Finally a new release is ready. Head to the FB Alpha page to download

Click more for the rather long list of new things.

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Comments (8)

Finally, a new release.

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Comments (20)

This version includes a big change in the Z80 CPU interface. Specifically MAME's Z80 core is now used for all games. This should give better results and make the program more portable. We have done a lot of testing but if you notice any new problems please let us know and we can fix them.

This version also includes changes in the EEPROM code and input assignment code. As well as the changed save states for the ZET interface, these render old config and save files pretty much useless. It is advised to delete the contents of the config\games folder before using this version. Savestates are a bit hit-and-miss at the moment anyway. I plan to pay some attention to savestates in the next version and hopefully boost compatibility.

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Comments (28)

A new FB Alpha. A lot has changed, both in the program and also the files (some are now redundant), so an install into a fresh folder is recommended.

For more details click more below.

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Comments (26)

A test version of FB Alpha with just the Megadrive games enabled. There have been significant improvements to the current released version.

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Comments (8)

Here's the what's new;

• Moved Namco sound to it's own module and updated the Pac-Man driver [Barry]
• Added driver for Galaga [Barry]
• Added driver for Pass [iq_132]
• Added a hack to get Knights of Valour 2 Plus working [XingXing]
• Tidied up the SoftFX blitters [Barry]
  • Updated the Enhanced blitter to allow more filters
  • Added support to the ini file for long long integers to support the Enhanced blitter
  • Added hq2xS, hq3xS, hq2xBold, hq3xBold, EPXB and EPXC filters from SNES9X ReRecording
  • Added SuperEagle, 2xSaI, Super 2xSaI filters from VBA ReRecording
• Fixed issue with board roms in ClrMAME XML DAT generation [Barry]
• Changed ampersands in the ClrMAME XML DAT output to their HTML entity [Barry]
• Some updates to the Megadrive driver via the online generator [nj7, JackC, arturf]
• Fixed some rom sizes in non-working parents [Barry, pointed out by JackC]
• Fixed license2rtf.pl to allow hyphens in URLs [Barry]
• Matched all sets to MAME 0.129u6

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Comments (17)

The SoftFX filters were getting a bit of a mess, so I've tidied them up, and updated the enhanced blitter to support more than sixteen filters, as well as updating the configuration file to support long long integers. I have also added some more filters (see image below).

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Comments (1)

I have added support for hiscore.dat in FB Alpha. Due to the problems this file caused in MAME before support was removed I have imposed the following restrictions on it's use;

• Support is only turned on when the option Save high scores when supported is enabled. This is off by default.
• Support is only turned on when a driver specifically declares support for it.

The reason why I have insisted on a driver specifically declaring it's support is so that hiscore support can be tested in games and only enabled if it is verified to work well. I have currently done the Galaxian driver and only enabled hiscore support in games that work well. I do not intend on doing many more drivers as I don't have the time to test them all. I hope that users will test drivers for themselves and let us know their experiences.

To test a games hiscore support you need to place the hiscore.dat in your hiscore directory and enable the Save high scores when supported option. You also need to compile your own version of FB Alpha and enable hiscore support in the driver you want to test. To enable hiscore support in a driver you edit the BurnDriver struct and adding BDF_HISCORE_SUPPORTED to the flags member.

In pretty much any circumstance, this would involve changing;

to;

Then recompile and test the game. If hiscore saving works then let us know. The easiest way to do that would be to post at NeoSource.

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Comments (2)

Several people have been requesting that support is added to the Megadrive driver for their favourite games. The driver currently contains my favourite games that work. There are simply too many games in the driver for us to test them all and enable ones that work. To this end, I am giving users the opportunity to add games to the driver.

To do this, firstly you need to download a version of FBA, with all Megadrive games enabled. iq_132 has made one available and you can download it here. Once you have tested a game you can update it's status using this page. Registration is required - this is because we want to log changes and if necessary block any people who abuse the system.

The process is simple. Simply enter the short name of the driver you tested (e.g. g_soni) and click the Amend button. Update the details according to your testing and then click the Amend button to change the details. Strictly speaking, most details shouldn't change. The only fields I expect will change, are;

• Year
• Manufacturer
• Number of Players
• Genre
• Status
• Notes

Each field should be self-explanatory. The Notes field should be used to record your testing experience and to explain any problems with the game, etc., so we can look at fixing things when the driver is more mature.

With each new release of FB Alpha I will generate a new driver file from this database and any games marked as working will be automatically included. All game details will be updated using the data stored here so we should be able to get more complete info on each game, (e.g., genre, year) than we have now.

So, if you want to see more Megadrive games in FB Alpha, you really don't have any excuses anymore.

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A long list of new things this time so I'm not going to put it on the front page. Click more for the list of new things and the downloads.

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Comments (5)