MiSTer AO486 Shareware Pack and MyMenu DOS Frontend!!!

[flynnsbit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNWNHwluRzk

Today I am releasing the new AO486 DOS Shareware pack to the public. This includes an all new DOS Frontend interface developed by BBond007. The pack is 100% shareware and opensource so it can be shared freely to give a great base for future packs and to show off all the new features. There are no Commercial products in this release. Over 100 games, 30 DOS shareware screensavers, MOD and MIDI Music, Music Players, and shareware DOS applications all built on the FreeDOS OS.

Shareware Pack includes:
Over 100 DOS Shareware titles that have been tested and configured for the MiSTer AO486 PC Core. ANSI art and gamecards built for each game.
MyMenu Features:
MyMenu is a DOS frontend designed to allow you to quickly launch DOS games, applications, scripts, and music.

Launch scripts, exe, bat, or any custom extension that you configure in the MyMenu.ini configuration file. Add any game to C:\Games\My Cool Game Name\ and it will now show in MyMenu automatically. We have tested up to 10,000 games in the list!

Other Feature:
DOS Long File Name support
Autorun.bat -- Autorun any game
Readme.ans -- ANSI Readme and gamecard for each game!
ANSI and ASCII art support for browsing ANSI and creating custom game cards for the interface
ANSi Terminal (COM) and (Console) support
Quickly set MiSTer core speed and cache options
Screensavers
CGA/VGA Support
Music player integration for MOD, MIDI, XM, A2M, and MP3.
Terminal Support for MidiLink, Serial, and BBS connection.

Github scripts integration and updates coming!

bbond007's MidiLink: https://github.com/bbond007/MiSTer_MidiLink

Latest release located at: https://github.com/flynnsbit/DOS_Shareware_MyMenu
Under Releases: https://github.com/flynnsbit/DOS_Sharew ... ag/v0.1.20

Introduction and History lesson 00:00
Pack Demonstration: 05:00
MyMenu DOS Interface: 06:00
Autorun.bat and README.ANS Demo: 10:05
Doom Demo: 11:23
Edit Autorun.bat: 12:30
Broken games moved: 12:55
MyMenu ANSi: 13:11
MyMenu Apps/Games/Music/Ansi: 14:00
MyMenu Music and MIDI Demo: 14:23
MyMenu ANSI Art examples: 15:51
MyMenu Quick feature list and readme: 16:21
MyMenu F1 Menu: 17:20
MyMenu MT32-Pi Integration Menu: 17:58
MyMenu Screensavers: 18:21
MyMenu.ini configuration options: 18:45
MyMenu Screensavers config and demo: 19:40
MyMenu Utilities and Memory Management: 22:37
Explosiv! Screensaver Setup: 24:00
MP3's and Internet Radio on MiSTer: 25:14
Download Midilink: 25:41
MP3 Music Tracks and Internet Radio in AO486: 26:00
WHAT IS THIS SONG!!? : 28:06
Mp3 songs as Music track in DOS games: 28:25
MyMenu MP3 Quicklinks: 29:15
Internet Radio Playlists as Music Track in DOS: 29:31
Internet Radio in DOS - Classic Rock: 30:38
Internet Radio in DOS - Dance: 31:48
MyMenu Color Templates and Themes: 32:20
MiSTer console control of MP3s from batch scripts in DOS: 33:56
DOS Doom w/ Doom Eternal Mp3 Soundtrack in DOS Demo scripted: 35:57
DOS Earthworm Jim w/ MP3 Music Playlist: 38:02
DOS SimCity 2000 w/ MP3 Music Playlist: 39:23
Conclusion and Download: 40:00


Update for the pack:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update Script for Shareware pack VHD is done and posted. Please test and report back. Version of MyMenu should update to the version BB posted ($09A5).
v0.1.20.2

MyMenu Updated -- General Fixes, Border Styles added
ANSI files updated
FastDoom will now pull down from github and drop into c:\GAMES\DOOM

https://github.com/flynnsbit/DOS_Sharew ... in/_mister

[akeley]

Thanks a lot. I'm interested in MyMenu mostly, would you say it's a better solution than TDL for custom packs?

Also, the links in your post seem to be broken.

[flynnsbit]

Way better. You can pull the MYMENU folder from the github and maybe SCRSaver folder and you would have everything you need for a custom pack. Links fixed.

[nizce]

Great news! Can’t wait to try it out
Thanks for all the effort and time you and all involved have put into this!

[NegSol]

I like it! Many thanks!!

[AmintaMister]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNWNHwluRzk

Today I am releasing the new AO486 DOS Shareware pack to the public. This includes an all new DOS Frontend interface developed by BBond007. The pack is 100% shareware and opensource so it can be shared freely to give a great base for future packs and to show off all the new features. There are no Commercial products in this release. Over 100 games, 30 DOS shareware screensavers, MOD and MIDI Music, Music Players, and shareware DOS applications all built on the FreeDOS OS.

GREAT RELEASE! One question: how about the CD support? Where are we supposed to insert the CD *.cue and how to refer it in autoexec.bat?

[flynnsbit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNWNHwluRzk

Today I am releasing the new AO486 DOS Shareware pack to the public. This includes an all new DOS Frontend interface developed by BBond007. The pack is 100% shareware and opensource so it can be shared freely to give a great base for future packs and to show off all the new features. There are no Commercial products in this release. Over 100 games, 30 DOS shareware screensavers, MOD and MIDI Music, Music Players, and shareware DOS applications all built on the FreeDOS OS.

GREAT RELEASE! One question: how about the CD support? Where are we supposed to insert the CD *.cue and how to refer it in autoexec.bat?

CD support is there, just none of the shareware games required it. in autoexec.bat and fdconfig.sys you will see the two drivers needed.

AUTOEXEC.BAT
::CD SUPPORT
C:\FDOS\BIN\SHSUCDX /D:FDCD001 /L:D /V

FDCONFIG.SYS
REM CD ROM
DEVICEHIGH=C:\FDOS\BIN\XCDROM.SYS /D:FDCD001

So the CD drive will be D: if you insert a CD. It's been a while since I tested that, I probably should have before this release.

[AmintaMister]

CD support is there, just none of the shareware games required it. in autoexec.bat and fdconfig.sys you will see the two drivers needed.

AUTOEXEC.BAT
::CD SUPPORT
C:\FDOS\BIN\SHSUCDX /D:FDCD001 /L:D /V

FDCONFIG.SYS
REM CD ROM
DEVICEHIGH=C:\FDOS\BIN\XCDROM.SYS /D:FDCD001

So the CD drive will be D: if you insert a CD. It's been a while since I tested that, I probably should have before this release.

THANKS! Can I “insert” the CD in the configuration file of the game where I need it? What file and syntax I have to use?

[flynnsbit]

Same exact format as the Top 300 pack, so here is an example
https://github.com/flynnsbit/Top300_upd ... _Start.bat

So in the Shareware pack, add the game to "Game Folder name". In that, create an autorun.bat and then in that put
CALL imgtry ide10 D "/cd/7thguest/t7g1.chd" "/cd/7thguest/t7g1.cue"

where ide10 is the ide, and if you have CHDs you can pass either the CHD or CUE. The imgtry command referenced above will try chd, and if not there, will try the CUE.

if you dont want to use imgtry you can just use the imgset command.

imgset.png (5.95 KiB) Viewed 16944 times

[AmintaMister]

Thanks!!!

[thorr]

Thanks! I am currently on vacation so I can't try this out, but I am really looking forward to it. Does this support graphical DOS text modes so it will look good on CRT TV's? I am not sure if that is what you meant by CGA/VGA support.

[flynnsbit]

Thanks! I am currently on vacation so I can't try this out, but I am really looking forward to it. Does this support graphical DOS text modes so it will look good on CRT TV's? I am not sure if that is what you meant by CGA/VGA support.

On vacation without bringing you MiSTer???? You have failed.

I haven't tested on my CRTs yet. CGA is more for real machines like an IBM PCJr.

[thorr]

On vacation without bringing you MiSTer???? You have failed.

I haven't tested on my CRTs yet. CGA is more for real machines like an IBM PCJr.

Lol! The CRT TV might be a little too gawdy in my cruise stateroom, not to mention the funny looks I would get when bringing it on board. I did drag my 21 inch VGA CRT to a time share in Colorado from San Diego. I got funny looks there too. Unfortunately it died a few weeks later after I got home. Now I just leave everything at home just to be safe and look forward to it when I return.

[Caldor]

Very nice. I want to try this out later.

Btw. I made some shareware collections a while ago that might be relevant for this collection if there is something you might want to use:

http://dionysus.dk/software/DOS/

Mainly this one should be relevant as its a 1gb image with several DOS games and I think I tested them or at least most of them:
http://dionysus.dk/software/DOS/Sharewa ... 0games.rar

Its a compressed VHD I used with the MiSTer and setup with it. There is one for Windows as well, with games like Diablo and Starcraft. Was nice for benchmark tests since they did not require a CD or CD emulation. The performance was not great though.

[bbond007]

I have added the ability to change border style and read ".XM" (like a MOD file) metadata.

While adding these features, I've also reduced the EXE size from the release version...

The new EXE will probably appear in the next flynnsbit shareware pack update.

09A3.jpg (505.2 KiB) Viewed 16258 times

09A5-Border-Menu.png (1.54 MiB) Viewed 16200 times

[hiddenbyleaves]

Brilliant!!

[flynnsbit]

Update Script for Share pack VHD is done and posted. Please test and report back. Version of MyMenu should update to the version BB posted above ($09A5).
v0.1.20.2

MyMenu Updated -- General Fixes, Border Styles added
ANSI files updated
FastDoom will now pull down from github and drop into c:\GAMES\DOOM

https://github.com/flynnsbit/DOS_Sharew ... in/_mister

[remax]

Great work !

TDL was written in order to ease the launch of big collection on early PCs (with TDC in mind), so it's a bit light in the options department.

[Karmeck]

I could just try but I ask anyway, as I'm still waiting for my USB board.

Can you open up the vhd and replace the shareware version of a game with the full version? And evrything still works?

I know you are updating the 300 pack but I have limited sd space so this would be easier.

[flynnsbit]

I could just try but I ask anyway, as I'm still waiting for my USB board.

Can you open up the vhd and replace the shareware version of a game with the full version? And evrything still works?

I know you are updating the 300 pack but I have limited sd space so this would be easier.

Yes, if the developers of the games made the games work that way. You would just mount the vhd and copy over. I have not tested this outside of the few classics like Doom and Wolf3d.

[Karmeck]

So I tried to play some midi, but got no sound.

Do I need a mt32-pi to listen to midi? I have one on the way.

[FoxbatStargazer]

The core itself has a sound blaster clone with FM synthesis. You just need to configure whatever game or program to use it (i.e. select sound blaster for music, or failing that adlib.)

The linux OS can also run fluidsynth (for sound canvas / general midi) and MUNT (for MT-32 emulation, although default Mister clocks are a bit too low for it.) I would look at a "midilink" tutorial for help setting it up. You will have to touch similar to get the mt-32 pi working anyway.

[Karmeck]

The core itself has a sound blaster clone with FM synthesis. You just need to configure whatever game or program to use it (i.e. select sound blaster for music, or failing that adlib.)

The linux OS can also run fluidsynth (for sound canvas / general midi) and MUNT (for MT-32 emulation, although default Mister clocks are a bit too low for it.) I would look at a "midilink" tutorial for help setting it up. You will have to touch similar to get the mt-32 pi working anyway.

It's my understanding the mt32-pi is plug and play. Bought it from ultimatemister so it's pre configured.

Have to look inside the midi program then and see if I can configure the output. As sound work for evrything els but the midi player.

[lagerfeldt]

How do you see the current Turbo speed (F3)? This was shown in the upper right corner in TDL.

F3 doesn’t seem to do anything and no change is shown in MyMenu.

The help menu says F3 to change turbo speed, and color changes are noted in both the extended read me pop up and in the color menu (green/orange/red) for turbo changes.

But F3 doesn’t do anything in the new menu; no color changes, no turbo info or change.

The lower part of the menu simply shows the time, a percentage, the version number (09cc), and the game number to the far right.

There seems to be a red “FULL” block shown in the screenshots above, which could be the turbo speed, but while this shows up in the old menu, it doesn't in the new after using the updater script.

[bbond007]

There seems to be a red “FULL” block shown in the screenshots above, which could be the turbo speed, but while this shows up in the old menu, it doesn't in the new after using the updater script.

I believe it was disabled in the INI because (if full speed is not compatible or ideal for a game) the START.BAT now calls SYSCTL to set optimum speed for that game.

I've replied how to re-enable it here --> viewtopic.php?p=82805#p82805

Anyway, if the games startup batch file calls SYSCTL then that will override what the menu is set to.

[lagerfeldt]

Thanks for the replies. Wing Commander seems to need a manual setting of the turbo function to Slow, or it won't play nice.

Let's see if the repo for the pack gets updated with the newest menu + other settings. Could be it takes care of itself in future updates.