Homebrew Atari 5200 Emulator (DSi Entry)

[Recorderdude]

thanks for fixing it, Alekmaul! You really do spoil us with all of this retro emulation goodness.

 

[JLsoft]

Thanks for these so much, alek

...is an update to PokeyDS planned at all?

 

[JonthanD]

Thank you X1000!!!! The DS is probably the only system that can properly emulate the 5200 with the touch pad.

If some one ever exploits or gets homebrew working on the 3DS that would work too but thats probably asking a bit much at this point in time lol

Anyway thank you again this will be fun

Mountain King here I come! lol

 

[Another World]

ok, will check that.
About rom bios file, the filename must be 5200.rom, sorry about mistake, was a little tired this morning

i have my bios named correctly. i'm now also using the 1.1 version update. both releases are doing the samething, the two screens load but i can't press anything. i click the cartridge slot but nothing happens. i'm wondering if its my bios. i'm testing using the ievo in dsi mode on the dsi xl (1.4.1 firmware and the ievo has not been 1.4.2 updated yet).

here is the crc:
4248D3E3

>>>>EDIT
i put the same setup folder on my acekard2i in the dsi and ds lite and the software is working. there appears to be an issue with the ievo. with the ievo i tried with the compatibility layer off, on, and auto, all 3 failed. ievo on the dsi lite in ds-mode also fails, i can't click anything on the touch screen. the msd card i'm testing with is a 4gb class-4 kingston which was freshly formatted before playing around.

-another world

 

[alekmaul]

Really strange, as you can see with source code, i'm using the same framework for emu.
Does anyone else can try with iEvo to tell me if it's ok or not ?

 

[Another World]

the a2600 emu works fine on the ievo, tho i'm not sure if that information helps you in any way. ievo's dsi-mode homebrew support is pretty bad so its likely not something you did.

-another world

 

[Rayder]

Nice! Another great addition to my "pocket arcade".

 

[JLsoft]

I am also having the weird 'DS powers off for some games' problem...I'm using v1.1 of the emulator, 5200.rom in same directory as emulator...most games work...but some consistently shut the DS off after the rainbow Fuji logo + game title screen. Berzerk and Robotron 2084 come to mind...Dig Dug does the same thing, but it seems to run now and then if I run some other game -first- and then try Dig Dug.

Using a DSLite w/an Acekard 2i here.

 

[Coto]

A few things:

1. You´re a god in dev.

2. Thank you, I do not have sudokuhax on my dsi, so I´m stuck at DSmode for now, and the other tempers had already pointed the freezes/problems. But at slow pace this emu is doing its job flawlessly.

3. Keep up the good work alek.

 

[Rayder]

I have an issue while playing Dreadnaught Factor. I can't drop bombs, I can only fire the lasers. Am I missing something?

I can't jump in Montezuma's Revenge.

Couldn't seem to set a bomb in H.E.R.O.

Many games will move the character in a certain direction until I press all directions of the Dpad, then it acts correctly.

I'm also having the "DS shuts off" issue if I choose "single chip" mode. To be honest, I have no idea what that single/dual chip mode selection is all about, but games work in "dual chip" and the DS shuts off when I try to use "single chip". Is that a 5200 thing or something to do with DSi mode and a SCDStwo or.....what?

Also, many games exhibit a flashing sort of graphic glitch at around one-second intervals.

I'm playing on a DSlite with a CycloDS and a 16GB Sandisk that's only got about 1GB of space left. I also have an M3 Perfect in slot2, if any of that matters.

Am I correct in assuming these issues are much less noticeable (or even non-existent) when using a DSi? Is it just an issue with a CycloDS or DSlite, or are others experiencing the same sort of issues with other flashcarts or on a DSi?

Please don't look at this as complaining, I'm just pointing out things I've noticed so they can possibly be fixed, or to get a reasonable explanation for what I'm encountering.

 

[alekmaul]

hum, strange things that your pbs ...., will check that as soon as possible (need to finish a new emu, to fix a2600 paddle pbs and to be active in real life for my family ^^).
About Single / dual coice for 16k cartridge, i know that it is not easy to choose, but you must know that lots of games use two chips (except pitfall games ...).
Sorry about that, i search for a method to find how to handle this pb but found nothing

Also, i will try to use same behavour than atari800 that checks when the emu hangs and stop the emulation, it will be better than a power off detection (because we stop the emulation) ...

 

[Destructobot]

Also, many games exhibit a flashing sort of graphic glitch at around one-second intervals.

I get the same thing. It looks like the screen is shifted down for a frame. It happens more or less frequently (or not at all) depending on the game.

 

[JLsoft]

I have an issue while playing Dreadnaught Factor. I can't drop bombs, I can only fire the lasers. Am I missing something?

I can't jump in Montezuma's Revenge.

Couldn't seem to set a bomb in H.E.R.O.

Same here...Looks like this emu doesn't have the 5200's 'top' side buttons mapped to any button on the DS yet.


The readme mentions B is 'Shift'...I'm thinking that's a mistake, and referencing the Atari 400/800/XL/XE computer side.


Another game unplayable without the top side buttons is Space Dungeon.

 

[Another World]

alek,
i wanted to add-on to my ievo comment. after the emu boots up (i see the intro) i am unable to click anything on the screen. however, if i press the hardware power button on the dsi itself, the dsi resets perfectly. because i do not have to hold the power button down to reset the system makes me think the problem is with the ievo and the touch screen. would you be willing to map some d-pad options? perhaps just "start" to load a game. that way i could test if the emu is freezing up or if its just the touch screen controls.

-another world

 

[alekmaul]

Hi all,
Thanks for test, will take a look at pb with buttons, it worked for me, really strange ...

New version V1.2 available, see 1st post for it !

 

[Another World]

i tried the new release on an updated ievo (firmware 2.3). the emu still has no touch screen controls. i've just written an email to cyclops about another ievo homebrew issue (in regards to scummvmds). i'm wondering if the review unit i was sent, which was one of the first 50 made, if it has hardware differences.

it seems that not enough people i've talked to have the ievo so i can not have them run the same tests. i still have not read if anyone else has your emu working on the ievo.

-another world

 

[alekmaul]

ok, i also have a ievo from the first batch but no dsi (only a jap dsi ...).
i tried stellads on a french dsi so i need to reinit my ievo to test in ds mode, not dsi mode ...
you confirm that it does not work in ds mode for you Another World ?

 

[Another World]

dsi-mode on a n. american dsi xl (U) - does not work
ds-mode on the same system - does not work
ds-mode on a ds lite - does not work

in ds-mode on the dsi the menu loads to a crazy clicking sound and the top graphic is a bit messed up. i now see all these green dots around the 5200 graphic. neither of these things happened before.

-another world

 

[alekmaul]

ok, you were right Another World, I tested A5200 with my DSi Jap and a iEvo and it hangs ... :-(
The good news is that I found why, and a new version is now available (see 1st post).
The bad news is that I'm late about the contest date and I don't know if you can use this version for the bounty ... (but it's not a pb if you can't, i can understand)

 

[Another World]

alek,
you are the best. it is working. pitfall II is playable, though not at full speed it is much more enjoyable then trying to play it on stella or the 7800 emu. =)

i have a suggestion, make all menus either touch screen or dpad/button. right now its touch screen to load a rom but then dpad/button to choose it, execute it, and pick the chip type.

is there a way to have the emu automatically pick the chip type or a best suggestion for us? i really didn't know that the carts have 1 or 2 chips so i'm often selecting the wrong one.

we won't be able to use this update for judging but the fact that you are keeping your projects updated will be something the judges keep in mind. so in a sense, releasing updates does help your chances!

cheers,
-another world