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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Gaming => Topic started by: 3583Bytes on April 23, 2014, 03:20:32 AM

Title: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: 3583Bytes on April 23, 2014, 03:20:32 AM
I have an Amiga 2000 with the following specs:

Kickstart 40.63
Workbench 3.1
Cpu 68030 24.20 Mhz
4MB Fast Ram
1MB GVP 32 Bit RAM (don't know what that is)
4MB GVP 32 Bit Ram (Again don't know what that is)
512KB Slow Ram
512 Chip Ram
250 MB Hard drove
CD Rom

For some reason when I try playing Gloom Special Edition it crashes with a Guru.  I figure my A2K is fast enough for it.  Am I doing something wrong? Any tips?
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: NovaCoder on April 23, 2014, 03:43:17 AM
I'm no Gloom expert but you probably need to specify that you want to run it in ECS mode by a Tooltype or command line switch because it's an AGA/RTG game (I think!).

Your problem may be lack of CHIPRAM, apparently GLOOM needs more that the standard amount.

Have you thought about adding an RTG card to your set up?   If you want to stick with ECS then you could still upgrade it with an Indivision ECS and 2MB CHIPRAM.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: 3583Bytes on April 23, 2014, 03:53:32 AM
Quote from: NovaCoder;763114
I'm no Gloom expert but you probably need to specify that you want to run it in ECS mode by a Tooltype or command line switch because it's an AGA/RTG game (I think!).

Your problem may be lack of CHIPRAM, apparently GLOOM needs more that the standard amount.

Have you thought about adding an RTG card to your set up?   If you want to stick with ECS then you could still upgrade it with an Indivision ECS and 2MB CHIPRAM.


I was not really planning to upgrade the A2000 mostly because that stuff is more expensive then shipping an A1200 to Canada would be, and that would solve most of my issues.  Also I ordered a ACA 500 recently and I can get an accelerator for that as well if I want to.

How about ADOOM is it fast enough to run that? I tried it a week ago and all I get is a black screen with some sound from the game.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: NovaCoder on April 23, 2014, 03:58:35 AM
Quote from: 3583Bytes;763116
I was not really planning to upgrade the A2000 mostly because that stuff is more expensive then shipping an A1200 to Canada would be, and that would solve most of my issues.  Also I ordered a ACA 500 recently and I can get an accelerator for that as well if I want to.

How about ADOOM is it fast enough to run that? I tried it a week ago and all I get is a black screen with some sound from the game.

Hiya,

No OCS/ECS aren't really fast enough for DOOM and that style of game, you really need AGA or RTG to run it well.

Even the ACA with a PPC struggles to run DOOM using ECS ;)

There is a special build for ADOOM that supports the Indivision ECS's chunky mode but it's still pretty slow.


Go for a A1200 and a fast accelerator or an A3000 with a fast RTG card for super speed!

[youtube]3lHsnJBwEEA[/youtube]
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: amiman99 on April 23, 2014, 04:05:51 AM
I think this game should work on your setup http://hol.abime.net/3027
It's possible it needs 1Mb chip RAM.

@Novacoder
Did your Wolfenstein port works on ECS?
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: Matt_H on April 23, 2014, 04:12:26 AM
I think you need more chip RAM. With some motherboard jumper adjustments, you should be able to convert that 512K of slow RAM into chip RAM to give yourself a full megabyte. (You can do this if SYS:Tools/Showconfig shows "ECS Agnus")

I used to run Gloom Deluxe on an 030 A500 with 1MB of chip RAM and 8MB of fast RAM, so I'm sure your machine can handle it.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: LaserBack on April 23, 2014, 05:09:11 AM
Quote from: 3583Bytes;763113
I have an Amiga 2000 with the following specs:

Kickstart 40.63
Workbench 3.1
Cpu 68030 24.20 Mhz
4MB Fast Ram
1MB GVP 32 Bit RAM (don't know what that is)
4MB GVP 32 Bit Ram (Again don't know what that is)
512KB Slow Ram
512 Chip Ram
250 MB Hard drove
CD Rom

For some reason when I try playing Gloom Special Edition it crashes with a Guru.  I figure my A2K is fast enough for it.  Am I doing something wrong? Any tips?

a 030/24mhz is not enough for gloom to be smooth
ie I have A1200 + 030/50mhz the game runs but not smooth in fullscreen
you need AGA or RTG and 040+ to play gloom at descent speed
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: 3583Bytes on April 23, 2014, 10:01:07 PM
Quote from: Matt_H;763119
I think you need more chip RAM. With some motherboard jumper adjustments, you should be able to convert that 512K of slow RAM into chip RAM to give yourself a full megabyte. (You can do this if SYS:Tools/Showconfig shows "ECS Agnus")

I used to run Gloom Deluxe on an 030 A500 with 1MB of chip RAM and 8MB of fast RAM, so I'm sure your machine can handle it.


Thanks,

Is there a tutorial somewhere on how to do this.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: QuikSanz on April 23, 2014, 10:06:26 PM
I also believe you have too little chipram as Gloom runs fine on my 030/40 but I have 2 meg chip.
The big book may have jumper settings.

Chris
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: Matt_H on April 23, 2014, 11:58:09 PM
Quote from: 3583Bytes;763164
Thanks,

Is there a tutorial somewhere on how to do this.


This info used to be much more common. Seems to be largely buried these days. I think this (http://l8r.net/technical/t-agnus-installation.shtml) is what you're looking for. Hopefully you already have the 8372A Agnus installed. (Again, if Showconfig reports "ECS Agnus," you do.)
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: 3583Bytes on April 24, 2014, 01:59:50 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;763168
This info used to be much more common. Seems to be largely buried these days. I think this (http://l8r.net/technical/t-agnus-installation.shtml) is what you're looking for. Hopefully you already have the 8372A Agnus installed. (Again, if Showconfig reports "ECS Agnus," you do.)

 
Thanks
 
I find this a bit weird.  My Amiga 2000 is faster then 90% of the Amigas back then and yet it can't play one of the iconic games from that era.  How did the developers make any money selling a game that does not work on the majority of the market.  I can understand the AGA version but this is the non AGA version designed for slower Amigas.  Very strange.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: Matt_H on April 24, 2014, 02:57:33 AM
Quote from: 3583Bytes;763178
Thanks
 
I find this a bit weird.  My Amiga 2000 is faster then 90% of the Amigas back then and yet it can't play one of the iconic games from that era.  How did the developers make any money selling a game that does not work on the majority of the market.  I can understand the AGA version but this is the non AGA version designed for slower Amigas.  Very strange.


CPU speed isn't everything. We're working on the assumption that the problem is with your unusual chip RAM configuration. I think it was quite common for dealers to perform the 1MB chip RAM modification when A2000s (and A500s) went in for service, especially the upgrade to Kickstart 2. I was actually very surprised to see that your machine was still configured the old way - 1MB of chip RAM has been effectively considered the base minimum for quite a long time.

But, also be prepared for the possibility that changing to a full meg of chip RAM won't fix it. It could be a good ol' software issue - some other program or utility running in the background that's causing a conflict. The chip RAM thing jumped out at me as an important variable to eliminate, but there could be others!
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: QuikSanz on April 24, 2014, 03:00:04 AM
It's just your setup, 1 meg should run it.

Chris

Matt beat me too it, ;)
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: 3583Bytes on April 24, 2014, 03:42:50 AM
Showconfig shows:

CUSTOM CHIPS: Normal NTSC Agnus (id=$0010), Normal Denise (id=$00FF)

I am not sure what to do now.

Thanks
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: Matt_H on April 24, 2014, 04:08:12 AM
Quote from: 3583Bytes;763185
Showconfig shows:

CUSTOM CHIPS: Normal NTSC Agnus (id=$0010), Normal Denise (id=$00FF)

I am not sure what to do now.

Thanks


Darn, that's a setback.

First, check your motherboard. If it says Commodore 1986 and the silkscreening is yellow, you're unfortunately out of luck - that's the very early German/4-layer model, and no newer Agnus chip exists for that motherboard revision.

If it says B2000 and the silkscreening is white, you can follow the instructions I linked above, except you'll need to do the chip-replacement part, too. Fortunately, Vesalia (http://vesalia.de) has some 8372A Agnus chips in stock. Agnus is the square chip in the socket labeled "Fat Lady." Use a PLCC chip extractor - not the screwdriver method mentioned in the link above - to carefully remove the old chip (probably an 8370) and pop in the new one. The socket is very fragile, so use caution.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: NovaCoder on April 24, 2014, 04:19:42 AM
Quote from: 3583Bytes;763185
Showconfig shows:

CUSTOM CHIPS: Normal NTSC Agnus (id=$0010), Normal Denise (id=$00FF)

I am not sure what to do now.

Thanks


Easy answer, sell it and buy an A1200 :)
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on April 24, 2014, 05:01:37 AM
Exactly what Matt_H said.  If you can swap your Agnus with a 1MB unit that will help.  Replacing it with a 2MB "MegaChip" (a later model Agnus mounted on a small circuit board with an extra 1MB) will give you 2MB, that's really the best way to go for an ECS system.  They pop up on Amibay and Ebay pretty frequently, usually for around $100.  Good luck!  :)
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: QuikSanz on April 24, 2014, 05:17:02 AM
Quote from: NovaCoder;763189
Easy answer, sell it and buy an A1200 :)


The A2000 is a very capable machine and will do well. If you can find a Megachip or less likely Midget Racer it will be very expandable. Love my Rev 6.2 for old games, have an A4000T for the rest.

Chris

PS: the 060 on an A2000 with PIV is insane.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: Matt_H on April 25, 2014, 03:00:54 AM
Good point from Oldsmobile_Mike on the MegaChip - a little harder to find and more expensive, but will open up some more doors of software compatibility for you. There's also a functionally-identical product called MegiChip from another manufacturer. One thing to be aware of is that I think these things come in NTSC and PAL specific versions, so make you get the right one if you decide to go this route.

And a general housekeeping tip: while you've got the machine open, take a look to make sure your clock battery isn't leaking.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: QuikSanz on April 25, 2014, 04:14:50 AM
@Matt_H,

Your right on the battery. Took a new one, put it on a small board and put it behind the LED's. Cleaned up the board, Installed cable with 3 pin plug at battery end. Not a chance of any of those problems again.

Chris
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: 3583Bytes on April 25, 2014, 06:15:29 AM
Don't worry battery is long gone.
Title: Re: Gloom Amiga 2000
Post by: NovaCoder on June 02, 2014, 03:16:18 AM
Quote from: amiman99;763118


@Novacoder
Did your Wolfenstein port works on ECS?


Apparently it does....


[youtube]-kHmvGVOxYc[/youtube]