Page 3 of 6

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:28 am
by AnnaWu
To load/save BASIC files (*.bas) is working.
Example: SPARK HOUSE BY HAWK

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 6:14 am
by zeroone
AnnaWu wrote:Sorry, it doesn't work for me, tested with the Family BASIC V3.
Maybe my old Notebook (Windows XP SP3 32-bit) is too slow for this program (Java 8).

No problems to load/save tape files with Nestopia, VirtuaNES, nester, kindred, vdmgr and eFamilyBASIC.

Can you upload a saved/working *.tape file to check I am able to load it or not?
I started putting together an FAQ. Below are some entries related to the Data Recorder. Please let me know if they help you get it going. Thanks.


How do I save a BASIC program to the Data Recorder?

The SAVE command writes a BASIC program to a cassette tape. To save to a file called, "TEST", type in the following, but do not hit Return.

SAVE"TEST"

Start the Data Recorder by selecting Machine | Family BASIC | Record Tape and now hit Return.

It will output:

WRITING TEST

And, when that process is completed, it will display:

OK

Next, select Machine | Family BASIC | Stop Tape.

Finally, select Machine | Family BASIC | Save Tape... to store the tape data to an actual file.

Record Tape actually simulates rewinding the tape back to the beginning before recording. Consequentially, only one file can be stored on the virtual cassette tape. Also, Family BASIC limits file names to 16 characters.


How do I load a BASIC program from the Data Recorder?

If the tape data is in an actual file, select Machine | Family BASIC | Load Tape... to retrieve it.

Next, enter the following command and press Return:

LOAD

Select Machine | Family BASIC | Play Tape. A loading message will appear followed by OK.

Finally, stop the Data Recorder via Machine | Family BASIC | Stop Tape.


Can other games use the Data Recorder?

Yes. Castle Excellent, Excitebike, Mach Rider and Wrecking Crew can use the Data Recorder to save tracks or stages created by players. Be sure to select Record Tape to start the Data Recorder before selecting save in the game. And, select Play Tape after selecting load in the game.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 11:08 am
by AnnaWu
Thanks zeroone.

Found my mistake, I hit always Return
instead of
"To save to a file called, "xxxx", type in the following, but do not hit Return."

Is it possible to start Nintaco with the preferable speed set?
Because "Normal" is too slow for me.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 1:02 pm
by zeroone
AnnaWu wrote:Thanks zeroone.

Found my mistake, I hit always Return
instead of
"To save to a file called, "xxxx", type in the following, but do not hit Return."
There is a very similar sentence in the actual Family BASIC manual :)
AnnaWu wrote:Is it possible to start Nintaco with the preferable speed set?
Because "Normal" is too slow for me.
I can add that feature. You use faster speeds for BASIC programs?

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 9:18 pm
by AnnaWu
zeroone wrote: You use faster speeds for BASIC programs?
No, general to use Nintaco on older PC with WinXP.
zeroone wrote: Yes. Castle Excellent, Excitebike, Mach Rider and Wrecking Crew can use the Data Recorder to save tracks or stages created by players. Be sure to select Record Tape to start the Data Recorder before selecting save in the game. And, select Play Tape after selecting load in the game.
I think Arkanoid II and Lode Runner support the Data Recorder too.
The menu on Lode Runner is only visible if the keyboard is available.

Image Image

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 2:13 am
by Pokun
Yep I can confirm that both games supports the tape recorder. Though Lode Runner requires detecting the keyboard, like AnnaWu said, and this doesn't work properly in some emulators like Nestopia. Also Arkanoid II seems very picky as I couldn't load my level properly on my real Famicom and Family Keyboard. Saving worked but when I loaded it from tape it turned out scrambled. It doesn't seem to work in Nestopia either.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:01 am
by AnnaWu
Pokun wrote:Though Lode Runner requires detecting the keyboard, like AnnaWu said, and this doesn't work properly in some emulators like Nestopia.
It woks on VirtuaNES, kindred and vdmgr.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:17 am
by zeroone
AnnaWu wrote:No, general to use Nintaco on older PC with WinXP.
Nintaco is not super optimized. It favors modern machines. The speed options do not compensate for slower boxes, unfortunately.
AnnaWu wrote:I think Arkanoid II and Lode Runner support the Data Recorder too.
The menu on Lode Runner is only visible if the keyboard is available.
Cool. I'll play around with these and update the FAQ accordingly. We should also update the wiki.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 4:14 am
by AnnaWu
Pokun wrote:Also Arkanoid II seems very picky as I couldn't load my level properly on my real Famicom and Family Keyboard. Saving worked but when I loaded it from tape it turned out scrambled. It doesn't seem to work in Nestopia either.
Arkanoid II
It seems with kindred (emulator) can I LOAD/SAVE/PLAY the edited level in EDIT MODE.
With all other emulators ( VirtuaNES, vdmgr,...) I have a problem with "LOAD" too.
The saved level (*.wav) with vdmgr is working on kindred.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 3:52 pm
by zeroone
AnnaWu wrote:Arkanoid II
It seems with kindred (emulator) can I LOAD/SAVE/PLAY the edited level in EDIT MODE.
With all other emulators ( VirtuaNES, vdmgr,...) I have a problem with "LOAD" too.
The saved level (*.wav) with vdmgr is working on kindred.
In Nintaco, I am able to save edited Arkanoid II levels with the Data Recorder; however, with Lode Runner, I can't get the save/load menu to appear even when the Keyboard and Data Recorder are attached. Does that work in any emulator?

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:03 am
by AnnaWu
zeroone wrote:
AnnaWu wrote:Arkanoid II
It seems with kindred (emulator) can I LOAD/SAVE/PLAY the edited level in EDIT MODE.
With all other emulators ( VirtuaNES, vdmgr,...) I have a problem with "LOAD" too.
The saved level (*.wav) with vdmgr is working on kindred.
In Nintaco, I am able to save edited Arkanoid II levels with the Data Recorder;
To save levels is not the problem but to load it. Only kindred is able to load edited levels.
zeroone wrote: however, with Lode Runner, I can't get the save/load menu to appear even when the Keyboard and Data Recorder are attached. Does that work in any emulator?
Yes, with vdmgr or kindred as example.
Here a simply edited level (*.wav)
Tested on vdmgr and kindred.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 6:28 am
by AnnaWu
Big thanks goes to the Japanese vdmgr programmer.
He fixed the load/save problem with Arkanoid II.
The waveform logic was reversed.

Here a simply edited level (*.wav)
Tested on vdmgr.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 7:08 am
by zeroone
AnnaWu wrote:To save levels is not the problem but to load it. Only kindred is able to load edited levels.
I am able to save and load edited Arkanoid II levels in Nintaco.

I'll explore vdmgr and kindred to try to figure out why Lode Runner under Nintaco is not detecting the Keyboard.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 7:14 am
by AnnaWu
zeroone wrote:
AnnaWu wrote:To save levels is not the problem but to load it. Only kindred is able to load edited levels.
I am able to save and load edited Arkanoid II levels in Nintaco.

I'll explore vdmgr and kindred to try to figure out why Lode Runner under Nintaco is not detecting the Keyboard.
Unfortunately, vdmgr and kindred are not open source.

Re: Nintaco -- NES-Famicom-Dendy Emulator

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 7:26 am
by Pokun
Maybe you could figure out how Lode Runner is detecting the keyboard. If successful it could be added to the wiki for other emulator authors to get it to work as well.