CD32Load

[jotd]

I was beginning to write "no it did not" until I checked the history and saw that it was implemented (backported from cd32load).

So the answer is yes, with same switches. I think that there's a limitation in kick 1.3 because of lack of ReadArgs. You can't select which rawkey is assigned to which button.

But on the other hand more and more .slave files were adapted to full joypad control in the meantime. I had a vision of an amiga emulated console at some point. And now this is reality with the A500 mini.

[Muzza]

Originally Posted by Psygore

Attached the nvram src for loading/saving hiscores.
Source was cleaning up, I hope any bug has been introduced.

As I couldn't see any further discussion of this 2016 post, and because I spent quite some time implementing it my game (Turrican 2 AGA), I thought I'd post my results here.

1. Small word of warning, do not compile this file with VASMs movem optimisation! It will break the error checking.

2. Saving multiple files always resulted in NVRAM being corrupted for me. I examined the contents using WinUAE and it seems to screw up the AppTag and ItemTag. I ended up changing my code to save everything into a single file, which then worked correctly using WinUAE.

3. The naming of nv_Init_NVRAM confused me. I assumed it was something you call before any other NVRAM functions, but it actually appears to erase NVRAM completely. I added this as an option in my game if it detected there was no space to save the files.

4. Although I got it working well in WinUAE, I had someone test on a couple of real CD32s and it appeared to not work there at all. From what I could tell, every NVRAM operation just returned failure (although the Init function did wipe his memory slots - it just returned that it failed). It was hard to get solid information as to what was happening as there was a language barrier with my tester. Between this and the disc read issues I experienced, I'd had it with the CD32 and gave up.

[jotd]

nvram: that's something I never even tried to implement!!

Problem with CD32 is that emulation (even if it's really excellent) is too "nice", and it gives the illusion that it will work on real hardware. But often it doesn't when you're too close to the hardware like CD read and nvm for instance.

Too many burnt CDs and lost time with that.

[khph_re]

Hi, Is CD32Load still available. I'd like to test it an A600/2MB, but can't find the file anywhere.

[derSammler]

Originally Posted by khph_re

Hi, Is CD32Load still available. I'd like to test it an A600/2MB, but can't find the file anywhere.

That's not what it does. It was *for* the CD32 to play WHDLoad games.

The WHDLoad package contains this feature as WHDLoadCD32 by now.

[jotd]

Yes, CD32Load was designed for the CD32 at first, but low memory IDE-capable amigas can benefit from it too.

I'd say that A600 2MB + IDE HD/CF is the ideal machine to run games without OS flashes that you would get by using whdload. whdload would allow you to run 512K games only, with possible OS flashes, when CD32Load allows to run 1MB games without OS flashes. The other 1MB is used to preload the current file or disk image.

You'll need a FFS formatted disk 512/1024 bytes per block so the lowlevel hard disk read from Rob Northen works; then you can run almost any ECS whdload game. Saves won't work of course, quit key won't work either as the system is destroyed, but loading & playing is smooth

[khph_re]

Thanks Jotd,

The file isn't in the zone, and I couldn't find it on the GitHub.

A few questions if I may?

Is it very compatible with WHDload slaves?

Can it be used in conjunction with WHDload for those games that require saves?

thanks in advance!

[Retro1234]

I used it on my A1200 and the Mouse and Keyboard emulation.

[jotd]

Originally Posted by khph_re

Thanks Jotd,

The file isn't in the zone, and I couldn't find it on the GitHub.

Ah my old website has the binaries and it's down. I'll add the binary as release in github!

A few questions if I may?

Is it very compatible with WHDload slaves?

Yes. There are a few exceptions but 95% of the slaves work. I've got a doubt on slaves that use kickemu though.

Can it be used in conjunction with WHDload for those games that require saves?

thanks in advance!

You can use whdload to save if you can run the game. You'll have OS flashes but it will save.

[khph_re]

That's great news, thank you.
It's been a long time since I had a machine with so little memory with a HDD,
probably '92 when I got my A1200 - I've forgotten everything.

The A600 is a present for my girlfriend, I've made a rod for my own back getting her into the Demo scene and Amiga games, and pro tracker - so she wanted one of her own.

[jotd]

ok here you are, I'm delighted to see non-CD32 low memory IDE amigas using it.

https://github.com/jotd666/cd32load/releases/tag/v0.48

I'm sure we can find examples where only CD32load is able to run whdload slaves on A600/A1200 2MB + IDE. WHDLoad will do its best to run most games though (with painful "OS flashes"), and will allow to quit & save.

[khph_re]

That's great,
Thanks for uploading the binary, it's much appreciated!

[kremiso]

i got correctly this could work also in not properly CD32 hardware machines?

some hw examples, to test in emulation?

[alexh]

Originally Posted by kremiso

Do I have this correct, this could work also with non-CD32 hardware? some hw examples, to test in emulation?

Anything with only ChipRAM. CDTV and A600 are the most obvious as FastRAM expansions are (or were) rare for both these systems.

A500 doesn't have integrated HDD controller so you might as well get a HDD controller with built in FastRAM.

Yes this can work with WinUAE for testing purposes.

[jotd]

Originally Posted by kremiso

i got correctly this could work also in not properly CD32 hardware machines?

some hw examples, to test in emulation?

the alternate ideal target for CD32load is:

A600 or A1200 2MB chip with IDE, HDD FFS formatted (512 or 1024)

Audio tracks is out of the question CD32load goes slightly out of its scope by loading data from IDE0 partition 0 (which explains why some original CD32 games work from hard drive only on FFS, example: James Pond 3, Chuck Rock/Chuck Rock 2/Myth probably).

If you have fastmem, forget CD32load, it has no interest, use whdload or JST instead.

[kremiso]

Originally Posted by jotd

...If you have fastmem, forget CD32load, it has no interest, use whdload or JST instead.

thanks, i like to have multi possibilities, im doing a ton of tests using both whdload and jst (new and old versions too)

CD32load i have an idea for a 2MB Chip setting thing, i need to do further tries

Can i ask here if the 'multi directories' DATA command is only available on WHDLoad v17+ ?

im mostly (but not only ofc) interested in having the data files in two different paths

[jotd]

multi data directories aren't currently supported by JST or CD32load.

[kremiso]

please consider the idea to implement, if not too much problematic

a bit of shame it has been added starting from the bigger v17 versions; those versions arent great for 2MB Chip machines

[khph_re]

Yes a WHDloadLowMem would be great

CD32Load is fantastic, if it would allow different directories (It only allows DH0 currently, I think?) and Saving, it would be perfect for the lowest end Amiga's.

[Retro1234]

I might be wrong but I think I used DH1