Testers wanted for game fixes, hard disk adaptations

[ParanoidLittleMan]

I have really lot of games on hard drive, some almost finished. Did not put them on site mostly because had no time to test them enough.

So, if some people want to contribute, please write me to petari@8bitchip.info

 

Testing can be done with some emulator, real Atari equipped with some mass storage, hard disk, or real Atari with floppy or HW floppy emulator (HxC). All ST, STE versions. Falcon without (active) accelerators , TT . In case of latest 2, only real HW is suitable for test, mostly because PMMU is still not emulated properly.

Floppy version is not priority, but I do them parallel with hard disk versions in many cases.

 

What is under work:

Anarchy

Armalyte

Axe of Rage

Back to the Future

Berlin 1948

Beverly Hills Cop

Buffalo BIll ...

Cool World

Daley Thompson Decathlon

Dark Century

Day of the Viper

Debut - complex

Defenders of the Earth

Demoniak

Dragon's Breath

F15 Strike Eagle II

Fire Force

Future Wars - update

Ghouls and Ghosts

Gilbert

Goldrunner 2

Hotrod

Hotshot

Hound of Shadow

Inernational Truck Racing

Ishar 1-3 - need serious testing because randomly appearing manual prot.

Last Duel

Midi Battle

Midwinter 1 & 2

Missing one Droid - need original

Murder in Space

Mystery of Mummy

Navy Moves

Nightbreed

Night Shift

Ninja Warriors

Obitus

Ork

Ozone

Phantasie 33

Psycho

Railroad Tycoon

Rockstar Ate My Hamster

Rotox

Running Man

Sarakon

Short Grey

Skidz

Space 1889

Stormlord

Strike

Tanglewood (needs bugfix too)

Tass Time - need original, crack without spoiled texts

Theme park Mistery - need only test

Thomas the Tank Engine (1)

Ultimate Ride

Under Pressure

Viaje

White Water Madness

Windwalker

 

 

Please write (in e-mail, link above) about your config, on what want to test, game type interest ..

 

Only topic related posts, please. It may mean some request too, but priority have contributors

Don't care if something listed is done by someone other, so without URLs for that. What is welcome is good source of game, for few where it is noted.

[GadgetUK]

Defintely!! Email will be sent shortly!! Thanks for spending your time doing these!

[pixelmischief]

I have a:

 

Falcon w/ 14MB and IDE CF

1040STe w/ 4MB and UltraSatan

Mega STe w/ 4MB and SCSI-to-IDE CF

TT w/ 4/32MB and SCSI-to-IDE CF

 

Which would be most helpful to you as a testing target?

[GadgetUK]

I have a:

 

Falcon w/ 14MB and IDE CF

1040STe w/ 4MB and UltraSatan

Mega STe w/ 4MB and SCSI-to-IDE CF

TT w/ 4/32MB and SCSI-to-IDE CF

 

Which would be most helpful to you as a testing target?

Might be worth listing TOS revisions as well! I would think they can all used =) You've got some nice systems there =)

[GadgetUK]

LOL, you know... I think this is an April Fools Day....

 

There is no Daley Thompson Decathlon or Back to the Future... Doh.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

I have a:

 

Falcon w/ 14MB and IDE CF

1040STe w/ 4MB and UltraSatan

Mega STe w/ 4MB and SCSI-to-IDE CF

TT w/ 4/32MB and SCSI-to-IDE CF

 

Which would be most helpful to you as a testing target?

Almost exactly same machines as I have

Falcon is what is little more problematic, and even monitor is not irrelevant. There are differences between VGA and RGB monitor/TV - related with how games work.

Mega STE is with original internal adapter ? So, it uses ACSI driver in fact - would be interesting too .

 

 

LOL, you know... I think this is an April Fools Day....

 

There is no Daley Thompson Decathlon or Back to the Future... Doh.

My mistakes. It is Daley Thompson Olympic Challenge and Back to the Future II

 

For beginning, I will start new DIR. where will be download of test versions, including required infos.

And I think that will share e-mail addresses of testers, among other ones, so can exchange experiences, statesaves, and coordinate tests.

Of course, may write some things here too ..

[pixelmischief]

Almost exactly same machines as I have

Falcon is what is little more problematic, and even monitor is not irrelevant. There are differences between VGA and RGB monitor/TV - related with how games work.

Mega STE is with original internal adapter ? So, it uses ACSI driver in fact - would be interesting too .

 

In addition to VGA, I have an SC1224, so I can do "Atari Only" video tests on everything. The TT has a Matrix CoCo in it. Don't know if that's interesting. I also have SCART cables and SCART to HDMI converter kin case SCART is interesting, too.

 

Might be worth listing TOS revisions as well! I would think they can all used =) You've got some nice systems there =)

 

I'll have to get back to you guys on TOS versions. I'm not positive. But thanks for the "big up" on my Atari 16/32 collection. Additionally, I have a full compliment of 8-Bits, as well. What can I say? I fell in love with Atari as a kid. And it's a love affair that has - and I am certain will - last for a lifetime.

[walter_J64bit]

Is there anyway to patch these games to work with the enhanced joystick ports too?

[+DarkLord]

Got my modified STacy available for testing.

 

US mass storage, TOS 1.4 or TOS v3.06, original 68000 @ 8mhz or

68030 @ 40mhz, also 68882 FPU.

 

Up for anything you want to throw at it.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Stacy is color/monochrome - I mean can connect external display to it ?

 

68030 with TT TOS may be interesting - and should work, since TT detection is based on simple TOS version test.

I would like you confirm my above theory by trying some of newer releases with accel. on. Will find some monochrome games too .

[ParanoidLittleMan]

What is generally most needed for testing:
Work on specific config - so short test on some not so common config, like Atari Mega STE with CF card via SCSI-CF adapter. Work on Falcon with diverse hard disk drivers, with diverse monitors - VGA, RGB, TV .
There are some differences in how data is cached - depending on available RAM - in case of 1MB machines there is more disk access, with less data load at once.

How ingame position/progress save/load works - so saving with game's menu, function keys and then restarting game and loading saved position, party and similar. Then highscore saves - not much important, and not present in all games, but some like it. Of course, today we expect that all it goes on hard disk.
Related with above: possibility to use old game saves on floppy. If game saves in regular files, should be able to use them after copying from floppy to games folder. If uses custom format, floppy image should be copied to games folder with given name (in readme.txt) - like is in case of F1 GP .

Most interesting, and most time consuming is to play game thoroughly: it will help in case that there is some delayed copy or manual protection, what needs to be removed/deactivated. To encounter possible bugs in fix, or even in original game code. Then I need to fix bugs, of course. For instance, recently I got report about Hillsfar - it asks for some words from manual after entering specific location. I was not aware about it - not mentioned at AM .
Of course, there is no real need to play game thoroughly on different configs, at least not by one tester/player. Chances that what wprked complete well on some ST, will fail on STE are minimal. Little more chances for fail on Falcon, TT - may be that there is some incompatible code at later stages - but it is really not much likely.
So, best would be to achieve some coordination between testers - that not all test on same machines. I'm thinking about it right now. Maybe to start page with infos about on what config(s) is some game tested at moment ?

[+DarkLord]

Stacy is color/monochrome - I mean can connect external display to it ?

 

68030 with TT TOS may be interesting - and should work, since TT detection is based on simple TOS version test.

I would like you confirm my above theory by trying some of newer releases with accel. on. Will find some monochrome games too .

 

Yes, I can do mono or color.

 

Coolness - tell me which ones and where I can get them and I'll start working on them.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Here is first test version of STE advanced joystick support. Game is Golden Axe. Test only with STE or Falcon and pad or joystick attached to first advanced STE joy port. For this first version still will need regular joystick if want to select in menus - only while play can use pad - if will work - I tested only in Steem.

 

Get here: http://atari.8bitchip.info/TestMe/

Read file STEPAD.TXT .

I will add pad support for menus and player 2, when this works. Not quite simple with this game.

[pixelmischief]

Alright. I have my Mega STe set up. It is TOS 2.05. It has 4MB and 68882 maths. For storage, it has a CF-to-IDE connected to an IDE-to-SCSI, which is in turn connected to the internal controller . I am using HDDRIVER 8.23, configured for low mem consumption; as per the link you sent in an earlier smackdown. Display is on an SC1224.

 

I am ready to commence testing, sir.

Edited April 4, 2014 by pixelmischief

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Here is first test version of STE advanced joystick support. Game is Golden Axe. Test only with STE or Falcon and pad or joystick attached to first advanced STE joy port. For this first version still will need regular joystick if want to select in menus - only while play can use pad - if will work - I tested only in Steem.

 

Get here: http://atari.8bitchip.info/TestMe/

Read file STEPAD.TXT .

I will add pad support for menus and player 2, when this works. Not quite simple with this game.

Note: this works not with JagPad controllers for sure. So, if you have normal STE extended port joystick, please test.

I need some better documentation about reading Jagpad on STE - what is on STEfanpage is not enough.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Alright. I have my Mega STe set up. It is TOS 2.05. It has 4MB and 68882 maths. For storage, it has a CF-to-IDE connected to an IDE-to-SCSI, which is in turn connected to the internal controller . I am using HDDRIVER 8.23, configured for low mem consumption; as per the link you sent in an earlier smackdown. Display is on an SC1224.

 

I am ready to commence testing, sir.

I will upload in following days some in TestMe DIR . You can try some of what already DL-ed with you MSTE config - to see is works at all - HAGA system recommended . Hopefully transfer to CF card is not problem - if is, ask for help.

I would like to resolve problem with your Falcon - did you try with image I linked ? Can you check low RAM usage with GXUT20.PRG ? It is present in all older adaptations with similar or same name . And, what brand, type is CF card you using on Falcon ? As see, I'm very curious persona

[+DarkLord]

Note: this works not with JagPad controllers for sure. So, if you have normal STE extended port joystick, please test.

I need some better documentation about reading Jagpad on STE - what is on STEfanpage is not enough.

 

Just saw this posted over at Atari Forum:

 

http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=26362

 

Maybe it will help?

[pixelmischief]

I will upload in following days some in TestMe DIR .

Where will I find this "TestMe" DIR you speak of?

 

You can try some of what already DL-ed with you MSTE config - to see is works at all.

I have tried several games now, using "START.TOS" and hitting "M" to set CPU speed to 8mhz. Most of them have worked very well. The only thing that continues to elude me is the use of "*". My understanding is that it allows me to exit to desktop or save game state. I don't know.

 

HAGA system recommended.

I Googled "HAGA system" and read some info on PP site. My understanding is that it is the utility that makes these games HD and Falcon/TT compatible. Is that right? Is there more to it I should understand?

 

Hopefully transfer to CF card is not problem - if is, ask for help.

The best process I have right now is using "drimg132" in Windows 7 to copy games in ".ZIP" format to a CF prepped on the Atari. The tool doesn't support transferring directories recursively, so I still have to unzip the games on the Atari. It's slow. Do you have something better?

 

I would like to resolve problem with your Falcon - did you try with image I linked? Can you check low RAM usage with GXUT20.PRG ? It is present in all older adaptations with similar or same name . And, what brand, type is CF card you using on Falcon ? As see, I'm very curious persona

I haven't tried to improve the experience on the Falcon using the information you offerred, but I am confident that HDDRIVER memory usage will turn out to be the problem. When I first started testing on the Mega STe, I was getting the same problem as with the Falcon. As soon as I lowered HDDRIVER mem usage, everything started working. I've packed the Falcon away now, and since we seem to have another Falcon tester, I'll keep the Mega STe on my desk. That is, unless you want me to test on Falcon as well.

[ParanoidLittleMan]

 

Just saw this posted over at Atari Forum:

 

http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=26362

 

Maybe it will help?

 

He posted it after my PM So, I did update. Waiting test results ..

 

 

Where will I find this "TestMe" DIR you speak of?

 

http://atari.8bitchip.info/TestMe/

 

 

I have tried several games now, using "START.TOS" and hitting "M" to set CPU speed to 8mhz. Most of them have worked very well. The only thing that continues to elude me is the use of "*". My understanding is that it allows me to exit to desktop or save game state. I don't know.

 

I Googled "HAGA system" and read some info on PP site. My understanding is that it is the utility that makes these games HD and Falcon/TT compatible. Is that right? Is there more to it I should understand?

You don't need to set CPU speed to 8MHz in normal case - it is preset to optimal - so by some games to 16MHz.

* is for Exit to Desktop, unless it is used in game, them some other is assigned for that - it is always shown at bottom what key is for Exit and what is for saving gamestate (after what game continues) . Default statesave key is / .

Yes, HAGA is what server hard disk compat. and Falcon, TT compatibility + statesaves, Exit to Desktop. There are some more details on diverse pages on my site.

 

 

The best process I have right now is using "drimg132" in Windows 7 to copy games in ".ZIP" format to a CF prepped on the Atari. The tool doesn't support transferring directories recursively, so I still have to unzip the games on the Atari. It's slow. Do you have something better?

 

I haven't tried to improve the experience on the Falcon using the information you offerred, but I am confident that HDDRIVER memory usage will turn out to be the problem. When I first started testing on the Mega STe, I was getting the same problem as with the Falcon. As soon as I lowered HDDRIVER mem usage, everything started working. I've packed the Falcon away now, and since we seem to have another Falcon tester, I'll keep the Mega STe on my desk. That is, unless you want me to test on Falcon as well.

Of course there is something better: TOS/DOS compatible partitioning - then you can copy files, directories straight to Flash card, with Total Commander for instance. This is why I did not improve Drimg further. You have it with Hddriver too. In any case, need to repartition medias for ..

And no need for Falcon to test that TOS/DOS image with driver and games - can with mega STE too . Then no need to replace driver

Edited April 4, 2014 by ParanoidLittleMan

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Added board game Sarakon http://atari.8bitchip.info/TestMe/

 

What is needed is testing diverse levels of game. And if someone could write short manual for this ..

[GadgetUK]

Thanks, will check this out later =). Will do manual if I can and test what's possible.

[GadgetUK]

Murder in space crashes when you go to the left from the central module. So when the game starts and your space man floats left, if you go 2 screens left it will crash with 2 bombs. That's on my STFM with 4Mb TOS 1.04.

 

The other games seem OK to me. I've had a pretty good blast on them, will test more tomorrow.

Edited April 12, 2014 by GadgetUK

[Lynxpro]

I'm not in a position to test with my Falcon but I think it's important to distinguish between VGA and ST res modes, on board 68882s, and the RAM configurations. I'm sure some ST games might flake out if more than 4MB is detected.

 

Support for the enhanced controller ports would be awesome. I don't recall any other controllers having been on the market that supported the ports other than what became the Jaguar controllers but maybe PC Gameport adapters were made that I'm unaware of. Call me crazy but I'd love to see a 5200-to-Enhanced a Controller Port Adapter because I think it would be cool to use 5200 joysticks with the Falcon [and Jaguar controllers with the 5200]...

[ParanoidLittleMan]

I'm not in a position to test with my Falcon but I think it's important to distinguish between VGA and ST res modes, on board 68882s, and the RAM configurations. I'm sure some ST games might flake out if more than 4MB is detected.

 

Support for the enhanced controller ports would be awesome. I don't recall any other controllers having been on the market that supported the ports other than what became the Jaguar controllers but maybe PC Gameport adapters were made that I'm unaware of. Call me crazy but I'd love to see a 5200-to-Enhanced a Controller Port Adapter because I think it would be cool to use 5200 joysticks with the Falcon [and Jaguar controllers with the 5200]...

 

There is no usage of RAM above 4MB in Falcon, since this are ST games, and not so RAM hungry. No problems at all on Falcons with 14MB ST RAM.

Yes, support for more controls would be good, but it is pretty much work according to my experiences with Golden Axe. And I don't know are some docs for 5200 joystick available at all.

In any case, I really can not spend lot of time for only 1 user. So, if there is more people interested we may talk about. I have a lot of unfinished stuff ...

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Little update:

 

Hard disk adaptations for testing

In purpose to make new releases as much good as possible,
I started with testing section - this is simply special DIR
on WEBsite, where people can DL test releases, which are
mostly same as final releases considering usage.
Read files README.TXT in archives for specific infos
about what is most interesting to test for particular
game.
Write to petari@8bitchip.info about your observations,
possible errors and possible suggestions.

Generally, what is needed for testing is work on diverse
configurations - you will see supported HW in README.TXT
files in archives.
Testing overall work of game, diverse levels, how ingame
saves, loads work.

Currently for testing:

Golden Axe - it is just update with Atari JagPad controls - still works only when play self starts

Theme park Mystery - testing of game levels is what is most important - will after finishing level 1 go to next one well ?

Sarakon - testing diverse levels

Night Shift - testing diverse levels

Murder in Space - testing diverse levels

Mystery of Mummy - testing diverse levels, saves, loads

Ultimate Ride - testing diverse levels

Midwinter - testing diverse levels, saves, loads

Midwinter II - testing diverse levels, saves, loads , campaign disk creation

It was pretty hard and time consuming to redirect campaign disk creation to hard disk. Used system is little slower, but you can use directly, without conversion ST floppy images of your old campaign floppies - for more read README.TXT in zip .

And same stays for many other adaptations - using ST images for saves.


3D games like Ultimate Ride and Midwinter 1-2 will benefit on faster machines like TT, Falcon,
Mega STE - much better framerate and playability.

 

http://atari.8bitchip.info/TestMe/

Thanx in advance for your effort and contribution.

Edited April 19, 2014 by ParanoidLittleMan