Topic: Spextrum V0.01 Alpha (Read 1277 times)

Carcharius · « **on:** April 18, 2004, 11:36:00 AM »

SpeXtrum is a ZX Spectrum emulator written from scratch for the XBOX.

Current Features:

* Spectrum 48K, 128K and Plus 2 emulation.
* AY-8912 Sound emulation.
* Snapshot support (both .SNA and .Z80 formats) - loading only.
* TAP file support.
* Joystick emulation (Sinclair and Kempston).
* ZIP file support (loads first compatible file found in a zip).
* Virtual Keyboard for those who don't have a USB one.
* Advance MAME graphics filter.

Notes:

The emulation is far from perfect, compatibility is probably fairly low. I've had varying degress of success with snapshots and tape images that I've tried. Some seem to work fine, others don't work at all.

I will be working on improving this as the project progresses, so please report any problems to me at the contact details below.

AY-8912 emulation is quite spot on, music plays ok but any speech that used the AY chip doesn't work yet (see Robocop for an example).

There is currently no autoloading of TAP files, if you select a TAP file you will then have to use the normal Spectrum loading procedure to make it run (ie choose 'Tape Loader' or type 'Load ""')

The user interface is currently shocking - I know it! I'm planning on adding a proper one sometime in the future. For now it is just enough to get things running.

If anyone can come up with any nice Spectrum related artwork that I could use in the final UI, please let me know.

There are lots of things that I am planning to add in the future for example, more graphics filters (although I think Advance MAME makes things look pretty cool), TZX file support to name but two.

Please feel free to suggest any other enhancements.

I am very keen to receive reports of bugs/problems as they will help me fix things and improve the overall application.

Hope you enjoy!

Carcharius

NB: No that isn't a typo in the name SpeXtrum, it really is meant to be an X there! ;-)

EDIT

Forgot to add my thanks to MHz for some help and inspiration!

Likklebaer · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2004, 12:33:00 PM »

I can't believe no one's answered this yet! Well let me be the first to say thankies Carcharius, it's always great to see new emulators.

Can I also ask if this has any kind of accelerated loading for TAP files??

Carcharius · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2004, 12:37:00 PM »

You're welcome Likkle.

Yes it does have fast loading for TAP files (I should have mentioned that in the readme).

In fact fast is the only way of loading TAP files that at the moment!

Carch

chilin_dude · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2004, 12:45:00 PM »

Never got a chance to really play spectrum, so I will be fully enjoying this.
This is the first xbox native emulator really (apart from one that already had one

)
So this makes your achievment even more incredible, when I get time you get added to the respect list now

willy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2004, 01:06:00 PM »

Cheers for that.....its just what we 'mature' British gamers have been waiting for

Willy

kimota2004 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2004, 01:09:00 PM »

Thanks so much, this will turn out to be one of the best emulators for me on the Xbox.

Cheers for all your hardwork and dedication to the scene.

Beelzebud · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2004, 01:19:00 PM »

Thanks very much Carcharius. I'm going to get some spectrum software ASAP to check it out.

Xenesis is great too.

Thanks for all your work!

TMaul · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2004, 01:34:00 PM »

Nice one Carch.

yadster · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2004, 01:45:00 PM »

I'm liking it. Only tried two games so far. Exolon 128K tap seems to work fine, the AY sound seems spot on and it looks so much better than it did on my crappy telly of years ago. Joe Blade 128K tap loads up but I cannot get the keys to work so no joy there.

What I'd like to see maybe added is to be able to use the D pad when the emulator is showing the 128K/+2 screen so you can move up and down easily and maybe assign the B button to ENTER.

Cheers for the great work and I look forward to seeing how this evolves.

Tanas · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2004, 01:45:00 PM »

I cant get it to run, it just keeps going back to the dash.

Hexosys · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2004, 01:53:00 PM »

awesome, thanks so much Carcharius.

javi · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2004, 02:15:00 PM »

first of all,i would like to thanks the author. BIG THANKS!!!
as someone said before about the modchip for xbox, i can say that i did the USB adaptor to use a keyboard, waiting for a spectrum emulator. and now here it is !!!!

to my big dissapointment i cant make it work.
it keep comming back to evox dash

i tried x2 4974 and evox m7 bioses.

any help would be appreciated!!

GrigOrig · « **Reply #12 on:** April 18, 2004, 02:34:00 PM »

Try changing your xbox to pal.

javi · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2004, 02:48:00 PM »

oh my dear god!!!
there it is!! my beloved speccy init screen!!

but PLZ PLZ PLZ make it ntsc !!!!

barrasxbox · « **Reply #14 on:** April 18, 2004, 10:50:00 PM »

Woo! I've been waiting for a native Speccy emulation for ages now - haven't tried this one but it's got to be better than running Z80 via DosXbox, so thanks - will try after work tonight!

If you need any help with the UI at all, PM me (see sig for other Xbox stuff I've been working on), otherwise good luck and thanks again!

Author Topic: Spextrum V0.01 Alpha (Read 1277 times)