SpaceQuestEnhanced_v1.3_MT32_2222.lha does not start (missing xpkmaster.library v4)

[giantclambake]

SpaceQuestEnhanced_v1.3_MT32_2222.lha does not start (missing xpkmaster.library v4)

[midwan]

I am not sure about this, but I think someone mentioned something similar in the past. But I can't remember what the proposed solution (if any) was, either.

@HoraceAndTheSpider do you remember something about this?

[giantclambake]

Correct ~ I recall discussion about this as well in the past, but cannot recall exactly where that thread is.

[midwan]

We have 3 separate issues, related to XPK:

• #250
• #358
• #455

@HoraceAndTheSpider has added the XPK libraries in the booter zip file, but as I recall, they are only used/activated if the slave_libraries option is enabled.

I can't check right now, but is that enabled, for this title? If not, it should get an update in the XML (something you could test by modifying the XML entry for this specific title manually).

[giantclambake]

//...dissection..... I sort of remember some of this....

I believe the problem is disclosed at the CLI...

On the Amiga side, Libs: is assigned to DH0: ...however, the libraries it's searching for are in DH3:Libs/

When the emulation stops at this point, on the host side, you can edit /tmp/amiberry/s/startup-sequence thusly, to add the 'missing' Libs: assignment...

FAILAT 999
IF NOT EXISTS WHDLoad
DH3:C/Assign C: DH3:C/ ADD
DH3:C/Assign Libs: DH3:Libs
ENDIF
CD "Games:SpaceQuestEnhancedMT32"
WHDLoad SLAVE="Games:SpaceQuestEnhancedMT32/SpaceQuestEnhancedMT32.slave" PRELOA
D NOREQ NOWRITECACHE SAVEPATH=Saves:Savegames/ SAVEDIR="SpaceQuestEnhancedMT32"
DATA="data"

...after saving the edit, F12 -> Reset ...emulation restarts, and slowly chokes to death before throwing a guru ~ it's as though it found the required library, and then something went horribly wrong during decompression.

Yeah, I was wondering about the Slave Libraries checkbox ...did try, had no effect.

[midwan]

Try changing the entry in the XML, I think the GUI there is currently read-only for that checkbox

[giantclambake]

Edited the XML entry to <slave_libraries>True</slave_libraries> //was set to False

./amiberry SpaceQuestEnhanced_v1.3_MT32_2222.lha ...same error, cannot find xpk libraries.

[midwan]

OK, thanks. I'll take a look when I get a chance then, unless @HoraceAndTheSpider has any ideas before that.

[giantclambake]

@midwan --- not your problem, I accidentally edited the wrong snippet ... ;-/

I had a read thru #455 and tested 'Ivan ''Ironman'' Stewart's Super Off Road (NTSC)' ... it crashed and burned to a guru, in likewise fashion as the title mentioned here. I rechecked the XML and realized my error..

• when <slave_libraries>True</slave_libraries> is set, the SuS contains the added libs: assign ;

FAILAT 999
DH3:C/Assign LIBS: DH3:LIBS/ ADD
IF NOT EXISTS WHDLoad
DH3:C/Assign C: DH3:C/ ADD
ENDIF
CD "Games:SuperOffRoadNTSC"
WHDLoad SLAVE="Games:SuperOffRoadNTSC/SuperOffRoadNTSC.Slave" PRELOAD NOREQ NOWRITECACHE SAVEPATH=Saves:Savegames/ SAVEDIR="SuperOffRoadNTSC"

-- when dumbdumbs here retested with the correct edit in the XML, SpaceQuestEnhanced_v1.3_MT32_2222.lha was handled in the same way when <slave_libraries>True</slave_libraries> is set.

So the issue, is the emulation is gagging on XPK library handling ; both XML snippets are using 68000 profile...

-edit the XML snippets for these titles, to include CPU=68020 and retest --> both titles now start and run...albeit a bit brisk through menus and such, game music sounds fine...

Ergo... either the xpkmaster.library used is 68020 only, or, it's supposed to be 68000 compatible, then the CPU emulation is failing at some point?

HTH, and mia culpa for the error ;)

[giantclambake]

Found it... my speculation above was correct.

wget ftp://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/util/pack/xpk_User.lha

In /whdboot/boot-data/Libs we have;

-rwx------ 1 gcb gcb 16496 Jan 3 2016 xpkmaster.library //this is the 68020+ version

In xpk_User/Libs_1.3/ we have;

-rwxr----- 1 gcb gcb 10860 Dec 9 2000 xpkmaster.library //this is the 68k version

I did a snoopdos to find out which compressor it's after --> xpkSQSH.library

The version in /whdboot/boot-data/Libs/compressors/ is the 68020 version.

So...the <slave_libraries>True</slave_libraries> has to be set for these titles, and the xpk*.libraries contained in /whdboot/boot-data/Libs have to be changed to their 68000 versions.

I have yet to find any whdload.lha file that requires 68020 versions of these libraries -- this doesn't mean they don't exist ;)

HTH

[giantclambake]

Of course they exist ~ DungeonMaster_v1.2_0833.lha ...

Initially, it had <slave_libraries>False</slave_libraries> set in the XML ~ after changing that and retesting, title decided to start and runs....poorly. This means it was happy with the 68020 XPK libs ; the reason for that, is the XML snippet for this title has CHIPSET=AGA ...(which I think infers CPU=68020 ?)

According to HOL, this is/was an OCS/ECS title -> https://amiga.abime.net/games/view/dungeon-master

Unfortunately speaking, changing to the 68000 version of the XPK libraries, and changing the XML (removing AGA setting so 68k is used), results in the same crash as when not using CPU=68020 with those XPK libs...

It's starting to look like a rock and a tight place... changing the XML for these titles to CPU=68020 might be the only resolve...

[midwan]

I think it would be best to set them to use an 020 or perhaps a full A1200 config, unless there are issues with that. I expect most of them would work fine like that.

[midwan]

@HoraceAndTheSpider ping, this seems like an XML issue

[giantclambake]

Now that I have a handle on it, I'll retest just using CPU=68020 for these titles (instead of CHIPSET=AGA)...

I did a control of installing xpk_User into a A600/ks-2.1 hdd install, and the 68k version of xpkmaster.library flies off the rails there as well, so that's a rock...

[giantclambake]

Right...wrt preview/x86-64..

Both snippets for SpaceQuestEnhanced_v1.3_MT32_2222.lha and SuperOffRoad_v1.3a_NTSC.lha require;

<slave_libraries>True</slave_libraries>

<hardware>
CPU=68020  

CHIPSET=AGA also works in both these cases, so I'll leave that choice with you ;)

The Dungeon Master v3.6 title is being a pita for some reason, I'll need recheck with it's most recent slave...

Edit: After checking DungeonMaster_v2.0_0833.lha, I found that jotd had fixed all the previous issues, and there is no longer any reliance on the XPK libraries as there was with earlier versions....so that's a wrap...

...just the XML snippets for the above 2 titles need adjustment.

[midwan]

XML snippet changes should be reported in Horace's repo, so assuming that is done, we'll close this issue here.

[giantclambake]

Done ~ I've pinged @HoraceAndTheSpider .... in his hands now ;)