Tweaked GAPI driver

[mmtbb]

Emulamer, The latest PPL version doesn't allow the games demos to run with version 1.11. Would you be so kind as to look into this? THANKS!

Also, It seems like you are always able to fix it. What keeps changing to make it crash?

[emulamer]

Emulamer, The latest PPL version doesn't allow the games demos to run with version 1.11. Would you be so kind as to look into this? THANKS!

Also, It seems like you are always able to fix it. What keeps changing to make it crash?

PPL, Mapopolis, Solterra and a couple of other programs do something weird when calling the GAPI driver that effectively prevents it from launching a thread (causes an access violation and kills the program). I managed to get an earlier version of PPL working by messing around with the timing a little bit, but it wasn't a real fix.

I've got a version of the GAPI tweak running (or at least *starting*) with all of the programs I've been able to get my hands on, and as soon as I work out a few kinks, I'll release it.

I rewrote most of it so it would be easier to maintain, but the biggest outward change is that the GAPI driver is going to require a process running in the background all the time.

Warefare incorporated and Pocket Map navigator dont work properly with the gapi. If I sent them to you, you could look into them also?

[BooDa]

PPL, Mapopolis, Solterra and a couple of other programs do something weird when calling the GAPI driver that effectively prevents it from launching a thread (causes an access violation and kills the program). I managed to get an earlier version of PPL working by messing around with the timing a little bit, but it wasn't a real fix.

Just so you know, the last 2 or 3 Mapopolis betas have worked fine with the GAPI tweak enabled. So that's one less for you to worry about. :approve:

[diesel]

Warefare incorporated and Pocket Map navigator dont work properly with the gapi. If I sent them to you, you could look into them also?

Add warring nations to the list of games that won't play with the gapi driver enabled

[rsmith4321]

PPL, Mapopolis, Solterra and a couple of other programs do something weird when calling the GAPI driver that effectively prevents it from launching a thread (causes an access violation and kills the program). I managed to get an earlier version of PPL working by messing around with the timing a little bit, but it wasn't a real fix.

I've got a version of the GAPI tweak running (or at least *starting*) with all of the programs I've been able to get my hands on, and as soon as I work out a few kinks, I'll release it.

I rewrote most of it so it would be easier to maintain, but the biggest outward change is that the GAPI driver is going to require a process running in the background all the time.

Will the process use up any system resources while it's running?

[emulamer]

Will the process use up any system resources while it's running?

Yep. Not a whole lot though, and you'll be able to stop/start it through the control panel if a few k is too much.

[emulamer]

Warfare inc. and warring nations appear to work correctly. PPL appears to work correctly. I don't have pocket map navigator to test.

[diesel]

Warfare inc. and warring nations appear to work correctly. PPL appears to work correctly. I don't have pocket map navigator to test.

emulamer...warring nations appear to work correctly with the current gapi tweak or with the "new" yet to be released gapi tweak? on my x50v, warring nations runs fine however when trying to exit the game with the gapi tweak, the screen does not "refresh" keeping an image of the game screen on the screen even thought the game was existed...when i click on something on the screen, i am actually clicking on things on the today screen and not the game

when i disable the gapi enhanced driver and set to the original driver i get no such problem

[da1writer]

Currently, me and emulamer are talking back and forth about this subject one on one. He has allowed me to beta test for him and I'll say alot of programs seemed to work better (almost at no screen problems, white and all). The current games that are now jacked up with my games on my handheld is sadly... pocket quake. There is absolutely no console now, just a black area with the game playing in the middle. Emulamer has said that he'll figure out a way to get it back up. Oh and about pocket quake with the new gapi tweak, I have some excellent news. It now runs between 45fps - 60 fps at 200mhz. 200MHZ!!! We also talked about throwing out the 2700 driver that is above the Xscale driver in the gapi tweak. There are currently 3 games that seem to require it which are:
Gamebox Gems
Nobunga
Interstellar flames
There are probably more games that require this and if there are other games that seems to get a screen problem (white or whatever) or has problems with the overall performance, don't hesitate to give me your list of games (written wise, do not give me the games) so I can try them out on my own with the new gapi tweak I'm currently testing for emulamer. You can either post them on this thread, pm the list to me, or send them via email. We need a little help from you all to get this new version out of me and emulamer's hands and into yours :approve:!

[emulamer]

Currently, me and emulamer are talking back and forth about this subject one on one. He has allowed me to beta test for him and I'll say alot of programs seemed to work better (almost at no screen problems, white and all). The current games that are now jacked up with my games on my handheld is sadly... pocket quake. There is absolutely no console now, just a black area with the game playing in the middle. Emulamer has said that he'll figure out a way to get it back up. Oh and about pocket quake with the new gapi tweak, I have some excellent news. It now runs between 45fps - 60 fps at 200mhz. 200MHZ!!! We also talked about throwing out the 2700 driver that is above the Xscale driver in the gapi tweak. There are currently 3 games that seem to require it which are:
Gamebox Gems
Nobunga
Interstellar flames
There are probably more games that require this and if there are other games that seems to get a screen problem (white or whatever) or has problems with the overall performance, don't hesitate to give me your list of games (written wise, do not give me the games) so I can try them out on my own with the new gapi tweak I'm currently testing for emulamer. You can either post them on this thread, pm the list to me, or send them via email. We need a little help from you all to get this new version out of me and emulamer's hands and into yours :approve:!

Quake runs correctly now, as do millionaire and ackys breakout. I'll send you the newer version next time I catch you online.

[rsmith4321]

I can't seem to run PTvncHiRes with the gapi tweak on, it would be nice if there was a fix for this. Thanks for all the work.

[AximMikeM]

Gosh, it is great to hear that you are still working on this tweak.
Thank you!!!

[Remora9595]

tried the demo of atomic cannon 2.0 and it has screen refresh problems with the enhanced gapi as well.

[emulamer]

I can't seem to run PTvncHiRes with the gapi tweak on, it would be nice if there was a fix for this. Thanks for all the work.

I don't know if I'll be able to get PTvncHiRes working... it's initializing the GAPI driver, but it doesn't draw anything using GAPI. It also doesn't appear to be a hi_res_aware application, because it's still using the 320x240 coordinates for GDI. Basically what's happening is that the GAPI tweak doesn't detect it as a VGA application since it's not flagged as hi_res_aware, so it enables GAPI instead of bypassing it.



atomic cannon works with the new version, as do *most* VGA apps that still initialize gapi (ptvnshires seems to be an exception)

[biohzrd]

Could you please post this version? Running pocketquake @ 200mhz would be awesome! :)

Also, someone said problems with memory-map navigator? I have that program and would be willing to test it for you.

[emulamer]

Could you please post this version? Running pocketquake @ 200mhz would be awesome! :)

Also, someone said problems with memory-map navigator? I have that program and would be willing to test it for you.

I'm a little leery of letting the version loose because I haven't tested it enough yet, and it's not quite user friendly enough.

If you want to test it, PM me your email address and I'll send you the installer. If you're just looking for the newest version to fix the incompatibilities in the last version, just give it a little time.

The main reason I don't want to just throw it out there quite yet is that I want to make sure the background process route is going to work ok and not cause any other problems. Also, I'd like to have a solid release, instead of releasing .1 .2 .3 .4, etc all within days of each other.

[da1writer]

I agree with emulamer on this descision. It wouldn't be a good idea to release this new update quite yet, certain programs still have problems with the new build. With the many problems that arise from certain programs, we intend to try to fix as many as we can before releasing the newest Gapi Tweak. Certain games will run faster (ie. Pocket quake) and certain white/black/double screens will be a thing of the past (Maybe even Pocket Quake 2, but don't hold your breath). Wait until we test it more indepth and fill in all the cracks, then you may see it sooner than you think;)! Plz send lists to me via email or pm me. The more I test , the happier you all will be as I post to tell you it works!

[biohzrd]

Maybe release it to a group of people (possibly those who PM, or get in touch privately through other means), and make a listing of what all programs work/don't work with what version in order to help speed up a release of a stable version.

I've worked with phoenix/firebird/firefox since it's infancy, and love helping to find new bugs and confirm fixes!

[emulamer]

I agree with emulamer on this descision. It wouldn't be a good idea to release this new update quite yet, certain programs still have problems with the new build. With the many problems that arise from certain programs, we intend to try to fix as many as we can before releasing the newest Gapi Tweak. Certain games will run faster (ie. Pocket quake) and certain white/black/double screens will be a thing of the past (Maybe even Pocket Quake 2, but don't hold your breath). Wait until we test it more indepth and fill in all the cracks, then you may see it sooner than you think;)! Plz send lists to me via email or pm me. The more I test , the happier you all will be as I post to tell you it works!

You've got an old build of it, get on AIM so that I can send you the latest one :p. Newer one works much better than what you have does, especially with VGA aware apps that still init GAPI. And of course pocket quake, which you're so fond of

[da1writer]

Well everyone, after testing the newest build by emulamer last night, I'm quite pleased with the results and to my opinion, I think it's a possible release now. So far, all the games are accepting the newest tweak and alot of problems that were occuring are now fixed. Quake now has the console again and is still running at great speeds @200 mhz, gfdoom has done the same also! The only reason I don't think it should be released quite yet is because of the program I support now has a problem. When you load up a rom in Morphgear, a white screen will fade unto the screen for a couple seconds and then it would disappear, leaving you to play the game. I know it's just a tiny problem but hopefully emulamer may be able to fix it by tonight or later next week. For those people who use pocketvnc, we have not solved the problem on that yet. Yet still, This means we are now closing in unto a possible release for you all to enjoy !

Pocketvnc??? You mean pocketVCS, don't you? How about PocketSNES...does that emu work? What about FPSEce (latest is .094)? How about Microsoft Arcade PocketPak or Stuntcar Extreme? Thanks.

[biohzrd]

Pocketvnc??? You mean pocketVCS, don't you? How about PocketSNES...does that emu work? What about FPSEce (latest is .094)? How about Microsoft Arcade PocketPak or Stuntcar Extreme? Thanks.

Stuntcar extreme works flawlessly. I wish it had a way to benchmark, but it does not.

[da1writer]

Pocketvnc??? You mean pocketVCS, don't you? How about PocketSNES...does that emu work? What about FPSEce (latest is .094)? How about Microsoft Arcade PocketPak or Stuntcar Extreme? Thanks.

PTvncHiRes is what I was talking about actually, we still haven't figured out how to make it work properly. Pocket SNES works fine (keypad is still missing but I think Tala did that)
Fpsece still doesn't start a game but thats probably because schtuk and his team still hasn't figured out how to make it work yet. Microsoft Arcade pocket pak runs fine. As for Stunt Car extreme, it always worked well, even before I got this new gapi tweak to test out...
Morphgear still has a problem when loading up a rom...

I downloaded and installed the tweek, but now morphgear 2.2.5.7 cannot even start a game ... is there something im doing wrong?