MiSTer FPGA Forum

Some time ago I started a fork of Main_MiSTer, focusing on TapTo x86 support support and Loading Screen functionality. Well, for me it has reached the point where I have finished all the development I was originally interested in doing, initially as a personal project and now available to the community.

As I comment in the README of the fork, as of today, they have not been approved for the original repository, which is, of course, understandable and respectable. More info and binaries:

https://github.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTer
https://github.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTe ... s/releases

The last feature I have added is related to loading screen in x86 games now is possible thanks to TapTo and MGL:

I have made a last effort to document all the new features, so that I am done (except for a few tweaks or functionality) and can start preparing my personal TapTo card collection and enjoy it in my living room setup.

If you want to integrate this fork with the downloader script, just update the following entry with the db.json.zip from my repository:

[distribution_mister]
db_url = https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTer/new-features/db.json.zip

**Update:

[distribution_mister]
https://www.aitorgomez.net/static/mistermain/db.json.zip

spark2k06 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:44 pm

If you want to integrate this fork with the downloader script, just update the following entry with the db.json.zip from my repository:

[distribution_mister]db_url = https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spark ... b.json.zip

Which file, exactly? One of the .PY files in the Scripts\.config\downloader_latest.zip ?

virtuali wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:31 pm

spark2k06 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:44 pm

If you want to integrate this fork with the downloader script, just update the following entry with the db.json.zip from my repository:

[distribution_mister]db_url = https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spark ... b.json.zip

Which file, exactly? One of the .PY files in the Scripts\.config\downloader_latest.zip ?

downloader.ini located in /media/fat

I haven't released any new binaries yet although I have code commits, but I am doing some testing to have the following features available:

x86_launcher tag in MGL

Similar to x86_tapto, in fact, it will replace it, but with the addition of the appid attribute, where the app/game identifier to be used by the launcher.exe tool is specified. It replaces TapTo in terms of passing this from ID to CMOS memory, however, TapTo will still work to launch the MGL file:

Example:

<mistergamedescription>
    <rbf>_Computer/PCXT</rbf>
    <fade_in delay="0" mute="1" path="/media/fat/games/PCXT/MGL/covers/AlleyCat.png"/>
    <file delay="1" type="s" index="2" path="/media/fat/games/PCXT/HDD/PCXT_CGA_Tandy_2.3.1.vhd"/>
    <reset delay="1" cfg="/media/fat/games/PCXT/MGL/config/AlleyCat.cfg"/>
    <x86_launcher delay="1" appid="ALLEYCAT"/>
    <fade_out delay="23" mute="0"/>
</mistergamedescription>

More info:
https://github.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTe ... w-mgl-tags

On the other hand, and this is something I am also suggesting for the original repository:
viewtopic.php?p=84590#p84590

Commits:
https://github.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTe ... -features/
(I have been testing. I will unify and clean up commits)

I have updated the fork with the following improvements:

The latest binary is currently MiSTer_20240328, and it also carries the latest changes from the original repository not yet released in a stable public version, so until there is a new official version, use this one with caution.

• New attribute for setname tag -> cfgcore_subfolder="1" (MGL)

• New entry for MiSTer.ini -> cfgcore_subfolder="MiSTer"

• New entry for MiSTer.ini -> cfgarcade_subfolder="Arcade"

• Now the attribute is cover instead of path.

The subdirectories of the covers now have a more intuitive structure, based on the names of the cores:

MGL example for PC/XT:

<mistergamedescription>
    <rbf>_Computer/PCXT</rbf>
    <setname same_dir="1" cfgcore_subfolder="1">AlleyCat</setname>
    <fade_in delay="0" mute="1" cover="AlleyCat.png"/>
    <file delay="1" type="s" index="2" path="/media/fat/games/PCXT/HDD/PCXT_CGA_Tandy_2.3.1.vhd"/>
    <reset delay="1"/>
    <x86_launcher delay="1" appid="ALLEYCAT"/>
    <fade_out delay="23" mute="0"/>
</mistergamedescription>

MGL example for ao486:

<mistergamedescription>
    <rbf>_Computer/ao486</rbf>
    <setname same_dir="1" cfgcore_subfolder="1">Wolf3D</setname>
    <fade_in delay="0" mute="1" cover="Wolf3D.png"/>
    <file delay="1" type="s" index="3" path="/media/fat/games/ao486/UnRETROPC.vhd"/>
    <reset delay="1"/>
    <x86_launcher delay="1" appid="WOLF3D"/>
    <fade_out delay="7" mute="0"/>
</mistergamedescription>

New MiSTer.ini entries

cfgcore_subfolder will allow us to set a subfolder within the config path to hold all the default MiSTer configuration. If not specified, config will be used directly as before. Before using it, it is a good idea to create it manually and move all config content to take it from there. If the folder does not exist, it will be created automatically.

cfgarcade_subfolder will allow us to separate the arcade game configuration into a separate subfolder from the default cfgcore_subfolder or default config path when cfgcore_subfolder has not been defined. If cfgarcade_subfolder is not defined, the configuration of arcade games will be mixed in the same config directory.

[MiSTer]
loading_txt_up=1                ; Set to 1 to position the text on the top of the loading screen. Default is 0(bottom).
waiting_txt_up=1                ; Set to 1 to position the text on the top of the standby screen. Default is 0(bottom).
cfgcore_subfolder="MiSTer"      ; Uncomment to set the subfolder in config where the cores configuration will be by default.
cfgarcade_subfolder="Arcade"    ; Uncomment to set the subfolder in config where the arcade cores configuration will be by default. 

I have released a new version of the fork. I'm renaming the thread to something more in line with what it's really about (aitorgomez fork). These are the changes:

• Loading screen with System logo

• Scale all PNGs related to covers, standby and loading screen, so that they can be used at any resolution configured in MiSTer.ini.

• Samples of customised logos for covers (available in the cover folder or repository)

Now the main branch of the fork will be master, instead of new-features. Therefore, to continue using the downloader script, the new entry to set will be the following:

[distribution_mister]
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTer/master/db.json.zip

**Update:

[distribution_mister]
https://www.aitorgomez.net/static/mistermain/db.json.zip

The latest available binary is located in the releases folder:

https://github.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTe ... r/releases

And as always, a video is worth a thousand words:

If you have any questions, please let me know, but you can always have a look at the updated documentation:

https://github.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTe ... /README.md

spark2k06 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2024 2:45 pm

Code: Select all

[distribution_mister]
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTer/master/db.json.zip

In principle I have modified everything I was interested in for my personal fork of Main MiSTer project, so I have started the automatic synchronisation process with the latest official MiSTer Main changes. First of all, for those interested in having it in the update all script, I would have to make, this time yes, the following definitive change for the following database stored on my server:

[distribution_mister]
https://www.aitorgomez.net/static/mistermain/db.json.zip

This database will be permanently updated with the original one, so we won't miss any other cores update... but in addition, it will carry the latest Main MiSTer from my fork.

The next task will be to have the Main MiSTer itself perfectly synchronised with the latest stable version of the MiSTer Main. I'm still working on this goal, so in the meantime, I'll make sure it's up to date... especially if it gets updated before I get it all set up, but I'll let you know as soon as that's the case.

Also, I will contact the author of the update all script, to see if we can facilitate the use of this fork from the script configuration screen as an alternative distribution for those who are interested, as it is already possible with the DB9 fork. I will let you know if there is any news on this.

Commits squashed to only 4 (excluding documentation and binaries) for better maintenance and future merging with the original repository

https://github.com/spark2k06/Main_MiSTe ... ts/master/

I have released a small update related to the logo loading systems, now they would be indicated in the "fade in" tag, instead of in setname, you can see more information in the README of the repository.

I've also taken the opportunity to add a couple of logos to represent games that use Adlib or MT32.

I'm slowly building up my list of favourite DOS games, and we can see the possibilities in this image I'm sharing, as well as how they look with the logos:

Sorgelig wrote: ↑Sun May 05, 2024 9:34 am

Main

• N64: Update support code, cheats (Rikard Bengtsson).
• Saturn: update CD support (Sergiy Dvodnenko).
• Add DEBUG option to INI. By default logging is disabled now to fix some slowdowns.
• PSX: fixes and tweaks in CD code (Zakk, Alyssa Dierking).
• Add INI option for custom binary.
• MGL/MRA: add same_dir attribute for setname.

BTW, the binary of my fork does not need to be updated, because this time I was already carrying over the last updates.

I tried to install this but i got a black screen. The install instructions are a bit weak and you have to hunt for files all over the place, could a complete working drop in archive be made?

spotUP wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:36 am

I tried to install this but i got a black screen. The install instructions are a bit weak and you have to hunt for files all over the place, could a complete working drop in archive be made?

I don't know how my distro is being used, apart from yours, I haven't received any more feeback, so I'm using it mainly for my own use and it's not giving me any problems. By the way, I just updated it with the changes that sorgelig set in MiSTer_20240912 but that didn't specify in his changelog post either.

i wrote to you on discord, let's talk there!

spotUP wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 11:34 pm

i wrote to you on discord, let's talk there!

I don't like to use discord because it takes up too much of my time. If you don't mind, let's try to solve your problem in this thread, and that way it will be available to everyone, both the investigation and the solution...even if it takes some time.

First of all, if you don't mind, could you provide your current mister.ini configuration?