Trying to make a CD32 games menu

[Ivanhoe]

Hello all

I have AGS to make menuson a CD32 CD but I don't Know how to do it.

Can anybody help me?

How can I make it to include about 10-15 games including ISO images?

Thanks!

[motorollin]

From the AGS web site:

Installation

Put the ArcadeGameSelector somewhere in the path, like in C:. Assign AGS: to a directory where you intend to keep your start scripts, or alternatively assign it to RAM:AGS and copy the scripts there. Oh yeah, start scripts -- all AGS does is search AGS: for a bunch of files ending with .start, and then displays them in a menu. When the user selects something it copies the relevant script to AGS:.run and quits. A small script like this should do the necessary magic:

  C:SetPatch >NIL:
  MakeDir RAM:AGS
  Assign AGS: RAM:AGS
  ; Substitute SYS:AGS to wherever you keep your AGS scripts
  Copy SYS:AGS/#? AGS: ALL QUIET

  Lab loop
  ArcadeGameSelector
  IF EXISTS AGS:.run
    Execute AGS:.run
    Delete AGS:.run
    Skip loop
  EndIf
Save the script to S:Startup-Sequence and you have a dedicated game machine.

So you have to create the .start files which contain the necessary commands to run your game.

--
moto

[Ivanhoe]

For example I for Benefactor I have a file that could be the executable called Benefactor.bin so I have typed:
CD cd0:CD32/Benefactor/Benefactor.bin.

Is that right?

AGS request also to edit a .txt and a.iff (graphics) for each game.

How can I do it?

Can I include also games on ISO format on the compilation?

Thanks for all. :-?  :devildance:  :lotsacoffee:  :angel:

[motorollin]

Ivanhoe wrote:
For example I for Benefactor I have a file that could be the executable called Benefactor.bin so I have typed:
CD cd0:CD32/Benefactor/Benefactor.bin.

Well, presumably you don't want to "cd" to benefactor.bin if benefactor.bin is the executable which launches the game, as CD is a command which changes to another directory. I have never used it, but from reading the docs you need to create a file called "benefactor.start" in the same location as the example .start files, and then put something like "cd0:cd32/benefactor/benefactor.bin" in the start file to make it launch the game.

Ivanhoe wrote:
AGS request also to edit a .txt and a.iff (graphics) for each game.

The .txt file seems to be the description which is shown in the AGS interface. So just create the txt file "benefactor.txt" and enter whatever description you want (if any). As for the .iff, you could get a screenshot of the game from http://hol.abime.net , open it in PPaint, crop it to the same size as the example .iffs provided with AGS, and then save as benefactor.iff.

Ivanhoe wrote:
Can I include also games on ISO format on the compilation?

It doesn't look like it from checking the web site. If the games are CD32 versions, then you might need to use A1200 versions or WHDLoad-installed CD32 versions so they will run from a folder rather than a CD.

Hope that is of some help. You might get a better answer from someone who has actually used it :lol:

--
moto

[Ivanhoe]

Nice!

I am going to try to make a CD following the steps you put in here.

Anyway more help is appreciated.

Any ideas? :-D

[motorollin]

Well, try what I suggested and then post again and we'll take it from there :-)

--
moto

[Ivanhoe]

With aGS is needed that the images are sized at 320x128 pixels.

How can I resize it with PPaint or PicShow?

I need to do this before burning the CD.

Can I burn ISO images and transfer to the CD as data?

Help me please! :crazy:

[Ivanhoe]

Now I have burned some ISO images to various CDs
and on the CD32 console it doesn't boot any of them.

All are fixed on the session only in MakeCD.

My question is may I fix all with the option Fix to definitely fix them all and boot with my CD32?

Help is truly appreciated :-)

[neuroflip]

Now I have burned some ISO images to various CDs
and on the CD32 console it doesn't boot any of them.

You will need de TM files to burn the iso and boot a CD... try this and this tutos

[Jupp3]

Let's say you have a game called "Benefactor", for which the name of the CD is "BENEF1". You could do the CD so, that in the root there's a games drawer, which contains "Benefactor" drawer (named after the game, but doesn't have to be). By checking the startup-sequence, let's say it starts "benefactor.bin" from the root of the CD. You want to have the games on a CD called "MyGameCollection".

What you probably would want to do to start the game is:
assign BENEF1: MyGameCollection:games/Benefactor (this makes a (sort of) "virtual drive" that points to the directory where the game files are. If game looks for data files by disc name, they should be found now)
BENEF1: (this changes directory to where the "virtual drive" points to. Works with or without cd)
benefactor.bin

Note: all filenames are just made up, check your discs for what they actually are :-)

Actually I wonder how it would be possible to execute the game-specific startup-sequence directly, so that it will use the assign as root instead of the disc root?

Also, to make any disc bootable with CD32, you need to include CD32 (or CDTV) trademark file, iirc, they're available on amiga developer cd.

[jj]

You need some filed of the amiga developer kit to be able to make cds that boot on a cd32.  You can not make a normal bottable cd and just put a startup-sequence on it.

It tells you the files you need in the makecd somewhere.

You can get the require cds from the AmigaKit euro site.

Amiga Developer Kit V1.2

Amiga Developer Kit v2.1

[jj]

dam beaten to it by two peeople.  But I posted links so there  :-D

[Ivanhoe]

Yeah I have the cd32.tm file on some CD32 CD and I am gonna
give it atry now.

Thanks!  :-D  :idea:  :crazy:

[jj]

is there not another file from memory you need ?

[Ivanhoe]

I don't know but at the moment I cannot boot any CD32 CD burned before. :pissed: