Let's get this party started

[Retro Lord]

Okay, I'm finaly ready for my first 7800 project. I got 7800BASIC booted up and I've put in the very beginning. Now, how do I make sprites, and how do I save my project?

 

This worked for VBB for the 2600 so I'm just guessing this is the way to do it for the 7800 as well? :

 

main

 

drawscreen

 

goto main

[Mord]

7800Basic is the easiest way yes, although those who know exactly what they're doing likely do it with assembly - gives more control and whatnot.

 

If you haven't already, go to Random Terrain's online documentation for 7800Basic. It includes tutorials that were posted here about doing sprites in GIMP and making maps with Tiles. I recommend checking out the sample programs included with 7800Basic, and tinker with them for a bit to see how they function. They include example tile sets and the like and show how to include them into your program.

http://www.randomterrain.com/7800basic.html

[+Atarius Maximus]

You can also take a look at my 7800 page here to help get you started on a few things. I've got info there on how to configure MESS (the best 7800 emulator right now) on your PC, as well as the aforementioned info from Mord on creating graphics with Gimp and screen maps with the Tiled app. Learning to use both of those tools from the beginning will definitely help. It's a little more complex than bB with regard to graphics, but if you're comfortable with bB I'm sure you'll be able to learn the differences and start using it pretty easily.

[Rhomaios]

You can also take a look at my 7800 page here to help get you started on a few things. I've got info there on how to configure MESS (the best 7800 emulator right now) on your PC, as well as the aforementioned info from Mord on creating graphics with Gimp and maps with the Tiled app.

Is there a reason MESS is the best? Is there something deficient about testing with ProSystem emulator, for example? That's what I've been using.

 

Nice page, btw.

[+Atarius Maximus]

Thanks. MESS is the most accurate emulator at this point for replicating what would happen on real hardware. ProSystem isn't quite as good in that regard. RevEng I'm sure could provide more detail, but that is my understanding.

 

To RetroLord - The smashteroids demo is a good place to start as it demonstrates how to use a Tiled screen map, which in my opinion is the easiest way to make on screen graphics.

[+RevEng]

Is there a reason MESS is the best? Is there something deficient about testing with ProSystem emulator, for example? That's what I've been using.

There are a few reasons for preferring MESS right now...

 

1. MESS emulates MARIA's DMA cycle penalties very accurately - the lack of this feature is the source of most emulation glitches in other emulators, including ProSystem.

2. The MESS 7800 palette is pretty accurate, where ProSystem is fairly off compared to real hardware.

3. MESS supports hardware that ProSystem doesn't. Off the top of my head HSC, [email protected] support, >144k cart formats, and XM.

4. MESS has a more advanced pokey emulation, that allows for 16-bit voices and filters.

5. The 2 button emulation in MESS is more complete than in ProSystem. The Worm! homebrew can't leave the title screen in the ProSystem emulator as a consequence.

 

Trebor and I worked pretty hard on shoring up the 7800 emulation in MESS for the past year or so. A few of the long-time 7800 homebrewers have commented positively on the improved accuracy, and are seeing MESS 7800 emulation display glitches on the screen where real hardware does the same. Catching this stuff earlier in the development cycle makes fixing it easier.

 

FWIW, I'd like to see the other emulators take on the improvements too. The commented MESS source has it all documented, there for the taking, and having choice in updated emulators would be a good thing. But until other emulators take on similar updates, I have to recommend MESS.

[Rhomaios]

I had no idea, Rev Eng! Thanks for the info. I had in mind for some reason that MESS wasn't up to date in general, but it's a different ball game if you and Trebor fixed it up nice.

[+Trebor]

Just to add a few more items:

 

6. "Colorburst kill" bit of the MARIA CTRL register is implemented properly under MESS, missing from ProSystem.

7. Blank scanlines are drawn when DMA is off - Present under MESS, but lacks under ProSystem.

8. Difficulty switches (A/B) are handled as a proper set toggled position (locked) under MESS. ProSystem requires you to 'hold down' a key for the opposite setting and locks back to the previous once released.

9. Proper aspect ratio setting under MESS. ProSystem's display is stretched somewhere between 4:3 and 16:9.

[+frankodragon]

Is there a reason MESS is the best? Is there something deficient about testing with ProSystem emulator, for example? That's what I've been using.

 

Nice page, btw.

One other thing is Prosystem doesn't like 256k (and higher) ram sizes. MESS can handle the higher sizes as I got my Draker Quest game to work properly with MESS.