Problems running Lionheart with WHDLoadCD32 and RAD

[mrleeman]

Hey there,

I'm currently working on a compilation for my CD32, building everything from the scratch. I'm using WHDLoadCD32, but have run into problems when trying to run Lionheart. I'm using a RAD since I'm unable to allocate enough memory otherwise. However, all I get is a black screen and nothing happens. Been through a couple of other WHDLoad versions. It's all the same. Black screen.

The startup-sequence is very minimalistic. It only assigns ENV: and T: to RAM: and then runs WHDLoad. I have the latest slave for the game.

Maybe master Wepl can help?

Thanks a bunch,

Liam

[killergorilla]

So you are saying you've tried some ADF versions in RAD?

And also that the whdload version doesn't seem to be working?

I thought at first you were trying to load the whdload one from RAD...

[mrleeman]

Nah, I'm using the RAD just to store the script that launches the WHDLoad version of Lionheart after rebooting. Pretty much what the other compilations do. The WHDLoad version just isn't working. It freezes, giving only a black screen.

[killergorilla]

Ah I see, you are using a RAD to hold a script Makes a lot more sense now.

Are you using the same keyfile as the old cd32 compilations? If so, it's now blacklisted...

Just a thought!

[mrleeman]

Nope I'm not using any keyfile. WHDLoadCD32 doesn't need one (making it very attractive for compilations). I've been trying over and over again. I can't get the Lionheart slave to run. So strange.

[alexh]

The latest Lionheart WHDload slave probably probably does not work with a vanilla CD32 due to lack of memory.

http://www.whdload.de/games/Lionheart.html

Originally Posted by Harry & JOTD

The installed program requires 0.5 MB ChipMem and 1.5 MB OtherMem.
[snip]
version 1.22 (24.01.01) Sorry for the users of a plain A1200, buy a fastmem-extension

Perhaps the latest installer doesn't have the same requirements, but I doubt it. You'll need to ask JOTD.

Might be worth going back a few versions (pre 2.0) or.....

Don't use WHDload at all and just use Thalion's Lionheart HD installer which comes on the original disks? (Available at the Thalion Webshrine)

[mrleeman]

I tried using Thalion's HD installer, it doesn't work, however

WHDLoaded Lionheart is included on the CD32-200 compilation. It works flawlessly there. I don't get it.

[alexh]

They used an earlier installer? Which version is it? Which version are you trying to use?

Are the latest ones which use KickEmu not going to eat 512Kbytes of RAM just for the Kickstart 1.3 emulation?

[mrleeman]

I tried the latest version and the one from CD32-200, which I think is 1.22. Strange thing is that even when I try to run the CD32-200 version with the WHDLoad version used on that compilation the screen stays black. I tried disabling CPU cache, tried to run the game on a plain configuration without a startup-sequence so that nothing is loaded into memory prior to launching the game - all with the same result. I doubt it is due to limited memory because then WHDLoad would quit and give an error.

[alexh]

Possibly it is a slave which uses a feature of WHDload not present in WHDloadCD32?

You need Bert

[StingRay]

Originally Posted by alexh

Don't use WHDload at all and just use Thalion's Lionheart HD installer which comes on the original disks? (Available at the Thalion Webshrine)

As far as I remember that one didn't work on plain A1200 without fastmem either. You had to start a little patch (fakemem or smth like that) which would "fake" some fastmem.

[killergorilla]

The other CD32 compilations use quite a few little files and tricks to claw back (not a lot of) memory if I recall, you may want to check their startup sequences.

[Wepl]

please check http://whdload.de/whdload/WHDLoadCD32-Test.lha which is my test disk for the cd32, it uses wcdt which gives some more memory for whdload at the cost of a reboot.

I have not tried Lionheart myself, but if it has worked on the cd-200 then it also should work with the actual whdloadcd32.

The v1.22 of the slave uses less memory than the later ones (you can get it from http://whdload.de/whdload/old-games/). The 1.10 will maybe use even less memory (at least it sounds like in the readme). Its currently not dowloadable, but if you depend on it I can search it in my backups.

[mrleeman]

Hey Wepl,

thanks for the hints! Lionheart does indeed run off your test disk. I'll try to include your tricks in my compilation. I'll report back as soon as I have something on my hands!

Thanks a lot!

Liam

[mrleeman]

Hey Wepl,

implementing your ideas worked out perfectly. Lionheart runs like a charm now. I rewrote my loader script completely. Now i wonder about two other things - maybe you can help out with your expertise...

1. Using HippoPlayer to play music while browsing through AGS loads some libraries into memory that I'm unable to remove. Do you know a way to remove them without rebooting? Maybe a good tool? I tried iFlush - unsuccessfully.

2. Is there a tool or some trick to remap jumping by moving the joystick upwards to a button on the CD32 joypad? Would be lovely to do the jumping in games such as Turrican using a button instead of moving the digital pad upwards.

Thanks and have a nice evening everyone,

Liam

[StingRay]

Originally Posted by mrleeman

1. Using HippoPlayer to play music while browsing through AGS loads some libraries into memory that I'm unable to remove. Do you know a way to remove them without rebooting? Maybe a good tool? I tried iFlush - unsuccessfully.

"Avail flush" should do the trick nicely I think.

Edit: Just read that you already tried some other tool. I don't think avail flush works any better than those tools. Try the attached file, it's a flush command I use and it works pretty well.

[Wepl]

Originally Posted by mrleeman

1. Using HippoPlayer to play music while browsing through AGS loads some libraries into memory that I'm unable to remove. Do you know a way to remove them without rebooting? Maybe a good tool? I tried iFlush - unsuccessfully.

avail flush should do the job, if not then probably the libraries are not correctly closed by the calling program. in the latter case it would be best to fix the calling program. it would also possible to write a programm which resets the opencount of the library, but that will be unclean

Originally Posted by mrleeman

2. Is there a tool or some trick to remap jumping by moving the joystick upwards to a button on the CD32 joypad? Would be lovely to do the jumping in games such as Turrican using a button instead of moving the digital pad upwards.

The games must be explicitely patched for such a change. A general tool for this would only possible if the games use the os for checking buttons. Most games do not.

[mrleeman]

Thanks for the explanations!

[hexaae]

Originally Posted by alexh

The latest Lionheart WHDload slave probably probably does not work with a vanilla CD32 due to lack of memory.

http://www.whdload.de/games/Lionheart.html



Perhaps the latest installer doesn't have the same requirements, but I doubt it. You'll need to ask JOTD.

Might be worth going back a few versions (pre 2.0) or.....

Don't use WHDload at all and just use Thalion's Lionheart HD installer which comes on the original disks? (Available at the Thalion Webshrine)

I'd like to test some pre 2.0 slave version but I can't find them!
WHDLoad site replaces older installs

Originally Posted by Wepl

The v1.22 of the slave uses less memory than the later ones (you can get it from http://whdload.de/whdload/old-games/).

Doh!!! Didn't know about this. Thank you!