1 Topic by Shaun M Neary (edited by Shaun M Neary 2017-09-08 17:41:43)

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Topic: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Hi guys,
Long time lurker, first time poster. smile

First off, thanks for all the work you guys put in for this. I'm enjoying fast loading spectrum games on real hardware.

Since getting my hands on a Zaxon nanoDiv MMC (DivMMC Future on it's way next week!), I've had quite a number of issues with 128k games. I was finally able to get the Zaxon clone upgraded to 0.8.6 beta 5 last night, and it fixes quite a few issues, but there's still some that I think are worth being brought to light.

1) Turbo Outrun - This actually loaded on 0.8.5, but without sound. Since upgrading, the 128k full version no longer works, the Erbe re-release still works, but it keeps popping up with start tape / stop tape messages. A little inconvenient for racing games. wink

2) Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge - Doesn't load with the title music in 128k. Game works fine otherwise.

Both are tested on two machines

The grey +2 machine, both issues are resolved if the +2 tape loader for DivIDE are used. I'm actually ok with using that, it's a nice little tool.

My +2b on the other hand, just bombs out whenever I try using the +2a loader.

Just wondering if you guys knew anything about this or have any suggestions I could do to work around. Even a poke before loading the game is ok with me (I have to do that for some 48k games anyway), just as long as I don't have to load from my iPod and wait an age. I spent enough of my years doing that as a kid. wink

Appreciate any help you guys can assist with.
Cheers!
Shaun

2 Reply by Shaun M Neary

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Forgot to mention. This seems to have something to do with USR 0. I loaded these games in an emulator with the same .tap files under USR 0 and got the same results.

3 Reply by Luzie

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Dear Shaun,

are you using TAP-Files from WorldOfSpectrum (WOS)?

What is the size of your memory card?

4 Reply by Shaun M Neary

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Hi Luzie,

I'm using tap files from a few different sources, WOS is one, spectrum4ever is another, and some torrent I found as well. I've also converted some tap files from tzx formats. Some work, others don't, depending on the loader I guess.

I'm only using a 1GB card for the time being, it seems to be doing the trick. It's formatted in 4k FAT32 clusters.

5 Reply by Luzie (edited by Luzie 2017-09-09 14:59:38)

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Shaun M Neary wrote:

I'm only using a 1GB card for the time being, it seems to be doing the trick. It's formatted in 4k FAT32 clusters.

Dear Shaun, OK. I see you read elsewhere that Cluster Size maybe important for the card used. 1 GB seems a good size.

At the moment of wrting I have no further ideas, what can be the cause for your problems.

If you like, you can send me a PM and your .TAP-Files so I can test further here on my hardware and emulators.

6 Reply by Shaun M Neary

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Hey Luzie,
Sounds good. I'm out for the night returning tomorrow so what I'll do is compile a few tapfiles (and some screen shots) and pop em up to Dropbox and send you the link. Hopefully you'll be able to replicate the problems.

The taps generally don't have major issues with emulators, just real hardware, the Spectrum +2b in particular.

7 Reply by Luzie

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Shaun M Neary wrote:

The taps generally don't have major issues with emulators, just real hardware, the Spectrum +2b in particular.

OK. Officially 0.86 Beta 4 seems to be the latest version here ( http://board.esxdos.org/viewtopic.php?pid=89#p89 )
Beta 5 or 5.1 maybe "for ZX Uno" and not tested for divIDE/divMMC...

8 Reply by Shaun M Neary

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Ah that's what's happening then! I thought it was tested with the MMC too.

I did have beta 4 on it, but the issue with the 128k games is still an issue. If 5/5.1 is still a work in progress for the MMC I'll happily help in the testing with my grey +2 and the +2b?

9 Reply by Luzie (edited by Luzie 2017-09-10 09:57:24)

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

I must see if my grey +2 is working (if I remember right, it don´t work, we will see).

Best way to find the issues maybe to write on WOS-Forum https://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/, as far more people are active there or ask one who maybe have experience with some +2 FIXES version like Velesoft http://board.esxdos.org/profile.php?id=4 - Velesoft +2 FIXED Downloads: http://velesoft.speccy.cz/other/

10 Reply by Shaun M Neary

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Will definitely look further into this. I did mail velesoft (may have been an old address) about any further updates to the 128k tape loader simulator for divIDE for the +2a as the one for the grey +2 is great but the +2a doesn't work as well.

Should be back home in the next few hours and will give it a go.

11 Reply by Shaun M Neary

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

OK so finally got home and had a look through that folder. I'd already gotten that list of fixed games previously, as well as others from this link: http://www.alessandrogrussu.it/plus2A-en.html

Sadly, the games in question aren't on that list.

I guess what puzzles me is why the workaround for the grey +2 (the 128k tape loader for DivIDE) works flawlessly, but the one for the black +2b goes nuts when I try it. If the 128k loader for the black +2b was fixed, it would be the perfect solution for those with the 2a/2b models, and I could roll back to beta 4 until the next beta/fix (if there is one in the pipeline) that's DivMMC compatible.

I'll give the WOS forum a shout and see if anyone has the issues there too though. Two heads are better than one, etc. smile

12 Reply by Luzie

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

An Idea: What if you load this .TAP-Files into an Emulator and if they work OK, you save them as .Z80-Snapshots which can be loaded by divMMC? Will this be a workaround?

13 Reply by Shaun M Neary

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

I've tried this. Some games accepted it, other's rejected it and it's a pain with multi-load games, so I do it as a last resort.

I'm more concerned with the fact that there are less problems on the grey Spectrum +2 than there are on the +2a, and I'm suspecting a potential issue with the ROM in the +2a as these issues don't seem to happen on the grey +2.

I was just wondering if you guys knew anything about the +2a/b +3 and if there were incompatibilities?

14 Reply by Luzie (edited by Luzie 2017-09-12 14:32:04)

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

I had a feeling there will be no easy solution ;-) ... (especially because of those Multiload-Games):


From the Page you already linked here: http://www.alessandrogrussu.it/plus2A-en.html
===== SNIP =====
Modifications to the ULA circuitry of the +3 and later +2A (and +2B) Spectrums carried out by Amstrad in 1987 caused incompatibility problems with a wide range of pre-existing games. Here follows a list divided into three parts, which gathers the corrections necessary to their solution.
===== SNAP =====

The site list links to the "Official discussion on the World Of Spectrum forum": https://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/ … -if-any/p1

so I think it were less ROM or esxDOS Issues.

15 Reply by ub880d

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

I don't have divmmc, but on original divide, there is jumper for +2a/b +3 machines.
it should be open for 48k/128k and +2 (grey) and it should be shorted for +2a/b and +3. Isn't there also such jumper on your divmmc? do you have correct setting for your machines?

16 Reply by Luzie (edited by Luzie 2017-09-12 19:29:58)

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

ub880d wrote:

I don't have divmmc, but on original divide, there is jumper for +2a/b +3 machines.
it should be open for 48k/128k and +2 (grey) and it should be shorted for +2a/b and +3. Isn't there also such jumper on your divmmc? do you have correct setting for your machines?

I found the jumper-settings for Shaun M Neary´s "Zaxon nano divMMC" here: http://www.jungsi.de/divmmc-zaxon-retro … -spectrum/
It´s a german webpage, but jumpers are painted on a picture. If you need translation, I may help!

Found also on Zaxon´s Website: http://www.eightbitclone.com/divmmc.html

17 Reply by Shaun M Neary

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Re: Still a few issues with some 128k games.

Hey guys,
Yeah the jumper is set correctly for 128k, like i say, it's only with certain games.

I did go through that list. I think my next step is probably to swap out the rom in the +2b for a grey +2 rom and see if that takes care of it as my grey +2 has no issues with that exact same board.

I also have a DivMMC Future now as well, problem now is the keyboard has just gone on the +2b so gonna have to get that fixed before I do any further testing but I will keep you up to date.