MiSTer FPGA Forum

Edit: Now that the 7800 core is released, the discussion in the later pages are referring to the new 7800 core that supports the 2600.

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Hello, I don't see a thread for the Atari 2600, so I thought I would start one. I don't know if anyone is currently working on this or not, but I have the following questions/comments:

SNAC:
- I see that there is a SNAC board available for the Atari 2600. I don't see an option to enable it in the core. Is it there and I am just not seeing it?
- Assuming it supports SNAC, why is there a switch on the Atari 2600 SNAC board for paddles? Shouldn't it just work with direct wiring like the real 2600?
- Assuming it supports SNAC, what controllers will work with it? Joystick and paddles for sure, but what about the keypad for Star Raiders and the driving controller?

Sound:
This is not a complaint, but rather just sharing information. The sound is not emulated that well. The pitch of the music in Pitfall II is way too low. Many other games just sound wrong. I can provide examples if it helps anyone who can attempt to fix it. I would love to see a perfect Atari 2600 implementation on the Mister. I wish I could help.

Thanks!

I'd like to add perhaps a fix to the display when using direct video. When using it to my CRT the picture is clear however it is not centered. It is on the bottom of the screen with a quarter of it cut off.

I see no option in this core to adjust the screen.

Anyone tried getting Dig Dug to work ? All images I could find hang after loading the game with a corrupted screen...

@custardo,
I've just checked Did Dug and it works w/o any issue with the below setting.

SuperChip : Enable
Colors : PAL

I created an A2600 MiSTER compatibility sheet. It might be useful to someone.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... jr--I/edit

Thanks for sharing your list @MML32, it is for sure very useful. Maybe I'm wrong but I cannot see the core revision used for the test, would it be possible to add it in a column like you did for the COCO3 just to be sure we're comparing apples and apples in case of discrepancies in the results ?

kathleen wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:08 am Thanks for sharing your list @MML32, it is for sure very useful. Maybe I'm wrong but I cannot see the core revision used for the test, would it be possible to add it in a column like you did for the COCO3 just to be sure we're comparing apples and apples in case of discrepancies in the results ?

I added the core date column. I also realized I'm running a slightly newer core compiled from May 16, 2020 (a78e596) that isn't in the release folder.
Commit a78e596 - change to original NTSC clock speed

NML32 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:57 am
I added the core date column. I also realized I'm running a slightly newer core compiled from May 16, 2020 (a78e596) that isn't in the release folder.
Commit a78e596 - change to original NTSC clock speed

Atari2600_a78e596_20200516.zip

Thank you so much !

Everyone should have modify access to the sheet. So, feel free to make changes or add to the sheet.

@NML32
I've just modify the line of the game 32 in 1. I propose to strikethrough the old comment (for a tracking point of view) and write the name of the reviser with the date when the revised has been done than the new comment,
Could you please have a look and let me know if this makes sense to work like this. ?

@Kathleen
That's a good idea. Looks good to me.
Thank you

MiST Atari 26oo core just got some update/fixes by gyurco. TIA: assuming no collisions can happen in blanks (Caverns)
https://github.com/gyurco/TCA2601

MiST forum reported fixes:
- TIA fixes: Playfield mirroring, playfield score flag, (no) collisions in blanks.
- Canyon Bomber, Tutankham, Caverns games are fixed

Hopefully, this can be ported to the MiSTer Atari 2600 core.

MiSTer core just received an update.

Chris23235 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 1:21 pm MiSTer core just received an update.

I saw that.
I can't wait to try out the updated core when I get home.

with this new update, it finally looks like Yar's Revenge works correctly on RGB with the screen centered. Nice work

Haunted House was fixed with this release

But Pitfall 2 broke, screen looks corrupted.

kathleen wrote: ↑Tue Aug 11, 2020 4:49 pm @custardo,
I've just checked Did Dug and it works w/o any issue with the below setting.

SuperChip : Enable
Colors : PAL

Thanks for that, I read up on the mapper detection, and the superchip is one that isn't detected automatically, but apparently it can be switched on by modifying the file extension.

BassKnight wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 3:44 am Haunted House was fixed with this release

But Pitfall 2 broke, screen looks corrupted.

Github issue opened for Pitfall II
https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Atari26 ... /issues/16

Unfortunately Asteroids not working. Hopefully next time

eewoke wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 10:13 pm Unfortunately Asteroids not working. Hopefully next time

I'm able to start and play Asteroids. The screen bounces and flickers.
Is that you are seeing?

thanks for making that google doc!

the 2600 definitely has a unique charm and games like demon attack, river raid, and blinky goes up are surprisingly fun.


i seem to find fun new games everytime i boot up the mister!

@PikWik I'm glad you found it useful.
I agree, some of the newer homebrews are really fun to play.

NML32 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:11 pm

eewoke wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 10:13 pm Unfortunately Asteroids not working. Hopefully next time

I'm able to start and play Asteroids. The screen bounces and flickers.
Is that you are seeing?

Exactly! With vsync_adjust=0. When 1 or 2 I get a black screen, not with other games though.

There's a good bit of bouncing in Atlantis as well.

So Atari2600_20200511.rbf is the most recent properly working Atari 2600 core?

mario64 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:23 pm So Atari2600_20200511.rbf is the most recent properly working Atari 2600 core?

No, https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Atari26 ... 200818.rbf is the latest.

I have an unofficial core that supports SNAC and works with my Atari Paddles. I put in a request in the issues for adding SNAC into the official core. In my unofficial core, Warlords is messed up, but it is fixed in the latest core (and possibly earlier). I am hoping this can happen.

Also, when I try to play Pitfall II, it totally just crashes everything with my CRT monitor out of sync. I am using direct_video. I haven't had time to try different settings, but hopefully I just need to adjust something to get it to work.

ET sound when you push the button to raise his head the sound is wrong.

thorr wrote: ↑Mon Aug 24, 2020 10:29 pm I have an unofficial core that supports SNAC and works with my Atari Paddles. I put in a request in the issues for adding SNAC into the official core. In my unofficial core, Warlords is messed up, but it is fixed in the latest core (and possibly earlier). I am hoping this can happen.

Also, when I try to play Pitfall II, it totally just crashes everything with my CRT monitor out of sync. I am using direct_video. I haven't had time to try different settings, but hopefully I just need to adjust something to get it to work.

I just tried Pitfall II on my PVM, TV with Composite and Component input. No issues.
Try these settings in your MiSTer.ini. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... =242699346

Also the name of the rom needs an extension of P2 for it to use the right mapper
as per the git info https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Atari26 ... ix-mappers