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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2021 17:26:42 GMT
Yesss, i have :-)
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Post by spannernick on Jun 11, 2021 20:09:17 GMT
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Post by ouzy on Jun 11, 2021 20:47:15 GMT
I dropped you a couple of quid a month on Patreon :-) |
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Post by c64stuff on Jun 12, 2021 18:44:14 GMT
I definitely want to make a donation. I just don't want to do that through patreon.com. I want to share as little information about myself over the internet as possible. I did a quick google on patreon.com, but I also read a lot of negative things about it. I have to fill in too much personal information, and I won't. Yeah, I won't use patreon either. They aren't an unbiased service. They've cut off funding if it's the wrong political agenda. Businesses and tech giants should stay out of politics and agendas, and they shouldn't censor people as long as they aren't making threats, which is already illegal to do anyway. I hear Subscribe Star is way better. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2021 18:57:24 GMT
I used the Paypal option, quick and save :-)
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Post by vic2020ian on Jun 12, 2021 19:07:50 GMT
An update about the Beta testing. This has been a lot of work, an hour or 2 each day and 6-8 hours at the weekend for the last few weeks. We have downloaded and installed and tested and broken and fixed close to 100 versions I think. Very nearly there now. Only one Bug found and fixed today and some typesetting and language work. Coming soon: Boot into PCUAE the first time then choose to set Autoboot if you want to. If you do then you will be able to choose to set the mode of boot up that will persist until changed. 1. PCUAE TheCarousel - make a huge amount of Carousels e.g. C64_a, C64_b, C64_c etc. and Vic20_a, Vic20_b, Vic20_c etc. 2. VICE Mode - Pick a machine and boot into it every time (PET, Vic20, C64, Plus/4, C128, Super CPU C64, C64 DTV) - Bonus - turn off the splash screens for a nice retro original boot feel 3. Linux Mode - boot directly into X windows Some other features: English or Dutch language - would you like to add another language? Offer Nick some help and translate Joystick beep - turn off the annoying noise Gadget mode - connect to PC with USB A to A, copy files to and from the USB without removing it. TheC64 / The Vic20 only. Firmware mode - boot the firmware carousel and suspend PCUAE so you play the stock machine or flash an update without removing the PCUAE USB. Midnight Commander - oldschool file browsing and copying. JiffyDOS - accelerated disk access. Toggle the Autoboot on and off from the USB without writing to firmware if you want to switch PCUAE off for a while. Change the soundtrack. Help screens describing each function. Quickly switch from Carousel to VICE and back. For all the hours Davy and I have been testing Nick must have but 2 or 3 times as many hours in writing the code. Nick has been doing a great job and dealing with our feedback and requests too. Please show him your support. www.patreon.com/PCUAE or paypal.me/PCUAE Here is to 1.5.0 coming soon. Thank you Nick. |
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Post by c64stuff on Jun 12, 2021 20:53:36 GMT
Wow!!! You guys are really doing a great job! Simply mind blowing. Soon as I'm recovered from an accident and back to work I'll throw some money your way. Tripped and fell, putting my left hand (fortunately) through a window, and had to have 8 hours of surgery to reconnect severed nerves and tendons in my thumb and two fingers. After 20 weeks of therapy hand is getting better and almost ready to go back to work.
I hated the Plus 4 and C16 because they weren't compatible with the 64 and were actually steps backwards in technology (no SID or Sprites, lack of standard compatible hardware ports, etc). But I'm kinda excited to try a few games or check out some graphics on them. Mainly because 8 Bit Guy's Commodore History (excellent series by the way!) did a video on the Plus 4 and it's graphics. Although it was meant to be a business machine and wasn't designed to be a gaming computer, it's added colors really can produce some shockingly good digitized pictures and such. Probably better than any 8 bit computer at the time of it's release. I don't think it supports hardware scrolling either, but there have been some pretty good looking platform games made for it recently.
I also want to play 8 bit guy's Petsci Robots game in Pet mode, just because I think it's phenomenal what he could do on that old computer. It uses a Nintendo controller via a serial (or parallel?) port adapter on the Pet that he ships with the game, and since this port is also on the 64 it will allow you to use it on that too, so I hope the pet emulator can support that and somehow use a USB Nintendo style controller?
I'm hoping you guys can somehow develop a piece of software that will automate and easily allow you to setup and configure joysticks the mini and maxi don't work with, and save it to the config file. This seems to be a major drawback to them. Would also like to see Atari (2600,800,5200,7800,etc), Apple II line, and Spectrum emulators, but otherwise by the time you do all that might as well throw a Raspberry Pi into it I guess.
Anyway, keep up the fantastic work!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2021 18:24:41 GMT
When you sign up you agree to make a donation or monthly donation e.g. 5 or 10 Euro per month to buy a beer or a coffee or two as thanks for the thousands of hours that go into it. Those that are Patreons might get additional features or earlier access. It is up to Nick what he puts on there. Aaaai not for Paypal donator`s ?  |
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Post by sundance on Jun 13, 2021 18:36:41 GMT
In terms of joysticks,
The Maxi works flawlessly with my Mayflash Universal Arcade Stick F500 V2, on base Retrogames v1.5.2 firmware.
All directional movement, the fire button, and those 4 small, red buttons on the bottom of TheC64 joystick are mapped natively on the Mayflash stick, with no custom config file required. Maybe there's a config file coded by Retrogrames that's operating in the background, of which I'm unaware ... but I certainly didn't have to code one myself.
Most likely the Maxi shall also work with similar Mayflash sticks.
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Post by c64stuff on Jun 13, 2021 21:52:52 GMT
I prefer to use the original Atari 2600 joysticks (and paddles) when playing games on the C64 and other retro platforms because that's what I used back in the day. Unfortunately the ICode adapter I bought to do this isn't working, but I suspect ICode will do a firmware update or I can edit the mini or maxi config file to work with it.
I have a mini and maxi, so I'm half tempted to modufy the mini joystick with a Atari input plug on the side of it. Since it doesn't have micro switches I'll never use the mini joystick anyway, prefering the one that came with the maxi. With a Atari plug put on the side of it I can then plug an Atari joystick into it and still use the mini joystick's extra buttons to navigate the GUI and play games with the atari joystick. It's just a simple matter of soldering the pins for the 4 directions and fire to the right traces on the mini joystick.
I'm also really wanting to play arkanoid, Lemans, and several other games with the atari paddles like I did back in the day. I am using the ICode and Atari joysticks on Retropie since the ICode box has extra navigation buttons, but I haven't tried paddles yet on it. I suspect I'll have to set up the paddles in specific emulators since I don't think Retropie has a paddle config like it does the first time you plug in a new controller.
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Post by vic2020ian on Jun 13, 2021 22:22:03 GMT
When you sign up you agree to make a donation or monthly donation e.g. 5 or 10 Euro per month to buy a beer or a coffee or two as thanks for the thousands of hours that go into it. Those that are Patreons might get additional features or earlier access. It is up to Nick what he puts on there. Aaaai not for Paypal donator`s ? It will be sorted, I am sure. Messaged about it earlier today. |
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Post by vic2020ian on Jun 14, 2021 8:10:31 GMT
When you sign up you agree to make a donation or monthly donation e.g. 5 or 10 Euro per month to buy a beer or a coffee or two as thanks for the thousands of hours that go into it. Those that are Patreons might get additional features or earlier access. It is up to Nick what he puts on there. Aaaai not for Paypal donator`s ? Probably the same - working through the last stages of Beta testing then will discuss with Nick. I messaged him about it yesterday. New version to test today. |
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Post by sundance on Jun 14, 2021 9:08:26 GMT
I prefer to use the original Atari 2600 joysticks (and paddles) when playing games on the C64 and other retro platforms because that's what I used back in the day. Unfortunately the ICode adapter I bought to do this isn't working, but I suspect ICode will do a firmware update or I can edit the mini or maxi config file to work with it. I have a mini and maxi, so I'm half tempted to modufy the mini joystick with a Atari input plug on the side of it. Since it doesn't have micro switches I'll never use the mini joystick anyway, prefering the one that came with the maxi. With a Atari plug put on the side of it I can then plug an Atari joystick into it and still use the mini joystick's extra buttons to navigate the GUI and play games with the atari joystick. It's just a simple matter of soldering the pins for the 4 directions and fire to the right traces on the mini joystick. I'm also really wanting to play arkanoid, Lemans, and several other games with the atari paddles like I did back in the day. I am using the ICode and Atari joysticks on Retropie since the ICode box has extra navigation buttons, but I haven't tried paddles yet on it. I suspect I'll have to set up the paddles in specific emulators since I don't think Retropie has a paddle config like it does the first time you plug in a new controller. Yeah, the Atari VCS (as mine was called ... aka the 2600) joysticks had a great feel about them. A mile better that those ultra-stiff and unresponsive, triangular-prism shaped C64 sticks. I too, LOVED the Atari VCS paddles. I wished they made more games that supported them. Such a natural control for driving and racing games, to mimic the steering wheel. "Night Driver" was so much fun. Such simple graphics, but for 1980 who cares ... the gameplay is what matters, and the paddle control suited it to a tee. |
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Post by inarius84 on Jun 14, 2021 14:46:33 GMT
Just did my 10 euros donation on patreon, but i canceled my subscription for privacy Great Job again! |
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Post by inarius84 on Jun 15, 2021 7:44:12 GMT
Just did my 10 euros donation on patreon, but i canceled my subscription for privacy Great Job again! And having canceled the subscription before the 1st of the month, no quids sent! Resent via PayPal mate, sorry! |
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Post by spannernick on Jun 15, 2021 7:52:44 GMT
Thanks for all the support.. |
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Post by mobluse on Jun 17, 2021 13:24:15 GMT
Thanks JJ. There's a discussion in the X-windows thread, about connecting the Maxi to the internet whilst using it. Via a USB to LAN (ethernet) dongle. Did anything come of that? Well, it works but whether it's useful maybe mobluse can comment on that as I think he's been using it the most.This really depends on your definition of useful ;-) For me it's just the fun to get it working. For others it might be a cheap way to get their first Linux experience. But due to the lack of memory you can't do much with it. I developed it mainly for backing up and modding the internal nand. The network works if you connect THEC64 with a suitable cable to a computer. I had to use some adapter that probably crosses some data lines, but I haven't investigated why some cable combinations work. The computer could be a Raspberry Pi Zero W (or WH), but I used an Eee PC 900 with Ubuntu 18.04. THEC64 will be the device and the other computer with network, the host. I discovered a helpful program: nmtui, that can be installed in Ubuntu or Debian using apt. With nmtui one can configure the network on the host from another computer using only a terminal emulator, e.g. LXTerminal connected to the host via ssh. Sometimes THEC64 could change name after reboot of the host and then you need to use nmtui on the host to reconfigure the network via the USB port. Some problems were that I could only access the Internet, but not the local network, due to some nameserver problem. When I use a USB ethernet adapter I had the opposite problem i.e. I could only access the local network and not the Internet. Browsing works for simple web sites. Also, you should only power THEC64 from one source i.e. not use the power connector when it's connected via the back port to a computer, because otherwise harmful current loops might start. To use network with VICE would probably require the full VICE, because the built-in is probably not compiled with network support. |
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Post by sjakie43 on Jun 19, 2021 16:55:21 GMT
Any News yet ?  |
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Post by sjakie43 on Jun 19, 2021 18:46:29 GMT
Ok thank you Davy  |
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Post by spannernick on Jun 19, 2021 21:07:27 GMT
Not long now... I trying to speed it up now and optimise it, everything is working now and no bugs so far so its on track. |
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Post by c64stuff on Jun 19, 2021 22:17:57 GMT
If somebody gets a wifi modem working on the Maxi there's always the few games for the 64 that allowed you to play against a friend over the modem. 😎 I don't remember any of them working that well though.
You guys are doing amazing work. I'm surprised there aren't more people posting on this site. A game changer might be if somehow the GUI and all was ported to the Raspberry Pi. Also if they started selling the empty case with keyboard for say $80 I bet it would sell like hot cakes. Throw a Pi in it and suddenly it's a multi retro machine emulator with a built in keyboard.
Better yet make the case with the open ports on the back and GPIO pins located where the cartridge port is on the 64 to throw a Pi 400 board in the thing. Now you've got an amiga, 64, spectrum, atari, etc, all with a working keyboard.
I keep waiting for somebody to develop a adapter dongle for the Pi 400 GPIO port on the back to use various cartridges. Can you imagine playing all your atari 2600, C64, and other cartridges on it?
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Post by sundance on Jun 20, 2021 9:26:17 GMT
JJ or other knowledgeable folk, On the Maxi, is X-Windows v3 safe to use? For tasks like file management (moving, copying, deletion of files or directories), editing (renaming) of filenames or directory names, or text file creation and editing - such as with CJM files. It hasn't been updated since Feb 2020. Is that because it's super-stable (hopefully so), or has it just gone into a state of dormancy? Are there any Maxi users who can vouch for it? Thanks. It's safe as houses - the only issue you might run into is lack of memory if you run too many or too much resource-hungry programs. But for it's intended purpose (copying files, editing files) it is fine. Also there's no need for updated versions - if it ain't broken then don't fix it. The only reason for me to release an update would be if it would fix the occasional screen corruption that occurs. JJ, You mention the risk of running out of memory with X-Windows. If a crash were to occur, I gather it could screw up the Maxi's innards (please excuse my non-technical lingo). The risk of an out-of-memory crash would be low for you, because you have a souped up unit with 512 MB of RAM, as you've an additional 256 MB RAM chip soldered onto the board. For the rest of us, the risk is heightened, as we only have half of the RAM you've got to play with. Is that a fair assessment? Thanks. |
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Post by jj0 on Jun 20, 2021 11:46:27 GMT
It's safe as houses - the only issue you might run into is lack of memory if you run too many or too much resource-hungry programs. But for it's intended purpose (copying files, editing files) it is fine. Also there's no need for updated versions - if it ain't broken then don't fix it. The only reason for me to release an update would be if it would fix the occasional screen corruption that occurs. JJ, You mention the risk of running out of memory with X-Windows. If a crash were to occur, I gather it could screw up the Maxi's innards (please excuse my non-technical lingo). The risk of an out-of-memory crash would be low for you, because you have a souped up unit with 512 MB of RAM, as you've an additional 256 MB RAM chip soldered onto the board. For the rest of us, the risk is heightened, as we only have half of the RAM you've got to play with. Is that a fair assessment? Thanks. There's very little chance of affecting the Maxi's innards (nand), u sually when the system runs out of memory a user program is automatically killed, not something related to the kernel.
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Post by spannernick on Jun 20, 2021 12:26:09 GMT
It happen to me with THEC64 X-Windows Mod and running VICE in it, it would run out of memory and not run VICE, the easiest way of getting more memory and getting 1 GB of ram is to run the FW from a Orange PI PC H3, it acts exactly the same as the real machine would but you can run more stuff in THEC64 X-Windows Mod with it cause it has more ram.
With the H3 in THEC64 Maxi and VIC20 I notice it's only using half the power of the H3, the A20 has 2 cores(Duel Core)and the H3 a has 4 core (Quad Core) so 2 are cut off so it has the same power as the A20(they both run at the same speed, there governors are the same), would enabling the other two cores make the board more powerfully or not or would it make no difference, maybe emulators like the Amiga need all 4 cores to work...?
(This is for people that do not know what a Governor is... A governor is a driver for the regulation of CPUFreq – The CPU frequency in Andorid. Settings the Max and Min frequencies determines the CPU Core response and medium frequency. The governor determines how long the CPU core should remain at that frequency after it's been requested)
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Post by sundance on Jun 21, 2021 7:14:38 GMT
JJ, You mention the risk of running out of memory with X-Windows. If a crash were to occur, I gather it could screw up the Maxi's innards (please excuse my non-technical lingo). The risk of an out-of-memory crash would be low for you, because you have a souped up unit with 512 MB of RAM, as you've an additional 256 MB RAM chip soldered onto the board. For the rest of us, the risk is heightened, as we only have half of the RAM you've got to play with. Is that a fair assessment? Thanks. There's very little chance of affecting the Maxi's innards (nand), u sually when the system runs out of memory a user program is automatically killed, not something related to the kernel.
Is there a straightforward procedure to backup the Maxi's NAND to a USB thumb drive? And then to restore it from the backup, in the event of a corruption? Something that can be understood by a total Newbie who's never done it before. And who lacks knowledge of UNIX or Linux shell scripting. But who has knowledge of basic UNIX commands, and programming experience gained from other platforms ... first obtained on the good ol' original C64 :-) |
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Post by vic2020ian on Jun 21, 2021 7:56:10 GMT
There's very little chance of affecting the Maxi's innards (nand), u sually when the system runs out of memory a user program is automatically killed, not something related to the kernel.
Is there a straightforward procedure to backup the Maxi's NAND to a USB thumb drive? And then to restore it from the backup, in the event of a corruption? Something that can be understood by a total Newbie who's never done it before. And who lacks knowledge of UNIX or Linux shell scripting. But who has knowledge of basic UNIX commands, and programming experience gained from other platforms ... first obtained on the good ol' original C64 :-) There is a procedure, it is a little convoluted and involves opening the machine up to activate a switch on the pcb to boot into FEL mode. Once that is done there is a script available to backup your NAND (no longer needed as images exist for all chipsets) and to restore it (rarely needed). Now that PCUAE exists there is no real need to poke around in the Nand and add games so the risk of corruption is miniscule. |
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Post by jj0 on Jun 21, 2021 10:10:12 GMT
Is there a straightforward procedure to backup the Maxi's NAND to a USB thumb drive? And then to restore it from the backup, in the event of a corruption? Something that can be understood by a total Newbie who's never done it before. And who lacks knowledge of UNIX or Linux shell scripting. But who has knowledge of basic UNIX commands, and programming experience gained from other platforms ... first obtained on the good ol' original C64 :-) There is a procedure, it is a little convoluted and involves opening the machine up to activate a switch on the pcb to boot into FEL mode. Once that is done there is a script available to backup your NAND (no longer needed as images exist for all chipsets) and to restore it (rarely needed). Now that PCUAE exists there is no real need to poke around in the Nand and add games so the risk of corruption is miniscule. There are a couple of ways: - If you run XWM there is an option to backup the nand
- I thought PCUAE also has an option to backup nand, right spannernick ?
- You can run the Maxi Rescue and back-up/restore from Windows
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Post by spannernick on Jun 21, 2021 16:08:56 GMT
There is a procedure, it is a little convoluted and involves opening the machine up to activate a switch on the pcb to boot into FEL mode. Once that is done there is a script available to backup your NAND (no longer needed as images exist for all chipsets) and to restore it (rarely needed). Now that PCUAE exists there is no real need to poke around in the Nand and add games so the risk of corruption is miniscule. There are a couple of ways: - If you run XWM there is an option to backup the nand
- I thought PCUAE also has an option to backup nand, right spannernick ?
- You can run the Maxi Rescue and back-up/restore from Windows
Yes by using XWM only but you just given me a idea that I could add the option to back it up in the PCUAE Option Menu, but I did make a script that has a menu and it can copy your nanda or b or copy over it but you have to be in FEL Mode to use it, it covers all the machines, it works quite well at doing it. It's about time PCUAE did backup your Nand.. I am going to use the script from XWM so you can run it in the PCUAE Option Menu so do not need to run XWM to back up the Nand. |
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Post by vic2020ian on Jun 21, 2021 17:32:23 GMT
Someone backed up all the Nand variants already.
I don't see the need to create lots more Nand backups myself.
Restore toolkit for USB and clear instructions would get my vote.
I suppose you could use gadget mode or Linux / XWM to write it back but I think the script is better separate from PCUAE.
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Post by vic2020ian on Jun 24, 2021 18:07:34 GMT
Coming very soon now.....1.5.0
Latest release is quicker than most of the Betas to date and has Firmware, Linux, VICE and Gadget modes as well as TheCarousel.
In this release there will also be a choice of English and Dutch languages on the menus.
Really very impressed with how Nick has incorporated all our feedback and requests.
This is a huge effort - show your support on Patreon or on Paypal links a page or two back in this thread and you will be invited to the early release!
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Feb 5, 2024 14:16:57 GMT
Feb 5, 2024 14:16:57 GMT