Release openMSX_PND v0.2.0

[SladeCraven]

Here is the port of openMSX (http://openmsx.sourceforge.net) for the PANDORA.


Repo link : http://repo.openpand...app=openMSX_PND


v 0.2.0 - 26/11/2011


- Fullscreen mode is now forced


- OSD menu is launched by default


- Key mapping changed a bit to better fit the PANDORA


- Proper handling of appdata folder


v 0.1.0 - 24/11/2011


- Initial release


Features :


- Full MSX emulation, including all the featured machines from the legacy version


- Laserdisc support


Missing :


- OpenGL display (due to libGLEW use), still to be investigated


This first port is functionnal, but not heavily tested with many roms.


Push bugs and requests here.


======================================================================================


Installation


======================================================================================


After the first launch, openMSX_PND creates a folder in appdata :


/appdata/openMSX_PND


Once it has been launched once, you can put your software files (ie rom, disks, ...) in :


/appdata/openMSX_PND/software/


But also in any folders of yout SD cards, as you will have a file browser.


======================================================================================


Running a game/software


======================================================================================


At startup, the OSD menu will appear, allowing you to setup some key features of the emulator and to load ROMS/DISKS.


After the selection of your first rom thru the "Load ROM..." menu choice, the folder will be saved in the settings file, allowinging


you to restart at the same point for the next time.


During game, you can press the following keys :


- F12 -> Show the GUI menu again (Pandora specific)


- F10 -> Show the console, allowing you to enter all the control commands described in the official docs.


- ATL+F4 -> Exit immediately the emulator.


For more information on running games, modifying configurations, etc, ect, please read the extensive documentation available at :


http://openmsx.sourc...ge.net/docs.php

 

[sebt3]

Missing :
- OpenGL display (due to libGLEW use), not solution up to now to port it on PANDORA

GLEW is used to detect GL extention that the current gfx card support. In games, the code using glew is conditionnal (if (supported_extention(XYZ))use_XYZ(); else dont_use_XYZ() . As the GLES extentions available on pandora are known at first, you could drop glew completly and just use the branches that fit the pandora's best.


But if you realy want to, egl provide everything you need to do theses checks (warning extention in the gles world dont have the same name as in gl ) and I'm even pretty sure I've seen a library copying the glew api doing the same thing for gles (with different extention name obviously)

 

[SladeCraven]

Thanks for the clarification sebt3, i will check that in my next release.

 

[scoobydoo]

Will this run MSX1, MSX2 , MSX2 PLUS or Turbo -R roms??

 

[SladeCraven]

From the features page of openMSX itself :


http://openmsx.sourc...et/features.php

Almost all MSX systems: MSX, MSX2, MSX2+ and turboR generation

 

[scoobydoo]

From the features page of openMSX itself :


http://openmsx.sourc...et/features.php

Almost all MSX systems: MSX, MSX2, MSX2+ and turboR generation

Thank you. I will try this later.

 

[gruso]

Excellent, thanks SladeCraven Keyboard mapping all seems to be perfect.


You've probably got much of this stuff on your list, but I'll rattle it off anyway:

• I like the default scanlines, although people will probably want some options here.
  
• The method for game loading is not ideal at the moment, but thank you for providing good documenation. I had no problem loading my first game. (The terminal is partially hidden beneath the XFCE taskbar however, so you have to type blind.)
  
• Do you have plans to work on a more Pandora-friendly launcher? Maybe use PickleLauncher?
  
• An option to pick the game folder would be good - I try to keep all my ROMs away from /appdata, instead I have one /roms folder on the root of my SD card.
  
• Game controls not mapped yet. Full input mapping options would be nice, but if it's easier for you to simply mimic the ABXY mappings of PandoraMSX that would probably be fine.
  
• It does seem to run a little slow. I have a feeling fullscreen mode will improve this?
  

And don't forget to fix the donation link on the repo

 

[SladeCraven]

Thabnks gruso for the feedback.


Here is my todo list up to now :

• enhance the default settings for pandora (keys, fullscreen, etc). For the moment. you can set the fullscreen mode with: "set fullscreen true" then "save_settings"
  
• try to use openGL 2 es. I am not a great specialist of opengl, so i might fail here. In that case i will push a version using the latest notaz sdl.
  
• integrate a frontend to easily launch roms and set some basic options. There is an integrated frontend called catapult. but it uses wxwidgets. Anyone having a working wxwidget lib for pandora here?
  

 

[mcobit]

WxWidgets is trivial to crosscompile

 

[SladeCraven]

WxWidgets is trivial to crosscompile

Good to know ! After cross-compiling openMSX and its internal "configure" system, i will appreciate !


Thanks for the info.

 

[scoobydoo]

I have openmsxpnd0.1.0.pnd in apps. The appdata folder created after opening up the .pnd for the first time [msx icon from my desktop] creates a folder in appdata but is labeled as ~ instead of openMSX_PND. If I try to create a folder openMSX_PND and delete the ~ folder, ~ comes back every time I open the emulator .In other words there will be 2 folders in appdata ~ and the one I created openMSX_PND. If I just leave the ~ folder in appdata alone, it stays there and does not multiply.


Either way ,when I place my games in either appdata folder >roms [zipped or unzipped] they do not boot. I use the terminal command properly as explained but I keep getting the response there is no cart detected, please place a cart in the msx version 3.0 bios [something to that affect].


I know .dsk is disc and I assume .cas is cart? As I said the games do not open .zip or not.


Which games are being played? I tried Exerion 1&2, Invaders and 1942.


I must be real close to getting this emulator to go correctly.


I have the gut feeling I will not be helped but there is my problem anyhow.

 

[SladeCraven]

Strange. In the ~ folder, do you see a file named out.log ? If yes, could you post its content to me in MP ?

 

[scoobydoo]

Strange. In the ~ folder, do you see a file named out.log ? If yes, could you post its content to me in MP ?

It was not in the ~ folder but rather right next to it in appdata. I figured the ~ was where to place the games since it subsituted openMSX_PND folder.


Do you still want me to post the content?


I do not have my Pandora with me now but can post later.

 

[SladeCraven]

Ahh ! Which HotFix are you using ? I am no a full expert, but on my version -Hotfix 6 - , a folder is automagically created with the ID of the software present in the PXML file. Is it no always the case ?

 

[milkshake]

yes you can either specify in the application block the folder name or if you do not it will use the app_id as the folder name

<application id='MSX_emualtor' appdata='MSX_emulator'>

<!-- if appdata is not specified the application id will be used as the appdata folder name instead -->

 

[SladeCraven]

yes, that's what id did (and expected), but it seems that in the case of Scoobydoo, the appdata/openMSX_PND folder is not created at all, leading to put all default folders directly under appdata/.


Any clue ?

 

[milkshake]

nope, im not able to test it as my pandora is at home, and it appears to work fine for Gruso, so? maybe this is something unique to scoobydoo

 

[matti1234]

integrate a frontend to easily launch roms and set some basic options. There is an integrated frontend called catapult. but it uses wxwidgets. Anyone having a working wxwidget lib for pandora here?

There's already a menu (at least in the desktop version) that can be opened by pressing the menu key (I'm not sure if Pandora has this key, but maybe it can be remapped) or by typing "main_menu_open" in the console. Is there any reason why this can't be used? I can't test if this is already included since I'm still waiting for my Pandora.

 

[SladeCraven]

Thanks matti1234 ! I was not able to find it !!! Just tested on my Pandora, and it works fine. No need to another fronted! I will see how to start it directly when the emulator is launched.

 

[scoobydoo]

I am using HF5


Does this require HF6?