Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
171 lines (130 loc) · 7.6 KB

VERSIONS.md

File metadata and controls

171 lines (130 loc) · 7.6 KB
Raw

Version 4 - November, 25, 2022

Productivity release: Write support for the virtual C1541 and a 512 KB RAM Expansion Unit (1750 REU) are the main features: Save your high-scores and your gaming progress to disk (D64) and work productively with GEOS by speeding up 10x using the REU and by saving your work persistently to disk. Demo fans can now enjoy all the awesome REU releases on CSDB and gamers can play the fantastic Sonic the Hedgehog for REU.

New Features

  • C1541 write support using D64 image files on the SD card.

  • Read/write support for non-standard D64 images with 40 tracks and no error bytes, i.e. additionally to D64 files that are exactly 174,848 bytes in size you can now also use files that are 196,608 bytes in size.

  • 1750 REU support: The REU is as close to cycle accurate as it can go. It is not perfect, but 99.9% perfect - it even runs the picky TreuLove_ForReal1750Reu.d64 version of Booze Design's Treu Love demo (see CSDB page) that is supposed to only run on real hardware. The REU also works perfectly with GEOS. You can switch the REU on/off using the options menu.

  • Choice between 16:9 or 4:3 HDMI output resolutions: By default the core outputs 720p on HDMI which is a 16:9 resolution (even though the actual C64's output is pixel-perfect 4:3 as we are adding black bars left and right). With this new feature you can switch from 720p to 576p aka PAL over HDMI (720x576 pixels) and then select if you have a 4:3 monitor or a 5:4 monitor and then enjoy the best possible image.

  • Ability to save the configuration settings of the core. You need to copy the file c64mega65 to the folder /c64 to activate this feature.

  • CIA: New option to configure CIA version (6526 or 8521): There is at least one demo known - XXX from Lethargy - where the demo only runs flawlessly if the CIA is a 8521.

  • Mouse: Support for C64 mice and MouSTer

  • Reduced joystick latency from 5ms to 1ms by decreasing the stable time of the signal debouncer.

Bugfixes

  • The drive led is not blinking any more during normal read/write operations. It behaves now like the real drive led and only blinks on errors.

  • Fixed a small (probably inaudible) SID bug by merging this an upstream fix from MiSTer.

  • Fixed several bugs in the file browser that you use for mounting D64 files:

    • The file browser was not able to display the "+" sign due to a bug in the font. Instead, a space (empty character, " ") was printed, for example the file name "C64+" was shown as "C64 ".

    • Directories where not aways being sorted in proper alphabetical order and ascending numbers.

    • While browsing directories with a large amount of subdirectories (e.g. large game libraries): When you entered a subdirectory located on a page other than page one (e.g. by scrolling down quite a bit) and then left this very subdirectory (one level up), then the selection cursor jumped back to page one.

    • Fixed file browsing bug that still displayed the old SD card's directory when you changed the SD card while the file browser was not open. (The bug did not occur when you changed the SD card while the file was open.)

Known problems that we plan to fix in Version 5

  • Formatting disks does not work. We know how to fix it but this will need a larger refactoring (see "Technical Roadmap" in ROADMAP.md).

  • The demo "All Hallows' Eve" (https://demozoo.org/productions/314618/) is crashing towards the end of disk 2. We fixed the issue in an experimental core that you can download here on GitHub: MJoergen#9

  • There is a compatibility issue due to the "HDMI: Flicker-free" mode. We only saw it occur at the German disk magazine "Input 64 Issue 1/85" and at the 1991 demo Unbounded by Demotion (https://csdb.dk/release/?id=2464). We fixed the issue in an experimental core that you can download here on GitHub: MJoergen#2

Version 3 - June, 27 2022

This version is mainly a bugfix & compatibility release that is meant to heavily increase the C64 compatibility of the core. It also adds support for Paddles.

New feature

  • Support for Paddles added: Connect compatible paddles to the joystick ports.

Bugfixes

  • CIA Bug fixed: The bug prevented demos like Comalight and Apparatus to run and in games like Commando, the joystick's fire button did not work.

  • CIA Bug fixed: "icr3 set priority over clear", merged from from MiSTer to our codebase. This bug prevented games like Arkanoid to run.

  • User Port "low active" bug fixed: The bug prevented games like Bomberman C64, that support a Multiplayer Joystick Interface (https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Multiplayer_Interface), to work. Reason is, that due to the low-active nature of the User Port these games detected "ghost activites" on the (not existent) joystick connected via User Port.

  • Zero Page register $01 has the correct default value $37 now. It had the wrong value $C7 due to two bugs that have been fixed: (a) The Cassette Port's s SENSE and READ input are low active. (b) The wrapper code that turns the 6502 into a 6510 contained a bug.

Version 2 - June, 18 2022

This version is mainly a bugfix & stability release: The focus was not to add a lot of new features, but to make sure that the C64 core works flawlessly with more MEGA65 machines than version 1 did. We also added a DVI option (see below) to increase the amount of displays that work with the core.

Bugfixes

  • MAX10 reset bug fixed: Fixes the "ambulance lights" problem when starting the core and fixes non-working reset buttons
  • SD card problem fixed: When neither any D64 file was present on the SD card and additionally, there was not a single subdirectory, then the core crashed with "Corrupt memory structure: Linked-list boundary" when one tried to mount a disk.
  • Fixed distorted On-Screen-Menu in "VGA Retro 15KHz RGB" mode

DVI Option

  • The DVI option is meant to improve the compatibility with certain monitors. Choosing "HDMI: DVI (no sound)" in the On-Screen-Menu will activate it and thus stop sending sound packages within the HDMI data stream.

Version 1 - April, 26 2022

Experience the Commodore 64 with great accuracy and sublime compatibility on your MEGA65! It can run a ton of games and demos and it offers convenient features.

Features

  • PAL standard C64 (running standard KERNAL and standard C1541 DOS)
  • PAL 720 x 576 pixels (4:3) @ 50 Hz via VGA: for a true retro feeling
  • 720p @ 50 Hz or 60 Hz (16:9) via HDMI: for convenience
  • Sound output via 3.5mm jack and via HDMI
  • SID 6581 and 8580
  • MEGA65 keyboard support (including cursor keys)
  • Joystick support
  • On-Screen-Menu via Help button to mount drives and to configure options
  • C1541 read-only support: Mount standard *.D64 via SD card to drive 8
  • Drive led during virtual disk access
  • CRT filter: Optional visual scanlines on HDMI so that the output looks more like an old monitor or TV
  • Crop/Zoom: On HDMI, you can optionally crop the top and bottom border of the C64's output and zoom in, so that the 16:9 screen real-estate is utilized more efficiently. Great for games.
  • Audio processing: Optionally improve the raw audio output of the system
  • Smart reset: Press the reset button briefly and only the C64 core is being reset; press it longer than 1.5 seconds and the whole machine is reset.