Kings Quest Enhanced + Space Quest 3 De - Cycle Exact

[DaveTaylor]

I think this one is a question for JOTD.

You are so busy updating slaves. I like how you implemented the new way of german language input into the Sierra slaves.

But: When using HDF files in WinUAE I always use the same configuration, and because several games only work with "Cycle exact" I have it always turned on. "Cycle exact" gives the best compatibility.
Every game of thousands worked with that so far.

But something changed after the last updates of "Kings Quest Enhanced" and "Space Quest 3 De".

Both games deny to load after a second and are stuck in the DOS screen.
I found out that both games need "Cycle exact" turned off to work now in A1200 mode.

Interesting to know:

- before the latest updates both games worked with "Cycle exact" in A1200
mode
- in the case of "Space Quest 3" only the german version of the game is
affected, English version still works with "Cycle exact"
- when you choose A600 instead of A1200 in WinUAE, it works with "Cycle
exact" too.

That means that only the most common A1200 config is affected.

One may say now: just turn off "Cycle exact" for these games!
Yeah, I can write configuration notes in brackets like this:
"Space Quest 3 De [untick cycle exact]".

But the good thing of WHDLoad is that you don't have to care for that. I could use every game with the same config.

My question: JOTD, is there a simple way to make the slaves behave like before?

I added the Space Quest 3 HDF for you, if you like to prove it.

[When you say, it is like it is, than I have to use the config notes in brackets. ]

[DamienD]

A question, how are these installed? On a standard Workbench 3.1 installation or a bare-bones / self-booting .HDF?

...and I assume you're emulating.

You could use "uae-configuration cpu_cycle_exact=false".

If on a bare-bones / self-booting .HDF; you add this line at the start of your "S/Startup-Sequence" and then at the end "uae-configuration cpu_cycle_exact=true" after your "WHDLoad <game>.slave Preload" line.

If on a standard Workbench 3.1 installation, you'd have to put into a script and run this after clicking the game icon.

[jotd]

yes, true but whdload is supposed to avoid this kind of trickery I have to agree with Dave.

Cycle exact may trigger a race condition that non-cycle exact doesn't

Sometimes "fastest possible" is slower than "A1200 speed (not cycle exact)": examples: Red Zone, Lure Of the temptress loading parts

The only ground I'm not venturing in is the use of JIT. Try at your own risk, and if it doesn't work, don't come complaining

[DaveTaylor]

@ DamienD: It's bare bones self booting.
I had no idea that you can control settings of WinUAE using commands in the startup-sequence of inside the emulated environment. That's precious to know. It's a much better solution than writing config notes in brackets of the file name.

@ JOTD: Do you have an idea which changes in the latest updates of "SQ3 German" and "KQ Enhanced" could possibly change the "cycle exact" behaviour?

By the way: Your "Larry 3" update didn't change anything.
Still works with cycle exact.

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by DaveTaylor

@ DamienD: It's bare bones self booting.
I had no idea that you can control settings of WinUAE using commands in the startup-sequence of inside the emulated environment. That's precious to know. It's a much better solution than writing config notes in brackets of the file name.

Perfect, thought as much... then an easy fix using what I detailed above

[jotd]

I use that to turn JIT off/on when running whdload or doing productivity.

I have no idea why it fails with cycle exact but I will test it. Probably race condition in tasks.