Atari 7800 / 2600

[Kitrinx]

Not in any way trying to be ungrateful or a pain in the ass, but this doesn't seem to yet be part of the public core...any idea if/when that may happen? It makes Starmaster completely unplayable with a single-button stick.

Sorry it took a while, released now. All the switches have an f-key equivalent.

[redsteakraw]

I just want to thank Kitrinx on this amazing new release maturing the core even further.

[killersquirel]

How does the integrated save key work? I tried playing some games that offer that support and it didn't save and I didn't see an option for a save key in the OSD. Also, is it possible to add Harmony support for the 2600 side? That would make this amazing core even better!

[Kitrinx]

How does the integrated save key work? I tried playing some games that offer that support and it didn't save and I didn't see an option for a save key in the OSD. Also, is it possible to add Harmony support for the 2600 side? That would make this amazing core even better!

The savekey is a curious accessory that plugs into the (usually) the second controller port. Only homebrew games can use it, and they can save things like high scores to it. I think if you google there is probably a list. Make sure to enable it before starting the game so it's detected properly and everything.

[rhester72]

@Kitrinx thank you VERY much!

[Lightwave]

is it possible to add Harmony support for the 2600 side?

Not likely to happen, unless some skilled developer other than Sorgelig or Kitrinx decides to make it their passion project.

[redsteakraw]

I don't get what would harmony support give anyone. The core has multiple mapper support, and can load most roms, so why would you need to replicate a flash cart? We have save key, most graphical options, Tapper works, and we have 7800 game support. Plus all the modern filters, and shadow mask support. This core was given a lot of love and attention, why would harmony be needed?

[Kitrinx]

I don't get what would harmony support give anyone. The core has multiple mapper support, and can load most roms, so why would you need to replicate a flash cart? We have save key, most graphical options, Tapper works, and we have 7800 game support. Plus all the modern filters, and shadow mask support. This core was given a lot of love and attention, why would harmony be needed?

the harmony carts are just microcontrollers running software emulation of various mappers, and they allow developers to directly run code on a 70mhz arm chip as well. What people want is this 70mhz arm chip implemented so they can play the weird frankenstein games that use it, but there's no realistic way that hardware is going to run on mister's fpga at that clock speed.

[dmckean]

Related:

89D96EFD-6F6B-4FBC-B066-D1080B18844E.jpg (132.75 KiB) Viewed 14813 times

[killersquirel]

How does the integrated save key work? I tried playing some games that offer that support and it didn't save and I didn't see an option for a save key in the OSD. Also, is it possible to add Harmony support for the 2600 side? That would make this amazing core even better!

The savekey is a curious accessory that plugs into the (usually) the second controller port. Only homebrew games can use it, and they can save things like high scores to it. I think if you google there is probably a list. Make sure to enable it before starting the game so it's detected properly and everything.

How do you enable the savekey? I looked through the OSD menu, but didn't notice it.

[Kitrinx]

How does the integrated save key work? I tried playing some games that offer that support and it didn't save and I didn't see an option for a save key in the OSD. Also, is it possible to add Harmony support for the 2600 side? That would make this amazing core even better!

The savekey is a curious accessory that plugs into the (usually) the second controller port. Only homebrew games can use it, and they can save things like high scores to it. I think if you google there is probably a list. Make sure to enable it before starting the game so it's detected properly and everything.

How do you enable the savekey? I looked through the OSD menu, but didn't notice it.

Set your second controller to "savekey"

[killersquirel]

I don't get what would harmony support give anyone. The core has multiple mapper support, and can load most roms, so why would you need to replicate a flash cart? We have save key, most graphical options, Tapper works, and we have 7800 game support. Plus all the modern filters, and shadow mask support. This core was given a lot of love and attention, why would harmony be needed?

the harmony carts are just microcontrollers running software emulation of various mappers, and they allow developers to directly run code on a 70mhz arm chip as well. What people want is this 70mhz arm chip implemented so they can play the weird frankenstein games that use it, but there's no realistic way that hardware is going to run on mister's fpga at that clock speed.

Thanks for the answer. I'm not sure if the arm implementation has to run at that clock speed as it's basically just shifting code to the processor, although I am not an expert in this area. The games that are coming out for it looks and plays amazing with the harmony.

[Kitrinx]

I don't get what would harmony support give anyone. The core has multiple mapper support, and can load most roms, so why would you need to replicate a flash cart? We have save key, most graphical options, Tapper works, and we have 7800 game support. Plus all the modern filters, and shadow mask support. This core was given a lot of love and attention, why would harmony be needed?

the harmony carts are just microcontrollers running software emulation of various mappers, and they allow developers to directly run code on a 70mhz arm chip as well. What people want is this 70mhz arm chip implemented so they can play the weird frankenstein games that use it, but there's no realistic way that hardware is going to run on mister's fpga at that clock speed.

Thanks for the answer. I'm not sure if the arm implementation has to run at that clock speed as it's basically just shifting code to the processor, although I am not an expert in this area. The games that are coming out for it looks and plays amazing with the harmony.

I think it would be better if the developers just learned to code for era-appropriate hardware, or, if the 2600 is not powerful enough for them to fulfil their creative vision, simply target more powerful hardware like the 7800.

[killersquirel]

I think it would be better if the developers just learned to code for era-appropriate hardware, or, if the 2600 is not powerful enough for them to fulfil their creative vision, simply target more powerful hardware like the 7800.

I have a 2600 with a harmony cartridge and the games that it plays are really great. I would love to play them on an HDTV through the MiSTer, but I understand if that can't happen. Thanks again for the amazing core and work that you are doing on the MiSTer.

[seastalker]

@Kitrinx

Your 7800 MiSTer core is absolutely fantastic! I am revisiting my MiST FPGA and see others are hoping for a port of this so I thought to relay this (if you haven't been bombarded with this request already).

[Kitrinx]

@Kitrinx

Your 7800 MiSTer core is absolutely fantastic! I am revisiting my MiST FPGA and see others are hoping for a port of this so I thought to relay this (if you haven't been bombarded with this request already).

I'm glad you like it! It's made nearly entirely based off schematics so it should be very accurate. Nobody has contacted me about porting or using any of it, but i'm willing to dual license the parts of it that I wrote.

[killersquirel]

@Kitrinx

Your 7800 MiSTer core is absolutely fantastic! I am revisiting my MiST FPGA and see others are hoping for a port of this so I thought to relay this (if you haven't been bombarded with this request already).

I'm glad you like it! It's made nearly entirely based off schematics so it should be very accurate. Nobody has contacted me about porting or using any of it, but i'm willing to dual license the parts of it that I wrote.

Your core really is awesome. I am curious of how much space of the DE-10 is still available on your core?

[akeley]

RomHunter has just updated his awesome Atari 2600 collection.

[telengard]

Is it possible to have this core support showing and loading 2600 files with extensions for identifying bankswitch type? e.g. my crystal castles is crystal_castles.f6s. It seems I can only see .bin files.

[TLPD-AVW]

No offense, but wouldn't it be easier to rename those rom files back to .a26/.bin on your end? File extensions named after mappers had to be used on old Atari 2600 core because it lacked automatic mapper detection for several cartridge layouts and renaming roms was a way to manually set those mappers before loading. The current Atari 7800 core features full automatic mapper detection and the need to change file extensions is now deprecated.

[telengard]

Oh, no offense taken, I didn't realize they all just automatically worked! I also have a Harmony cart for my 2600 where I have to keep those file extensions, so ideally they could be loaded that way on the MiSTer, but it's not a huge deal.

[skooter]

The Harmony Cartridge also detects mappers automatically.

[telengard]

Hmm, then I must have used these extensions for the previous 2600 specific core. Seems I no longer need to do this, great!

thanks everyone

[rhester72]

I've gotten original paddles working with my 2600-daptor D9 (well, OK, the one supported paddle - is it possible to adjust sensitivity, by the way? It's got a looooong throw as-is, VERY noticable in Warlords and Kaboom!)...so far, no luck with a real Driving controller (neither the button nor the rotary respond at all). I assume it just doesn't work?

[Firehawke]

Related question: What is the best overall solution for four paddles for use with Warlords? A SNAC with two paddles, then another USB adaptor of some sort?

[HerrBerzerk]

I did not get snac working with the 2600-part of the core. Only with the 7800 part. Also I did not get paddles working nor the Indy 500 driving controllers. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but I tried all options that I could think of.

[Kitrinx]

I did not get snac working with the 2600-part of the core. Only with the 7800 part. Also I did not get paddles working nor the Indy 500 driving controllers. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but I tried all options that I could think of.

Paddles do not work via snac, they are analog. Not sure of indy 500 as I have neither an atari snac nor a driving controller, atari 7800 controllers may or may not work either, since they use a weird configuration with a strong pull-up to function for two button mode, it may need a special board made.

[Kitrinx]

Related question: What is the best overall solution for four paddles for use with Warlords? A SNAC with two paddles, then another USB adaptor of some sort?

mix and match various usb paddles. Mouse, analog sticks, and various spinners all work.

[LamerDeluxe]

I did not get snac working with the 2600-part of the core. Only with the 7800 part. Also I did not get paddles working nor the Indy 500 driving controllers. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but I tried all options that I could think of.

Paddles do not work via snac, they are analog.

Paddles do work with the Atari DB9 snac, but you have to connect a cable from its jack connector to that of an ADC board.

[Kitrinx]

I did not get snac working with the 2600-part of the core. Only with the 7800 part. Also I did not get paddles working nor the Indy 500 driving controllers. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but I tried all options that I could think of.

Paddles do not work via snac, they are analog.

Paddles do work with the Atari DB9 snac, but you have to connect a cable from its jack connector to that of an ADC board.

Not in the 2600/7800 core.