Deluxe Pac Man - getting stuck in a wall/loss of control

28 June 2009, 21:21

Hi there!

I hope you can help me with my little problem, to be quite honest I'm totally at a loss why this game behaves so strangely: it loads fine and at first it plays allright too but after some time (usually after a minute or so, sometimes sooner sometimes later) the player sprite suddenly kind of "de-rails" and ends up in a wall, firmly stuck.

Like this:

I tested multiple versions/cracks (both AGA and ECS) and all of them behave the same - even the official full versions approved by the author that I downloaded from Amigafuture.de.

So I guess there must be something wrong with my emulator settings.

I'm using winuae 1.6.1 and the appropriate kickroms together with the GameBaseAmiga-frontend which uses the following "gemus value pairs":

AGA Version:

kickstart_rom=v3.1 A1200
nr_floppies=1
floppy0type=0
floppy1type=-1
floppy2type=-1
floppy3type=-1
immediate_blits=true
ntsc=false
chipset=AGA
collision_level=playfields
fastmem_size=4
bogomem_size=0
chipmem_size=4
cpu_speed=max
finegrain_cpu_speed=max
cpu_type=68020
cpu_compatible=false
cpu_cycle_exact=false
blitter_cycle_exact=false
statefile=savestates\Deluxe Pacman (AGA).uss

ECS Version

kickstart_rom=v2.05
nr_floppies=1
floppy0type=0
floppy1type=-1
floppy2type=-1
floppy3type=-1
immediate_blits=false
ntsc=false
chipset=ECS
collision_level=playfields
fastmem_size=0
bogomem_size=0
chipmem_size=2
cpu_speed=real
cpu_type=68000
cpu_compatible=false
cpu_cycle_exact=false
blitter_cycle_exact=false
statefile=savestates\Deluxe Pacman.uss

Any ideas what could be the cause of this bug or are more details required?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

s2325 · 28 June 2009, 21:51

I'm not sure, but maybe try cpu_cycle_exact=true

28 June 2009, 23:09

No luck...this produced all kinds of weird graphical glitches and ultimately a crash in both versions.

But thanks anyway.

TCD · 28 June 2009, 23:14

Ever tried the ECS version with the most common A500 quickstart? I would use KS 1.3 instead of 2.05.

Retro-Nerd · 28 June 2009, 23:35

The most of Belgarath's GBA configs makes sense. IIRC the ECS version needs a 2.X kickstart. I tried both versions via GBA, no problems here.

28 June 2009, 23:36

Using Kickstart 1.3 produced an "assign failed returncode 20"

TCD · 28 June 2009, 23:42

Okay, I'm using the 1.2 version here and it works fine with the quickstart. Seems like Belgarath included a later version that requires KS 2+.

28 June 2009, 23:47

You're sure the "stuck in a wall" bug doesn't come up? As I stated above it tends to pop up after some minutes, usually before you finish the first level.

But maybe all the versions I tested are indeed buggy. So, could someone please upload his versions to the zone?
Or is there anything else I might have overseen?

TCD · 28 June 2009, 23:51

Played till level 3 without any problems.
Have a look on the EAB file sever (http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=43633) in the folder 'TOSEC/Games/Public Domain/[ADF]'. Try one of the 1.2 versions.

Retro-Nerd · 28 June 2009, 23:54

GBA versions are in the Zone.

btw: you can edit the "GameBase Amiga.uae" in the Gamebase folder, if you want to tinker with some settings. I've never seen this "stuck in the wall" bug. Sorry.

29 June 2009, 00:29

Nope, those versions are the same I tested this afternoon, with various settings...to no avail.

Are there any rules of thumb for what could be the most probable culprit for such a kind of bug? As a novice I feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Retro-Nerd · 29 June 2009, 00:36

Hard to tell, at least we use the same game/emulator versions/WinUAE configs. I can't reproduce your bug at the moment.

andreas · 29 June 2009, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robotron 2084

Are there any rules of thumb for what could be the most probable culprit for such a kind of bug?

If the emulator is found not to be the culprit, I'd simply say that you always get the main sprite into a position we've always missed so far.
It may matter a fraction of an inch whether the bug does show or does not show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robotron 2084

Using Kickstart 1.3 produced an "assign failed returncode 20"

Known problem, which does NOT necessarily mean that the game does not work under 1.3.
The 'assign' (et. al.) commands used on the disk were taken from WB 2.04 or higher.
And that's why they spit out a "return code 20" if any Kickstart less than 2.04 is used.

I agree it may be hackery but I've often managed to replace these kinds of commands with 1.3 ones and the game ran just fine on my then-OS1.3-A500

Toni Wilen · 29 June 2009, 20:01

Do you use keyboard in joystick emulation mode? Perhaps game gets confused when pressing both left or right and/or top and bottom direction simultaneously. Which is obviously impossible if you use normal joystick

30 June 2009, 04:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

Do you use keyboard in joystick emulation mode? Perhaps game gets confused when pressing both left or right and/or top and bottom direction simultaneously. Which is obviously impossible if you use normal joystick

YES, just tested it and you're perfectly right, so THAT'S the reason for my troubles...never would have thought of that myself, thank you for your insight!
Well, even though this means I won't be able to play this game with keys at least now I know nothing's wrong with my configuration.

And while your here Toni, THANKS A LOT to you and the rest of the uae-developers for your fantastic work on the emulator and to everybody else for their suggestions.

Cheers!

Toni Wilen · 30 June 2009, 11:10

Yay, my crystal ball seems to be in working condition again!

prowler · 30 June 2009, 18:16

Careful, Toni... You don't want to encourage attempts to break it again with vague bug reports.

Mclane · 01 July 2009, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

Yay, my crystal ball seems to be in working condition again!

I'm sorry Toni, that's a bit vague...Better report next time

28 June 2009, 21:21	#1
Robotron 2084 Posts: n/a	Deluxe Pac Man - getting stuck in a wall/loss of control Hi there! I hope you can help me with my little problem, to be quite honest I'm totally at a loss why this game behaves so strangely: it loads fine and at first it plays allright too but after some time (usually after a minute or so, sometimes sooner sometimes later) the player sprite suddenly kind of "de-rails" and ends up in a wall, firmly stuck. Like this: I tested multiple versions/cracks (both AGA and ECS) and all of them behave the same - even the official full versions approved by the author that I downloaded from Amigafuture.de. So I guess there must be something wrong with my emulator settings. I'm using winuae 1.6.1 and the appropriate kickroms together with the GameBaseAmiga-frontend which uses the following "gemus value pairs": AGA Version: kickstart_rom=v3.1 A1200 nr_floppies=1 floppy0type=0 floppy1type=-1 floppy2type=-1 floppy3type=-1 immediate_blits=true ntsc=false chipset=AGA collision_level=playfields fastmem_size=4 bogomem_size=0 chipmem_size=4 cpu_speed=max finegrain_cpu_speed=max cpu_type=68020 cpu_compatible=false cpu_cycle_exact=false blitter_cycle_exact=false statefile=savestates\Deluxe Pacman (AGA).uss ECS Version kickstart_rom=v2.05 nr_floppies=1 floppy0type=0 floppy1type=-1 floppy2type=-1 floppy3type=-1 immediate_blits=false ntsc=false chipset=ECS collision_level=playfields fastmem_size=0 bogomem_size=0 chipmem_size=2 cpu_speed=real cpu_type=68000 cpu_compatible=false cpu_cycle_exact=false blitter_cycle_exact=false statefile=savestates\Deluxe Pacman.uss Any ideas what could be the cause of this bug or are more details required? Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

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28 June 2009, 21:51	#2
s2325 Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gargore Age: 44 Posts: 17,789	I'm not sure, but maybe try cpu_cycle_exact=true

28 June 2009, 23:09	#3
Robotron 2084 Posts: n/a	No luck...this produced all kinds of weird graphical glitches and ultimately a crash in both versions. But thanks anyway.

28 June 2009, 23:14	#4
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,919	Ever tried the ECS version with the most common A500 quickstart? I would use KS 1.3 instead of 2.05.

28 June 2009, 23:35	#5
Retro-Nerd Missile Command Champion Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Germany Age: 52 Posts: 12,454	The most of Belgarath's GBA configs makes sense. IIRC the ECS version needs a 2.X kickstart. I tried both versions via GBA, no problems here.

28 June 2009, 23:36	#6
Robotron 2084 Posts: n/a	Using Kickstart 1.3 produced an "assign failed returncode 20"

28 June 2009, 23:42	#7
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,919	Okay, I'm using the 1.2 version here and it works fine with the quickstart. Seems like Belgarath included a later version that requires KS 2+.

28 June 2009, 23:47	#8
Robotron 2084 Posts: n/a	You're sure the "stuck in a wall" bug doesn't come up? As I stated above it tends to pop up after some minutes, usually before you finish the first level. But maybe all the versions I tested are indeed buggy. So, could someone please upload his versions to the zone? Or is there anything else I might have overseen?

28 June 2009, 23:51	#9
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,919	Played till level 3 without any problems. Have a look on the EAB file sever (http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=43633) in the folder 'TOSEC/Games/Public Domain/[ADF]'. Try one of the 1.2 versions.

28 June 2009, 23:54	#10
Retro-Nerd Missile Command Champion Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Germany Age: 52 Posts: 12,454	GBA versions are in the Zone. btw: you can edit the "GameBase Amiga.uae" in the Gamebase folder, if you want to tinker with some settings. I've never seen this "stuck in the wall" bug. Sorry.

29 June 2009, 00:29	#11
Robotron 2084 Posts: n/a	Nope, those versions are the same I tested this afternoon, with various settings...to no avail. Are there any rules of thumb for what could be the most probable culprit for such a kind of bug? As a novice I feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

29 June 2009, 00:36	#12
Retro-Nerd Missile Command Champion Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Germany Age: 52 Posts: 12,454	Hard to tell, at least we use the same game/emulator versions/WinUAE configs. I can't reproduce your bug at the moment.

29 June 2009, 20:01	#14
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,553	Do you use keyboard in joystick emulation mode? Perhaps game gets confused when pressing both left or right and/or top and bottom direction simultaneously. Which is obviously impossible if you use normal joystick

30 June 2009, 11:10	#16
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,553	Yay, my crystal ball seems to be in working condition again!

30 June 2009, 18:16	#17
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	Careful, Toni... You don't want to encourage attempts to break it again with vague bug reports.

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