MiSTer FPGA Forum

Hello ,

This arcade game does't work for me!
If it works with either of you, can you share the files?

Okay this is a bit involved but bear with me on this,
I spent a while examining all the docs on JTs github, and after some head-scratching managed to get things working...

JT's github here: https://github.com/jotego

For this game we need to REBUILD ROMs into a specific format, these are NOT zips like the other games use, but instead ROM files (yes they are an archive of the ROMs, but not readable via the usual WinRAR or WinZIP).

Anyway you'll need a few things before you start.
In order to make things simple, create a fresh folder to work in, doesn't matter what you call it, but the contents will be specific.

Anyway you'll need a few things before you start.

1) JT's ROM builder - get it here: https://github.com/jotego/jt_gng/blob/s ... biocom.bat (view as RAW then 'Save As')

2) A good set of Bionic Commando ROM ZIPs (I used MAME 0214 sets, but others should work too)

bionicc.zip - I used a merged version, which contained the extra ROM archives listed below.
bionicc1.zip
bionicc2.zip
bioniccbl.zip
bioniccbl2.zip
topsecrt.zip
topsecrt2.zip

3) 7za.exe (7-Zip Extra: standalone console version) you just need this single file.
Get it here: https://www.7-zip.org/download.html

Here we go...
place 'bionicc.zip' into a folder named 'MERGED'
place all the other files (including bionicc.zip) into a folder named 'NONMERGED'
The other files go into the root of your working folder (7za.exe & build_rom_biocom.bat)

Now you are ready to build the files...
Launch 'build_rom_biocom.bat' - from here on READ WHAT APPEARS ON-SCREEN (you have to press a key between each build)
Turn to MERGED mode (Press 'C')
Now Press '1' then 'ENTER'
You should find a file named 'JTBIOCOM.rom' has been created, YES IT'S WORKING !
Do the same with opions '2' through '6'
**If things don't work, use 'VERBOSE ON' to understand what may be going wrong.

Final step copying to your MiSTer SD Card.
Create a folder in the ROOT of your SD card named 'bionicc' (no not in games/mame)
Now simply copy all of those ROM files into that folder...

All done, phew... Launch and enjoy... and consider donating to JT for his hard work... https://www.patreon.com/topapate

a very big thank you for this explanation, I had also seen that he tried to load a .rom file but I thought I was wrong

Your procedure is correct, but you must create a folder "bionicc" on the SD card to put the roms there.
Files at the root don't seem necessary

Thanks again

you could just remove the dip settings part out of the mra and it will work there is no need to build a rom
or use the alts as they not been updated so do not contain the dip settings anyway

ok i'll try

KnC wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:57 pm you could just remove the dip settings part out of the mra and it will work there is no need to build a rom
or use the alts as they not been updated so do not contain the dip settings anyway

you're right !!

tontonkaloun wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:54 pm Your procedure is correct, but you must create a folder "bionicc" on the SD card to put the roms there.
Files at the root don't seem necessary

Thanks again

Okay, edited the last few lines to reflect that...

KnC wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:57 pm you could just remove the dip settings part out of the mra and it will work there is no need to build a rom or use the alts as they not been updated so do not contain the dip settings anyway

Didn't know you could do that, so fair one on that.
However, in my defence I just wanted to get it built as intended with all functionalities in place.

Im brand new to Mister. Do most of the Jotego Cores need the SDRam add on?

gornway wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 7:44 am Im brand new to Mister. Do most of the Jotego Cores need the SDRam add on?

Unfortunately yes, the only one (i think) you can run without extra SD Memory is Ghosts & Goblins.

Harrumph wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:00 pm What I can add is which cores DO NOT work without SDRAM board (I tried them all out while my SDRAM board was stuck in transit).

As a rule of thumb, all ”simpler” arcade games work (ca pre-1986)
EXCEPT:
Bally MCR-3 (Discs of tron, Journey, Tapper, Timber).
Bally MCR-Monoboard (Demolition derby, Discs of Tron, Rampage, Sarge, Star guards).
Bally MCR-Scroll (Crater rider, Spy hunter, Turbo tag).

Interestingly, Ghosts n Goblins works, while 1942 does not (despite being pretty much the same hardware IIRC).
Rush n attack / Green beret also works.
Bally Astrocade works except for one game: Robby Roto.

From there on, all other arcade cores require SDRAM (CPS0, CPS1 etc).

gornway wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 7:44 am Bally Astrocade works except for one game: Robby Roto.

Arcade version of Astrocade should only need SDRAM for Seawolf II and Gorf (with speech) as they use it for sound samples.

if robby is not working without it I need to fix it