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Small Supermodel WIP
#247743 - 03/02/11 01:34 AM
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It looks like there's a lot of renewed interest in Model 3 emulation Excellent news for all of us Sega fans!
My contribution for the last two weeks has been rather small. I've been very busy with real life but I did manage to figure out a few small things since the last update. I got a few new games up and running: Daytona 2, Virtua Fighter 3, and LA Machineguns.
Based on my understanding of the Model 3's SCSI controller (a well-documented part), VF3 (and Scud Race, it turns out) is either using it incorrectly, in which case it only works on the real hardware by fortuitous coincidence, or simply abusing it. It appears the programmers may have implemented single-stepping incorrectly and accidentally trigger automatic execution the very first time the SCSI controller is used. This would explain why they include an explicit interrupt (equivalent to a 'halt') command at the end of their SCSI command sequences despite single stepping. My theory is that on the actual hardware, the SCSI controller frequently hits invalid instructions, but the programmers may have never realized it. We may never know for sure but I submit that it is plausible, especially given that the SCSI controller easily recovers from such errors. If I'm correct, these findings should be directly transferable to MAME's 53C810 emulation.
VF3 is still pretty buggy. I think it largely has to do with the rather large (in magnitude) coordinates it passes to the GPU, which may be causing a loss of precision in the Z-buffer, particularly if reciprocal values are used. This is probably fixable in the shaders.
LA Machineguns is a mess right now and it uses the much-hated 2D tile encryption, rendering the HUD as a series of solid black tiles. The game is still playable, however. I have not looked at it in much detail yet, although it is one of my favorite Model 3 games, but it suffers from some unusual graphics problems, namely missing road textures (appearing magenta in the screen shots) and a lack of lighting.
I'm pretty frustrated with LA Machineguns for sending me on a wild goose chase, hence the relative lack of progress this time. The game had me convinced that Model 3's tile generator supports extended layer sizes (128x64, for example, instead of just 64x64). After a few days of banging my head against the desk, I realized it was because I was returning all 1's for an un-emulated register.
Everything works great now. On the plus side, this minor fiasco forced me to sit down and figure out the remaining mysteries of the tile generator once and for all. I now understand how scrolling works and, thanks to Charles MacDonald's fantastic work on System 24, understand that there are only two tile layers, not four as previously thought. It turns out that Model 3's tile generator is not the same as the System 24 IC (also used in Model 1 and 2) but is clearly derived from it.
Next, I plan on rewriting the 2D code and returning to figuring out remaining problems with the 3D graphics. Sadly, my fast "dirty rectangles" implementation will have to be chucked out the window in situations where hardware scrolling is used.
Lastly, I think I've got the spotlight finally working. It has intrigued me for a while and it was nice to finally sit down and work it out. I have to thank our Spanish friend Abelardo for taking the time to record videos of Scud Race for me, which were instrumental in getting this to work properly. This Youtube video also proved to be very helpful. Just goes to show you how one person's completely pointless Youtube clip can be another's most valuable
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Bart
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247746 - 03/02/11 01:53 AM
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Congrats Bart, each new screenshot you post is always a good news
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: MAMu_]
#247755 - 03/02/11 03:23 AM
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Does the rectangular stickers on enemy cars in Daytona USA 2 relates to that most-hated 2D encryption like the one in MAME?
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Jitterdoomer]
#247773 - 03/02/11 07:38 AM
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Not sure, but it could very well be. Also missing are the course icons during course selection and the driving tip text during attract mode. I haven't looked at it in detail. The vast majority of the graphics are there, however.
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Bart
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247778 - 03/02/11 08:49 AM
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Thank you Bart. Your work is appreciated. Keep up the good job my friend.
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247783 - 03/02/11 11:35 AM
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Congrats Bart and yes LA Machine guns is an undiscovered gem..
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247785 - 03/02/11 12:02 PM
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Cable |
retro gamer
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Reged: 08/30/08
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247793 - 03/02/11 02:56 PM
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Great work Bart! The work you are doing is getting me really excited I cant wait to play these games again
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Cable]
#247796 - 03/02/11 03:13 PM
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> Great work Bart! The work you are doing is getting me really excited I cant wait to > play these games again
I love the "Small Supermodel WIP"...
IT's a small step for model, one giant leap for mame kind"
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AnimalBear |
100% MAME Fan Forever!
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: MAMu_]
#247813 - 03/02/11 07:45 PM
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Oh my heart! I can´t wait this. Thank you so much! My Dream is come true!
Lei from Virtua Fighter remembers Tao Pai Pai.
Edited by AnimalBear (03/02/11 07:48 PM)
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247820 - 03/02/11 09:30 PM
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its very amazing how both demul and supermodel are advancing in model 3 personally im waiting for the first virtua striker 2 screens
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arcade FTW
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: karadaniano]
#247831 - 03/02/11 11:40 PM
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I am waiting for the Lost Word and Lost World Special. Good job!
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CptGuapo |
Beat'em-ups Lover
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247832 - 03/03/11 12:33 AM
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Wow! This a really expert's job, huh, Bart? Well done, fella. Hope to see more games playable thanks to all of your dedication...
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"Mythology is what grownups believe, folklore is what they tell children and religion is both."
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: karadaniano]
#247854 - 03/03/11 04:56 AM
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I am personally waiting for Star Wars Trilogy (complete with the classic John Williams music)
But until someone emulates the game, I will have to make do with Star Wars Arcade on the 32x in GENS
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Cable |
retro gamer
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: jonwil]
#247861 - 03/03/11 10:32 AM
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> I am personally waiting for Star Wars Trilogy (complete with the classic John > Williams music) > I was down at our local arcade last night hoping to play star wars trilogy and sega rally 2. I was pissed off when I got there and they had blocked of the main area where these games were and kept all the gambling machine area open!
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247900 - 03/04/11 12:54 AM
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Upgrade to Pro Today !
thats a wip I call.
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Hibo]
#247912 - 03/04/11 05:10 AM
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Well I guess that concludes the Supermodel WIP updates
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Bart
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247928 - 03/04/11 11:27 AM
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Over to ImageShack?
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CiroConsentino |
Frontend freak!
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: VirtuaIceMan]
#247930 - 03/04/11 12:49 PM
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: Bart T.]
#247932 - 03/04/11 01:10 PM
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> Well I guess that concludes the Supermodel WIP updates
Trick...
The best way to post multiple images w/ no bandwidth problems:
Start a new thread in Post Testing and attach them all there. Then copy their URL's over here inside image tags
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AnimalBear |
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: twisty]
#247949 - 03/04/11 08:02 PM
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Re: Small Supermodel WIP
[Re: twisty]
#247984 - 03/05/11 03:55 AM
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Thanks for the tip! So long as you don't mind me using that forum for this purpose, I'll give it a shot for the next update.
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Bart
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