Minimig Game Compatibility

Kitty · 06 November 2009, 00:12

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know (or any minimig owners know) why one game on a minimig will work perfectly and other games arn't so perfect like Flimbos Quest (see pic below)

Now I know that Minimig isn't 100% compatible with all Amiga games, I knew this before I purchased it and lets be honest, it's not a real Amiga.
I'm just curious as to 'why' exactly would one game be different from another if the minimig is coded to play all Amiga Software.
It seems that the minimig (for example Flimbo's Quest) may have parallax scrolling problems although Jim Power is parallax scrolling too right? and runs perfectly.
Has the minimig got missing graphics chips that the Amiga has, or is the minimig firmware missing some graphic codes?
I should imagine that its a very difficult thing to code for minimig and I'm not faulting the work that has been achieved, Minimig is an amazing little project

I made a task for myself to try and replicate flimbo's quest small graphics glitch with WinUAE, I tried so many combinations but couldn't succeed in replicating it, seems that WinUAE is coded too well

I find it all very interesting

s2325 · 06 November 2009, 00:17

I think there is more than one way to make parallax scrolling on Amiga. One is emulated well, other not.

Photon · 06 November 2009, 00:39

It could work with another crack, but I'd be surprised. Maybe an AGA-fixed version tho, if one exists. (One which doesn't bug out on OCS cos it requires AGA, ofc...)

Kitty · 06 November 2009, 00:48

Quote:

It could work with another crack, but I'd be surprised. Maybe an AGA-fixed version tho, if one exists. (One which doesn't bug out on OCS cos it requires AGA, ofc...)

I tried all the versions on Planet Emulation! All was the same, I cant use an AGA version on minimig as it dosnt support AGA.
Just one of the games that I guess the minimig has problems with until maybe a firmware update might fix.
I have a newer update but I cant use it until I receive the arm controller I pre-ordered as the newest firmware is for minimig and arm controller only.

onkelarie · 06 November 2009, 08:56

you can't compare winuae and the minimig. even winuae gers bugfixes, which is more heavily being coded on.

winuae is a software based emulation all the way wich also results in less hardware depence (apart from the hosts' OS)

the minimig needs constant firmware upgrades to iron out bugs like these. if development is on the job im sure that will happen, Also for flimbo

StevenJGore · 06 November 2009, 10:03

So why do people bother with minimigs then? Why not just use WinUAE?

alexh · 06 November 2009, 11:26

If you can get a 50Hz screen on your PC for perfect scrolling then there is no reason really.

Form Factor (much smaller than even the smallest PC)?
Boot time (almost instantaneous compared to Windows or Linux)?

I believe there is a new update of MiniMig on the horizon as Yaqube and FrenchShark have been asking (and getting answers) to a raft of complex Amiga chip questions in several forums.

BTW: Has anyone noticed that Dennis' original MiniMig webpage is now dead?

Kitty · 06 November 2009, 11:29

Alex can you do me a favour if u got time can u run flimbo on your minimig and compair results please ;-)

alexh · 06 November 2009, 11:33

What for? It will be the same, or worse (As I have no ARM board and so cannot use latest build)

alexh · 06 November 2009, 11:41

The new home for MiniMig appears to be :

http://code.google.com/p/minimig/

I saw in a previous post you were using "minimig_build_YQ090421" but the latest build is minimig_YQ090911

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yaqube

Changes and new features of YQ090911 release:

New FPGA features:

- improved system timing (blitter, CIAs, ROM)
- minor compatibility improvements (CIA access, INTREQ)
- support for two virtual hard disks
- implemented alliasing of custom register space (Kickstart 1.2 now works)

Upgrade, see if it fixes it?

Kitty · 06 November 2009, 11:42

Dosnt that update require the arm controller to be used?
Mine hasnt arrived yet.

yaqube · 06 November 2009, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

Dosnt that update require the arm controller to be used?
Mine hasnt arrived yet.

The YQ090911 FPGA firmware requires the ARM controller (it could work with the PIC if someone implemented a couple of small changes to the last PIC firmware - unfortunately I can't do this myself).

I tested yesterday Flimbo's Quest with my latest firmware (the one being currently developed) and it seems to run flawlessly (no graphics glitches). Actually I run the game only for a while so I can only say it worked correctly at its start.

I'm working on getting the Minimig to be cycle exact as much as possible (it's very time consuming and 100% compatibility will never be achieved). The results are promising.

alexh · 06 November 2009, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

Dosnt that update require the arm controller to be used?

It appears so. How crappy is that not to make a build for both?

Photon · 06 November 2009, 15:47

Let's make a poll! hehe...

Another use for minimig is integration is cabinets, hell, it could probably fit inside a TV or monitor to make an iMinimig

Or inside an empty A500 case... or an arcade cab if the monitor supports 50Hz...

seuden · 06 November 2009, 17:58

What is the ARM Controller?

alexh · 06 November 2009, 18:16

The MiniMig v1.1 PCB used a PIC to generate the pre-boot GUI allowing (amongst other things) disk image selection. It also share some of the work of interfacing the SD/MMC card to the FPGA.

The ARM controller board replaces the PIC and gives a bit more grunt and flash space for bigger programs allowing for more complex interaction with the FPGA including IDE HDD emulation.

seuden · 06 November 2009, 18:18

Ah, thanks for the explanation alexh.

alexh · 06 November 2009, 18:49

The main problem is that the ARM controller costs almost half as much as the MiniMig in the first place and really adds no more functionality.

If it was €20 I'd have one, but not at €80!

Kitty · 06 November 2009, 19:41

Faranheit on minimig official forum is making a small production at 69 euro each, a bit cheaper

Kitty · 06 November 2009, 20:57

Quote:

I tested yesterday Flimbo's Quest with my latest firmware (the one being currently developed) and it seems to run flawlessly (no graphics glitches). Actually I run the game only for a while so I can only say it worked correctly at its start.

Btw that graphics glitch only shows when your actually moving the character.
So did you get same results glitches wise when you ran it on the firmware I'm currently using (minimig_build_YQ090421), (see left of picture screen grab on first post) I just would like to know for piece of mind

06 November 2009, 00:12	#1
Kitty Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 1,522	Minimig Game Compatibility Just out of curiosity, does anyone know (or any minimig owners know) why one game on a minimig will work perfectly and other games arn't so perfect like Flimbos Quest (see pic below) Now I know that Minimig isn't 100% compatible with all Amiga games, I knew this before I purchased it and lets be honest, it's not a real Amiga. I'm just curious as to 'why' exactly would one game be different from another if the minimig is coded to play all Amiga Software. It seems that the minimig (for example Flimbo's Quest) may have parallax scrolling problems although Jim Power is parallax scrolling too right? and runs perfectly. Has the minimig got missing graphics chips that the Amiga has, or is the minimig firmware missing some graphic codes? I should imagine that its a very difficult thing to code for minimig and I'm not faulting the work that has been achieved, Minimig is an amazing little project I made a task for myself to try and replicate flimbo's quest small graphics glitch with WinUAE, I tried so many combinations but couldn't succeed in replicating it, seems that WinUAE is coded too well I find it all very interesting Last edited by Kitty; 06 November 2009 at 00:25.

06 November 2009, 11:26	#7
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 13,687	If you can get a 50Hz screen on your PC for perfect scrolling then there is no reason really. Form Factor (much smaller than even the smallest PC)? Boot time (almost instantaneous compared to Windows or Linux)? I believe there is a new update of MiniMig on the horizon as Yaqube and FrenchShark have been asking (and getting answers) to a raft of complex Amiga chip questions in several forums. BTW: Has anyone noticed that Dennis' original MiniMig webpage is now dead? Last edited by alexh; 06 November 2009 at 11:32.

06 November 2009, 11:33	#9
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 13,687	What for? It will be the same, or worse (As I have no ARM board and so cannot use latest build) Last edited by alexh; 06 November 2009 at 11:41.

06 November 2009, 11:42	#11
Kitty Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 1,522	Dosnt that update require the arm controller to be used? Mine hasnt arrived yet. Last edited by Kitty; 06 November 2009 at 12:13.

06 November 2009, 18:49	#18
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 13,687	The main problem is that the ARM controller costs almost half as much as the MiniMig in the first place and really adds no more functionality. If it was €20 I'd have one, but not at €80! Last edited by alexh; 06 November 2009 at 18:57.

06 November 2009, 00:17	#2
s2325 Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gargore Age: 42 Posts: 17,789	I think there is more than one way to make parallax scrolling on Amiga. One is emulated well, other not.

06 November 2009, 00:39	#3
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,318	It could work with another crack, but I'd be surprised. Maybe an AGA-fixed version tho, if one exists. (One which doesn't bug out on OCS cos it requires AGA, ofc...)

06 November 2009, 08:56	#5
onkelarie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Spijkenisse / the Netherlands Age: 53 Posts: 517	you can't compare winuae and the minimig. even winuae gers bugfixes, which is more heavily being coded on. winuae is a software based emulation all the way wich also results in less hardware depence (apart from the hosts' OS) the minimig needs constant firmware upgrades to iron out bugs like these. if development is on the job im sure that will happen, Also for flimbo

06 November 2009, 10:03	#6
StevenJGore Amiga Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Age: 45 Posts: 550	So why do people bother with minimigs then? Why not just use WinUAE?

06 November 2009, 11:29	#8
Kitty Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 1,522	Alex can you do me a favour if u got time can u run flimbo on your minimig and compair results please ;-)

06 November 2009, 15:47	#14
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,318	Let's make a poll! hehe... Another use for minimig is integration is cabinets, hell, it could probably fit inside a TV or monitor to make an iMinimig Or inside an empty A500 case... or an arcade cab if the monitor supports 50Hz...

06 November 2009, 17:58	#15
seuden uber cool demi god Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent/England Posts: 2,068	What is the ARM Controller?

06 November 2009, 18:16	#16
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 13,687	The MiniMig v1.1 PCB used a PIC to generate the pre-boot GUI allowing (amongst other things) disk image selection. It also share some of the work of interfacing the SD/MMC card to the FPGA. The ARM controller board replaces the PIC and gives a bit more grunt and flash space for bigger programs allowing for more complex interaction with the FPGA including IDE HDD emulation.

06 November 2009, 18:18	#17
seuden uber cool demi god Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent/England Posts: 2,068	Ah, thanks for the explanation alexh.

06 November 2009, 19:41	#19
Kitty Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 1,522	Faranheit on minimig official forum is making a small production at 69 euro each, a bit cheaper Last edited by Kitty; 06 November 2009 at 19:57.

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