Stella v3.5.5 Released

[VT-Vincent]

Stella, an open-source multi-platform Atari 2600 VCS emulator has been updated today. Here's a list of what's new in v3.5.5:

• Due to changes in the debugger, old state files will not work with this release.
  
• Fixed bug in sound restructuring introduced in the last release; in some cases, there could be some sound 'crackling' when starting a ROM after at least one ROM had already been loaded.
  
• Several significant improvements to the debugger I/O tab:
  
  • added controller input widgets for many of the built-in controllers, allowing to control joysticks, paddles, etc from within the debugger.
    
  • added ability to modify the SWCHB/SWBCNT port B registers.
    
  • added ability to view TIA INPTx and VBLANK latch/dump bits.
    

  [*]Reworked 'mcontrol' argument, and added ability to map the mouse axes separately for paddles 0-3 or driving controllers 0-1. In such modes, the left mouse button is tied to the x-axis, and the right button is tied to the y-axis.

  [*]Mouse 'specific-axis' mode is now saved per-ROM, meaning that each ROM can have separate settings. For example, this allows one ROM to use paddles 0 and 1, while another can use paddles 0 and 2, etc.

  [*]The key-combo for switching the mouse between controller modes is now 'Control-0' (Control-1,2,3 have been removed). This switches between all possible modes for the current virtual controllers.

  [*]Fixed bug in 'Fixed Debug Colors' mode; under certain circumstances, playfield graphics could be coloured as being player graphics.

  [*]Fixed bug in PAL color-loss setting in Video Settings; changing the settings wouldn't take effect until the ROM was reloaded.

  [*]Fixed bugs with cheatcode handling; loading a ROM with a cheat disabled would sometimes trash the emulation. More work is required in this area, including the ability to create more advanced types of cheats.

  [*]Updated ROM properties database for all Sega Genesis controller compatible ROMs. Also, the mouse can now emulate a Genesis controller, with the left/right buttons mapped to buttons B and C, respectively.

  [*]Added 'FA2' bankswitch scheme, thanks to code from Chris D. Walton. This scheme will be used in an upcoming 'Star Castle' ROM.

  [*]Updated internal ROM properties database to ROM-Hunter version 7 (thanks go to RomHunter for his tireless research in this area).

  [*]Added several PERL tools to help in automation of analyzing RomHunter ROM set releases.

  [*]Fixed compile issues in Irix when using the default compiler instead of gcc. Thanks go to Rainer M. Canavan for this code.

  [*]Updated included PNG library to latest stable version.

Download this release here: http://stella.source...t/downloads.php