Mame 0.35 - Possible Shmups for the GP2X

[Halloween Jack]

Hi Guys,

Well after the excellent thread posted by Generiname regarding the DS's dual screen hardware, there's been a couple of enquiries regarding the potential of the GP2X for shmups.

I'm unable to comment on this, but it would be interesting to hear from any current owners on general performance and/or hardware experiences.

Epicenter, in an earlier thread stated that the GP2X's MAME emulation was "quite excellent, supporting about all games from v0.35 and back."

See: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... light=gp2x

No doubt there would be some fairly hefty shmups available in there, but does anybody know whether the hardware feels right and performs well with the portfolio of MAME shmups?

Thanks

Halloween Jack

[ASK]

Had a post in the hardware forum asking basically the same thing, but didn't get a response on it. Looks like most people on the forum don't know what the GP2X is, or just don't care.

I went ahead and ordered one yesterday, so once I get it I think I'll give all the shmups supported in the MAME port a run through so people can get an idea of how well the system plays them, as that's the main information I was looking for when deciding to purchase.

I'd rather not bump the old thread so to answer one of the questions of why bother with another platform to play emulators on when there's the GBA, DS and PSP: You don't have to fight the hardware company for the right to play homebrew titles. The GP2X is open source, there's no pass-mes, no firmware hacks or downgrades, no bullshit

[Turrican]

I'd rather not bump the old thread so to answer one of the questions of why bother with another platform to play emulators on when there's the GBA, DS and PSP: You don't have to fight the hardware company for the right to play homebrew titles. The GP2X is open source, there's no pass-mes, no firmware hacks or downgrades, no bullshit

yes, it's all very good and no-one contest that. I guess it only remains to see how it effectively run Mame. And, once achieved a decent smoothness, to see how many arcade games fit well in a tiny screen.

[Halloween Jack]

Sounds an excellent plan ASK - really looking forward to hearing your views on the new purchase - at last a shmup fan with a GP2X - its all good

Halloween Jack

[Necronom]

I'm also looking forward to read some information about this extremely promising piece of hardware at first hand. So yeah, thanks a lot in advance, ASK
The prospect of playing games like Strider, Aliensoldier (yes I know, no shmups) and finally an arcadeperfect R-type on the go is really something I could daydream for hours...
In the meantime why not have a look at the English translation of a Korean Review on LikSang:

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3708

God, this device looks sexy
Once again, looking forward to read some impressions 'cause I'm still hoping for an arcadeperfect portable R-Type. That's how hardcore I am

[Dylan1CC]

Nice. I look forward to hearing your impressions, ASK! As the owner if a Progear PCB I'd be intrigued if I could take the game on the go for a little pratice in the office.

[FRO]

I'd like to get one as well, but I'm waiting for the price to drop a bit. I mean, to be able to take a collection of the shmups I already own with me would be great, especially since the Nomad (as cool as it is) has a blurry screen & technology has advanced quite a bit in 10 years.

[angrycoder]

Forget MAME, the PCengine emulator on the original gp32 was pretty spiffy. I can only imagine its equaled or surpassed on the gpx2. Theres plenty of shmup goodness right there.

[ASK]

Forget MAME, the PCengine emulator on the original gp32 was pretty spiffy. I can only imagine its equaled or surpassed on the gpx2. Theres plenty of shmup goodness right there.

From the videos I've seen of the PCE emulator that's working for the GP2X right now, it runs perfectly with no slow downs

If any of you are seriously considering this handheld but want to know how well certain games run on it before you buy, post which you'd like tested and I'll start going through them when I get it. Don't think I'll be able to provide video, but we'll see. Please organize the requests like so:

Genesis - Steel Empire
PCE - Soldier Blade

PSX and GBA stuff is very slow at the moment so don't bother requesting those Someone is working on a new static recompiler based on VBA for the GP2X that may end up providing 100% emulation speed, but it's a little ways off at the moment. PSX will probably never be fast enough though

[Dylan1CC]

I got some test runs for ya:

Genny: Thunderforce series, MUSHA, Gunstar Heroes

SNES: R-TYPE 3, Space Megaforce, Axelay

MAME: Progear Detana! Twinbee Oh and if you get a chance could you see if Simpsons Arcade works? ahem

Neo CD: Pulstar, Viewpoint

[Necronom]

Me too, me too
Here comes my please-test-these-for-me-list:

MD/Genesis: Alien Soldier, Gunstar Heroes, Thunderforce 4
NeoGeo: MetalSlug 1, 3, 5 and Pulstar
Mame: R-Type 1 & 2, Guwange (is Tatemode possible?), Strider, AlienvsPredator, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Wizard of Wor

I assume C64 is fullspeed, right?
I know, that's a rather long list but I'm so excited...
There is already a port of Kenta Cho's Noiz2sa:
http://gp2x-emulation.dcemu.co.uk/Noiz2sa.shtml

Cheers!

[Soldato J]

Super-excited for the impressions!

MAME: -- another vote for Progear
----Cave, Raizing, and Psikyo stuff (ESPRaDe, Guwange, Feveron, Pachis, Batrider, Bakraid, Garegga, Dragon Blaze, Dimahoo, and the list goes on...)


--any vert stuff running in TATE

Thanks!

[angrycoder]

you guys realize that MAME .35 was released 7 years ago in 1999? You aren't going to be playing any cave, raizing, psiko, etc on there.

A version of mame that old is only going to support classic shmups like 1941, 1942, galaga, Kyukyoku Tiger, xevious, gradius, slap fight, etc.

[ASK]

you guys realize that MAME .35 was released 7 years ago in 1999? You aren't going to be playing any cave, raizing, psiko, etc on there.

A version of mame that old is only going to support classic shmups like 1941, 1942, galaga, Kyukyoku Tiger, xevious, gradius, slap fight, etc.

That's with Franxis' version. There's patches for XMAME (I think it's at around 0.102) so that it can be compiled for the GP2X. Who knows how well that would run though, considering how many improvements have been added to Franxis'

[iatneH]

I'm a bit behind, but the last MAME build I downloaded for GP2X supports CPS-1 games and a couple of Toaplan titles like OutZone and Zero Wing. It's good stuff.

[AGC]

MAME works well for older stuff. Megadrive and PCengine work almost perfectly. The Noiz2sa port is very good.

Also, a new commercial shmup called 'Odonata' has just been announced for the GP2X. Screenshots here.

[Dylan1CC]

edit: Not to steal the thunder of the GP impressions, but a working CPS2 emulator has been made for the PSP, thanks to BIG for finding this.

YouTube Video of Progear running on the PSP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP4G5z1x_Pg

Full translated info thread on DCEmu about the emulator:

http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=31133

Forget the Gamepark, I think I'll just have my PSP modded.

And just wanted to say thanks to angrycoder, iatneH, ASK and AGC for clarifying on what runs in MAME .35. ahem

[Generiname]

Thanks for the kind words on my thread

Before that DS I hadn't owned a portable since the gameboy colour and now I don't know how I managed without a portable system. I want more. I've been eyeing off the GP2X for a little while now so I'm keen to hear some impressions as well. Mega Drive and PC Engine emus really push it towards the 'got to get one sometime soon' end of the spectrum for me but a good edition of MAME would be amazing.

[Necronom]

Yeah, thank you guys for clarifying some facts...I guess that means no portable Guwange, damn...
To be honest I rather doubt whether Cavegames are playable on a portable machine anyway due to the screensize of these devices. Kenta Cho's shooter are probably much less of a problem 'cause of the abstract graphics and "clean" look - there is not much background that could make spotting the bullets too hard. That's why I'm seriously looking forward to hear from somebody first hand whether a game like Pulstar is really playable on a handheld. Several years ago I heard from people owning a Nomad that Thunderforce 4 was barely playable due to the small screen. Well, let's see how things work out.

[ASK]

Grrr...the place I ordered the GP2X from is in Montreal. Those of you in Canada may have heard there was a pretty ridiculous storm last week that took out power for over 3 days in that area. I made my order on Aug. 1st after business hours and because of that crap it still hasn't shipped Just my luck that Monday was also a Civic holiday Hopefully it ships tomorrow, over a week after I originally ordered it.

[iatneH]

I thought Quebec didn't celebrate a holiday on Monday.

Anyway, have fun when you get it. You'll end up spending a few hours just installing stuff before you can actually do anything with it.

[ASK]

I thought Quebec didn't celebrate a holiday on Monday.

Hmm, maybe not. I know we did here in Ontario, just assumed that it was the case there.

Either way, it's already here Shipped out last night around 9pm and just got here at about 6pm today. Talk about fast

[Necronom]

So ASK, do we have a portable neogeo here? Yeah I know, I'm such an impatient bastard...

[ASK]

So ASK, do we have a portable neogeo here? Yeah I know, I'm such an impatient bastard...

I've been very busy with work so I haven't had a whole lot of time to test out a lot of the specific requests in the thread so far.

I have tried Metal Slug 1 in GnGeo2x and it ran well, though there is some slow down when things get hectic when the sound is on, haven't tried it while it's off. Shock Troopers 2 is also very slow. Those are the only NeoGeo games I've given a go so far.

R-Type in hu6280 (PCE) ran excellent, didn't encounter any problems with it.

Hopefully I can get around testing some of the other requests in the thread this weekend.

[Necronom]

Hmmm, sounds promising though I guess it will take a while until the neogeo stuff is somewhere near arcadeperfect.
Anyway, thanks a lot and I'm looking forward to further impressions.

[Dylan1CC]

Nice initial impressions, especially on the PCE emu. Looking forward to hearing more. Thanks, ASK.

[AGC]

Odonata demo now available for gp2x.

http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?showtopic=30889

[FRO]

Yeah, thank you guys for clarifying some facts...I guess that means no portable Guwange, damn...
To be honest I rather doubt whether Cavegames are playable on a portable machine anyway due to the screensize of these devices. Kenta Cho's shooter are probably much less of a problem 'cause of the abstract graphics and "clean" look - there is not much background that could make spotting the bullets too hard. That's why I'm seriously looking forward to hear from somebody first hand whether a game like Pulstar is really playable on a handheld. Several years ago I heard from people owning a Nomad that Thunderforce 4 was barely playable due to the small screen. Well, let's see how things work out.

I can confirm that TF4 is indeed nearly unplayable due to the screen size. Some shmups (Fire Shark, Truxton, Gaiares even) play pretty good, but others (Steel Empire, & regrettably TF4) don't. The screen is just far too blurry to make out anything that's going on & my copy even locks up after the 1st stage (I think it's my Nomad - it doesn't like either TF4 or my Game Genie).