Ultimate Amiga

Ultimate Amiga Emulation => PSPUAE => RAM Installed Save State (R.I.S.S.) Help / Support => Topic started by: Hungry Horace on September 06, 2006, 02:59:06 PM

Title: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 06, 2006, 02:59:06 PM
ok, so i kept myself up far too late last night experimenting with pspuae.


with the new memory options i've managed to do some interesting things.

i've managed to successfully load the HD versions of a few games entirely from the Ram Disk: , copying the needed files from ADFs.

this uses a "boot disk" i've created, which then runs a small scrpt, asks you for the special "HD disks" which you have to insert, and then (eventually) loads the game.

this does mean that the game can take a damn long time to load, but if once it is loaded you cam save the game as a save-state, and the in-game loading time is next-to-nothing as it's entirely accessed from Ram:

this will clearly work best for those games which access the disk a lot during gameplay, but otherwise dont use much memory.


Since this is a big problem with sensible software games, i can happily report i've managed to successful run this technique with SWOS, Sensi Golf and Mega Lo Mania.... and they are a damn-site more bareable with this technique! (also managed it with NZS but this runs badly anyway)

sadly i've had trouble getting Rainbow Islands to run (it starts but quits out before the menu) and i'll be working on gettng more games to load through this technique.... it's a shame that there is a bug with HD installed swos that makes it crash on starting a career too. (i'm looking it this!)

i just throught i'd share this promising concept with you all... perhaps coupled with more savestates, and the option to save key-settings with them, this *could* replace the need for HD supprt?  maybe not as it's a bit memory inefficient!


-- edit-- found the problem with rainbow islands... it seems the whdload slave only works with 68020  - even on winuae ... still - it works now!

-- more edits -- add Tower Assualt to the list :)  it uses the boot-disk and 4 (!!!) other disks to load, and you might as well go and cook your dinner or something while it does the initial run, but it plays rather nicely and is much better without long in-game loading times
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 07, 2006, 12:01:06 PM
ok, i think i might compile a list of games i've done this with... i may post all the savestates on  my website too in time:

Alien Breed Tower Assualt
Sensible Golf
SWOS (bugged - can be fixed with cycle exact)
Rainbow Islands
New Zealand Story
Lemmings
Mega Lo Mania
Project - X CD32 (3 Floppies)
Turrican 2 CDTV (2 Floppies)
AlienBreed Special Edition CD32 (Now 100% Stable, no crash on loading of SaveState)
Speedball 2 (JST)
Crazy Cars III (2 Floppies)
AlienBreed Tower Assault CD32 (AGA, useless at the moment, 4 Floppies)
AlienBreed 2 The Horror Continues (AGA, useless at the moment, 2 Floppies)

Cybernoid
Cybernoid 2
Magic Pockets
Turrican
Venus The Fly Trap (1 Extended 1.7mb Floppy, so only works if mem set to 4 megs total)
AnotherWorld (2 Floppies)
Dune II (4 Floppies)
Midnight Resistance
It Came From The Desert
Gods
Xenon II
Wings
Supremacy
Lotus 1
Lotus 2
Apidya
Apprentice
Assassin Special Edition
Awesome
James Pond
James Pond 2: Robocod
Revenge of the Mutant Camels
Llamatron
Legend
Flashback
Cj`s Elephant Antics
Defender Of The Crown
DynaBlaster
Escape From The Planet Of The Robot Monsters
Captain Planet
Carvup
Blinky`s Scary School
Blues Brothers
Bubble Bobble
IK+ (No SFX, only Music)
Aquaventura
ChaseHQ
ChaseHQ2
SuperCars 2
Indy Heat
Golden Axe
Harlequin
Jumping Jackson
Marble Madness
Mickey Mouse
New Zealand Story
Nitro
Outrun Europe
Prince Of Persia
Push Over
Quik And Silva
R-Type
Road Blasters
Road Rash
WolfChild
Lamburgini American Challenge CD32 (100% Stable, no crash on SaveState load)
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 07, 2006, 04:55:03 PM
ok, i think i might compile a list of games i've done this with... i may post all the savestates on  my website too in time:

Alien Breed Tower Assualt
Sensible Golf
SWOS (bugged - not the fault of pspuae)
Rainbow Islands
New Zealand Story
Lemmings


Ive started looking at this, but I picked my favorite game, that turned out to have some clever protection, I got around that, and it now loads but still has a problem, I keep you posted
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 07, 2006, 05:48:34 PM
protection on a WHDload install?  never!
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 07, 2006, 06:59:28 PM
protection on a WHDload install?  never!

lol, i told you what i was going to do, wasnt thinking of WHDLOAD, ;). Was thinking of using miggy dos.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 07, 2006, 11:46:39 PM
K, finally got round to making my first 1, I have decided to concentrate on CD32 games.

First being Project-X CD32. Now I have a working format, ill make some more.

Horace, check FTP, ill leave it there for you to test.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 08, 2006, 03:13:08 AM
it occured to me earlier that i may hve missed out on the possiblity of unpacking files from the ADF directly into ram: rather than copying them there and unpacking.... this may save a little bit of memory, although i expect not much, and may take EVEN longer to run on the initial setup.

the trouble is pspuae still has its limits, so not everything will be possible (B.A.S.S for example)  but the majority of game could be much improved.

also, i find its very difficult for pspuae to load big savestates after loding small ones.... it runs out of memory (leak somewhere?) but if you stick to larger savestates, it's fine.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 08, 2006, 03:03:34 PM
it occured to me earlier that i may hve missed out on the possiblity of unpacking files from the ADF directly into ram: rather than copying them there and unpacking.... this may save a little bit of memory, although i expect not much, and may take EVEN longer to run on the initial setup.

the trouble is pspuae still has its limits, so not everything will be possible (B.A.S.S for example)  but the majority of game could be much improved.

also, i find its very difficult for pspuae to load big savestates after loding small ones.... it runs out of memory (leak somewhere?) but if you stick to larger savestates, it's fine.


Take it my PX-CD32 ram installer worked. ;). There are some good games on CD32, and they run fine on PSPUAE as alot dont need the AGA chipset.

You are right, PSPUAE has memory problems, as I found out with the new tiff exploit. It wont go as high as the V1.50 and GTA exploit, but Ric has really improved it,  ;D
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 08, 2006, 03:27:03 PM
i havnt tried it yet because its 7 disks!!!

will be doing a few more myself tonight though

been too busy playing Exploding Fist for now.... thanks a lot Hai  ::)
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 08, 2006, 05:59:52 PM
i havnt tried it yet because its 7 disks!!!

will be doing a few more myself tonight though

been too busy playing Exploding Fist for now.... thanks a lot Hai  ::)

imo, it dont matter how many disks it is, it only has to be used once, ;). I have also discovered something else with the adf emulation, which im looking into.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 09, 2006, 12:54:35 PM
Right, got 2 working so far.
All are downloadable via FTP for Horace, as im still testing them


They are:-

Project - X CD32
Turrican 2 CDTV (Prefer this 1 as it has the intro, not shown on the ADF version)
AlienBreed Special Edition CD32
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 10, 2006, 07:59:44 PM
Added another 2 installers, they work, but are screwed due to needing aga chipset.
Horace, check the last ADF of TACD32, you will find a supprise (clue check its size) ;)
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 11, 2006, 07:05:08 PM
AnotherWorld done
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 12, 2006, 12:55:12 AM
Dune II Done
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 14, 2006, 03:12:40 AM
few more added to the list
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 17, 2006, 01:37:59 AM
added 6 more to list
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 17, 2006, 01:30:46 PM
ditto.

forgot to add them yesterday,
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 19, 2006, 12:19:25 AM
Added another 13
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 19, 2006, 12:35:32 AM
oops. i had a couple i forgot to add. damn you and your 13!! (nah - great work mate)

and i had already done IK+.. lol . just loading the HD version off disk? very efficient!


had some trouble with Desert Strike, a quit-bug on the whdload slave (on winuae testing) and a lack of memory on the psp to load the JST version.... kinda rubbish :(
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 19, 2006, 02:14:30 PM
oops. i had a couple i forgot to add. damn you and your 13!! (nah - great work mate)

and i had already done IK+.. lol . just loading the HD version off disk? very efficient!


had some trouble with Desert Strike, a quit-bug on the whdload slave (on winuae testing) and a lack of memory on the psp to load the JST version.... kinda rubbish :(

I really want Dune, as Savestate, but WHDLoad will not accept DEVS: being assigned to RAM:DEVS/ it just gives cant fine all the time, :(

*:- EDIT, DONE IT, got it working using trusty ol WB1.3, bless it, ;)
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 22, 2006, 10:16:04 PM
Added another 14,  ::)
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on September 23, 2006, 10:32:07 AM
well 13 really..... NZS is now on the list twice.... hehe
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 23, 2006, 01:55:03 PM
well, missed 1 out, so still 14, must have missed NZS, lol
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on September 23, 2006, 05:28:36 PM
Done another 2,

X-Out
Wings Of Fury
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 03, 2006, 07:02:48 PM
Redone another 2,

AlienBreed Special Edition CD32 and Lamburgini American Challenge CD32.

Both are now stable on loading of save state.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 03, 2006, 08:14:22 PM
ah but did you test Breed SE in game?

this was where your old one crashed for me :(
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 03, 2006, 10:44:04 PM
ah but did you test Breed SE in game?

this was where your old one crashed for me :(

Yep, and its fine, but if you mean the walls move and stuff, then thats an issue with the chipset option, it doesnt like it.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 06, 2006, 04:45:37 PM
Horace, upped Lambugini and ABSE CD32 Versions (Also added a txt file, regarding CD32 Controller buttons).

Also done Monkey Island 1 and upped that to.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 07, 2006, 12:02:21 PM
Done another 2, and upped them
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 07, 2006, 12:47:44 PM

Yep, and its fine, but if you mean the walls move and stuff, then thats an issue with the chipset option, it doesnt like it.

no, your old one used to guru on game start.

i have sone done for the disk version anyway, so we'll put both into the pack. :)

am downloading the others now thanks mate


Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 07, 2006, 01:01:14 PM

Yep, and its fine, but if you mean the walls move and stuff, then thats an issue with the chipset option, it doesnt like it.

no, your old one used to guru on game start.

i have sone done for the disk version anyway, so we'll put both into the pack. :)

am downloading the others now thanks mate




Ah, see what you mean, the new 1s will guru if you dont set the options up first.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 07, 2006, 01:22:30 PM

Ah, see what you mean, the new 1s will guru if you dont set the options up first.

oh thats been the case for ages... it was only the AB CD32 one that was wierd. you;d set options, load it, see the menu, start the game... and then it would  guru after the mission screen.

this was back when we were new at this game tho lol
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 07, 2006, 02:45:04 PM

Ah, see what you mean, the new 1s will guru if you dont set the options up first.

oh thats been the case for ages... it was only the AB CD32 one that was wierd. you;d set options, load it, see the menu, start the game... and then it would  guru after the mission screen.

this was back when we were new at this game tho lol

lol, ;), Horace i removed the pack from the server, as I was getting mails saying im comming close to my limit, really need to tidy up the server and remove the sites, that are dead. So you tried the packs i uploaded?
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 07, 2006, 04:53:08 PM
errr not yet.

watching the football :P
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 07, 2006, 09:09:08 PM
errr not yet.

watching the football :P

Turns out mails I were getting to say im running out of space, were masses of log reports dating back from 2004, 77Megs wasted on stats I never ever use, lol.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 08, 2006, 04:16:40 PM


... and thats the contents of my savestates folder!
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 08, 2006, 04:29:49 PM
Wont reply with quote, but those worked then I take it, ;)

Just need named saved states, ;)
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 08, 2006, 05:28:26 PM
havent tried them all, but everyone i have so far has worked ok :)
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 27, 2006, 08:09:16 PM
havent tried them all, but everyone i have so far has worked ok :)

Horace was testing them with new version, and all worked bar Dune and Dune2, :(. As it need the full 6 Megs to run, it says its out of memory.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 27, 2006, 10:00:46 PM
6 megs? delete your backdrop like i have!
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 27, 2006, 10:56:56 PM
6 megs? delete your backdrop like i have!

Ah, didnt think it would work, if the backdrop was removed.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 28, 2006, 01:21:23 AM
6 megs? delete your backdrop like i have!

Ah, didnt think it would work, if the backdrop was removed.

aye, Ric told us that in the chatroom... was the first thing i tested. hehe
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 28, 2006, 09:26:40 AM
6 megs? delete your backdrop like i have!

Ah, didnt think it would work, if the backdrop was removed.

aye, Ric told us that in the chatroom... was the first thing i tested. hehe

Now you said, I do remember something, lol. Another thing to add to the readme
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 28, 2006, 05:30:42 PM
Horace, all states are now in .zip format.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 29, 2006, 11:04:23 PM
are you planning more states FOL? only i've  abig load i'm working on at the mo, and would like to avoid both of us doing them. if needed i can post the list of "to do's"?
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on October 30, 2006, 12:01:23 AM
are you planning more states FOL? only i've  abig load i'm working on at the mo, and would like to avoid both of us doing them. if needed i can post the list of "to do's"?

Sounds good, im not doing any at the moment, been working on the source
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on October 30, 2006, 02:09:09 PM
done:

Battle Chess
Populous 2
Populous 2: Challenge Games
Powermonger
Volfied



... expect more soon ;)
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on November 06, 2006, 01:38:25 PM
i've actually forgotten what new ones i did.

Shadow of the Beast Trilogy and Hammerfist for sure.... i need to speak to you FOL about uploading them for you.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: FOL on November 06, 2006, 04:37:02 PM
i've actually forgotten what new ones i did.

Shadow of the Beast Trilogy and Hammerfist for sure.... i need to speak to you FOL about uploading them for you.

Aye, need to give you access to the 5 Gig server. Forgot all about it.
Title: Re: HD in RAM: removes need for HDF?
Post by: Hungry Horace on November 07, 2006, 02:07:49 PM
all sorted now. Added to front-page and News. The PSP version needs updating though (can i do that?)


i am now taking requests from ram-installed savestates. simply post in here or in the news post about the update.