Stella 2.3.5 released

[Robert]

Atari 2600 emulator

 

Stella release 2.3.5 for Linux, Mac OSX, Windows and GP2X is now available. Ports to other operating systems will be released as they become available. A partial list of features is:

* Greatly improved cartridge bankswitch type auto-detection. Stella can now (mostly) autodetect cartridge types 'E0', 'E7', '3E', '3F' and Superchip carts. Obviously, this autodetection is not infallible, but relies on patterns in the ROM data, and how it was compiled. Because of the auto-detection types already supported, almost all bankswitch info was removed from internal ROM properties. Set the ROM property "Cartridge.Type" to "Auto-detect" for this to take effect.

* Added auto-detection of display type (NTSC or PAL). Currently, PAL60 ROMs will be detected as NTSC. This is almost 100% accurate, and fails in very few cases (for those that are mislabeled, the ROM properties can be set specifically). Set the ROM property "Display.Format" to "Auto-detect" for this to take effect.

Improved emulation timing when exiting one ROM and starting another. Previously, this could result in the second ROM having its sound start later than it should have.

* Removed pause functionality from the core, since it's been superceded by the other event states. You can now enter one of the menus for a similar effect (options, command, debugger, etc).

* Added toggle for PAL color-loss emulation, which defaults to off. Previous versions of Stella always used color-loss emulation. Related to this, added 'colorloss' commandline argument.

* Added rudimentary support for configuring the UI palette ('uipalette' commandline argument) and ability to change the size of the launcher window ('launchersize' commandline argument). This will be expanded on in future releases.

* Reworked options menu so it's now accessible from the ROM launcher as well as while playing a ROM.

* Re-added ability to change the width and height of a Console. Related to this, changing XStart/YStart/Width/Height dynamically no longer resets the ROM.

* Removed 'tiadefaults' commandline argument, since Stella will now default to using accurate positioning, and not use 'tweaks'.

* Joystick code now allows all 4 directions; 'Bumper Bash' now works correctly.

* Improved Keypad emulation; 'Alpha Beam with Ernie', 'Oscars Trash Race' and 'Magicard' now work correctly.

* Reworked GUI code, so that all dialog boxes are automatically centered.

* Added 'rominfo' commandline argument, which prints some detailed info for a ROM.

* For the OSX port; fixed crashes in OpenGL mode.

* For the GP2X port; some improvements to the sound code.

* For the GP2X port; added vertical centering of the TIA image (when possible).

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