for running from hard disk, gamestate saving, TOS 2.06, Falcon, TT compatibility
Would be good to read instructions
about how to use all this in best way - on following pages. Of course
stays mostly for beginners in this, with Atari ST family.
Notes about usage with SidecarTridge :
It is advertised that has so called GEMDOS drive or GEMdrive hard disk
emulation . This is present in emulators - first in Steem (2005), then
in Hatari . What GEMdrive means ? Actually nothing precisely - GEM
would mean that is for Atari STs, drive something like logical drive,
so partition (C, D ... ) . It was just good idea of Steem authors to be
able to assign some DIR on host computer (PC with Win.) as hard disk
partition of emulated Atari ST , That self means that it can not use
TOS-es GEMDOS or AHDI hard disk filesystem, simply because it is not
for FAT32 or NTSF or BigDOS partition types - and they are used with
Win . It is actually some kind of hook for file, DIR functions in TOS,
which are executed via Trap #1 calls, + sets some system variables for
logical drives. Of course it's code runs under host computer CPU
- and may be much longer than whole TOS length . It is called hard
drive in Steem, There is file/DIR name conversion for converting LFN
names to 8.3 type filenames, as TOS can handle only such ones . And we
are at Hatari now - it has it too , and I can say that filename
conversion is little buggy - allows multiple files with same name in
same DIR at emulated Atari what results in accessing not clicked file
in some cases. It is obvious that SidecarT uses same system, and probably used Hatari sources as base. Is
this so called GEMdrive good for running all Atari SW what works well
with real Ataris and hard disks ? Answer is no. It can run a lot of it,
but it is not real hard disk emulation. Real hard disks work like this
(and stays for most of Flash card adapters for ST) : there are 2 levels
involved: low level is hard disk driver (what is not present in
TOS, except in my iTOS), and it is for low level HW access, so
communicates directly with attached hard disk, adapter . And on
other side communicates with TOS-es FAT16 filesystem . Low level works
strictly with disk by it's sector access, so need to give exact sector
loc on disk (media), count of sectors for transfer (read or write) .
And here I need to add that some so called experts are not aware of it
- they think and write on forums that filesystem handling is in
Satandisk :-) . Filesystem handling is in TOS, it gives and gets sector
addresses, count to driver according to what is needed to access some
file or DIR - and that means first reading partitions bootsector where
are infos about location and sizes of FAT and Root DIR, then it looks
for file or subDIR in Root DIR etc ... (longer story).
While GEMdrive works via external code (so code in emulator or
SidecarT) - when SW gives such commands - Trap #1 filesystem function
calls. So, system is good for what is most used - file/DIR
functions. But is not good for some special cases - like some
disk utility - where are some direct sector accesses for instance.
And some special functions, present in many games - like Xbios
direct disk sector access. That works not of course, as DIR containing
it for emulation or SidecarT is not on specific sectors - as no hard
disk's FAT, ROOT DIR ... And some game hard disk
adaptations use such functions, and worse: direct hard disk access -
that's not present in GEMdrive, of course. So, such games
will work only with real hard disks/Flash card adapters, or in
emulators via real hard disk emulation (what needs hard disk image
file). Plus, some of it works only with specific type of Flash
card adapters. We have now most used ACSI port - SD card
adapters, and they work via ICD ACSI protocol, what became standard -
thanx GOD ! Such adapters are most popular now, and well covered with
driver SW. SidecarT uses pretty different way and is for
cartridge port - what can be very fast, but SidecarT is pretty slow, in
range of old Satandisk. I have nothing against SidecarT - it
has some new features, but should take care about it's limitations. I
just don't recommend it for hard disk gaming - because low speed, lower
compatibility. Don't know prices, but hardly can be cheaper than
ACSI2STM, maybe SD4ST and UltraSatan too. So, buy something of
that for following : ( I have few by me for sale) .
One
of things what people asked over last years was compilation of all
games here, in single download - like archive with all games here.
Indeed makes things faster and easier. And I made diverse compilations,
over 1000 DLs of some, and sadly with very poor feedback. Here to
mention that some people made self some compilations, without any
asking and consulting with me. Like they made good thing. Sure - just
few 'little problems' - not crediting me (who did huge work on it,
thousands of hours, buying diverse equipment for testing it with real
Ataris, newer storage HW, Flash cards, etc. ) .Then making really silly
mistakes: like double DIRs for game - When you open DIR DEJAVU will see
another subDIR DEJAVU instead files :-) There
were 4 compilations available for DL 3 years agp, and all they contain
same games (depending on available space) - but because of TOS version
differences it can not be all in just one, while keeping efficient
space usage (images were of size 1, 1.6 GB, so can use them with
adapters limited to 1 GB, or with 2 GB Flash cards (real capacity is
always less)) . TOS 1.00-1.02 need little different partitioning, so I
took effort and time to make special image for users with those TOS
versions.
New images, which contain over 2670 games (all adapts I did) available,
some games in multiple versions, and to add there are some game compilations
too in all this - which were on floppy(es) - like DISK15, or some other
with 20 games - sure, simpler games. There is new Game Menu,
with GUI, what works in all TOS (regular and iTOS) versions. And even
aka game names included in game list. It means that there is title
Driller and title Space Station Oblivion - both pointing on same DIR,
because it is same game. There are about 40 games with 2 English titles
- mostly US release names differ from UK, Eu releases. That will help
people to easier find desired games. And there are screenshots from games - can look them in Game menu.
There is search function too.
YT demo:
Compilations available for DL: Note: they are hard disk image files (RAW images, so 100% org
content). They contain multiple partitions, like 8 - C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, J . And hard disk driver with low RAM usage, optimized for specific TOS
versions. You don't need to create anything on SD cards. Just to write
whole image to SD card with USB reader, as image, not as simple file
copy. It will of course overwrite what is there, so only write where
nothing is to keep . This mine Win program can serve: drimus.php Work under emulators:
I have bad news: made some tests with later Hatari (Win
v.) and Steem SSE versions. And there are problems - Steem SSE 4.1.2
works not with images above 2 GB size, and this is about 3.5 GB. In
both there is unreliable work, as I see especially from area near to
end of image. I
sent report to Sensei Software about it. And hope
that they will work on problem(s). Today storage is cheap, so something
like 7 GB SD card image file is nothing special. So, this is not
for emulators. Will it be ? Of course depends on emulator programmers,
developers.
1. Special for iTOS - 1400 games + couple latest releases in 1 GB long image, so good for Mega STE internal adapter too. Only
with iTOS is possible to put so many games in 1 GB (more efficient
space usage). It is with special driver too. 8 partitions. Game start
menu for easier usage . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thnASI5rQ54
2. Special for TOS 1.00-1.02 . Those TOS versions are not so good with hard disks, so need special partitioning. 14 partitions, latest are empty. About 1970 DIRs, special autoboot driver . This can be used with later regular TOS versions too. Image size is 3.5 GB.
3. For usual TOS versions, so 1.04 and later. 2750 DIRs - some games are with multiple versions, audio track(s). 14 partitions, 2 latest are empty. Image
size is now 7 GB. So fits on 8 GB Flash cards, which
usually have about 10% less capacity than indicated (what stays for other size cards too). 3.5 GB image I
tested with MiSTer, and works fine. Setup is really easy - just need
to rename image extension to VHD (from IMG), and use MiSTer settings
menu to set it as HDD0 image.
No reason to expect that 7 GB img. will not work with MiSTer. Update: yep, some people tested, and it works well.
Screen draw in GMMJ.PRG updated, for faster work, displaying. Complete intro of 'Raj' game.
Above 4 images are hard disk/Flash card image files, with autoboot driver, so ready
to use with real Ataris equipped with mass storage. And drivers used
are optimized for game playing. For instance Timer-C is not used
in driver at all, because some games take control over it (Space
Harrier for example). Other popular drivers usually use Timer-C for
time-out check. If it changes machine may stuck instead loading files
from disk. In all 4 cases partitions are DOS FAT16 compatible, so you can access them with modern OS, computers. Doing file transfers.
YT
videos of new v. of Game Menu, with info about color, B&W
(monochrome) support, controls, game category. And now support for show
screenshots in low, med and high res. :
In monochrome (B&W) mode:
For details, how to get link, please write e-mail (link at bottom of this
page). It must contain details about your config(s). Like Atari model, RAM size, TOS version, what hard disk/Flash card adapter using. Sorry, but with Atari ST family it is much more complicated than with 8-bitters. Now (2026) it is better with current Atari ST emulators.
Note for those who want to put game adaptations from here on their
sites, or doing some other way of distribution. Instead it, use link to
this site.
Ask for permission and explanations about how to use this - result of
my hard work over many years. I saw really shameless things - like not
crediting author of all it at all. This is not so simple as with 8-bit
computer games - like just run it's file. This games were on floppies,
not on tapes. Much more ways for loading, running them. Then TOS
versions, how to set computer, hard disk driver, copy protections in
hundreds of ways ... Now
is trendy to make so called 'frontends' , with which can launch
specific game with simple click on it's title. Actually nothing new,
Gamebase (ST) did it long time ago. But with floppy images. Talking
about emulators on PC, Windows . As is stated above, it can not
work just like that with lot of Atari ST games. For instance there are
multiple launchers for same game in many cases. Not to mention that
user should read README.TXT before starting to play. Whole hard
disk type approach is little different. Hardest part (especially in
case of like over 1700 games) is to open game's DIR. But really not so hard,
maybe for those not familiar with GEM (what differs really not much
from Windows file explorer).
Oct. 2024 Times
are not good - we have multiple wars on this planet, and some powerful
structures instead working on stop them work on expand them. There will
be always differences between people, nations, countries, religions ...
They can be handled, solved in civilized way, without violence,
destruction, killing innocent people. Why I coming here with this
? Well, I see uncivilized things in this, so called 'Atari ST
community' - instead doing some decent talk, discussion, listening to
others arguments, some big heads (in their opinion) will rather declare
those who are on different opinion(s), way - as kind of associal ones,
insulting ones - this is most used one - talking openly is insult -
just because someone pointed on their mistakes, in polite, decent way.
No, they do not make mistakes, they are people on position !
Yeah, that's one of the most bad things in today's humankind.
Lack of self critic, lack of opened talk. Instead it we have big words
with low content, level of reality. And corruption. Clicques.
Yes, that matters for them, not what someone out of their clique
says. So, there were different writes on Atari ST forums,
sites of cliques about my SW, game adaptations . Started by idiot
marcer, who wrote that my game adaptations (probably used term
'patches') destroyed hard disk content on his PC :-) Well,
that's pathetic and just not possible if that PC is in good condition.
Emulators of old computers don't have low level access to hard disk on host
computer (PC, MAC ...) Worst thing what can happen is damaging of
folder content where game files are. Of course, smartheads at forums
have no clue about such things (or won't to have) . After it I saw even
worse nonsense at so great Dbug site (what changed couple times since
that), but bullshit is still on. Now I will talk openly: they are
just one of biggest self praising, thinking that they are best
idiots what I ever saw. For instance, they have no clue
about real ratio of Atari ST games using TOS functions and those not
using them (so using own code for floppy access). Is it because of
that they do not have any support for TOS function calling games (in
ULS or something else , but no something else by buggers - Klapauzius
made some with it (pretty different than my solutions, and game count is about 10-15), but he is not Dbug). All it did not prevent CJ to
write couple times that I stole ULS code (byte by byte :-) ) . Well,
sure, I stoled code what actually does not exist :-) .
Fresh example of cracking crew's "we are best, f* the rest" attitude:
Replicants released in 2022 fixed v. of Son Shu Shi. According to
some writes, it was in cowork with game authors, so using original
source files, most likely. They mention some bugs in original - well,
that may be the reason why game is so rare, and that no good image
appeared in over 10 years. And in usual longer blah after starting game
I was mentioned too - like I never will make so good hard disk version
as them . Of course, because they are best in everything ! Does not
matter my experience over 15 years active in this, count of games
adapted over 2200 ... Really immature, childish behaviour. Grow up
idiots ! We could have good cooperation, but no, they want
to be only ones who did good version of some game. And of course will
not share sources, images of original. This stays for many of crews in
Atari ST retro world. Selfishness, simply said. Not helping
preservation. And I could continue ... For end just something stoopid
too: writing about errors, not so good quality of such crew work
to them is not considered, and no fixing is performed - no, those who do it are
trolls. Sure idiots - enjoy further stupid approach of stupid fanboy
people. What happened so far with all this confirms that my approach,
attitude is right one.
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