MiSTer FPGA Forum

Arcade: Joust 2
- Music and speech sound board added thanks to @darfpga

Ondra SPO 186:
- Ondra Melodik added

PCXT:
- Upgrade Tandy Sound to JT89, thanks @kitune-san and @jotego

Downloader:
- Version 1.6 released.
- The minimum python version required is now 3.9 instead of 3.5 (MiSTer OS has python version 3.9 since September 2021).
- PC Launcher was added. It allows users to run Downloader on a PC. (Code that used Linux utilities has been substituted with code using native python libraries. This makes Downloader cross-platform)
- The file downloader module now uses python threads instead of CURL. This brings a significant speed boost during bulk downloads. General speed improvement is measured to be between 1.47x and 2.52x for standard use cases on MiSTer.
- File validation now happens in the main thread after each file has been downloaded asynchronously.
- When called from `update.sh`, the configuration file `downloader.ini` will be read instead of `update.ini`. Reason is: Since Downloader is now distributed through that launcher, this case needs to reflect better the behaviour described in the documentation.
- Added support for files gamecontrollerdb and gamecontrollerdb_user.
- Simplified SSL Certificates installation in the launcher file `downloader.sh`.
- Zip support now also includes a special case for single files that facilitates the distribution of very big files.
- Improved error reporting when there are certificate and mount errors to be more informative to the end user.
- Improved messages on files not getting installed because they are marked as overwrite protected in the database.
- Removed CLI output section that showed file validations with the `+` symbol, as now file validation happens during bulk downloads.
- Removed documentation about `base_system_path` as is not meant to be used by users.
- Other general improvements: refactors, fixes, test coverage, code cleanup...

PCXT:
- Fix Tandy palette for 320x200x4 (Marble Madness, AlleyCat, etc... now working new palette)
- Improved bus speed, by @kitune-san (Demo 8088MPH now works better)
- bugfix in MCL86 microcode, by @kitune-san (KEYB now works)
- Fixed bios writable signal, by @kitune-san

PCXT:
- Fix 0xF6 opcodes in MCL86 microcode, by @MicroCoreLabs

PCXT:
- UMB A000h as an option (Some games use this segment to detect the EGA video card)
- Fix overflow flag, co-working with @MicroCoreLabs (Landmark System Speed Test 6.0 now works)

Arcade: Inferno (Williams):
- Fix Aim+Fire in 2 Player (typo)

PCXT:
- Bugfix of FDD chip select, caused in the previous version
- Mirror address between VRAM and RAM for Tandy (The Simpsons Arcade Game now works on Tandy 1000)

New Arcade Core: Capcom SonSon
- Original core Based on old PACE code by Mark McDougall(tcdev) then ported to MiST
- MiSTer port by MikeS11

NeoGeo, Genesis, MSX, ColecoVision:
- NeoGeo: audio fixes (GreyRogue).
- Genesis: Controller reset fix (Sam Hardeman).
- ColecoVision: Fixed issues with Coleco SGM module (Ramon Martinez).
- Updated framework.

Arcade: Donkey Kong 3
- Updated Framework.
- Fixed timing issue that resulted in vsync_adjust=2 crashing the core.

New Arcade Core: Tropical Angel (Irem M57)
- Original core written by slingshot for MiST, based on Traverse USA code by darfpga
- Ported to MiSTer FPGA by birdybro

Arcade: Tropical Angel
- Fix sync stability of core upon launch
- Fix initial rom loading sequence
- Fix ocean color (it's blue now!)

New Arcade Core: Bosconian (Namco/Midway, 1981)
- Based on Dar's Galaga MiSTer core, with help from MikeJ and WoS at FPGAArcade
- Bosconian video board and system implementation by Nolbin
- The two MRAs differ in level layouts and available DIP settings.

Arcade: Tropical Angel
- Added DIPS function to MRA and core.
- Fixed Aspect Ratio to be the Display Aspect Ratio.
- Restore clocks to the ones used in MiST, should be more accurate. Added a video clock that divides down to a 6.144MHz pixel clock.
- Cleaned up options window.

New arcade core Congo Bongo.
- PCB sufficiently different from Zaxxon to build separate code.
- Sound uses PSGs and samples. Wave files resampled for size optimization.

New Arcade Core: Exerion (1983, Jaleco)

PSX:

new features:
- 4 x analog multitap with rumble(by markun)
- 480i to 480p hack
- disable automatic reset when switching CDs while LID is open in OSD
- display button names for guns and NeGcon while doing button mapping

games affected by fixes:
- Star Wars - The Phantom Menace
- Parasite Eve 2
- Firemen 2
- Soccer 97
- Ogre Battle
- Destruction Derby 2 Demo in Registration Demo PAL
- Tobal
- Crisis Beat
- Jeopardy!
- Castrol Honda Superbike Racing
- Next Tetris

fixes/changes:
- Corrected mapping config string(by Zakk)
- MDEC: implement double buffer colorram so IDCT and COLOR stage can work in parallel without interfering
- MDEC: fix color decoding overflow
- MDEC: reduce decoding speed for 15bit mode
- DMA: DMA to RAM does not write if uppermost address bit is set(8..16mbyte area)
- GPU: latch interlaced drawing bit when drawing is idle so it doesn't change while drawing a primitive
- GPU: rework Palette cache reset
- Video: set interlace field when turning on interlaced mode based on odd/even frame

accuracy improvements:
- DMA: implement configurable CD timing(memctrl)
- DMA: corrected block mode pausing
- DMA: corrected linked list mode starting pause, and timing between list entries
- JOYPAD: adjusted emulated pad response timing according to measurements
- CD: count up readSectorPointer so multiple sectors can be fetched before buffer overrun occurs
- CD: fix a bug where late ack from e.g. command could trigger sector read pointer update
- GPU: fix timing of GPUSTAT bits odd-even(31) and interlace field(13) around vsync
- GPU: GPUSTAT_DrawingOddline on/off moved slightly before line end in 240p mode -> fulfills test against hardware
- GPU: GPUSTAT_DrawingOddline on moved one line earlier in 480i mode -> fulfills test against hardware

Arcade: Joust 2
- Fix swapped auto-up and advance dip switches (thanks to @kold669 for noticing)
- Update framework (nothing noticeable would have changed)

New Arcade Core: Express Raider from Data East USA

C64:
- SID improvements.
- T65 and CIA updates from Gyurco.
- Other tweaks and fixes.

Main:
- Add ini option for permanent controller assignment to specific player.
- Add MiSTer_cmd command: volume mute/unmute/0-7.
- pcxt: HDD support, based on AO486 (spark2k06).
- input: add pageup/pagedown buttons to controller in linux console and other tweaks.
- Debug print of current config. (should help to find a wrong setting)
- Other tweaks and fixes.

PCXT:

- Fixed timer output in mode 3, by @kitune-san
- Update project files for XT2IDE, by @kitune-san
- Added XT-IDE conversion, by @kitune-san
- Added cycle-accurate mode at other than 4.77 MHz, by @kitune-san
- Three cycle-accurate CPU speeds and max. speed option
- Update XTCTL to new CPU model speeds
- Sync with @MicroCoreLabs MCL86 code
- New Tandy video modes: 160x200x16 and 640x200x4
- Enhanced Tandy 640x225 text mode display
- Borders centred when these are active from the OSD
- Joystick counter revision for new model CPU speeds
- C/MS Audio support and Sound Blaster FM compatibility
- Change mouse port to COM1
- COM2 mapped to /dev/ttyS1
- Fix some synchronisation issues

- Update README.md

Note: this release requires latest Main update!

Note 2: It is also important to update all ROMs based on the new XTIDE BIOS, and located in the folder "..\SW\ROMs"

VIC20:
- Add Megacart support (adopted Robinson's implementation).

Phoenix:
Phoenix and mother's ship sounds slightly enhanced.

VIC20:

• Update CPU.
• Update VIC for better NTSC support.

PCXT:

- Off-centre border for area5150 demo (work-around)
- Added RTC support via I/O port 240h
- Reworking of chip selection registers and optimisation of signals to avoid redundancy
- Added bits 3 and 4 to port mapping in Tandy 1000

PCXT:

- I/O port for RTC is changed to 2C0h
- Reverted some optimisations, due to incompatibility with the Juko ST BIOS