(No the emulator has not been altered since January, just this page)
This is a rewritten front end for Purple Monchichi's RISC OS Gameboy emulator, which runs in a window under the desktop. Other useful additions include the ability to cheat using Game Genie codes, much enhanced saving and loading facilities, and an easy way to reconfigure the keys and colours. I've tested it on a StrongARM RISC PC and an old ARM3 A3000. The RISC PC copes fine with scaling up to 300% (you have to press escape at this magnification to regain control of the machine though), whereas the A3000 struggles somewhat at any size. In theory it could run at a similar speed to the old non-multitasking version due to more efficient key handling code, but I've not been able to test it on any 'in-between' machines.
The documentation is terrible, for which I apologise, but briefly: Gameboy games can be run by double-clicking on them or dragging them to the GBoyEm icon (make sure they're set to filetype &0d7). Pressing menu in the display window gives you various options including a sound toggle and a reset option. If you save a position with the 'include game' option, then running that position file (filetype &0d8) afterwards will automatically load the game with it. Otherwise, if the correct game is not loaded at the time you will get a message telling you what game the position is for. The cheat codes window lets you enter Game Genie codes for the game, which can be saved out with a position file if desired. A list of Gameboy codes can be found on one of the sites mentioned below. The save and load keys in the config window are used to quickly save and load position files without needing to use a menu or the filer. They use the filename in the save window, so once you've saved or loaded a position normally you can use these keys to speed things up.
The frame rate is controlled by using IOC Timer1, which may interfere with Acorn's Timecode module, but I do not have access to this, so I have not been able to test it.
When you change a key in the choices window, the keypress is not absorbed by the application. For example, if you have a Zap window open with the caret and change a key to A, an A will appear in the Zap window. Due to the method used to detect the keys, I'm not sure how to reliably prevent this. So long as you are aware of this 'feature', it should not cause too many problems though.
I've noticed that when the Gameboy window is paused and left open, it stops keypresses such as F12 working. Just close the window to cure this.
Took a long while to update this, but basically the new Gameboy emulator has been put on hold while I finish off a more interesting emulator :) I'll finish the Gameboy "sometime", unless someone else beats me to it? I reckon there's enough information out there to produce a completely accurate emulation, including two player support...
This program can be freely distributed as long as both authors' names are left in place. The program comes with no guarantee, implied or stated, and no responsibility can be accepted by the authors for any kind of loss.
Communications regarding this application should be sent to gameboy@plasma.demon.co.uk. Purple Monchichi's email address is unknown.
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27 February 1998 |