Meka 0.72 released

[Robert]

MEKA is a multi-machine emulator for MS-DOS, MS-Windows and maybe GNU/Linux.

The following machines are supported by MEKA:

Sega Game 1000 (SG-1000)

Sega Computer 3000 (SC-3000)

Sega Super Control Station (SF-7000)

Sega Mark III (+ FM Unit)

Sega Master System (SMS)

Sega Game Gear (GG)

ColecoVision (COLECO)

Othello Multivision (OMV)

 

2005.11.20

Here we are! Everything that has been done since 0.71, now available in a fresh build. The primary target of 0.72 was to let down old paletted video modes and switch to 16/32 bits rendering, which is now done (except a few things such as blitter not all converted yet). Added support for VGM 1.10 (affecting SG-1000/SC-3000/SF-7000 and Colecovision VGM dumps), rewrote theming system, tweaks and more tweaks. And again, I added more stuff for beloved hackers who are digging into SMS history: a full featured tile-viewer, conditionnal breakpoint, VDP line based breakpoint, a register SET command, command history, you name it, etc.

I'd be interested in you guys testing two things:

- How does video perform for you? Many things have been rewritten, generally for the better, but I expect bugs to show up so your tests and reports are welcome.

- Testing of new developer features (if you are one of those crazy Sega 8-bit hacker/developer).

Please report in MEKA forum.

 

Changelog below:

 

MEKA 0.72 WIP 20051120

----------------------

  - (Win32) Updated Allegro library from WIP 4.1.18 to 4.2.0, including

    various fixes/improvements (hopefully not new bugs):

        http://www.talula.demon.co.uk/allegro/onli...en/changes.html

  - Video:

    - Upgraded everything to hi-color video modes and got rid of old,

      8-bit indexed video modes. This is a major change in MEKA core.

      Some of the benefits are:

      - No more snow and/or color flickering on video card drivers

        which disliked palette changes.

      - Better integration with desktop (usually run faster).

      - Getting possible to use various kind of graphics filters.

      - No more hassle with color limitation for the programmer

        (meaning more features implemented for the end-user).

      - Finally possible to show all Game Gear colors at once,

        and to implement LCD screen persistence (not yet done).

      Some of the features above goes hand to hand with the blitter

      system, which will be improved soon. [Omar]

  - Sound:

    - Added support for VGM 1.10 header type. [Omar]

  - GUI:

    - KeyPad Enter key now works on input boxes. [Omar]

    - Added shortcut CTRL-F4: closes current window. [Omar]

    - Added shortcut CTRL-TAB: cycles thru windows taking inputs. [Omar]

    - Reworked theme (skin) system from stratch: [Omar]

      - Changed MEKA.THM file format.

      - Using explicit names for variables.

      - Added more variables, making the skin system a little more

        complicated but also more configurable.

      - Using de-facto standard of specifying colors in #RRGGBB format.

      - Rewrote most code since it was all legacy from old MEKA 0.10.

    - Added link to debugger documentation in HELP menu. [Omar]

>> Get it HERE