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Text File | 1995-04-01 | 24.7 KB | 719 lines

<=--------------------------------------------=> MSX2 Emulator v1.8 Beta - 1994/95 © RED Soft <=--------------------------------------------=> (Shareware version, March '95) (Time limited) Programming and emulating systems by: --=> Juan Antonio Gómez Gálvez <=-- PSG emulation (MSX's sound chip) by: --=> Sergi Martínez <=-- MSX2 Hardware Informations by: --=> Manuel Hiniesta García <=-- <=---=> Index <=---=> 0.- Note from the author 1.- Introduction. 2.- Menu 3.- Hardware emulation 4.- MSX peripheals emulation. 5.- Technical data. 6.- Errors, compatibility, etc... 7.- Story... 8.- How to get the full version. 9.- Copyrights. 10.- Emulation quality 11.- Greetings. <=------------------------------------------------=> 0.- Note from the author ------------------------ Finally, I decided give up programming the MSX2 emulator due to the low number of people interested in it. The coding of a MSX2 emulator is really difficult and hard, and this need a lot of hours of work. (if you don't belive me, try to make another emulator...) So the emulator will remain with no development, at least for a while. If I recive enough registration letters I will continue programming it. The author. <=---------------------------------------------=> 1.- Introduction ---------------- This version (TIME LIMITED) is FreeWare, it can be freely spreaded as long as you don't sell it. All files must be present: MSX2_v1.8 MSX2 Emulator with 256Kb RAM, 128Kb VRAM. MSX2_v1.8.English.doc This file MSX2_v1.8.doc Doc file in Spanish and .info files Workbench icons <*> What is required: ---------------------- - AMIGA computer with Motorola 68020 or better processor. - ROM 2.0 or newer. - File DEVS:mfm.device © Commodore-Amiga inc. - 1.8 Megs of memory approx. - PAL, NTSC or compatible monitor. (1.5 Mb Fast32bit required to get the maximum speed) (AGA chipset is not required, but they are used if found) (mfm.device can be found in Workbench disk, in DEVS: drawer) Try to free as Fast32bit memory as possible before running the emulator. This program is coded using AMIGA HARDWARE, so multitasking is disabled, but mfm.device is used to emulate disk drive and multitasking is enabled during disk access. Due to this, I recommend not to have programs using multitasking when the emulator is used. Also the emulater "freezes" input.device when it is using mfm.device. Many people asks me for a multitasking emulator. Well to do this I should use system libraries, and the emulator would be 5 times slower. Have you got an A4000/040? Well, I don't ;-). I just have got an A1200. The emulator works a 18% SLOWER on 16bit-fast (PCMCIA) than on 32bit-Chip, so turn off your pcmcia ram to get a faster emulation. MSX's disk format is the same than PC's (720Kb). If the disk you want to use with MSX Emulator is formatted in a PC (or using PCx: drives on Amiga) you should install MSX boot on it. To do this, instert your PC-formatted diskette in DF0 and press "MSX Boot" gadget in menu. If you don't do this, the emulator will hang up when trying to boot that diskete. I do NOT guarantee this program emulates a complete MSX, I don't assume responsability if any information or data is lost while the emulator is being used. Emulation speed depends on the computer you have. To get real MSX speed you need at least an A1200 equipped with 32bit Fastmemmory. Be patient if you own a standard 1200! <=------------------------------------------------=> To contact the author, write to: Juan Antonio Gomez Galvez Apdo. 275 08940 Cornella de Llobregat BARCELONA (Spain) Phone: +343 375-57-77 You can also contact Sergi Martinez via E-mail writting to: FIDONET 2:343/133.13 AMIGANET 39:190/2.13 REDBSS 757:101/8.13 VVISION 60:100/146.13 <=------------------------------------------------=> 2.- Menu -------- <*> Disk Drivers: ------------------ With this gadgets you select which Amiga-diskdrives will be used to emulate MSX drives A: and B: . If both A: and B: drives are OFF, MSX Disk Basic ROM will not be emulated. <*> MSX's joystick port 2: -------------------------- "Port 0 ON" gadget is to determine if MSX's port 2 is emulated or not. This port is emulated in Amiga's mouse port, and many games would think a joystick is connected and would read illogical values. Activate this gadget only when you are going to use 2 joysticks. <*> MSX Boot: ------------- This gadget installs MSX's boot-block on the disk at DF0. You should do this if the disk is formated in a PC or using PCx: . <*> MSX2.doc: ------------ Saves .doc files in RAM: In future versions (if any) this gadgets will save MSX's VRAM as an IFF ILBM file (with palette in screen 5 & 7!!!) <*> VDP Options: ---------------- - "Screen" selects display mode. * (MSX Mode) MSX will select NTSC or PAL when required. * (WB mode) MSX won't be able to exchange display mode. * PAL (50 Hz) The emulator will always run in PAL mode. * NTSC (60 Hz) The emulator will always run in NTSC mode. (MSX Mode not implemented) - "Inter" is to determine how many interruptions will be generated per second. In a real MSX, this value is 50 vblanks. If a game runs very slow, it is possible that setting this gadget to a lower value make it run a littke faster. - "Re-Int": A lot of games used re-interruptions, and due to this I could make a lot better emulation. If your Amiga has enough speed, put it at 25 or 50 vblanks, but if you own a slow Amiga put it at 10 vblanks and some games will speed up. Note: I recomment setting it always at 10 vblanks, but if a game runs too fast and music is slower set it to 50 vblanks. (under some circumstances the emulator may hang-up if this value is 50 vblanks). <*> Emulation Speed: -------------------- With this gadget you determine how much of frame time will be used to emulate Z-80A (100%=Top speed). If a game works too fast just put this slider to a lower value. <*> Other Gadgets: ------------------ - About: Some credits about this great program! ----- - Go: Makes an MSX's hard reset. -- - Continue: To continue the emulation when you pressed Help. -------- - Exit: To quit this great program! ---- <=------------------------------------------------=> 3.- Hardware Emulation. ----------------------- <*> Z-80A (Processor) Emulated at a 98% ----------------------- All works correctly except this: - Flags N and H are not emulated. - SP register can write in ROM! - Flag P is only emulated at instructions OR, AND, XOR. Some games fail due to some bugs un Z-80A emulation. Theese bugs are ver hard to find, so I will need a lot of time to find and fix them. <=---------------------=> <*> VDP (Graphics chip) Emulated at a 40% ------------------------- * Sprites: ---------- - AMPLIATED sprites are not emulated. - 8 sprites per line are supported instead of 4 in MSX1 modes. - MSX2 sprites not emulated (1 color per Y line) * Text modes: ------------ - TEXT1 mode (scr 0 width < 41) 100% emulated. - TEXT2 mode (scr 0 width > 40) flash not emulated. - MULTI mode (screen 3) not emulated. Why? Nobody used it... - GRAPH 1 & 2 (scr 1 & 2) 100% emulated. * Graphic modes: --------------- - GRAPH 3 (scr 4) not emulated (will be emulated GRAPH 2 mode (scr 2) - GRAPH 4 & 6 modes (scr 5 & 7) 100% emulated (with no sprites) - GRAPH 5 (scr 6) not emulated. (this is why MSX logo doesn't appear) - GRAPH mode 7 (scr 8): (not implemented) - AGA Chipset: 100% emulated with no sprites - ECS/OCS: Emulated on 32 colors, 1 bit per RGB is lost. * VDP Registers: --------------- - Starting screen line emulated. (hardware scroll), but it only works once per frame. (It will be 100% emulated in future versions) - Palette registers emulated - Emulated Writing and Reading from registers in indirect mode. - Horizontal interrupt emulated as vertical. - Adjust register not emulated. - Lace mode not emulated, neither are the rest of registers... * VDP Commands: -------------- - Logical operators: -------------------- - IMP: Only emulated in GRAPH 4 & 6 (scr 5 & 7) with a bug in X descending mode masks. - AND,OR,XOR,TIMP,TAND,TXOR emulates as IMP. - Logical operators commands: ----------------------------- - HMMV Paint: Only emulated with color 0 in GRAPH 4 & 6 (scr 5 & 7) with a bug in X descending mode masks. - HMMM VRAM=>VRAM: Only emulated in GRAPH 4 & 6 (scr 5 & 7) with a bug in X descending mode masks. - LMMV Paint: Emulated as HMMV Paint. - LMMM VRAM=>VRAM: Emulated as HMMM VRAM=>VRAM. - HMMC, YMMM, LMMC, LMCM, LINE, SRCH, PSET, POINT & STOP: Not emulated. * Status registers: ------------------ - Only emulated 0 and 2 registers. - Not emulated the rest upto 9 register. <=------------------=> <*> PSG (Sound Chip) Emulated at a 99% ---------------------- It works correctly. <=------------------------------------------------=> 4.- MSX peripheals emulation. ----------------------------- <*> Joystick ports. Emulated at a 99% -------------------- (IN SHAREWARE VERSION JOYSTICK IS NOT EMULATED, YOU MUST USE KEYBOARD TO PLAY THE GAMES) Two firebuttons in MSX are supported. Left Amiga and Right Amiga keys work like joystick second firebutton. A Joypad can be used. Amiga firebutton 1 = MSX firebutton 1 Amiga firebutton 2 & 3 = MSX firebutton 2 Amiga A port = MSX B port Amiga B port = MSX A port <*> Keyboard. Emulated at a 99% -------------- Correctly emulated. There is a bug in Amiga 1200 keyboard, and some keys can't be pressed together. To solve this, you can press DEL key and then press all keys you want separately. MSX rom will think that you are pressing all keys at the same time until you press DEL key again. MSX keyboard is the same than Amiga's except the following keys: AMIGA MSX ------- ----- F6 SELECT F7 STOP F8 HOME/CLS F9 INS F10 DEL Left ALT GRAPH Right ALT CODE DEL Multikey mode ON/OFF < > CAPS LOCK ç Ç Dead key. (accents) Left Amiga JoyStick 1 - 2nd firebutton Right Amiga JoyStick 2 - 2nd firebutton CTRL+Left ALT+HELP MSX Reset HELP Go to Workbench's menu. (Exit) <*> Disk drive. Emulated at a 99% ---------------- Double sided and single sided MSX disks are supported. (2DD and 1DD) Make sure your disks have got a MSX boot to avoid a hang up when the MSX is booting from a disk drive. You can install it in menu, using "MSX Boot" gadget. DO NOT INSTALL ALL DISKS you get, because some MSX disks had their own boot to run the game. Install only disks that you've formatted in a PC or using PCx: drives. To emulate MSX disk drives I have had to "kill" the interrupt that warns the Amiga that a disk has been changed, so when you exit the emulator the diskdrive will not recognise Amiga disks. I am sorry. It is better not to mount neither PCx nor DSx from Workbench. <*> Memory. ------------ A 256Kb RAM and 128Kb VRAM MSX2 is emulated. Sub-Slots (&HFFFF) are not supported, so there are NO COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS with Sony or Philips memory models! If you get a "out of memory" error, try to disable drive B: emulation. <*> Clock Battery ------------------ Correctly emulated. <*> Printer port. ------------------ Not emulated. (I haven't got a printer, and I can't make an emulation without it!) <=------------------------------------------------=> 5.- Technical Data: ------------------- The basis of this emulator have been taken from my first MSX1 emulator (256Kb version) The emulator has been programmed using assembler, on an A1200/020 28Mhz 2Mb Chip 4Mb Fast. In order to make the emulation as fast as possible, this program disables multitasking and it is programmed using Amiga hardware (all but the menu and diskdrive, of course!) To test the emulator, I used a Philips NMS-8280 MSX2 from my friend Manuel Hiniesta. <*> Slots configuration on emulated MSX2: ----------------------------------------- * Slot 0: ROM - Page 0: MSX2 ROM Bios. - Page 1: MSX-Basic ROM. * Slot 1: Cartdridge slot 1. * Slot 2: Cartdridge slot 2. - Page 0: MSX-Basic Sub-ROM. - Page 1: MSX Disk-Basic ROM. * Slot 3: 256Kb memory mapped RAM (without sub-slots). <*> Z-80A Emulation speed: (±5%) -------------------------- Routine in MSX-Basic: Time=0:For I=0 to 10000:Next:Print Time Computer Time % ---------------------- ------ ------ MSX2 Philips NMS-8280 864 100% Amiga 1200/20 No Fast. 2144 40% Amiga 1200/20 PCMCIA. Amiga 1200/20 14Mz. Amiga 1200/20 28Mz. 577 150% Amiga 1200/30 28Mz. Amiga 1200/30 50Mz. Amiga 4000/30 33Mz. Amiga 4000/40 25Mz. <=------------------------------------------------=> 6.- Errors, compatibility, etc... --------------------------------------- When you have got an emulator and a program for the computer emulated you always think: "will it work?". If it works all is OK, but if it fails we always think that the emulator doesn't work correctly. Of course the emulator still has some bugs, because they are very difficult to find. These bugs will be being fixed in future versions, but this can last a lot of time (MSX emulator source is HUGE) But not all fails are because of bugs, they can be for other reasons: MSX computer, just like PC incompatibles, were manufactured by a lot of companies, and not all MSX were identical each other. Well, some bad programmed games does not take care of theese possible differences and they only work in certain machines. MSX emulator tries to emulate the most extended MSX computer configuration, but some programs will still fail. Some games were originally designed to run from tape, but pirates converted them to disk. MSX Disk ROM uses some memory to manage disk drives, and due to this some games won't work because they won't find enough free memory. Theese games won't even work on a real MSX in the same circumstances. Some games fail due to emulation speed is slower than MSX speed. These games would fail in a MSX slower than the standard. If it happens, try setting "Re-Int" gadget in menu to a lower value. Well, don't be scared! The emulator works perfecty with most games, and if one fails maybe another version of the same program works correctly... All programs that work in PC's MSX emulator should run in Amiga's MSX emulator (and even better!). If a program doesn't work, try it on another version of the emulator (64Kb, 256Kb, MSX2...) <=------------------------------------------------=> 7.- Story... ------------ The basis of this emulator were taken from my first MSX1 emulator. From it, I developed the following versions: MSX2 Emulator v1.7: (February'95) ------------------- - Poor emulation of graphic modes 4 & 6 (screen 5 & 7) - Poor emulation of VDP copy function - 128Kb VRAM emulation - Uses MSX1 ROM. MSX2 Emulator v1.8: (March'95) ------------------- - 80 columns text mode emulated. - Full emulation of GRAPH 4 & 6 modes (scr 5 & 7) without sprites. - VDP copy mode emulated. - Clock Battery emulated. - Single sided disks emulation done. - Interrupt mode 2 correctly emulated. - Uses MSX2 ROM. <=------------------------------------------------=> 8.- How to get the full version: -------------------------------- (I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL FINISH THE EMULATOR ANY DAY) To get this version or the last version I have got without time limit and with all gadgets working you must register. What is registering? Well, it's easy. You must send me a letter with these information: <=---------------------------------------------------------------------=> MSX2 Emulator Register: ----------------------- - Full Name: ____________________________________________________________ - Address: ______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ - Amiga you own: ________________________________________________________ - Bugs, suggestions, Ideas, etc... ______________________________________ <=---------------------------------------------------------------------=> <*> Very important: - ONLY FOR THE MSX2 EMULATOR. - If your name or address is missing, your register won't be valid. -=> To register, write to: ---------------------- Juan Antonio Gomez Galvez Apdo: 275 08940 Cornella de Llobregat BARCELONA You will recive the registered version of the MSX2 emulator in C.O.D. (to Cash On Delivery). I think it will cost you about $50 (I don't know the cost of sending a disk outside Spain). People registered to my MSX1 emulator will only pay about $25. The disk I will send to you will be a new TDK or Nashua disk, with the latest available version of the emulator and REGISTERED WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. What will I get if I register this program? - This version (or newer) of MSX emulator with unlimited time, joysticks enabled and all menu options working. - All new versions of this program without paying it again. In that case you should send me a disk every 2 or 3 months and I will copy you the latest version available. - Complete MSX1 emulator. How can I loose my register? The version I sent to you has your name and address on it. Also there is a code inside the emulator, so I will know who spreaded a registered version even if register name and address have been changed. So if I find this program in a BBS or somebody tells me that he has seen a "cracked" version, the guy who spreaded the program will loose his register. MSX EMULATOR IS NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN, so it can NOT be sold. If somebody buys the registered version to another one, he won't have the profits of being a registered user. And after that, I would like to say the following: I do NOT guarantee this program emulates a complete MSX2, I am not responsible if anuthing fails or doesn't work. I assume NO responsabilities if information or data are lost when using the emulator. Thigs that doesn't work in shareware version, will probably don't work in registered version. (ALL THINGS ABOVE ONLY IF I FINALLY CONTINUE WITH THE EMULATOR) <=------------------------------------------------=> 9.- Copyrights -------------- DEVPAC III is © HiSoft. GadToolsBox is © Jaba Development. mfm.device is © Commodore-Amiga inc. MSX Roms are © ASCII corp. Amiga's MSX Emulator is © RED Soft S.L. (Barcelona) Spain. ZXAM Spectrum Emulator is © Toni Pomar (WareSoft). <=------------------------------------------------=> 10.- Emulation quality: ----------------------- The Z-80A emulation is very good, but there are still some bugs. In some games, re-interrupts may cause the computer to hang up. Nemesis III (converted by Martos) and Penguin Adventure (converted by Sergi Martinez) will hang up if Re-Int is set to 50 vblank/s. This is due to syncronizations. Graphic quality of the emulator depends on the game we emulate. Japanish games used hardware very correctly and the emulation is awesome, but most european or american games were Spectrum conversion. That means that the game was first programmed on a Spectrum and then modified a little to make it run on a MSX, so we had a MSX emulating Spectrum screen. MSX's graphic chip is a lot better than Spectrum's one, and is much more difficult to emulate. So if you want to play a Spectrum converted game, I recommend you to use the great ZXAM Spectrum Emulator by Toni Pomar, because it is better emulate a Spectrum than emulate a MSX that is emulating a Spectrum. MSX2 games work well, but some hardware "cheats" surely won't be correctly emulated. To develope the emulator, I tested with "Peach Up" disks, and they run really well, but games doesn't work so good, because VDP HMMC function is not emulated and many games used it... <=------------------------------------------------=> 11.- Greetings. --------------- I wish to greet all following people their helps in the developement of the MSX emulator: - Manuel Hiniesta for his great ideas and letting me test all I wanted on his MSX2, and for talking about my emulator in 6th MSX-Party in Barcelona. - Jordi Tirado for lending me some books. - Sergi Martinez for his PSG emulation and many other helps, and for looking for information about diskdrives and Z-80A secret instructions. Greets also for uploading the emulator to some BBSs and for his helps during the developement of the program. - Ronald Gorter and Albert Siersema for all informations about MSX's disk drivers. Why don't you ask our messages? Are you angry with us? - Alberto Orante for Workbench's MSX icons and for trying to find information about MSX diskdrives. - Toni Pomar for telling me Z-80A secret instructions. (Only you and me know how hard is to code a Z-80A emulator, isn't it? Good luck with your Spectrum +3 128Kb emulator!) - MEGA Soft for all MSX games. - Juanma & Rafa Romero for letting me test the emulator on their A1200+32bit Fastmemory. - Alex Baque (Nuku-Nuku/Future Brain) for letting me test the emulator on his A4000/030 - 33Mz. - Miguel Angel (Puck/Unknowns) for testing the emulator on his A1200 + fast 16bits. (PCMCIA) - Joan Sola for uploading the emulator trough InterNet. - Ramon Ribas for showing the emulator at Tilburg MSX-party in the Netherlands. <*=*> Thanks to all following people for their moral support: -------------------------------------------------------------- - All Mezcal group. (Leviathan, Frank-Einstein and Wolf Man) - José García, Raul Ureña, Ricardo Martínez, Eduardo Martínez (your texts in MSX-Club magazine are excellent), Javier López, Antonio Olivero and Jose Carlos de Albuquerque. Greetings to all these people that didn't left the MSX, not like me who left it and bought an Amiga (I was an Anti-Amiga too! ;-) <*=*> This program is dedicated to my BEST friends: (Not in special order) ---------------------------------------------------- Manuel Hiniesta, Jordi Tirado, David Rael, José Alvelo, Francisco Carretero, Toni Molar, Isa Cabello, Bea Román, Loli Sánchez, Ana Cabello, Montse Mansilla and my little sister Rafy. Well, that's all. I'm gona load a Peach Up disk... <=------------------------------------------------=> Juan Antonio Gomez - Programmer. // Thanks to \X/ Amiga for being the best computer.