MiSTer FPGA Forum

Time Pilot:
Complete core redesign for improved accuracy:
-New model built using Time Pilot '84 as a base
-Increase base clock to match actual frequencies of the PCB; fixes slower-than-normal game speed from the original implementation
-Refactor all clocks derived from the base clock
-Add implementation of the Konami 501 custom chip from Gyruss for more accurate handling of the Z80 and its data I/O
-Adjust video timings to match the original (thank you to Artemio Urbina for assisting with this)
-Adjust VBlank area; fixes graphical garbage outside the playfield
-Change aspect ratio to square pixels as per the PCB's 6.144MHz pixel clock
-Improve sprite rendering accuracy; fixes graphical errors in the sprite layer and correctly replicates a sprite discolration bug at the bottom of the screen present on the original PCB
-Replace existing YM2149/AY-3-8910 module with JT49 from Gyruss; fixes the incorrect volume scale from the previous releases
-Tune the switchable low-pass filters to better match the frequency response of the original PCB (thank you to Artemio Urbina for assisting with this)
-Increase audio volume
-Add high score auto-save support (JimmyStones)
-Update framework

Finalizer - Super Transformation:
New arcade core

Intellivision:
- Changes to Intellicart format detection. Add menu for forced selection of Raw or Intellicart formats
- Double height MOB selection fix (D1K)

Interton VC-4000:
- Changed joystick mapping

Emerson Arcadia 2001:
- New core, previously part of the "C2650" core. Based on Signetics 2650 CPU and 2637 video.

Fairchild ChannelF:
- Added release.

Both Arcadia and ChannelF have issues. Worst problem is that most games are terrible.

Compukit UK101

- Selectable memory size - options are 4K, 8K, 32K and the maximum approx. 41K.
- Fixed keyboard auto-repeat rate at high clock speeds for OSI machine (Cegmon only).

Downloader:

- Version 1.2 released.
- Added support for custom databases.
- Added database and path validations.
- Validation changes for options base_path and base_system_path. They now need to always start with /media/* otherwise downloader will show an error.
- Minor fixes.

Gameboy:
- Rework cartridge bus.
- Fix unstable core pause.
- Other fixes.

Gameboy2P:
- Add Sachen & Rocket mappers.
- Rework cartridge bus.
- Other fixes.

Sord M5:
- New computer core

Linux, Main, Bootloader:

- Updated to Kernel 5.15.1. Probably will stay on this kernel (or at least 5.15.x) for some time. It seems USB host driver is more stable, so using default one (instead of downgraded).
- Some fixes and tweaks since last linux release.
-Change reset type to "cold reset" while loading core from USB blaster or LXDE. So make sure bootloader is updated. (Official updater will take care of that).
- Don't load cheat files for non-game files (fixes NES loosing cheats)
- SNES: only skip 512 byte ROM header (srg320)
- TGFX16: fixes in CD (srg320)
- input: fix mouse wheel data transfer.
- input: fix key_menu_as_rgui option.
- UART: save modem baud rate, enable 115200 speed for modem mode.
- Some other fixes and tweaks i've forgot.

Compukit UK101

- Scandoubler now works.
- Rearranged menu to group related items together.

TurboGrafx-16/CD:
- CPU: fix Timer reloading (fixes Battle Royale) (srg320)

Compukit UK101

- Added OSI C1P/Superboard II mode.

Gameboy, Gameboy2P:
- Fixes for separate WRAM bus on GBC (Aladdin)

Compukit UK101

- Added software control of screen resolution in OSI C2P mode.

Main:

- Support for loadable Shadow Masks as proposed by Martin Donlon.
you must download masks from https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/ShadowMasks_MiSTer and place to Shadow_Masks folder on SD card.

- input: fix keyboard to joystick mapping.

- user_io: fixes and tweaks in image I/O, support 2352 byte/sector for PSX core.

- improved screenshots (alanswx).

Add Shadow Masks support

Release of Shadow Mask support by Gregory Hogan. For better flexibility masks are loadable.
Make Sure you updated Main as well.

Currently following cores have been updated with Shadow Masks:

SNES
NES
TurboGraphx16
NeoGeo
Genesis
MegaCD


If everything will go well, other cores will be updated too.

Atari7800:
- add 2600 support with an entirely new implementation
- Autodetection of 2600 bankswitching mode (Alanswx)
- Many 2600 bankswitching types supported including Starpath supercharger
- Flickerblend, de-combing, and video stabilization for 2600
- Load starpath supercharger tapes using ADC
- Support custom palettes
- Toggle buttons for difficulty switches, b&w switch, and pausing the core
- Renamed difficulty switch labels for clarity
- Improved RIOT timer edge case accuracy
- Added omega booster grip and robotron controller input options
- Rework paddle handing with dynamic assignments and automatic range detection
- Update framework

For best results with paddles, it's suggested to use mouse or a dedicated spinner like Mr. Spinner or Ultimatemister's spinner. Analog sticks work but are more difficult to use, check the readme for more information.

GBA:
- fix Sound DMA empty fifo handling(Snood, F-Zero Climax)
- fix Savestate loading of Sound DMA Fifo(Zelda ALttP)
- Use title ID to identify game(change by missionfloyd)

Downloader:

- Version 1.3 released.
- Added support for database-scoped default options.
- Added support for database-scoped options.
- Old mister file is now saved in the root of the SD as .MiSTer.old. This prevents an error that affected some users of the cifs script.
- Many improvements and fixes, check the CHANGELOG file at: https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Downloa ... ANGELOG.md

X68000:

Core was greatly reworked since last release. Secondary SD card isn't used anymore. Place D88 and HDF images on main SD card. Internal sources were cleaned and reorganized for easier maintenance. CPU has been replaced by cycle accurate one. Added many fixes and tweaks from Kitrinx, wwark and others.

Keep in mind this core is still work in progress. Many things still need to be fixed.

Shadow Mask v2:

Add Improved shadow mask including per pixel 32 levels of brightness and up to 16x16 mask size. This should give much better flexibility and finer effects.
Cores previously compiled with shadow mask support (NES, SNES, Genesis, MegaCD, TGFX16, NeoGeo, X68000) recompiled with v2 support. Main is updated too.

Additional changelog:
- NES: fixed FDS boot rom (greyrogue).
- SNES: several fixes from srg320.
- TurboGrafx16/CD: Update behavior of VCE when CPU accesses the palette register during active scan. (dshadoff).

Note: don't forget to update Main.

CoCo3
- first alpha release - please make issues in github
- Port of Gary Becker's famous CoCo3 by Stan Hodge

Large arcade core update:

Arkanoid, Gyruss, Iron Horse, Jackal, Jailbreak, Scooter Shooter, Time Pilot, Time Pilot '84:
Common changes
-Add option to change core clocks to normalize video timings and achieve 60Hz Vsync
-Reorganize menu options to reduce clutter
-Add shadow mask support (NOTE: This feature is currently experimental)
-Update framework

Core-specific changes
Arkanoid:
Complete core redesign:
-New logic model delivering the same end result as the original (the old code has been archived for future reference)
-All clocks refactored - core now operates on a single 48MHz clock with clock enables
-Minor tweak to MB112S146 implementation for the new logic
-Add screen centering
-Add pause feature (JimmyStones)
-Add high score saving (JimmyStones)

Jailbreak, Scooter Shooter:
-Decrease native VSync frequency to match actual measured VSync from the Konami 005849 custom chip
-Fix incorrectly-generated E/Q clocks for the KONAMI-1/MC6809E CPU
-(Scooter Shooter only) Add extra low-pass filtering to better match the frequency response of reference PCB recordings from speaker output (found in filters_audio folder to be loaded via the MiSTer UI)
-(Scooter Shooter only) Reduce YM2203 SSG volume to better match the PCB's audio mix
Credit to ColinD for the 005849 VSync measurements and Scooter Shooter reference audio samples

Jackal, Iron Horse:
-(Iron Horse only) Reverse E/Q clocks for the MC6809E CPU
-Add slower bootleg clocks (normalized timings not available for bootleg versions of these games)

Time Pilot:
-Adjust video output for more accurate colors (paulb-nl)

Sord M5:

- Joypad support added

CoCo3 20211229
- Fixed issues relative to the lack of over-scan and associated columns on the right side of image being cut off.
- Added dpad support.
- Fixed the tape loading to reset properly on new tape.

Finalizer - Super Transformation:
-Revise Konami 005885 IRQ, layer priority and sprite logic
-Reverse E/Q clocks for the KONAMI-1 CPU
-Add option to change core clocks to normalize video timings and achieve 60Hz VSync
-Reorganize menu options to reduce clutter
-Add shadow mask support (NOTE: This feature is currently experimental)
-Update framework

Main, Minimig, SNES, Genesis, TurboGrafx-16, NeoGeo:

- Shadow Mask is aligned to Start of actual scaled video.
- Support for multi-resolution Shadow Masks.
- Support for 64 phases in video filters.
- Separate settings for Horizontal and Vertical filters with additional Vertical filtering option when scanlines are enabled. Existing filters will work but only first half of coefficients will be loaded (due to separation of filters). New filters should be written with either 16 or 64 phases (i.e. only for one axis). Separate vertical filtering for scanlines gives an option for better look. It's recommended to choose some blurry filter for scanlines, so they will evenly spread even with non-integer scaling.
- Scanlines FX is moved from HDMI output to original video, so same scanlined video will be fed to scaler as on VGA output. New scanlines are tuned to work together with new separate filters.
- Various fixes and tweaks for PSX core (in development stage).
- Some updates in Scaler (grabulosaure)
- If osd_timeout=0 then don't timeout.
- Add support for zip files with no directory entries (Zakk).
- Minimig: remove residents on kickstart loading (need further testing).
- Minimig: don't block system LED.
- TGFX16: Improvement in video glitch (dshadoff).
- SNES: Lightgun delay to improve accuracy (paulb-nl).
- SNES: GSU fixes (srg320).
- Genesis: Use PAL Master Clock for PAL mode (birdybro).

Note: shadow mask alignment, 64 phase scaling and scanlines filter currently applicable only for these mentioned cores.


Hopefully it's last change in framework before propagating the changes (shadow mask, filters) to all other cores.

Atari Subs
- new arcade game by James Sweet ported to MiSTer with the help of Gehstock, alanswx, and JasonA

First release of the core "NEC PC8801":
- It is a port of the core "NEC PC8801" done by Puu-san (http://fpga8801.seesaa.net/category/21233167-1.html)
- In the readme, you will find informations how to configure this core, the list of known issues and the todo list.

I hope you will enjoy it.
Thanks for the help of Alanswx and Kitrinx !

Main:
- Sanity check for video filter and disable it if either file is absent or malformed. This should fix black video issue.
- minimig: always (re)load kickstart upon config loading.

Minimig:
- Fix ChipRAM memory write from HPS (fixes issue with memory cleanup from residents).