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Within emulation there's no need to 'keep' the lo-res mode in my opinion. There's no benefit to keep it and the hi-res mode offers a lot more details at almost (sans memory) the same config.
AKA: Just keep the higher requirements with an A500 config and the user experience [tm] will be much better.
@pottyboy the reason fast_memory = 2048 was ignored because it is already set to that value for this game
Yes, this game is a bit "difficult" since it has two modes (lo-res and hi-res). I assume A1200 mode improves game performance better in hi-res mode? (A while since I tested that now). This is a case where one could imagine having "split configs", one for high-res and one for low-res, but I'm not sure we want to take that route because of the added complexity. It is something I'm thinking about - there are lots of technical solutions - But the problem is that it also adds complexity for users and contributors. There are other games as well with for example OCS and AGA versions on the same disks, where the A500 vs A1200 discussion is relevant. I have some ideas if we want to make this optional later, which I'll think some more about.
We'll Perhaps leave this game as it is for now, as you suggest.
Posted by
pottyboy at
2013-04-04 12:01:01 (Updated 2013-04-04 13:35:17):
Uploaded some new screenshots from the Hi-Res version. I take it my previous ones didn't quite cut it?
Also, for some strange reason, OADB won't let me set fast_memory to 2048?
Oops, just realised I set chipset to 1024! I meant chip_memory=1024! Sorry peeps! I'm being a right douchebag here aren't I?
Maybe just leave the config as it is for now?
Posted by
pottyboy at
2013-04-01 18:42:08 (Updated 2013-04-01 21:30:30):
Ah yes! Thanks for reminding me Frode! Just tried it on A500 with chipmem=1024, fastmem=1024 and floppy_drive_count=1... and it works You can also set fastmem=2048 if you wish to use more than 1 drive.
Totally forgot that the Amiga uses more memory when extra drives are used! Man I feel so stupid! goes and sits in a corner
Also, while the game is indeed faster on the A1200 (well it would be wouldn't it?), it's not really THAT much faster than running it on an A500, although loading times are indeed faster on the A1200.
@pottyboy, it does not have to be emulation/documentation error. Enabling more floppy drives uses some Amiga memory too, and they game may work with the stated minimum requirements if only one floppy drive is used...
Posted by
pottyboy at
2013-03-30 18:41:09 (Updated 2013-04-04 13:34:43):
Cool! Cheers for that! Weird how I couldn't get the Hi-Res version to work with 1MB Fast and 1MB Chip, even though the readme file on the program disk said that it needs this as a minimum requirement ??? That's either an emulation problem, or a mistake on Maxis' part!
Changed the title screen and some of the in-game screenshots to those from the Hi-Res version.
Thanks for testing. Default model is now set to A1200 + 2 MB fast RAM . "ADF, v1.0, cr AFL - PRD, Low-Res" is overriden to use A500 (without fast RAM).
Setting slow_memory to 0 in this case is not needed, as 512 KB is "implied" by the A500 only, and is not used unless specified for other models.
Posted by
pottyboy at
2013-03-28 19:54:21 (Updated 2013-03-28 19:56:00):
Dang, looks like it didn't work when the a500 was set to 1MB Chip and 1MB Fast. Still said there wasn't enough memory to run the HiRes version!
Never mind. I've just tried it under A1200 emulation with 2MB Chip and 2MB Fast and the HiRes version works well. Apparently the readme file also insists that a faster processor be used to play the HiRes version as well. So for now I will set the config to A1200 with 2MB Chip and 2MB Fast.
Sorry to all the moderators out there. First time configuring a game for this database so I'm only just getting used to it
Posted by
pottyboy at
2013-03-28 19:36:35 (Updated 2013-03-28 19:40:38):
Whoops! Looks like I only did the memory changes to the english IPF only. Need to alter it for all versions.
EDIT: Done. Also set slow_memory = 0 to all version as it isn't needed (well, for the IPF versions anyway).
English IPF version has the "HiRes" disk in drive DF0 upon booting. This needs changing to the "Install" disk.
Also, according to the readme file on the install disk, the HiRes version needs at least 1MB Chip and 1MB Fast to run. At the moment this config is set to 512k Chip and 512k Slow, so not enough memory to run the HiRes version.
Any chace of adding the WHDload variants please?
TODO: Both 'Low-Res' variants are missing the other disks (Install and Lo-Res Data), so they are pretty much useless...
Within emulation there's no need to 'keep' the lo-res mode in my opinion. There's no benefit to keep it and the hi-res mode offers a lot more details at almost (sans memory) the same config.
AKA: Just keep the higher requirements with an A500 config and the user experience [tm] will be much better.
@pottyboy the reason fast_memory = 2048 was ignored because it is already set to that value for this game
Yes, this game is a bit "difficult" since it has two modes (lo-res and hi-res). I assume A1200 mode improves game performance better in hi-res mode? (A while since I tested that now). This is a case where one could imagine having "split configs", one for high-res and one for low-res, but I'm not sure we want to take that route because of the added complexity. It is something I'm thinking about - there are lots of technical solutions - But the problem is that it also adds complexity for users and contributors. There are other games as well with for example OCS and AGA versions on the same disks, where the A500 vs A1200 discussion is relevant. I have some ideas if we want to make this optional later, which I'll think some more about.
We'll Perhaps leave this game as it is for now, as you suggest.
Uploaded some new screenshots from the Hi-Res version. I take it my previous ones didn't quite cut it? Also, for some strange reason, OADB won't let me set fast_memory to 2048? Oops, just realised I set chipset to 1024! I meant chip_memory=1024! Sorry peeps! I'm being a right douchebag here aren't I? Maybe just leave the config as it is for now?
Ah yes! Thanks for reminding me Frode! Just tried it on A500 with chipmem=1024, fastmem=1024 and floppy_drive_count=1... and it works
You can also set fastmem=2048 if you wish to use more than 1 drive.
Totally forgot that the Amiga uses more memory when extra drives are used! Man I feel so stupid! goes and sits in a corner
Also, while the game is indeed faster on the A1200 (well it would be wouldn't it?), it's not really THAT much faster than running it on an A500, although loading times are indeed faster on the A1200.
@pottyboy, it does not have to be emulation/documentation error. Enabling more floppy drives uses some Amiga memory too, and they game may work with the stated minimum requirements if only one floppy drive is used...
Cool! Cheers for that! Weird how I couldn't get the Hi-Res version to work with 1MB Fast and 1MB Chip, even though the readme file on the program disk said that it needs this as a minimum requirement ??? That's either an emulation problem, or a mistake on Maxis' part!
Changed the title screen and some of the in-game screenshots to those from the Hi-Res version.
Floppy disk order for IPF variants are also fixed!
Thanks for testing. Default model is now set to A1200 + 2 MB fast RAM
. "ADF, v1.0, cr AFL - PRD, Low-Res" is overriden to use A500 (without fast RAM).
Setting slow_memory to 0 in this case is not needed, as 512 KB is "implied" by the A500 only, and is not used unless specified for other models.
Dang, looks like it didn't work when the a500 was set to 1MB Chip and 1MB Fast. Still said there wasn't enough memory to run the HiRes version!
Never mind. I've just tried it under A1200 emulation with 2MB Chip and 2MB Fast and the HiRes version works well. Apparently the readme file also insists that a faster processor be used to play the HiRes version as well. So for now I will set the config to A1200 with 2MB Chip and 2MB Fast.
Sorry to all the moderators out there. First time configuring a game for this database so I'm only just getting used to it
Whoops! Looks like I only did the memory changes to the english IPF only. Need to alter it for all versions.
EDIT: Done. Also set slow_memory = 0 to all version as it isn't needed (well, for the IPF versions anyway).
English IPF version has the "HiRes" disk in drive DF0 upon booting. This needs changing to the "Install" disk.
Also, according to the readme file on the install disk, the HiRes version needs at least 1MB Chip and 1MB Fast to run. At the moment this config is set to 512k Chip and 512k Slow, so not enough memory to run the HiRes version.