Gopher2600 - v0.26.1

[JetSetIlly]

v0.25.0 of Gopher2600. Full change log on the release page: https://github.com/JetSetIlly/Gopher2600/releases/tag/v0.25.0

Main improvement in this version is the implementation of the ARM FPU. This was added to support @MarcoJ's  RPG game, Lords of Biscay.

Secondly, with significant encouragement from @ZackAttack, I've managed to improve the performance for ELF ROMs that use the StrongARM functions. About 30% improvement in some cases.

There's more work to be done in this area and hopefully will translate to performance improvements for ACE ROMs and quite possibly, CDFJ too.

 

I've attached two videos. The first is another video of Zack's Wushu Masters. I've left the FPS window open in this video so you can see there's still room for improvment. More significantly perhaps, the video shows the game's different arenas!

 

 

 

Secondly, another video of Zack's raycaster demo. I've uncapped the framerate to show the performance improvement.

 

 

 

In both cases, the emulator is fighting for CPU time with the video encoder so performance is actually a little better in reality.

 

[JetSetIlly]

https://github.com/JetSetIlly/Gopher2600/releases/tag/v0.26.0

 

Major new feature in this v0.26.0 is support for the new movie cart format. I'll leave it to @rbairos to post demo videos of that when he's ready.

 

One Moviecart related feature that's been added is screen rotation. This can be automatic or manually triggered. For now, only moviecart can set the screen rotation automatically. The video below demonstrates manual rotation of the screen while playing The ATeam ROM.

 

 

 

Of course, this is completely useless unless the ROM has been coded with a vertical screen in mind but that's an interesting thought isn't it? 2600 games written with the intention of being played on a vertical screen. It might suit some styles of games better in fact.

 

I've also added SECAM support. Example screen shot of Activision's Decathalon. (I love how the athlete is wearing a striped TShirt in this version)

 

There are some other small changes but probably not very interesting for now. The release pages lists them all.

[JetSetIlly]

It's been pointed out to me that there's an existing 2600 game that expects a vertical screen. Merlin's walls:

 

http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-merlin-s-walls_14946.html