ISO Loader 0.8.x Beta + preview of DreamShell v4.0 RC 5

[SWAT]

(27.03.2023 20:08)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  Would it be possible to patch the games on boot with DreamShell?

For sure, but need reverse engineering to find a place for patching.

(28.03.2023 02:37)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  Just did some more testing with UT and found out something interesting. The game now boots with default settings (DMA & TMU2) and when I boot it that way, the music plays perfectly and there are no graphical glitches! Only issue is that the sound effects don't work. I tried changing some other settings but always the same result, plays perfect with music but no sound effects. Using either of the SQ settings will result in the texture glitches.

Even more interesting: MagForce Racing has the same texture glitches when using SQ. They both appear to have the same issue with SQ.

Looks like this games uses SQ for texture loading from main RAM to VRAM.
Seems I should check it before owning SQ, I'll try to fix it.
UT always boot with DMA in CDDA, the main issue this is broke sound effects that why we should use SQ in this game. This is also happen in Millenium Soldier.

[SWAT]

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  I'm not totally sure but, you released a version of 0.8 that's works quite well with toy commander and spec ops 2. So not a big deal for those ones if the issue is still here. It's perfectly playable and the distorsion are few now and almost imperceptible.

The only strange thing I notice when comparing with 0.6.11 loaders, they don't have distorsion (they used no IRQ and dma TMU2 for cdda if I remember well) maybe it deserves a try to add the loop function to them ? Maybe the distorsion is simply not present in the first loop ?

Hmm maybe you just use mono sound for DC? Because the main issue for distortions it's a PAN changing for channels every time by game code. I can even more reduce distortions as you get in old loaders, but the PAN for both stereo channels will be on Right channel in this games. But will plays smooth.
So in mono mode distortions can be much less. It's not lost for Left channel, AICA mixed both to one Right channel. Maybe I should add setting for it, seems it can be usefull if I'm not wrong in main idea.

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  If "4x4" is 4x4 evolution, I'm seeing in dragoncity's list, wince, dma, cdda sync 16 and memory preset 0x8c0004000 not the lowest one, with 0.6.0 loader (yes the very first one with dreamshell RC4). Maybe it will be the good one for 0.8 loader too in order to add the loop function.

CDDA there works up to end of track and in old loaders I think. I tried DMA+DMA, DMA+SQ, PIO+SQ, PIO+DMA it's not help.

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  Only wince games are reluctant I don't try yet super runabout that have black screen with previous loaders with cdda.

I test Super Runabout, it's boot and CDDA playing perfect (also music so cool), but it's freeze on mission loading. Very disappointing. I still need fix WinCE games.

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  We still have skies of arcadia intro issue, you may change something since 0.6.11_se loader for datas ?

Too many, it's impossible to get back because it also uses oldest compiler versions.
Just so you know, with version 12 of GCC (and each version reduced size of binary), the size of the Extended loader (IRQ+CDDA, without additional features, it's a default CDDA loader) ran into a limit 32KB (with params and offsets), less than 50 bytes remained. In next time I should remove something before add new one to this loader type. Or add to the Full loader only.

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  Like RC3 loader for sturmwind, sometimes something good happen to skill guys as you

That's right, it's just a happy, random coincidence, like the work of WinCE in 0.6.0 in general. Because it's totally wrong emulates syscalls, so bad that it worked in an unexpected way and I can't reproduce it with GCC 12, I tried.

[fafadou]

(28.03.2023 06:46)SWAT писал(а):  

(28.03.2023 02:37)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  Just did some more testing with UT and found out something interesting. The game now boots with default settings (DMA & TMU2) and when I boot it that way, the music plays perfectly and there are no graphical glitches! Only issue is that the sound effects don't work. I tried changing some other settings but always the same result, plays perfect with music but no sound effects. Using either of the SQ settings will result in the texture glitches.

Even more interesting: MagForce Racing has the same texture glitches when using SQ. They both appear to have the same issue with SQ.

Looks like this games uses SQ for texture loading from main RAM to VRAM.
Seems I should check it before owning SQ, I'll try to fix it.
UT always boot with DMA in CDDA, the main issue this is broke sound effects that why we should use SQ in this game. This is also happen in Millenium Soldier.

In order to avoid texture issue with millenium soldier I boot the game without dma and I reduce the sync. May it can help for UT too.

(28.03.2023 07:18)SWAT писал(а):  Hmm maybe you just use mono sound for DC? Because the main issue for distortions it's a PAN changing for channels every time by game code. I can even more reduce distortions as you get in old loaders, but the PAN for both stereo channels will be on Right channel in this games. But will plays smooth.
So in mono mode distortions can be much less. It's not lost for Left channel, AICA mixed both to one Right channel. Maybe I should add setting for it, seems it can be usefull if I'm not wrong in main idea.

I'm still in stereo and with the same television. I'm pretty sure

(28.03.2023 07:18)SWAT писал(а):  4x4 evo :
CDDA there works up to end of track and in old loaders I think. I tried DMA+DMA, DMA+SQ, PIO+SQ, PIO+DMA it's not help.

Oh damn...

(28.03.2023 07:18)SWAT писал(а):  

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  Only wince games are reluctant I don't try yet super runabout that have black screen with previous loaders with cdda.

I test Super Runabout, it's boot and CDDA playing perfect (also music so cool), but it's freeze on mission loading. Very disappointing. I still need fix WinCE games.

Ok I'll focus on wince too, now, each as I can.

(28.03.2023 07:18)SWAT писал(а):  

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  We still have skies of arcadia intro issue, you may change something since 0.6.11_se loader for datas ?

Too many, it's impossible to get back because it also uses oldest compiler versions.
Just so you know, with version 12 of GCC (and each version reduced size of binary), the size of the Extended loader (IRQ+CDDA, without additional features, it's a default CDDA loader) ran into a limit 32KB (with params and offsets), less than 50 bytes remained. In next time I should remove something before add new one to this loader type. Or add to the Full loader only.

Ok thanks for explain

(28.03.2023 07:18)SWAT писал(а):  

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  Like RC3 loader for sturmwind, sometimes something good happen to skill guys as you

That's right, it's just a happy, random coincidence, like the work of WinCE in 0.6.0 in general. Because it's totally wrong emulates syscalls, so bad that it worked in an unexpected way and I can't reproduce it with GCC 12, I tried.

Ah ok I understand better now, why you don't keep the 0.6.11 data core and add cdda improvements. I guess it's not possible to get back to gcc 7.1 and add the gcc 12 improvements

New tests :
cdda with homebrew still work, I'm building a new neo geo build for checking. I don't try shadow gangs yet.

zia : must change the memory preset to the next lower one

sturmwind, the second video skip and the loading for level doesn't boot, like super runabot ? Need more tests.

the flinstones : now freeze after langage selection.

Kao : I don't have the beautiful result as you, strange, but it's ok

millenium soldier : in order to avoid the textures issues in first level, I preset the lower sync and now it's good. With 0.6.0 loader for soulcalibur, we must choose sync 7. Need more test here too

specs ops 2 : the game is slower and we still can't shoot.

putyo puyo 4 : the musics are almost good but now the voices have echo like if we are in a church.

[SWAT]

(28.03.2023 12:47)fafadou писал(а):  I'm still in stereo and with the same television. I'm pretty sure

I should re-check it again. Please share the build of the good working version.

(28.03.2023 12:47)fafadou писал(а):  Ah ok I understand better now, why you don't keep the 0.6.11 data core and add cdda improvements. I guess it's not possible to get back to gcc 7.1 and add the gcc 12 improvements

Yes, you are very close ) But besides CDDA, there are a number of changes that needed to be made in order to return at least part of the WinCE and other games to work, since compatibility was worse in the first builds of 0.8. Also changes for CDDA touch common data flow too, IRQ handling and etc.
In turn, WinCE games brought with them a lot of common changes in syscalls, data flow (again), and so on.
Newest compilers change code behavior, speed up it, optimizing, some things can be broken after upgrade.

[pcwzrd13]

(28.03.2023 07:18)SWAT писал(а):  

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  Only wince games are reluctant I don't try yet super runabout that have black screen with previous loaders with cdda.

I test Super Runabout, it's boot and CDDA playing perfect (also music so cool), but it's freeze on mission loading. Very disappointing. I still need fix WinCE games.

Interesting. For me it boots and plays fine (on default settings) but the music doesn't play very well. It stutters a lot.

While you're looking at WinCE games though, maybe you could try and get Bust-A-Move 4 to work? I can't get it to boot at all without using "low-level" which obviously means no music.

[fafadou]

(28.03.2023 13:23)SWAT писал(а):  

(28.03.2023 12:47)fafadou писал(а):  Ah ok I understand better now, why you don't keep the 0.6.11 data core and add cdda improvements. I guess it's not possible to get back to gcc 7.1 and add the gcc 12 improvements

Yes, you are very close ) But besides CDDA, there are a number of changes that needed to be made in order to return at least part of the WinCE and other games to work, since compatibility was worse in the first builds of 0.8. Also changes for CDDA touch common data flow too, IRQ handling and etc.
In turn, WinCE games brought with them a lot of common changes in syscalls, data flow (again), and so on.
Newest compilers change code behavior, speed up it, optimizing, some things can be broken after upgrade.

So the syscall boot it's not perfect yet ?
It looks cdda with wince games has only one mode, maybe it will be better to separate the wince loader from others ?
And maybe remove the low level boot in 0.8.x loaders series in order to win some spaces in the 32Ko max for loaders ?
Just the thinking of the noob than me

[fafadou]

Tonight tests :

shadow gangs : now works well with this preset no freeze and loadings terribly fast
Thanks to @megavolt for the iso and preset.
Shadow gangs
no dma sync 16 | 0x8C000100 | no IRQ | DMA TMU1 | CDDA | OS KATANA

UT : same preset as the video but 0x8C001100 works fine for me, is it the same for you @pcwrd13 ?

Puyo puyo 4 : with no dma and tmu sq it's better ; almost no distorsion and "church voices", those kind of games doesn't need dma speed anyway.

millenium soldier expendable : best config for me :
millenium soldier expandable :
no dma | sync 6 | 0x8C000100 | no IRQ | SQ TMU1 | CDDA

The only things I notice is the flinstones have issue now, sturmwind skip the intro, and specs ops can't shoot, it looks this last happen since gcc 12 is used.

edit :
wince games :
sega rally 2 : black screen
starlancer : black screen
virtua cop 2 : cdda "noise" during 5 seconds and stop, can't start a new game.

[SWAT]

(28.03.2023 21:04)fafadou писал(а):  It looks cdda with wince games has only one mode, maybe it will be better to separate the wince loader from others ?

This will further complicate an already complex system. Already now there are 9 basic build types.

(28.03.2023 21:04)fafadou писал(а):  And maybe remove the low level boot in 0.8.x loaders series in order to win some spaces in the 32Ko max for loaders ?
Just the thinking of the noob than me

low-level mode present only in Full loader, it's doesn't limited. In this case it's uses only for loading external syscalls (from v0.7.x), executable binaries and setup image info for syscalls.

(29.03.2023 02:44)fafadou писал(а):  starlancer : black screen

Strange it's perfect working for me.

[fafadou]

(29.03.2023 11:00)SWAT писал(а):  

(29.03.2023 02:44)fafadou писал(а):  starlancer : black screen

Strange it's perfect working for me.

Cool what's your preset please ?
And thanks again for giving answer to my questions

[SWAT]

(29.03.2023 11:16)fafadou писал(а):  

(29.03.2023 11:00)SWAT писал(а):  

(29.03.2023 02:44)fafadou писал(а):  starlancer : black screen

Strange it's perfect working for me.

Cool what's your preset please ?
And thanks again for giving answer to my questions

Default settings.

[fafadou]

Starlancer still doesn't boot for me, but it's a french voices version, with the same 0winceos.bin that's boot with 0.6. loader but it's ok for you so it's ok for me

Sega rally 2 with default settings boot !!! But Only the jap, the cdda are goods now it's not play all the time the same track than 0.6 do !!!
I have a freeze after few seconds of playing, I'll continue in order to find the good preset.

The wince management is really better than I thought with 0.8 loader I used the preset of the 0.6 list but it's not a good idea.

New improvements are coming !

[fafadou]

today's tests :

Coaster work : run well with default preset, some little noises during music, but not possible do to better

Sega rally 2 jap : music loop well too, the game freeze during the loading of the second race, a glitch is present during the loading of the first race.
Sega rally 2 pal : no boot

Virtua cop 2 : the game run perfectly, almost no distorsion, imperceptible, until the third difficulty with a huge texture issue.

Maybe 2 games to focus, in order to improve the loader.

[SWAT]

There are a lot of WinCE games that do not work or work with glitches, not only these two But this does not help in any way, I still do not understand what is the reason.
Perhaps the reason is in the compiler at all, since in the code I have already done everything I could, until I see nothing else new that could be corrected.

[fafadou]

Damn... I guess it's not possible to use an older compiler now. It's so close... You did the perfect work and the result is not good as you.
I believed the boot "syscall function" (if I understand well) wasn't totally finished.

edit :

(28.03.2023 07:18)SWAT писал(а):  

(27.03.2023 20:54)fafadou писал(а):  Only wince games are reluctant I don't try yet super runabout that have black screen with previous loaders with cdda.

I test Super Runabout, it's boot and CDDA playing perfect (also music so cool), but it's freeze on mission loading. Very disappointing. I still need fix WinCE games.

It's why I thought you can do something more with wince games.


Do you remember since which version the 0.8 loader should manage wince games ?

[SWAT]

(31.03.2023 11:40)fafadou писал(а):  Do you remember since which version the 0.8 loader should manage wince games ?

Since Beta 6.

[fafadou]

Some homebrew games I build for those for want to try :

xeno crisis :
https://mega.nz/file/l6RV2J4C#w3OEqwEJUb...MLKnM6CbKY

And the .cdi for neo4all version that I wish to convert for dreamshell :
https://www.mediafire.com/file/nccz3cywe...is.7z/file

zia
https://mega.nz/file/NzxhED7J#HJ2QtuHM0H...mj2RJSwMPI


And the samourai rpg french translation for neogeo cd but it doesn't work... :
https://mega.nz/file/cvJBRYKJ#weWhAYM3Ir...aj1N58GURE

Here the original link for the cdi for those who want to have a look :
http://www.mediafire.com/file/pefo8y9yq9...2.rar/file

[aldair]

Now neo4ll_GDI running cdda on sd card, it's still not 100% but it's 2 times faster than on cdr.

[fafadou]

Thank you very much, please don't forget to share the beta that run neo4all


A new victory for @Swat and 0.8 loaders :

Skies of arcadia :
DMA sync 16, 0x8C004000, no cdda, no irq, OS auto, loader auto, fast boot

Intro run until the end !!!

There are probably other good presets, don't lost hope the good preset for your favorite game is still hidden probably.

[pcwzrd13]

@SWAT Do screenshots work with games that don't support VGA? I tried it with Airforce Delta but the files seemed to be corrupted. I just got an error when I tried to view them on my PC.

[SWAT]

(02.04.2023 00:28)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  @SWAT Do screenshots work with games that don't support VGA? I tried it with Airforce Delta but the files seemed to be corrupted. I just got an error when I tried to view them on my PC.

I have not tried, and can't do that because have no display with composite input. Seems they frame buffer format is not supported yet.
Give me screenshot file plz.