Minimig user feedback required

[Darrin]

Hi Jakub,

First of all, thanks again for all the work you've done so far on the core.

As for what improvements I'd like to see, there are only a few:

1.  "Hard Drive" support via the SD card.
2.  Sub directory access in order to group certain ADF files together (eg,  Tower Assualt files plus save game disk)
3.  2nd Floppy support (if no hard drive support) in order to make playing games like Dune or Colonization possible without contracting the Minimig equivalent of "disk swapper's wrist".
4.  Core file selection on bootup (to allow access to several cores such as PAL, NTSC or a Arcade core).
5.  Solve the bug that breaks Menace (well, it is my favourite shoot-em-up).  :-D

Cheers.

[Darrin]

straycat wrote:
Hi Yaqube,
First just want to say your last update was brilliant and made my Minimig so much more fun! Darrin already mentioned these, but the biggies for me are a better way to order the ADF files and 2nd floppy drive support (so you don't need to 'swap the disks').

Do you have his little PC program that renames and sorts the files on the SD card?  If not, PM me your email address and I'll send it to you.

[Darrin]

yaqube wrote:
Hi Darrin!

1. I have implemented basic hard drive support but it requires a new ARM controller. The performance is not very high but it's sufficient to play some games, the play of Dune II is very convenient. The hard file format is compatible with the UAE's HDFs. This solution is not complete yet and I still work on it.

Please keep us posted.  :-)

2. I haven't toyed with subdirs yet, but it should be possible even with limited PIC's resources. I am also thinking about alphabetical ordering of displayed files but this will be possible only with the ARM micro.

The sub folders would be handy because I'm starting to get lost as to which "save disk" goes with what game.

3. The current (in development) PIC firmware supports up to two floppy drives and the ARM's one supports up to four.

Great news.

4. It's a little bit complicated since some functionality to the FPGA core is provided by the PIC/ARM firmware (floppy and hard disk support, configuration). The best solution would be an application code loaded from the SD-Card to the micro controller memory during boot-up but it's limited by its RAM resources.

So which of your arms do I need to twist to get hold of an ARM controller?  :-D

5. I will take a look at Menace.

Cheers.  :-)

[Darrin]

yaqube wrote:

Darrin wrote:

So which of your arms do I need to twist to get hold of an ARM controller?  :-D

No need to do this. There is one already waiting for you.  :-D

PM sent.  ;-)

[Darrin]

TheDaddy wrote:

Since the updates will be done through SD Card and not through USB (Jakub is working on that too) there is no need to modify the case, unless one day we have USB support. :-)

Ciao

Anyone wanting to access the USB port on the ARM controller need only run a short USB extension cable and drill a small hole in the case..

[Darrin]

yaqube wrote:

Darrin wrote:
...
5.  Solve the bug that breaks Menace (well, it is my favourite shoot-em-up).  :-D

I have found and fixed a bug in the playfield collision detection circuit. Now Menace works correctly. I think those few games in which you died immediately after start should also work now correctly. Nevertheless they need to be tested.

Well done!!!  Cheers mate.

If you email me the new core then I'll test it on Hostages which appeared to have a similar problem.

You're the man!!!  :-)