Post by: XPort on March 07, 2006, 01:11:00 PM
http://xport.xbox-scene.com
what's new:
Core:
- Some improvement to sector cacheing when playing real Sega CDs (see notes)
GUI:
- Added "Soften Display" to video settings configuration options
- "Sort Directories to top" was not working 100% correctly with items
that start with a non-alphabetic character - fixed
Notes
-----
When playing real Sega CDs discs (not images) the FMV can stutter occasionally.
Previous versions of NeoGenesis would try to intelligently buffer as much as
possible, but you never know where the next piece of data needs to be read
from the disc until it's already being requested. Since this is emulation,
there's no way to anticipate where the reads will be and store it. The best
that can be done is to read ahead a certain amount because usually data is
read linearly from the disc. This eliminates a good deal of stutter. However,
there is only so much one can do to compensate for scratched discs and the
XBox's ability to read CD media. Bear in mind that when (if) you listen to
audio CDs on your XBox they will not stutter because audio tracks are read
from start to finish and the XBox can buffer lots of data at the beginning.
This results in one pause before the track starts, but while the track plays
the audio data can be read much faster than it needs to be sent to the
audio output. In emulation, there is a short amount of time in between each
frame to read whatever data is needed from the disc, so only so much can be
buffered at a time. Trying to read too much data at once will result in
stuttering because you're waiting too long for all the data to come back from
the disc and not reading enough can result in too many individual CD-read
accesses which can also result in stuttering.
I did notice during some FMV games that they would requests CD sectors a few
behind what was currently being read (almost like reading backwards). The
previous versions of NeoGenesis had buffering designed only for forward-reading.
This one has some backwards buffering as well. This eliminates some more stutter,
but again, there is only so much that can be done to compensate for CD media.
If your CD games still stutter, I first suggest trying to clean your CDs. If that
makes no difference, then I suggest you copy the disc to an image file and use that
instead.
Enjoy!
Post by: kimota2004 on March 07, 2006, 01:39:00 PM
Post by: Joshua Wood on March 07, 2006, 02:01:00 PM
Post by: Luriden on March 07, 2006, 02:01:00 PM
I got a question for you. I thought about backing up all my Sega CD games to image files, and then burning those image files to DVD-Rs (as data CDs, with multiple image files on them, NOT burning it as one Sega CD iso). If I burned them to DVD-Rs, would they have the same buffer problems during FMVs, or would that be fixed? I can't copy them all to the hard drive, as I'm using a stock hard drive.
This post has been edited by Luriden: Mar 7 2006, 10:02 PM
Post by: XPort on March 07, 2006, 02:20:00 PM
QUOTE(Luriden @ Mar 7 2006, 04:08 PM) 
Thanks, XPort!
I got a question for you. I thought about backing up all my Sega CD games to image files, and then burning those image files to DVD-Rs (as data CDs, with multiple image files on them, NOT burning it as one Sega CD iso). If I burned them to DVD-Rs, would they have the same buffer problems during FMVs, or would that be fixed? I can't copy them all to the hard drive, as I'm using a stock hard drive.
Things should be better in that scenario because you'll have eliminated the possibility of scratched media (unless the disc you burn gets scratched) and if you burn it with an XBox file system (using a utility like simplexiso) then it should result in even better read/access speeds.
Is there any noticeable difference in v20?
Post by: Diontae18 on March 07, 2006, 02:22:00 PM
Post by: Luriden on March 07, 2006, 03:41:00 PM
QUOTE(XPort @ Mar 7 2006, 03:20 PM)
Things should be better in that scenario because you'll have eliminated the possibility of scratched media (unless the disc you burn gets scratched) and if you burn it with an XBox file system (using a utility like simplexiso) then it should result in even better read/access speeds.
Is there any noticeable difference in v20?
Nah, I haven't noticed any differences. I tried Double Switch, Sewer Shark, and Mortal Kombat CD, none of which are scratched (Double Switch doesn't have a single scratch anywhere on it, it's like new). I'm going to try making an image file from Double Switch and see if it still does the freezing (I call it freezing since the game freezes for about 2 whole seconds before going on, which is more of a "freeze" than a "skip").
Also, if you're going for perfection, I noticed a "bug" where whenever you exit a Sega CD game and go back to the menu, the MP3 doesn't play anymore and you either have to reload the skin or emulator. Nothing big, just something strange I noticed. Unless there's an option I missed somewhere, since the MP3 comes back on whenever I exit out of a Genesis rom.
Post by: AmyGrrl on March 07, 2006, 04:13:00 PM
Post by: Diontae18 on March 07, 2006, 04:28:00 PM
QUOTE(AmyGrrl @ Mar 7 2006, 06:20 PM)
I was wondering... we can now use cheat codes for sega cd games if I'm correct? and if so, does anyone know a site that has sega cd codes...
I've been using cheats for sega cd games since neogenesis v.17
You can create your own using the built-in code generator, which is awesome btw. (something that should be implemented into Xsnes9x imo).
Amygrrl, you probably can find codes from GameFAQ's.
Or, you can, like I said above... Create your own.
Post by: Luriden on March 07, 2006, 04:30:00 PM
Post by: deathx88 on March 07, 2006, 07:13:00 PM
i didn't expect another 3 releases of this emulator, but its all good
maybe now i'll start playing sega cd games
Post by: Scoobysnaxx on March 07, 2006, 07:33:00 PM
QUOTE(deathx88 @ Mar 8 2006, 03:13 AM)
maybe now i'll start playing sega cd games
My thoughts exactly. I used to own the system back in the day (have a few CD's lying around here somewhere). I have also been skimming old reviews to see what was good back in the day.
Post by: gaula88 on March 08, 2006, 04:53:00 AM
Three versions of pure perfectionism!! You're number one in our rank of emulator developer, Xport! Congratulations from a group of Xbox users from Spain!! Ah! Maybe you're more interested in other projects right now, but, as an idea, it would be nice to have new versions of WinUAEX; it's a GREAT piece of gold as an Amiga emulator, and it's USB mouse supports needs some compatibility fixes. But's that's just an idea; keep the good work. You've, all by yourself, turned our anodine Xbox into an INCREDIBLE CHAMALEON MACHINE. Green fits better now
Post by: ponyone on March 08, 2006, 12:02:00 PM
I get done remapping the controllers and then saving them.. and then when I enter a game and exit.. the controller default settings are back.
Maybe I'm having a conflict with an older version
which tdata/udata files do I delete for neogenesis to see if I can get it working?
Post by: rubarb on March 08, 2006, 01:35:00 PM
Neogenesis has to be one of the best emulators on xbox now.