Topic: FB Alpha 0.2.97.07 Release

[CaptainCPS]

After reinstalling the Windows 7 SDKs and adding my old binaries package (found here -> click <-) to the environment path, I could compile the Visual Studio build for x86 / XP and Win7. Tried to compile a x64 build but a bunch of libraries errors keep showing up, so after I install the complete Visual Studio 2008 I'm gonna try again and see if I can make a x64 build  .

SeeYaa!

[Barry Harris]

Cap - Happy New Year!

I would check the compiling guides on my page. VC is fairly easy to get up and running.

x64 would be more complicated. Any ASM code needs to be removed/replaced as it's x86 specific. That said it's a lot more possible since I replaced Doze with MAME's Z80 core. I've looked at it before, but never finished it. Might take another look in the near future.

[Rasek]

I have tested this version for a few months and I have to say that it is wonderful. It is almost perfect! However, I have found a few minor details that would make it better. May be you want to consider them for next version... And of course, I am not talking of "please add [insert game name here] to the emulator".

Minor details (bugs?):

1) From the release notes:
•Fixed the Haunted Castle driver [iq_132]

As far as I know, the last version with Haunted Castle was the 0.2.97.05. It was removed from the 0.2.97.06, and in the 0.2.97.07 I have not been able to run it, I can not see it in the list of games.

2)  In the Select Game screen, the backfirt.zip file is reported to allow playing the game "BBack Fire (Tecmo) (Japan, Bootleg, Prototype?)
I think it should be Back Fire, not BBack Fire.

3) In the same screen, with all filters enabled, in the low line, FBA shows the following:
"Showing 2709 of 2709 sets [0 unavailable sets] [2710 Total sets]
I think it should show [2709 Total sets], to make sense with the previous data.

4) And, if we start to mess with the filters, we can see the following:

Atari: 25 sets
Cave: 27 sets
CPS-1: 144 sets
CPS-2: 242 sets
CPS-3: 20 sets
Galaxian: 191 sets
Kaneko 16: 17 sets
Konami: 124 sets
Neo Geo: 280 sets
Pacman: 71 sets
PGM: 31 sets
Psikyo: 24 sets
Sega: 219 sets
Taito: 111 sets
Toaplan: 43 sets

Misc (pre 90s): 371 sets
Misc (post 90s): 265 sets
Megadrive: 516 sets

Adding up this figures, it results in 2721 sets, not 2709.
Where are the 12 "extra" sets" ?

Let's see an example:

Misc (pre 90s): 371 sets
Misc (post 90s): 265 sets

But enabling both filters, it results in 635 sets, not 636!!

The reason?
The set kageki.zip is listed both as
pre and post 90s

while it is a game from 1988.

This is the list of the 12 "duplicated" games:
-puckman   (Galaxian / Pacman)
-drivfrcp   (Galaxian / Pacman)
-bagman   (MISC Pre 90s / Galaxian)
-ckong   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-dkongjr   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-gradius 3   (Misc (pre 90s) / Konami)
-hunchbak   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-huncholy   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian )
-kageki   (Misc (pre 90s) / Misc (post 90s))
-ladybug   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-phoenix (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-suprglob   (Misc (pre 90s) / Pacman)


At last... This is not a bug, only a desire....
At this moment, FBA can search for ROMs in a maximum of 8 folders, and the way to change the folders is a little screen with tabs. Only 6 tabs appear at a single moment in the screen, and you can only see the content of one tab at a time. It is not difficult to use this system, only tedious. I would replace it for a greater screen, with no tabs, and all the information in one single screen. And I would increase the number of folders to at least the same number of hardware emulated or may be a few more.
The screen would look something like this:


Path 01:      [textbox]    Browse button
Path 02:      [textbox]    Browse button
Path 03:      [textbox]    Browse button

.....

Path 24:      [textbox]    Browse button

The textboxes should also be wide enough to let read a standard-length path, such as:
c:\MISC STUFF\EMULATORS\ARCADE\FBAlpha\ROMs\CPS-1

Also I would remove the need of finishing the path with a "\" character. FBA should complete it if the user forgot it.

Well, easy to see all info with a single peek, easy to change the directories (both through the textboxes of browse buttons), and easy to classify your roms in folders according with its hardware.

I love FBA as it is now, but this changes would make it perfect.

See you in next version!!

[Bruce lee]

Guardians / Denjin Makai II

Dosen't seem to work, eveytime I try to load it I get a black screen.

[iq_132]

1) From the release notes:
•Fixed the Haunted Castle driver [iq_132]

As far as I know, the last version with Haunted Castle was the 0.2.97.05. It was removed from the 0.2.97.06, and in the 0.2.97.07 I have not been able to run it, I can not see it in the list of games.

Fixed. I forgot to set those games back to "non debug" status. They work fine in debug builds.

2)  In the Select Game screen, the backfirt.zip file is reported to allow playing the game "BBack Fire (Tecmo) (Japan, Bootleg, Prototype?)
I think it should be Back Fire, not BBack Fire.

Fixed.

The reason?
The set kageki.zip is listed both as
pre and post 90s

while it is a game from 1988.

Not exactly a bug. Kageki is listed correctly as PRE90s. Kagekih is listed as POST90s (it is a hack from 1992?). FBA displays parent + clone tree, so it shows both.

This is the list of the 12 "duplicated" games:
-puckman   (Galaxian / Pacman)
-drivfrcp   (Galaxian / Pacman)
-bagman   (MISC Pre 90s / Galaxian)
-ckong   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-dkongjr   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-gradius 3   (Misc (pre 90s) / Konami)
-hunchbak   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-huncholy   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian )
-kageki   (Misc (pre 90s) / Misc (post 90s))
-ladybug   (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-phoenix (Misc (pre 90s) / Galaxian)
-suprglob   (Misc (pre 90s) / Pacman)

Again, not exactly a bug. This is a result of games using parent versions that are on different hardware than themselves.  FBA does quirky things to show you "lots of stuff"

Guardians / Denjin Makai II

Dosen't seem to work, eveytime I try to load it I get a black screen.

I'll take a look and see what I can do.

[Bruce lee]

The game "Ultra Balloon" crashes the emulator. I'll let you know if there's anymore games that cause a crash.

[BisonSAS]

D-Con show Guru Meditation after loading.

[iq_132]

Fixed. Thanks.

The game "Ultra Balloon" crashes the emulator. I'll let you know if there's anymore games that cause a crash.

Fixed. Thanks!