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

[SWAT]

Additional info about loader type and low memory value max for each:

Default/Base - 0x8c004800 max (without any features except CSO)
Extended - 0x8c004000 max (CDDA and IRQ only)
Full - 0x8c001100 max (all features)

Any loader can be placed in any high memory of course.
If used Extended with CDDA/IRQ at 0x8c000100 then Heap placed in low memory too. If used CDDA without IRQ then heap placed in high memory at 0x8cfe0000. The full loader always placed Heap at high memory if used CDDA, no matter with IRQ or not.

[aldair]

(17.04.2023 18:36)MastaG писал(а):  

(16.04.2023 05:12)aldair писал(а):  Xenocrisis-Track order:
IDE: https://www.mediafire.com/file/q5l204ive...w.rar/file
SD card: https://www.mediafire.com/file/jjhrip3ge...v.rar/file

I've downloaded the IDE version, which settings are you using?

No IRQ in isoloader with default settings.

[sundance2]

(20.04.2023 06:30)SWAT писал(а):  Additional info about loader type and low memory value max for each:

Default/Base - 0x8c004800 max (without any features except CSO)
Extended - 0x8c004000 max (CDDA and IRQ only)
Full - 0x8c001100 max (all features)

Any loader can be placed in any high memory of course.
If used Extended with CDDA/IRQ at 0x8c000100 then Heap placed in low memory too. If used CDDA without IRQ then heap placed in high memory at 0x8cfe0000. The full loader always placed Heap at high memory if used CDDA, no matter with IRQ or not.

A general question about memory values for the loader :

from a first look, it seems that the lower the memory value, the better, because it offers more space for the loader.
By this metric, 0x8c000100 being the lowest address should always be preferred (unless specific compatibility issue).

However, your explanation above implies that there might be "some" benefit at selecting a "better" and higher memory address, i.e. 0x8c004800 for "base", 0x8c004000 for "extended" and 0x8c001100 for "full", not just always the lowest possible one.

Which benefit there is ?

[SWAT]

(20.04.2023 11:34)sundance2 писал(а):  Which benefit there is ?

It's not about benefits, but about compatibility.
By default and best case it's use lowest memory address. But some games can use memory after 0x8c004000 or call syscalls without vectors directly from 0x8c001000+ address.
If game uses 0x8c004000 then the loader should placed at 0x8c004800 or high memory with heap. It depends on size used, sometimes just one sector 0x800 = 2048.
If game uses syscalls directly then the loader should placed at 0x8c001100.
From 0x8c000000 to 0x8c004000 - it's just 16KB, only low-level loader can be placed here.

Examples:
- LooneyTunes write one sector at 0x8c004000 so need shift the loader to 0x8c004800, but Extended loader with CDDA can be placed max 0x8c004000. Also this game clear all high memory. So no CDDA for this game yet.
- Quake 3 using syscalls directly, so need shift the loader to 0x8c001100. You can use and 0x8c004000, but the heap placed in high memory in CDDA case and this game clear all high memory.
- Shenmue used 0x8c004000 more than for one sector, so no one regular loader (not low-level) can be placed in low memory, but we can use high memory because game not clear it and have some unused.

So a lot of examples for it. But in general best case is 0x8c000100.

[pcwzrd13]

(20.04.2023 05:53)SWAT писал(а):  

(19.04.2023 16:57)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  @SWAT Is there an option anywhere to change the default save location for screenshots or does it always just save to the storage you booted the game from? I'd like to be able to save screenshots to my SD card, even when I'm booting from CF. It would save wear on the expensive CF.

If you play from IDE device, you can save screenshots only to IDE device, because every loader have only one device driver.
In future can be add to full loader SD driver too, to use it for VMU emulation, screenshots and more.
But you need to understand that writing to SD is much much slower than CF. For VMU this is enough, but for screenshots it may be too long.

Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation!

Got another request for you, SWAT. Can you look into fixing the issue with the console ID? Currently I still have to use 0.7 to play ChuChu Rocket online because the console ID randomizes on 0.6/0.8. It works fine with 0.7 but obviously I can't have music that way.

[sundance2]

(20.04.2023 06:30)SWAT писал(а):  Default/Base - 0x8c004800 max (without any features except CSO)
Extended - 0x8c004000 max (CDDA and IRQ only)
Full - 0x8c001100 max (all features)

Following this explanation, I can see `sd.bin`, sd_ext.bin` and `sd_full.bin` in the `firmware/isoldr/` directory.
Question is : how is decided which driver is being loaded ?
It does not seem to be explicit, as I don't see these names in the GUI of iso loader app.
So I presume it must be some kind of implicit rule. Question is: which rule ?

[fafadou]

(21.04.2023 07:23)sundance2 писал(а):  

(20.04.2023 06:30)SWAT писал(а):  Default/Base - 0x8c004800 max (without any features except CSO)
Extended - 0x8c004000 max (CDDA and IRQ only)
Full - 0x8c001100 max (all features)

Following this explanation, I can see `sd.bin`, sd_ext.bin` and `sd_full.bin` in the `firmware/isoldr/` directory.
Question is : how is decided which driver is being loaded ?
It does not seem to be explicit, as I don't see these names in the GUI of iso loader app.
So I presume it must be some kind of implicit rule. Question is: which rule ?

The driver is decided about the device you select the iso to run. It's automatic.

[SWAT]

(20.04.2023 17:22)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  Got another request for you, SWAT. Can you look into fixing the issue with the console ID? Currently I still have to use 0.7 to play ChuChu Rocket online because the console ID randomizes on 0.6/0.8. It works fine with 0.7 but obviously I can't have music that way.

OK I'll check for it.

(21.04.2023 11:08)fafadou писал(а):  

(21.04.2023 07:23)sundance2 писал(а):  

(20.04.2023 06:30)SWAT писал(а):  Default/Base - 0x8c004800 max (without any features except CSO)
Extended - 0x8c004000 max (CDDA and IRQ only)
Full - 0x8c001100 max (all features)

Following this explanation, I can see `sd.bin`, sd_ext.bin` and `sd_full.bin` in the `firmware/isoldr/` directory.
Question is : how is decided which driver is being loaded ?
It does not seem to be explicit, as I don't see these names in the GUI of iso loader app.
So I presume it must be some kind of implicit rule. Question is: which rule ?

The driver is decided about the device you select the iso to run. It's automatic.

Loader device detects by image path.
Loader type detects by enabled features: https://github.com/DC-SWAT/DreamShell/bl...?ts=4#L381

[pcwzrd13]

Today's testing:

Bangai-O - Still a loud "crashing noise" when using CDDA.

King of Fighters: Dream Match '99 - Music is extremely distorted.

Maken X - Works very well! The sound crash after brain jacking seems to be fixed.

Monaco Grand Prix - Same as Monaco Online. Works very well.

Roadsters - Game stutters and has graphical glitches with SQ CDDA. With DMA & TMU1/2, the game freezes when selecting a car.

Razor Freestyle Scooter - Works well with occasional distortion.

Rippin' Riders - A lot of distortion and the commentary skips.

Sega GT - Works well with occasional distortion.

[fafadou]

Thanks @pcwrd13 to continue the tests
A VGA version of bangaio is released by TampaN, it will be easier to try this game now :
https://www.mediafire.com/file/gyt7ev3y4...mN.7z/file

[pcwzrd13]

Update on Worms World Party: While the game does work fine offline, it has major issues if you try and go online. As soon as you start dialing, the music will become very distorted, and a little while after connecting, the game will freeze. Tried a few different settings but nothing improved. Not a huge deal as it works fine with 0.6 though. Seems to be very hard to get one loader that works with everything, at least for CDDA anyway.

Edit: A couple quick tests:

Sega Smashpack Vol. 1 - The Genesis games work fine but Sega Swirl and Virtua Cop 2 won't load.

Seventh Cross Evolution The game works but I have no idea where it uses CDDA. lol It has music when you're creating a creature but it isn't using CDDA. There are CDDA tracks on the disc, so I know it uses CDDA, but I just don't know where.

[SWAT]

(23.04.2023 23:21)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  Update on Worms World Party: While the game does work fine offline, it has major issues if you try and go online. As soon as you start dialing, the music will become very distorted, and a little while after connecting, the game will freeze. Tried a few different settings but nothing improved. Not a huge deal as it works fine with 0.6 though. Seems to be very hard to get one loader that works with everything, at least for CDDA anyway.

In v0.6 CDDA works fine with modem dialing?
Very interesting. You are tried SQ mode in this case?

[pcwzrd13]

(24.04.2023 08:00)SWAT писал(а):  

(23.04.2023 23:21)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  Update on Worms World Party: While the game does work fine offline, it has major issues if you try and go online. As soon as you start dialing, the music will become very distorted, and a little while after connecting, the game will freeze. Tried a few different settings but nothing improved. Not a huge deal as it works fine with 0.6 though. Seems to be very hard to get one loader that works with everything, at least for CDDA anyway.

In v0.6 CDDA works fine with modem dialing?
Very interesting. You are tried SQ mode in this case?

Yes, Worms works "almost" perfectly with 0.6. The music plays flawlessly and you can play online. There are some rare instances of lag which seem to be caused by the CDDA emu (I don't see this when playing from a disc) but it's not bad.

I haven't tried Worms with SQ but I can give it a shot. In my testing, SQ usually doesn't work very well. I try it as a last resort. lol

Next Tetris and Toy Racer also work very well on 0.6 while playing online. I haven't yet tried it with 0.8 though.

Edit: I tested WWP with both SQ options but it just causes the game to freeze at the main menu.

[pcwzrd13]

Today's tests:

Sno-Cross Championship Racing - Boots and plays music fine but freezes when trying to load a race, even with CDDA disabled. Tried different boot memory locations with no luck.

Soul Fighter - Works perfectly!

South Park Rally - Music plays fine with occasional distortion.

Spec Ops II: Omega Squad - Works great with TMU1 but IRQ needs to be disabled or it will freeze at the first loading screen.

Spirit of Speed 1937 - Won't boot without "low-level", so no CDDA.

Star Wars: Demolition - Freezes randomly if DMA is enabled. Works ok without DMA but there's quite a bit of distortion in the music.

Interesting that Spec Ops II only works with IRQ disabled. I never thought of disabling IRQ for testing before now. Any idea why that would break some games @SWAT?

[fafadou]

Same thing as you @pcwrd13 : spec ops 2, no IRQ.

Bangaio : it looks the cdda is managed by the same way than Shenmue II and maybe guilty gear x:

True dma, irq, tmu1, 0x8CE00000 memory, behind the loader and cdda run but with "shotgun" issue, else no reboot.
Without cdda : true dma, lower memory 0x8C0000100, run like a charm.

I try to change my ide to sata adapter and same thing sega rally 2 PAL doesn't boot.

Fur fighters : freeze at first loading, run perfectly in low mode.

[SWAT]

(24.04.2023 15:38)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  Edit: I tested WWP with both SQ options but it just causes the game to freeze at the main menu.

Also you can try to disable IRQ for CDDA, maybe it changing something.

[MastaG]

Sega Rally works for me, it needs the low-level box.
I forgot which address, since I'm on vacation for a week.

[fafadou]

(25.04.2023 11:15)MastaG писал(а):  Sega Rally works for me, it needs the low-level box.
I forgot which address, since I'm on vacation for a week.

Thank you for the low level box
Unfortunately no cdda in this mode, but we can enjoy the game perfectly.

[SWAT]

For low-level mode doesn't need change addresses, because it's always placed instead of original syscalls in low memory area.
And yes, it's not supported any features.

[pcwzrd13]

(25.04.2023 06:47)SWAT писал(а):  

(24.04.2023 15:38)pcwzrd13 писал(а):  Edit: I tested WWP with both SQ options but it just causes the game to freeze at the main menu.

Also you can try to disable IRQ for CDDA, maybe it changing something.

I tried that but it just freezes at the main menu.

Edit: Today's testing:

Striker Pro 2000 - Seems to work fine but the music breaks (skips) during the loading screens (same issue as Speed Devils?).

Suzuki Alstare Extreme Racing - Works great!

Sydney 2000 - Works great with TMU1 (TMU2 seems to have a lot of distortion). With 0.6 the menu music didn't play but it works with 0.8.

Test Drive V-Rally - Freezes at the start of a race. Tried all settings and got the same result with everything.

Tokyo Xtreme Racer - Works well with occasional distortion. IRQ must be disabled or the game will freeze when exiting a race.

Tomb Raider Chronicles - Seems to work well. The game doesn't always play music so it's hard to test.

Toy Commander - Music gets very distorted when shooting the machine gun for a long time. I tested with 0.6.10 and noticed the music crashes altogether when shooting the machine gun. Maybe a slight improvement? lol