VICE 2.3 released

You need an actual VIC.

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rhurst
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VICE 2.3 released

Post by rhurst »

I am doing a new Fedora 14 LiveDVD spin with svn copies of VICE 2.3 beta, however, this morning I discovered its ChangeLog was updated to reflect version 2.3.

The SourceForge project page confirms there is indeed a new release, and it can be downloaded here: VICE 2.3 source.

8)
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blackystardust
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Post by blackystardust »

Actually, the official release is feb 26th, the 2.3 source code was uploaded so we can use it to build all the binaries.

Signed, Marco van den Heuvel.
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Post by rhurst »

Cool! 8)

I already built binaries for Fedora 14 32-bit and 64-bit, for both GTK and SDL, and they work well (if you delete prior .vice settings folder):

Code: Select all

./configure --enable-sdlui --enable-fullscreen --with-sdlsound --enable-ffmpeg

Code: Select all

./configure --enable-gnomeui --enable-fullscreen --without-pulse --with-sdlsound --enable-ffmpeg
It works well with OpenCBM... waiting on my ZoomFloppy to try out that interface, too. :D
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rhurst
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Post by rhurst »

For anyone interested, I uploaded a working copy of Fedora Live DVD using the latest (as of today) Fedora and RPMfusion packages. You boot from this DVD in place of your PC's hard disk, i.e. Windows, so you get a Linux desktop for playing without touching your internal disk (unless you direct it to do so). This is an Intel 32-bit build, but runs on modern 64-bit PCs, too.

I also ran it using Linux KVM virtualization for testing, but runs with good performance:

Code: Select all

env QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=pulse  \
	qemu-kvm -cpu qemu32 -enable-kvm -m 1024  \
	-smp 2,sockets=2,cores=1,threads=1  \
	-rtc base=utc -soundhw ac97 -vga qxl  \
	-spice port=6502,disable-ticketing  \
	-cdrom Live-Arcade.iso  &

spicec -h localhost -p 6502
I added both GTK and SDL built binaries from VICE 2.3 sources and some VIC games on the desktop for easy launching. I also added the Stella ROMs for easy launching, too, from the Games -> Emulators menu.

NOTE: it will boot slowly, being a DVD-ROM, but after it is up, everything should play reasonably well without having to fiddle with hardware settings.[/code]
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orion70
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Post by orion70 »

:D Thanks Robert! Will download it ASAP. Is it possible to eventually install this Fedora distro on the hard disk? If so, will all the VICE stuff be still there?
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Post by GreyGhost »

I got a chance to try it briefly last night. I really like the layout of Fedora. I ran into a problem when I ran the Megacart program. I couldn't use the keyboard(F keys or alphabet keys). I got the joystick from the numeric keypad. What can I do to fix this problem or have I made a stupid error somewhere.

thx,

Later,
Rob
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orion70
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Post by orion70 »

GreyGhost wrote:I got the joystick from the numeric keypad. What can I do to fix this problem or have I made a stupid error somewhere
Yep, this seems to be an issue with VICE compiled under Linux AFAIK. Anyone knows how to get around this problem and program custom keys for the joystick?
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Post by rhurst »

The Mega-Cart icon launches the SDL build of VICE 2.3... you should press F12 to reveal its menu. From there, you should be able to set any hotkey event for any menu option, redefine joystick map, etc. There is also a nifty virtual keyboard window to generate the appropriate CBM key code (useful for my GP2X Wiz handheld).

My game icons launches the GTK build of VICE 2.3... alas, there is less opportunity to make changes to such settings. You need to edit the /usr/local/lib/vice/VIC20 config files, and you better know what you are doing.

Perhaps this may help the adventurous: I filed a bug report detailing a Symbolic Positioning issue with my keyboard with the CBM left-arrow key (assigned to the backquote).

Let me know if I can be of any help, or better yet, append your findings to the VICE ticket. I can understand the challenge here, but it is a little inconsistent when you launch xvic against the x64 keymapping... you'd think if it were wrong in one, it would be wrong for both emulators. :wink:
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Post by Schema »

I was hoping this New Feature Request for CS8900 Emulation on xvic would have made it in!
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Post by orion70 »

I tried the Fedora ISO file, burning it onto a DVD, but apparently it won't boot (screen stuck at "ISOLINUX" etc. bootup message). :?
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Post by rhurst »

Looks like binaries were released for a lot of hosts yesterday evening.
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blackystardust
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VICE 2.3 has now officially been released

Post by blackystardust »

VICE 2.3 has been released.

VICE is the Versatile Commodore Emulator, it emulates the Commodore C64,
C128, VIC20, PET, PLUS4 and the CBM-II, as well as the C64 DTV, and it
runs on Win32, Unix, DOS, RiscOS, OS/2, BeOS, QNX, and AmigaOS systems.

VICE is *free* software released under the GNU General Public License,
and as such it comes with full source code.

The most important changes from the last version can be found at the end
of this posting.

For more information and download instructions check out the VICE home
page at:

http://vice-emu.sourceforge.net/

=======================================================================
Note that some of the binaries are not available yet (minix and sparc
solaris), we are still working on them, they will be available soon.

Our maillist server seems to be down, we have no idea how long it is
going to be down for, if it is down for too long we will set up an
alternative maillist and announce it.

The documentation is slowly being updated and expanded to other formats
(pdf, txt, amigaguide, hlp, chm, ipf), it is still in an experimental
stage.

Unlike previous releases we are using the sf server for the binary
files, at least until they become available on zimmers.net, the links
in the documentation points to the zimmers.net location.
=======================================================================

The VICE team.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

* Upgrading
===========

If you run into trouble please try removing any VICE configuration files
left from previous installs.
(vice.ini / .vicerc / vice2.cfg / vice-sdl.ini depending on platform)

* Changes in VICE 2.3
======================

** General
----------

- Added x64sc, the accurate C64 emulator:

* VIC-II emulation rewritten from scratch using results from extensive
testing with newly written test programs on real hardware.

* Emulation is done on a cycle by cycle basis combined with pixel exact
dot clock domain handling.

* Accurate handling of all possible in-line splits of VIC-II registers
and graphics data.

* C64 model and even individual chip revisions can be selected for very
detailed emulation of their differences.

* Equally accurate PAL, NTSC and PAL-N emulation.

We believe x64sc is one of the most accurate C64 emulators at the
moment.

- Drive improvements, including weak bit emulation.

- Major reSID overhaul:

* Emulation of all known pipeline delays for full cycle accuracy.
* New shift register model based on revectorized die photograps.
* Accurate DAC models based on revectorized die photograps.
* Emulation of floating waveform DAC input for waveform 0.
* Advanced 6581 transistor level filter model based on revectorized
die photograps, yielding unprecedented accuracy.

- CRT Emulation (former "PAL emulation") is now available regardless of
video mode or -chip and works in all emulators.

NOTE: Color gamma range changed. You may need to set to 2.200 manually.
(ColorGamma=2200)

- Added "True aspect ratio" option.

- Sound buffer overflows reduced and the error replaced with a warning.

- Various monitor improvements (io details, expansion port status ...)

- Removed little used Emulator ID feature.

- VIA wrap handling rewritten to fix problems with timer 2.

- Added autostart option to do LOAD ,8 instead of ,8,1.

- RESTORE key presses are now distributed randomly across a frame.

- Improved accuracy of CIA interrupts. (6526/6526A selectable)

** C64/C128 changes
-------------------

- Cartridge emulation improvements. Many broken cartridges fixed, and the
following ones added:

* Action Replay 2
* Action Replay 3
* Capture
* Diashow Maker
* EXOS
* Final Cartridge Plus
* Freeze Frame
* Freeze Machine
* Game Killer
* MACH 5
* Magic Voice
* MMC Replay
* Prophet 64
* Snapshot 64
* Super Explode V5
* Super Snapshot

- Added emulation of the passthrough port of MMC64, Magic Voice and IEEE488
cartridges.

- CIA TOD 50/60 Hz toggle emulation fixed.

- Improved 1351/paddles port MUX emulation.

** C64 changes
--------------

- Added Drean (PAL-N) emulation.

- Fixed bug with autostart mode Inject-to-RAM. It now writes to RAM under
I/O correctly.

** C128 changes
---------------

- Fixed a bug with autostarting t64 images.

** VIC20 changes
----------------

- Added Vic Flash Plugin cartridge emulation.

- Fixed video cache & reverse bug.

- Fixed bug in attaching 4kB cartridges.

- Fixed autostarting bug, mostly seen with tape images.

** PLUS4 changes
----------------

- Fixed crashes in NTSC mode.

- Added v364 speech emulation.

** PET changes
--------------

- Added DWW emulation.

- Added userport DAC emulation.

** CBM2 changes
---------------

- Split 5x0 and 6x0/7x0 settings in the configuration file.

** Unix changes
---------------

- (Xaw) The menus can now be operated without holding the
mouse button down. Keyboard control is also available
(Shift-Alt-Z for left menu, Shift-Alt-X for right menu).

- (Xaw) Lightpen/gun support added.

- (GTK+) Fixed aspect ratio option added.

** MS-Windows changes
---------------------

- Implemented run time DX9 toggling.

** AmigaOS changes
------------------

- Added support for arm-aros.

- Made the UI more complete.

** DOS changes
--------------

- Made the UI more complete.

** Mac OS X changes
-------------------

- Added IO Tree to display a tree of IO registers and decode their meaning.
Currently only the C64 IO registers are supported, but you can extend the IO
Tree yourself by editing the "IOTree.plist" file. Please submit your IO Tree
extensions!

- Added Debugger Windows for Memory, Register and Disassembly Display.
These windows assist the monitor mode and display the machine state.
A popup window in the disassembly view allows you to set and alter breakpoints.

- Joysticks with sliders and hats are now supported. A single joystick can be
shared for HID device a and b. Some workarounds for broken USB devices added.

- Added "virtual" auto-fire to Joystick settings.

- Added True Pixel Aspect Ratio Display. This simulates the behavior that the
screen of an emulator is smaller in width if the pixels are not squares.

- Fixes in x64 and x128 osx keymaps.

- Correctly restore scale, position, and ordering of all emulator windows.

- Added 64 Bit compiles using gcc and clang compilers.

** SDL UI changes
-----------------

- Added vsid UI, FFMPEG and printer menus. The UI is complete.

** BeOS changes
---------------

- Fixed sound hang.

- Made the UI more complete.

** OS/2 changes
---------------

- The OS/2 port is now compiled using openwatcom.

- Made the UI more complete.


Enjoy!

Signed, Marco van den Heuvel.
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Mayhem
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Post by Mayhem »

What's the procedure if I discover any potential issues? There's a TAP I have that loads fine in 1.22, 2.1 and 2.2 of XVIC but doesn't now autostart in 2.3 released. If you hit Run/Stop when it gets to the end of the tape, then type RUN and return, it starts.
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blackystardust
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Post by blackystardust »

rhurst
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Post by rhurst »

I remade a working copy of Fedora Live DVD using the latest (as of today) Fedora and RPMfusion packages. I used the official F14 rpm binary package, too, which appears to run much better than last week's. No on noticed the latest cc65 suite installed? :wink:

So there is no SDL version here and the Mega-Cart simply runs the (better) GTK build. I had no issues with the function keys or joystick, just the grave (~) entry described prior is still not working. You should check the System-Preferences-Hardware (gnome-keyboard-properties) to set/show your keyboard layout.

And it is noted from the livecd-creator tools that DVD images like this might not boot from some BIOSes, due to their <1024 cylinder limitation.
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