Alien Breed 3D A500 Mini

[Octopus66]

Does anyone know of any decent Amiberry settings to get AB3D playing at an acceptable framerate? I can get XTreme Racing running good 1x1 full screen and Breathless running fairly nicely, but AB3D is a slideshow, or weirdly glitchy and strange.

To be clear not using the in-built AB3D but HDF files/ADF files, anything...

[alexh]

AB3D or AB3D II? I only ask because there are numerous videos of AB3D running on A500 mini with what looks like ok framerate.

[ Show youtube player ]

[gimbal]

That would be covered by that last bit, "To be clear not using the in-built AB3D".

It seems like the preinstalled games have been tweaked in some way. Cadaver for example skips the intro entirely so you don't get to load a data disk. It might be that the built-in AB3D is tweaked for performance in some way.

[Octopus66]

Yes thanks both. I cannot get my personal version of AB3D to run like the in-built one. Any ideas on UAE config settings to get some good performance?

[S0ulA55a551n]

Originally Posted by Octopus66

Yes thanks both. I cannot get my personal version of AB3D to run like the in-built one. Any ideas on UAE config settings to get some good performance?

What is different about your personal version that you want to run this over the inbuilt version ?

[Octopus66]

I would like to understand if there are additional UAE commands which can impact game compatibility. In general I want to have my own versions of the in-built games so 1) I can choose whether intro shows on boot 2) save games cannot be wiped centrally through reset option (damn kids).

Perhaps the "ROM" could be "hacked" and the system configurations "reverse-engineered".

Or any ideas on UAE config settings to try?

[DanBy]

Originally Posted by Octopus66

I would like to understand if there are additional UAE commands which can impact game compatibility. In general I want to have my own versions of the in-built games so 1) I can choose whether intro shows on boot 2) save games cannot be wiped centrally through reset option (damn kids).

Perhaps the "ROM" could be "hacked" and the system configurations "reverse-engineered".

Or any ideas on UAE config settings to try?

Are you side loading the WHDload package via USB or are you using some softmod like aminimiga

If you're just using the standard a500mini config then it uses Amiberry for emulation and Amiberry uses it's WHDBoot system to configure the emulation at run time. In the game-data folder there you'll find a file called whdload_db.xml, this contains the configurations for any WHDload LHA you might want to boot. You can edit this file to configure the emulation however you choose (though you'll need to dig around the WHDBoot docs to work out all the settings).

If you want to change this for the a500mini you need to have unpacked the THEA500-WHDLoad-package-1.0.1.zip on your USB stick (which I assume you have already done). From there find the whdload_db.xml file, make the edits you want to change the configuration

(side note: I do not own an a500mini but I have spent a fair bit of time tinkering with amiberry)

[gimbal]

Nice, cool info.

[Octopus66]

@Danby I am sideloading using a manually prepared HDF with custom UAE config.

Nothing I change seems to get AB3D to work nicely. Max CPU makes it run like treacle.

config_description=Redquark Six state resume config
config_hardware=true
config_host=true
config_version=4.4.0
config_hardware_path=
config_host_path=
config_all_path=
manhattan.joyport1_is_default=false ;new test
manhattan.joyport0_is_default=true ;new test
comp_fpu=false
amiberry.hide_idle_led=0
amiberry.rom_path=/usr/share/amiberry/kickstarts/
amiberry.rom_path=/usr/share/amiberry/kickstarts/
amiberry.rom_path=/usr/share/amiberry/kickstarts/
amiberry.rom_path=/usr/share/amiberry/kickstarts/
amiberry.rom_path=/usr/share/amiberry/kickstarts/
amiberry.rom_path=/usr/share/amiberry/kickstarts/
amiberry.floppy_path=./
amiberry.hardfile_path=./
amiberry.cd_path=./
;
; *** Controller/Input Configuration
;
joyport0=mouse
joyport0_autofire=none
joyport0_mode=mousenowheel
joyport0_friendlyname=Mouse
joyport0_name=MOUSE0
;
joyport1=joy1
joyport1_autofire=none
joyport1_mode=cd32joy
joyport1_friendlyname=Retro Games LTD THEGamepad
joyport1_name=JOY1
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_dpad_up=Joy2 Up
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_dpad_down=Joy2 Down
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_dpad_left=Joy2 Left
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_dpad_right=Joy2 Right
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_left_shoulder=Z
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_north=Numpad 7
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_south=Joy1 CD32 Red
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_east=Space
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_west=Numpad 1
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_start=Numpad 4
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_right_shoulder=X
;
;
;
input.joymouse_speed_analog=2
input.joymouse_speed_digital=2
input.joymouse_deadzone=33
input.joystick_deadzone=33
input.analog_joystick_multiplier=15
input.analog_joystick_offset=-1
input.mouse_speed=100
input.mouse_sensitivity=0
input.autofire_speed=0
input.autoswitch=1
kbd_lang=us
;
; *** Host-Specific
;
amiberry.gfx_auto_height=false
amiberry.gfx_correct_aspect=1
amiberry.kbd_led_num=-1
amiberry.kbd_led_scr=-1
amiberry.scaling_method=-1
amiberry.allow_host_run=false
amiberry.use_analogue_remap=false
amiberry.use_retroarch_quit=true
amiberry.use_retroarch_menu=true
amiberry.use_retroarch_reset=false
amiberry.active_priority=1
amiberry.inactive_priority=0
amiberry.minimized_priority=0
amiberry.minimized_input=0
amiberry.disk_led_gpio=/sys/class/gpio_sw/PL7/data
amiberry.power_led_gpio=
amiberry.save_state_on_exit=true
amiberry.ignore_gui=false
amiberry.force_jit=true
amiberry.gfx_scale=none
amiberry.gfx_dynamic_top=0
amiberry.gfx_dynamic_height=0
amiberry.gfx_dynamic_safe_zone=30
;
; *** Common / Paths
;
use_gui=no
kickstart_rom_file=kick40068.A4000
kickstart_ext_rom_file=
ide_mb_rom_file=:ENABLED
flash_file=
cart_file=
rtc_file=/usr/share/amiberry/kickstarts/
kickshifter=false
;
; *** Floppy Drives
;
floppy_volume=33
floppy0=
floppy1=
floppy1type=1
floppy2=
floppy3=
nr_floppies=2
floppy_speed=0
;
; *** Hard Drives
;
hardfile2=rw,DH1:/mnt/HDF/AlienBreed3D.hdf,32,1,2,512,0,,uae0
uaehf0=hdf,rw,DH1:/mnt/HDF/AlienBreed3D.hdf,32,1,2,512,0,,uae0
scsi=false
;
; *** CD / CD32
;
cd_speed=100
;
; *** Display / Screen Setup
;
gfx_framerate=1
gfx_width=720
gfx_height=568
gfx_top_windowed=0
gfx_left_windowed=0
gfx_width_windowed=720
gfx_height_windowed=568
gfx_width_fullscreen=800
gfx_height_fullscreen=600
gfx_refreshrate=50
gfx_refreshrate_rtg=50
gfx_backbuffers=2
gfx_backbuffers_rtg=1
gfx_vsync=false
gfx_vsyncmode=normal
gfx_vsync_picasso=false
gfx_vsyncmode_picasso=normal
gfx_lores=false
gfx_resolution=hires
gfx_lores_mode=normal
gfx_flickerfixer=true
gfx_linemode=none
gfx_fullscreen_amiga=false
gfx_fullscreen_picasso=false
gfx_center_horizontal=smart
gfx_center_vertical=smart
ntsc=false
gfx_colour_mode=32bit
gfx_blacker_than_black=false
gfx_api=directdraw
gfx_api_options=hardware
;
; *** CPU options
;
finegrain_cpu_speed=2048
cpu_throttle=0.0
cpu_type=68040
cpu_model=68040
fpu_model=68040
cpu_compatible=false
cpu_24bit_addressing=false
cpu_data_cache=false
cpu_cycle_exact=false
cpu_memory_cycle_exact=false
blitter_cycle_exact=false
cycle_exact=false
fpu_strict=false
comp_trustbyte=direct
comp_trustword=direct
comp_trustlong=direct
comp_trustnaddr=direct
comp_nf=true
comp_constjump=true
comp_flushmode=soft
compfpu=true
comp_catchfault=true
cachesize=16384
;
; *** Memory
;
z3mapping=real
fastmem_size=0
a3000mem_size=0
mbresmem_size=0
z3mem_size=8
z3mem_start=0x40000000
bogomem_size=0
gfxcard_hardware_vblank=false
gfxcard_hardware_sprite=false
gfxcard_multithread=false
chipmem_size=4
rtg_modes=0x112
;
; *** Chipset
;
immediate_blits=true
fast_copper=false
ntsc=false
chipset=aga
chipset_refreshrate=49.920410
collision_level=playfields
chipset_compatible=A4000T
ksmirror_e0=false
fatgary=0
ramsey=15
z3_autoconfig=true
unmapped_address_space=zero
ide=a4000
;
; *** Sound Options
;
sound_output=normal
sound_channels=stereo
sound_stereo_separation=7
sound_stereo_mixing_delay=0
sound_max_buff=2048
sound_frequency=44100
sound_interpol=none
sound_filter=off
sound_filter_type=enhanced
sound_volume=0
sound_volume_paula=0
sound_volume_cd=0
sound_volume_ahi=0
sound_volume_midi=0
sound_volume_genlock=0
sound_auto=true
sound_cdaudio=false
sound_stereo_swap_paula=false
sound_stereo_swap_ahi=false
;
; *** Misc. Options
;
parallel_on_demand=false
serial_on_demand=false
serial_hardware_ctsrts=true
serial_direct=false
uaeserial=false
sana2=false
bsdsocket_emu=false
synchronize_clock=false
maprom=0x0
parallel_postscript_emulation=false
parallel_postscript_detection=false
ghostscript_parameters=
parallel_autoflush=5
;
; *** WHDLoad Booter. Options
;
whdload_slave=
whdload_showsplash=false
whdload_buttonwait=false
whdload_custom1=0
whdload_custom2=0
whdload_custom3=0
whdload_custom4=0
whdload_custom5=0
whdload_custom=
whdload_writecache=false

[Cobe]

Not much into this. But.. How about Fast copper=true?

[Octopus66]

Thanks Cobe, nice idea but doesn’t seem to help. Makes the colours glitchy if anything. I wonder if there are other uae config settings I am not aware of.

[giantclam]

Not played with THEA500 mini ~ have been contributing to amiberry since v5.6.0 ...so I'm starting to know amiberry pretty well (although you're using a much earlier version)...

amiberry.force_jit=true

I would try setting that to false (if it helps, let me know =)

Just FTR you probably shouldn't edit whdload_db.xml ~ if you do, and wish to update that file (as advised, it's regularly updated), then you'll need preserve your local changes, and edit them into the new whdload_db.xml file. This....can be a pita (especially if you forget to backup your edited file =)

Note that THEA500-WHDLoad-package-1.0.1.zip contains the whdload_db.xml from 2022-03-23 (more than a year old) -- the latest can be downloaded from https://github.com/HoraceAndTheSpide...whdload_db.xml

The internal game is probably using the following settings;

PRIMARY_CONTROL=MOUSE
PORT0=MOUSE
PORT1=JOY
FAST_COPPER=TRUE
CPU=68040
JIT=FALSE
CLOCK=MAX
CHIPSET=AGA
SCREEN_AUTOHEIGHT=FALSE
SCREEN_HEIGHT=432
SCREEN_CENTERH=SMART
SCREEN_CENTERV=SMART

[spannernick]

Here is the uae file for Alien Breed 3D from the built-in game, hope it helps.