! Just realized when I read your Readme that you put a link to my FAQ! Now I'm going to actually have to update it :doh: !

[crusher]

Originally Posted by Snatcher

I think I know what causes this. It must be the RAM size (In that case I might have to put a setting to change it manualy).

I just did a save state, and indeed it takes a long time. But it does work, the problem is that each save state is 4MB in size... (the RAM size)

I'll see what I can do about it tomorrow (since I don't have the source code here with me).

4 MB? Crazy! :P I don't even have that much space left on my small memory stick... I'll make some room and try to save again later. Great work so far though. Thanks.

Also, are you the admin of JunkerHQ? Great site I must say.

[Snatcher]

Ok, I reduced the size to the minimum to run Snatcher and at the same time we get smaller save states (around 400kb).

In order to make a release that was worth slightly more, I beautified the key profile menues, and made them more userfriendly. Hope you find that useful.

Thanks for the comments crusher, I do what I can with the little time I have left.

And WraithLeader, great to see you liked the features. Sorry about the FAQ though ^^

[leech]

Thanks for fixing the save state problem

Would it be possible to have an option in the UI which lets you choose how much RAM you want to allocate to fMSX (kind of like how you can change the clock speed)? Or does it have to be hardcoded into the application?

[BobBorakovitz]

Great work! I love Snatcher and play it constantly on my SegaCD, so when I saw this on the front page, I had to locate it! Well, I got Snatcher, it took a couple nights to figure it all out (I was using MSX2+ instead of MSX2, doh!)
Anyway, I found the save bug and was going to ask you about it, I'm glad to see it fixed already! Thanx Again! Now - back to Snatcher! :dance:

[Snatcher]

Originally Posted by leech

Thanks for fixing the save state problem

Would it be possible to have an option in the UI which lets you choose how much RAM you want to allocate to fMSX (kind of like how you can change the clock speed)? Or does it have to be hardcoded into the application?

I had something like that planned.. but the thing is that it might probably introduce more problems than what it fixes... since most people won-t be able to guess how much they need for a specific game. That-s why I set it up at 400 KB....

[blue_jr]

Hello, I also solved some problems with the diferent versions of fmsx for psp that you uploaded previously. But I still have problems. All the ROMS work perfectly but I can't play games that are in disk format (the emulation shows the same black or blue screen or directly don't load and i have to return to psp menu)... the only one that works fine is Snatcher BUT... I have problems for save the game. The fact is that happens to me with your latest version you shared before -_-(fMX062bplus.zip): When i go to the menu of the emulator(L) for save the state... the options appear in grey and i can't use it! only works the quick save, and I THINK it'll be a little hard win the game with only the quick save... >-<
Maybe I need a user disk or something?? where i place it? The option of "Install game" in disk0 could solve it? (I tried install it but i have no idea ...)
If you or someone could help me , please...

OFF TOPIC ~~: ah >-<, Snatcher, you're the webmaster or something of Junker HQ?? You know alot and u share it!! I've entered many many times through years (and still recently), ya~~y! congrats!!, your page's za GREATEST ever, really. :P I still remember my brothers playin SDSnatcher when i was 5 years old, its a sweety memory for me I love Konami till msx! :drool: (Oi, U have some pic with Kojima-sama? *_*)

sorry for steal your time and thnx!

[MvTrlrMusic]

What does fMSX stand for ?

[GogoTheMimic]

I followed that guide to a T and even tried running the QBert rom. Whenever I hit power, my mem stick light flickers a little bit and then I'm back at the menu. I've tried and retried following the steps. All I want to do is play some Metal Gear and God willing, Snatcher on my PSP! Any help for a newb?