Floppy Emulator OR WHDLoad for Games on A1200

[slimf]

Hi

Ive been out of the scene for oh about 25 years.. :-)

But always kept coming back here for gossip and have been following FPGA Arcade for a few years.

I have HEAPS of original Amiga's which I purchased last year and am slowly selling, however I plan on keeping one.

It will be an A1200 with 030 accelerator with some extra ram. I have a brand new keyboard (amikit) and have installed a CF hard drive.

I also backed the new case thing on KickStarter, so the Amiga will soon have a brand new case. The current one is quite good but does have a few broken clips.

I also have 3.1 roms.

Anyway, my question is this..

I want to setup the amiga in the house to play the odd retro game with my kids.. Think Lemmings etc.

Im trying to decide if I should go for emulated floppy via Gotek / the HxC OR if I should be getting WHDLoad.

I never used WHDLoad before, but it does sound like a good idea.

I could obviously go for both, to have the best flexability, but can anyone tell me just how good/ easy/ fast WHDLoad makes things?

Money is no option, as I already have the gear and wouldnt mind paying for WHDLoad if its worth it over using emulated floppy.

P.S I would rather play 100% originals rather than cracked versions - Not that it probably matters.

[carvedeye]

I personally would go for the WHDLoad route as you have the accelerator and you can have all this installed in workbench ready to go

[slimf]

Thanks!

Is there any games that don't work with WHDLoad?

Edit : don't worry, found the WHDLoad website :-)

[paul1981]

Thanks!

Is there any games that don't work with WHDLoad?

Edit : don't worry, found the WHDLoad website :-)

WHDLoad is totally free now too - all features are unlocked to unregistered users.

Another thing I like about WHDLoad is the 'restart' feature - just configure a key to restart any game (stored in the global prefs file in S: ).

I use 5c for restart and 5d as quitkey. ( the top right most keys on the numeric keypad )

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

A 1200 with an '030 & CF is the perfect WHDLoad platform.  A Gotek is more suited for unexpanded systems like a stock 500/600.  Most games and even demos can be made to run under WHDLoad.  It was well worth the money, even more so now that it's free!  

[carvedeye]

WHDLoad is totally free now too - all features are unlocked to unregistered users.

Another thing I like about WHDLoad is the 'restart' feature - just configure a key to restart any game (stored in the global prefs file in S: ).

I use 5c for restart and 5d as quitkey. ( the top right most keys on the numeric keypad )

What?.......WHDLoad is now free?.......when did this happen?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

What?.......WHDLoad is now free?.......when did this happen?

Last month.

http://www.indieretronews.com/2015/12/whdload-182-is-now-completely-free-for.html

IMHO I hope they keep a donate option, or something.  It's worth it!  

[Astral]

If it helps...

After years of stuffing around with various setups...high end...low end...4000's...cd32's...usb adaptors...blah blah blah blah...ALL kinds of things to get the PERFECT setup......I realised there is no such thing. I have concluded and now have setup what I think is the BEST overall system of a 1200 with an 030 + 4gb cf hard drive + an external scsi cd drive + a PCMCIA cf adaptor for all file transfers + running through a 1084s. It has whdload installed and a hxc sd card floppy emulator mounted in an external case. The only thing left to do is to hack the motherboard to *hard switch* the external floppy connector to act as df0/df1 depending on what I am trying to run. I found anything extra on top of this system was impractical, a pain in the arse to use and just not worth it. This included USB adaptors, 060's etc.

[Acill]

I put in a Gotek last night and am removing it tonight if that tells you anything. It was fun for about an hour until I realized how much of a pain it is to set up that list and pressing that button 100+ times to get to things way down on it. WHDLOAD is amazing.

[Motormouth]

As everyone else is saying

The most elegant solution is WHDLoad, but the Gotek drives are very convenient.  I use my gotek drives primary for workbench software, drivers, and etc.  The gotek drives are slow like the original floppy drives.

I would suggest both.

[Astral]

I put in a Gotek last night and am removing it tonight if that tells you anything. It was fun for about an hour until I realized how much of a pain it is to set up that list and pressing that button 100+ times to get to things way down on it. WHDLOAD is amazing.

From understanding of the gotek it does have this limitation/impracticality. The hxc emulator however has an lcd screen to easily view the files and select drawers etc...making it much less tedious to use than a gotek. But then again, don't they both offer some form of on (amiga) screen selection (never tried it though)?

[Acill]

From understanding of the gotek it does have this limitation/impracticality. The hxc emulator however has an lcd screen to easily view the files and select drawers etc...making it much less tedious to use than a gotek. But then again, don't they both offer some form of on (amiga) screen selection (never tried it though)?

The Gotek has an onscreen menu for the Amiga that only works when you boot into it and use it to setup your list of ADF files. Once set you cant change that list without a reboot. Thats what bothers me most about this thing. No way to review that list without booting the 000 boot image.

[slimf]

Thanks for all the replies.

I already have a gotek and will probably put a HxC in the new case when it arrives.. I will certainly try out WHDLoad.. Looks like it will do what I want.

[Sir_Lucas]

Whdload, apart from RoadShow is the best piece of software.
A1200 + 030 is a perfect machine for WHDLoad.

[vince_6]

You should use both.
WHDLoad is a great piece of software to test some games before you start playing.
It is fast and easy.
But if you want to finish a game and not just play a bit use the gotek.
Many time games crash no matter the commands you give to the icon, even on A500 with ACA500 some games will crash.