How to access nonvolatile memory in asm?

[buzzybee]

Hi guys!

I´d love to implement highscore save code in my forthcoming game RESHOOT R. Wonder if anyone wants to share code on how to use the Nonvolatile library in asm. :-)

[Photon]

If you specify where you want the highscores to be saved, I can determine if this stays in Hardware or is moved to System.

If the game is started from AmigaDOS/Workbench, saving a file with dos.library should be the way to go.

If the game runs from floppy, you can reserve a sector or two and write it with hardware routines or trackdisk.device.

[buzzybee]

RESHOOT R is supposed to run on a CD32, A1200 or A4000 with Kick >3.0. It´s booting from CD-ROM, but can also be run from the Workbench, just like RESHOOT.

I prefer to use the nonvolatile-library, as its said to automatically choose the CD32s builtin 1 KB memory if available; and on A1200/4000 a path to whatever the user has defined to be his nonvolatile memory, be it harddrive or floppy disk. Therefore I wouldn´t need any sophisticated trackdisk trickery.

[Thorham]

Originally Posted by buzzybee

Wonder if anyone wants to share code on how to use the Nonvolatile library in asm. :-)

I assume you've looked at the documentation?

http://amigadev.elowar.com/read/ADCD.../node04DA.html

[buzzybee]

Yes, but still a tested example of working code would be nice :-) I´m always having a hard time when I´m supposed to work with Amigas OS-routines. Documentation doesn´t look complete to me, too. Have no idea about the precise format of the parameters, for example, and don´t want to spend too much time on experimentation. Got plenty of other things to fix in order to make the demo ready for the gamescom show end of August inc Cologne.

[Thorham]

Originally Posted by buzzybee

I´m always having a hard time when I´m supposed to work with Amigas OS-routines.

That's something you may want to look into in the future. I did exactly that years ago, and haven't regretted it.

Originally Posted by buzzybee

Documentation doesn´t look complete to me

The AOS autodocs can seem way too concise, and they can require you to look at include files, but it should be all there (even if they are a pain sometimes).

Originally Posted by buzzybee

don´t want to spend too much time on experimentation. Got plenty of other things to fix in order to make the demo ready for the gamescom show end of August inc Cologne.

Good point. If nothing comes of this thread (which I somehow doubt), then you could just leave saving out of the demo version. For a shoot'm up this is one of the least important things (or so it seems).

[StingRay]

Some years ago I coded a CD32 patch for Tubular Worlds which also included saving scores to NVRAM. I'll see if I can find the source somewhere.

[buzzybee]

Originally Posted by Thorham

Good point. If nothing comes of this thread (which I somehow doubt), then you could just leave saving out of the demo version. For a shoot'm up this is one of the least important things (or so it seems).

That´s a plan. Still I´d prefer to show people the save-feature instead of just talking about it :-)

@StingRay: Sounds great, can´t wait!

[Photon]

Ah, CD32 support. Good

Thread moved to System which is the best place I feel

[StingRay]

Originally Posted by buzzybee

@StingRay: Sounds great, can´t wait!

Well, I couldn't find my original source anymore so I ended up disassembling my very own patch. Source is attached, interesting for you are the Load/SaveHighscores routines which should be pretty self-explanatory. In case of questions don't hesitate to ask.

[earok]

May be too late, but for what it's worth Gloom saves to CD32 NVRAM

https://github.com/earok/GloomAmiga/blob/master/gloom.s