ZX Spectrum Core

[Dirk]

The ZX Spectrum core release 20180711 don´t load txz files correctly.
It starts loading but crashes while loading. Fast or slow loading makes no difference.
With release 20180706 loading is possible.

[PhantombrainM]

That's true. For example Paperboy TXZ. Maybe it can be improved like the CPC Tapes?

They are loading fine in an emulator so the files itself are okay.

[PhantombrainM]

By the way, the extension .tap and .dsk, ... is shown in zxspectrum file GUI. Can you remove it?

In CPC for example its not shown and it's not needed either.

[Sorgelig]

Why tap and dsk should be removed? I didn't get it.
If you mean extension is shown in file names, then it's standard feature of file lister. If more than one extension are requested then extensions are shown to distinguish the file types. If only single extension is requested, then it's not shown as all files have the same extension.

[PhantombrainM]

Yes, i meant the file extension but I didn't know that its only visible, when multiple extensions exist.

I've got seperate folders (TAP, TZX,...) and so on, so I don't need the extensions visible in lister, but I get the idea now!

[Sorgelig]

It's shown not because multiple extensions exist in folder, but because multiple extensions are requested.

[Sorgelig]

The ZX Spectrum core release 20180711 don´t load txz files correctly.
It starts loading but crashes while loading. Fast or slow loading makes no difference.
With release 20180706 loading is possible.

What TZX game is working in 20180711 and doesn't work in latest version?

[Sorgelig]

That's true. For example Paperboy TXZ. Maybe it can be improved like the CPC Tapes?

They are loading fine in an emulator so the files itself are okay.

I've tried Paperboy TZX (perfect version from WoS). It loads fine in fast mode.

Sometimes tape loading put on pause after first part like this paperboy. Just press F1 to continue tape playback.
Unfortunately ZX Spectum has no tape motor control, so it's difficult to detect the tape start/stop.
CPC has motor control, so tape control is easy to automate.

[PhantombrainM]

oh.... you are right Sorgelig.
I didn't know that the tape stops while loading without showing something on the screen.

Now all the games I tried work! For me it's perfect now!
Thank you so much for the hint!

regards,
PhantombrainM

[PhantombrainM]

Okay, now I went through a lot of tapes and finally found one which is really not working!

Starstrike II (tzx) resets the system.
So I don't know If its tape related or not but the .tap is working, so I think its not a system problem...

[albconde]

Hi
Is there any option to assign a key to a button on the joystick in the core?
for games that need two buttons.
Another question,Has anyone tried target renegade trd with gs sound? The sound effects work, but the music don't.

Thanks

[Sorgelig]

Hi
Is there any option to assign a key to a button on the joystick in the core?
for games that need two buttons.
Another question,Has anyone tried target renegade trd with gs sound? The sound effects work, but the music don't.

Thanks

You cannot assign keyboard button to joystick. By the way, Kempston joy has 2 buttons.
Target renegade works fine with both effects and music on GS. Use set 512KB RAM for GS for better compatibility (and reset).

[Sorgelig]

Starstrike II (tzx) resets the system.
So I don't know If its tape related or not but the .tap is working, so I think its not a system problem...

custom tape loaders may have very specific access to tape and can fail which happens to this game. It also may have specific protection making it fail. Won't be fixed. Use other working version.

[albconde]

Hi
Is there any option to assign a key to a button on the joystick in the core?
for games that need two buttons.
Another question,Has anyone tried target renegade trd with gs sound? The sound effects work, but the music don't.

Thanks

You cannot assign keyboard button to joystick. By the way, Kempston joy has 2 buttons.
Target renegade works fine with both effects and music on GS. Use set 512KB RAM for GS for better compatibility (and reset).

The problem is that the games only use one joystick button, and the second is mapped on the keyboard, for example in cabal or rtype.
In the zxuno the solution was to create a new interface with maped keys "OPQA Space M" many of the games with two fire buton let you redefine the keys.
In target renegade GS, you're right, with the configuration
Video timings: Pentagon
General Sond: 512kB
Memory: Pentagon 1024k
Works.
Thanks

[Sorgelig]

With new MiSTer release you can assign temporary keyboard keys to Joystick.
You even can play games not supporting the joystick originally if you assign the proper keys.

[Newsdee]

With new MiSTer release you can assign temporary keyboard keys to Joystick.
You even can play games not supporting the joystick originally if you assign the proper keys.

Wow, that's a great feature!

[albconde]

Tested in cabal for spectrum and prohibition for amstrad and works perfectly .
Just a comment, if you map the directions of the joystick to keys, you can not use them later in the osd until you reset the core, but you can use the cursor keys instead.
Thanks

[Sorgelig]

I will fix it.

[albconde]

tested with the latest change and now works in OSD.
Thank you very much for this feature.

[PhantombrainM]

How can I use General Sound?

I can't see a dedicated setting in OSD just how much megabyte I have to assign (1MB default).
Wasn't there a special entry? I just have SAA Sound and Kempston.
I've tried all Spectrums and ULA's.

I enter TR DOS, load a .trd with load"boot" and select the GAME GS entry from boot menu.

Title screen is flickering with colored blocks (I tried different games) (Youtube videos demonstrating this games dont have graphical artifacts) and a small "bar fills" with GS-512.

But I can't hear anything, just normal sound fx.

Broken core or my fault?

[albconde]

To hear the GS sound I use the configuration:

Video timings: Pentagon
General Sound: 512kB
Memory: Pentagon 1024k

works with software prepared for GS like "fernando martin", "chase HQ" and "target renegade"

[PhantombrainM]

Thank you for your reply.

I've tried your settings. But still no sounds and graphical problems.
I tried different GS Games...all have problems in loading screen. This shouldn't be normal either?

I made a YT Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5i-z_vBwcE

[albconde]

I load the trd with gluk, insert the disk in the OSD, f11 and select p.c. option. and boot

[Sorgelig]

I confirm, something weird happens with ZX core.
I don't know yet what's the problem. GS stopped to work for me too. Even 20180820 release doesn't work while it worked before.

Regardless this problem, TSConf is better for GS. You even can play Amiga mods there directly from Wild Commander.

[Sorgelig]

ok. I found most games/utils for GS require video timings: Pentagon.
Press Alt-F5 in latest ZX release to switch to Pentagon 128K mode.

Instead of typing LOAD "boot", simply type RUN. Or use F11 to enter Gluk menu and then choose "GLUK BOOT" option - you will get the list of files to choose to boot.
For best compatibility keep GS memory 512KB as default. Don't forget to reset after switch the GS memory.

P.S.: Alternative ROM includes Real Commander instead of Gluk which shows the disk content at start.