Regarding whether or not it should be "ok" to use different versions of the same beta...

The reason that I used the re-compiled core to record my game of Shock Troopers was because the game doesn't run perfectly on regular DOS 0.34 beta 6. Item boxes don't appear, the game often freezes up, etc. When recompiled, or playing with MAME32, it runs close to perfectly (minus the screwy sound, of course). So why didn't I record with MAME32 in the first place? Because I can't find my installation disk for my gamepad (I'm on a new P2-450, baby!), thus MAME32 won't detect it... I use JoyEmu for DOS MAME. :P

At any rate, I tried replaying my Shock Troopers recording under MAME32 and it works fine. I guess anything other than the DOS version will do.

Some other games don't run right with the regular DOS beta, like Ninja Commando and Top Hunter end up resetting either after the logo screen or when you try to start the game. I also played back Barry Rodewald's Ninja Commando game on MAME32 and it worked fine as well.

-BBH

-- BBH (lordbbh@aol.com), November 06, 1998

Answers

Here's my $0.02......

Actually, I have a probably much more hated idea !!! ;-))

I personally think in order for the MARP site not to have to maintain all the Beta's all recordings that don't work with the final release should be removed and the recorder should record them again.

Also, any game that was easier to play on a Beta or prior release should obviously be recorded again as they are probably never going to be beaten unless someone uses that same old beta release again.

Let the flames begin....... ;-))

BeeJay.

-- BeeJay (bjohnstone@cardinal.co.nz), November 07, 1998.

I agree with BeeJay

I also think that INP's that don't work with official Mame releases should not be maintained by MARP - and to take it even a step further than BeeJay mentioned... only adding/allowing new games when an official Mame release is made.

This doesn't necessarily mean that all existing beta scores should be removed from MARP, but more of a change in how MARP would work from Mame34 and later. I think that this may also increase the quality of scores, as players will have most of the beta/RC period to get back into the games before submitting scores.

=Angry=

-- Angry (greggg@ix.netcom.com), November 07, 1998.

Just my opinion.

Remember that the source is not changed at all between the different versions. I think that only a small change to the makefile is all that is needed to compile and link the C-based 68K core into MAME. Nothing else is changed, it is still beta 6, just has a different 68K CPU core. Recording and playback should still be the same regardless of which CPU core is used. Both C and ASM cores are a part of MAME.

-- Barry Rodewald (bsr@hn.pl.net), November 07, 1998.