New Release: Retro Software's WHITE LIGHT by Sarah Walker

[Stainy]

Fantastic! I got round to trying this.. It works on BeebEm 0.6 on my Open Pandora.


Actually... no it doesn`t the intro works but when I press space it just freezes with the ship on screen

[kieranhj]

The latest issue of Retro Gamer magazine plopped through the letterbox this morning and...

White Light review!

Great work again Sarah! Some well deserved coverage and positive comments here.

[danielj]

Just plopped through my letterbox too . To echo - fantastic words - brilliant work Sarah, well deserved!

d.

[richardtoohey]

Knew I'd get well-beaten to mentioning the magazine article.

Well done, Sarah

[Dave Footitt]

Spotted that myself but far too tardy with the news!

Nice one Sarah

[Pablos544]

I'm very proud of you Sarah

[Higgy]

Hi,

Cool game

I have been updating the main game .MMB and I would like to include 'White Light'. I have added it to my Personal .MMB but want to know if it is ok to add it to a new v1.2 version for Public Consumption!

Plus, is there any other games to add, as I have finally remembered to add games into the .MMB menu again

[lurkio]

Plus, is there any other games to add, as I have finally remembered to add games into the .MMB menu again

See the latest releases on bbcmicro.co.uk:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/

Also, see the latest updates:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/index.php?sort=u

[hoglet]

There seems to be an "incompatibility" between White Light and MMFS.

The problem (first reported by Higgy) is that White Light loads and runs OK for one game, but then hangs with a black screen instead of restarting.

When restarting, the following two OSCLI commands are done:

Code: Select all

*DISC
*/W5

The hang happens when loading W5, in MMFS in the code that reads the shift 6522 register.

Debugging this a bit further (with the FTDI snoop board hanging off the tube), you can see the problem:

Code: Select all

A646 : A9 04    : LDA #04        : 2 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=0 C=1
A648 : 2C 6D FE : BIT FE6D       : 4 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A64B : F0 FB    : BEQ A648       : 3 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A648 : 2C 6D FE : BIT FE6D       : 4 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=1 V=1 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A64B :          : INTERRUPT !!   : 7 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=1 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=1 C=1
DC1C : 85 FC    : STA FC         : 3 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=1 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=1 C=1
DC1E : 68       : PLA            : 4 : A=E3 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=1 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=0 C=1
DC1F : 48       : PHA            : 3 : A=E3 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=1 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=0 C=1
DC20 : 29 10    : AND #10        : 2 : A=00 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=1 C=1
DC22 : D0 03    : BNE DC27       : 2 : A=00 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=1 C=1
DC24 : 6C 04 02 : JMP (0204)     : 5 : A=00 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=1 C=1
0700 : A9 7F    : LDA #7F        : 2 : A=7F X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=0 C=1
0702 : 8D 4D FE : STA FE4D       : 4 : A=7F X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=0 C=1
0705 : 8D 6D FE : STA FE6D       : 4 : A=7F X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=0 C=1
0708 : A5 FC    : LDA FC         : 3 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=1 D=0 I=1 Z=0 C=1
070A : 40       : RTI            : 6 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=1 V=1 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A64B : F0 FB    : BEQ A648       : 3 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=1 V=1 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A648 : 2C 6D FE : BIT FE6D       : 4 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A64B : F0 FB    : BEQ A648       : 3 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A648 : 2C 6D FE : BIT FE6D       : 4 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A64B : F0 FB    : BEQ A648       : 3 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A648 : 2C 6D FE : BIT FE6D       : 4 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
A64B : F0 FB    : BEQ A648       : 3 : A=04 X=01 Y=DC SP=?? N=0 V=0 D=0 I=0 Z=1 C=1
...
... for ever

It seems White Light has left an interrupt handler running that is nobbling MMFS's code polling for the shift register done bit. In this case I think the interrupt is a User VIA T1 or T2 interrupt, but that doesn't really matter.

I should be able to work around this in MMFS (with SEI/CLI), but I've tried and there seems to be something else going on as well.

It also seems like MMFS (in sideways RAM) is getting corrupted by the game itself. This time, using ICE T65 so I can set memory watch breakpoints:

Code: Select all

ICE-T65 In-Circuit Emulator version 0.72
Compiled at 22:03:12 on Nov 16 2015
8 watches/breakpoints implemented
Tracing every 1 instructions while single stepping
CPU free running...
Interrupted
04.749419: DEF0 : BCC DF03    
>> watchw 8000 c000
Mem Wr Watch set at 8000
>> c
CPU free running...
16.281181: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A92 writing 8E23 = 80
16.421532: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing 89E5 = 73
16.421568: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing A5C1 = 05
16.421604: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing 87A2 = 3E
16.421640: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing A982 = 29
16.421676: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing 8B64 = 05
16.421712: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing AB45 = 29
16.421748: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing AD20 = 59
16.421784: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing 8F01 = 31
16.421820: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing A4E7 = 3E
16.422001: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing 8E23 = 00
16.422037: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1A38 writing AC00 = 0A
11.651616: Mem Wr Watch hit at 156F writing A6F7 = A0
11.651631: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1577 writing A6FF = 80
11.651647: Mem Wr Watch hit at 157F writing A707 = 80
11.651663: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1587 writing A70F = D0
11.651679: Mem Wr Watch hit at 158F writing A717 = 40
11.651695: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1597 writing A71F = 00
01.504982: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1488 writing 8000 = 00
01.505132: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1488 writing 8001 = 00
01.505282: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1488 writing 8002 = 00
01.505432: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1488 writing 8003 = 4C
01.505612: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1488 writing 8004 = AE
01.505762: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1488 writing 8005 = 8E
01.505912: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1488 writing 8006 = 82
01.506062: Mem Wr Watch hit at 1488 writing 8007 = 1A
01.581211: Mem Wr Watch hit at 15EB writing 8000 = 00
01.581319: Mem Wr Watch hit at 15EB writing 8001 = 00
01.581427: Mem Wr Watch hit at 15EB writing 8002 = 00
01.581535: Mem Wr Watch hit at 15EB writing 8003 = 40
01.581643: Mem Wr Watch hit at 15EB writing 8004 = A0
01.581751: Mem Wr Watch hit at 15EB writing 8005 = 80
01.581859: Mem Wr Watch hit at 15EB writing 8006 = 80
01.581967: Mem Wr Watch hit at 15EB writing 8007 = 10
Interrupted
07.128873: 0EF8 : LDA EE      
>> rd f4
Rd: 00F4 = 04

Here's another run, this time setting a break point:

Code: Select all

ICE-T65 In-Circuit Emulator version 0.72
Compiled at 22:03:12 on Nov 16 2015
8 watches/breakpoints implemented
Tracing every 1 instructions while single stepping
CPU free running...
Interrupted
01.925920: E465 : SEI         
>> breakw 8000 c000
Mem Wr Brkpt set at 8000
>> c
CPU free running...
Mem Wr Brkpt hit at 1A92 writing 8E23 = 80
03.798735: 1A92 : STA (92),Y  
Interrupted
03.798742: 1A94 : LDA 92      
>> d 1a80
1A80 : ASL A       
1A81 : TAX         
1A82 : JSR 1A3E    
1A85 : LDY #00     
1A87 : LDX C1      
1A89 : LDA (92),Y  
1A8B : BIT 1A23    
1A8E : BNE 1A94    
1A90 : ORA #80     
1A92 : STA (92),Y  
>> rd 92
Rd: 0092 = 23
>> rd 93
Rd: 0093 = 8E

Sarah, do you have any idea what's happening here?

Edit: After a bit more investigation there are actually three separate issues:
(1) White Light's interrupt handler nobbling the 6522's Shift Register done bit
(2) MMFS code corruption due to stray writes to &8000-&BFFF
(3) MMFS's private workspace (typically at &17xx) corruption, causing the "current disk" to be forgotten

(1) I can work around in MMFS by adding SEI/CLI in a couple of places
(2) Is an issue if the MMFS image is in a writable sideways RAM bank (or possibly an unprotected FLASH bank)
(3) Is an issue when using a normal PAGE=&1900 version of Model B MMFS, but won't be a problem on the Master

With the MMFS work around (1), I have got this running properly on the Master, so I'm happy there is nothing else going on. But it's harder to make it work on the Model B because of (3).

Dave

[guardian1128]

Never played firetrack originally on either BBC or Electron but very impressed with White Light, so far only played under Beebem but I bought it on disk for my BBC , just need to fix my BBC to play it now, bit of mixing and matching of parts between both machines i have to make a working one, arrrghh,

[lurkio]

Nice promo...

https://twitter.com/chinnyhill10/status ... 3298760706

[lurkio]

There seems to be an "incompatibility" between White Light and MMFS.

Just noticed this post. I can confirm I see the same issues on my Model B and my Master.

I think I also see an issue on the Master even when running with PAGE at &E00. (Try getting into the high score table before losing all your lives, and then see if you can start a new game.) Perhaps this is due to the SWRAM corruption you mentioned. (I've loaded a ROM-image of MMFS into an IFEL Master ROM/RAM cartridge.)

The same or similar issues seem to arise on RamFS+DataCentre too.

[hoglet]

Just noticed this post. I can confirm I see the same issues on my Model B and my Master.

I think I also see an issue on the Master even when running with PAGE at &E00. (Try getting into the high score table before losing all your lives, and then see if you can start a new game.) Perhaps this is due to the SWRAM corruption you mentioned. (I've loaded a ROM-image of MMFS into an IFEL Master ROM/RAM cartridge.)

The same or similar issues seem to arise on RamFS+DataCentre too.

According to Sarah, these are known issues, hence the disclaimer on the White Light page on Retro Software :

Note: no forms of storage other than floppy drives are supported, though it has been tested on a BBC B/Master running from USB stick with Datacentre and also on a BBC Master with CF-Flash ADFS Hard Drive.

Dave

[lurkio]

According to Sarah, these are known issues, hence the disclaimer on the White Light page on Retro Software :

Note: no forms of storage other than floppy drives are supported, though it has been tested on a BBC B/Master running from USB stick with Datacentre and also on a BBC Master with CF-Flash ADFS Hard Drive.

Thanks, Dave. Strictly speaking, should that also say, "Floppy-disc filesystem ROM-images in Sideways RAM are NOT supported"?

My MMFS SWRAM ROM-image was corrupted by the game, and I presume a DFS ROM-image would get corrupted too if you were running White Light off floppy and DFS was in Sideways RAM?

[Back2skooldaze]

Hi is there any chance of buying a disk copy for the BBC B ? I've downloaded the image and the game is fantastic with good music.
I would like to purchase the floppy disk version There does not seem to be anymore on ebay for sale

[leenew]

According to Sarah, these are known issues, hence the disclaimer on the White Light page on Retro Software :

Note: no forms of storage other than floppy drives are supported, though it has been tested on a BBC B/Master running from USB stick with Datacentre and also on a BBC Master with CF-Flash ADFS Hard Drive.

Thanks, Dave. Strictly speaking, should that also say, "Floppy-disc filesystem ROM-images in Sideways RAM are NOT supported"?

My MMFS SWRAM ROM-image was corrupted by the game, and I presume a DFS ROM-image would get corrupted too if you were running White Light off floppy and DFS was in Sideways RAM?

I have just played White Light on my Beeb from a real floppy.
The DFS is on an IFEL board in a Non volatile RAM slot.
I got a high score, but after I entered my initials the game would not re-start. I got a black screen unfortunately.

Lee.

[lurkio]

I have just played White Light on my Beeb from a real floppy.
The DFS is on an IFEL board in a Non volatile RAM slot.
I got a high score, but after I entered my initials the game would not re-start. I got a black screen unfortunately.

Ah. I wonder if this is something to do with what Dave was saying about MMFS?:

... MMFS's private workspace (typically at &17xx) [sustains] corruption, causing the "current disk" to be forgotten ... [This is] an issue when using a normal PAGE=&1900 version of Model B MMFS, but won't be a problem on the Master

Perhaps the issue affects DFS as well as MMFS?

[leenew]

I have just played White Light on my Master from floppy disc.
All ROMS were *UNPLUGGED except for DFS 0.79 and BASIC.
I still get a black screen after entering my initials...


Lee.

[Pernod]

I still get a black screen after entering my initials...

Write protected maybe? Doesn't it try to save your hi-scores?

[leenew]

Correct. It saves scores to disc.
The disc is definitely write enabled as I have just transferred the game to this disc

Can anyone else confirm this behaviour?

Lee.

[SarahWalker]

I have just played White Light on my Master from floppy disc.
All ROMS were *UNPLUGGED except for DFS 0.79 and BASIC.

Not familiar with this DFS version. What's the advantage of it, and why use it instead of the built-in DFS 2.24?

[CMcDougall]

^it is the same one, *ROMS shows: ROM 9 DFS 79, *HELP shows : DFS 2.24

do people read anything on this forum, or previous posts that prove all the answers already??
we already know it NEEDS to be unprotected, and ONLY DFS on actual floppy discs, as stomps all over E00-1100

and forget ADFS 1.30 / 1.50 /2.03, because it's

[leenew]

I don't understand!
I played it from an unprotected floppy with no other ROMS but BASIC and the built in DFS.
What have I done wrong?
Lee.

[lurkio]

I have just played White Light on my Master from floppy disc. All ROMS were *UNPLUGGED except for DFS 0.79 and BASIC. I still get a black screen after entering my initials

I played it from an unprotected floppy with no other ROMS but BASIC and the built in DFS.

I got the same result -- a hang on a black screen -- whenever I got onto the high score table, entered my initials, and then waited for a new game to start. This was on both a Master and a Model B.

Caveat: I was using SWRAM a lot, and I can't quite remember which machine I connected a real floppy disc drive to. And I was also seeing SWRAM corruption. So my results are confusing. But Lee's results seem more clear-cut because on his Master he wasn't using SWRAM: it's a plain, unmodified, unexpanded Master connected to a real floppy drive.

[CMcDougall]

Lee, try using UPURS5 to make the DFS 80T SSD disc, as thats what I did, and works 100% on all my B's with various swram / boards /mods etc (Acorn 1770 DFS2.26 & Acorn 8271 DFS1.20)
not tried on any of my M128s, as never had the time....

[lurkio]

Lee, try using UPURS5 to make the DFS 80T SSD disc, as thats what I did, and works 100% on all my B's with various swram / boards /mods etc (Acorn 1770 DFS2.26 & Acorn 8271 DFS1.20)

Can you remember whether or not the game hung on a black screen while you were waiting for a new game to begin after you'd entered your initials on the high score table?

[CMcDougall]

^defo worked again after initials, hence my high scores in challenge and in the beta versions before release!
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=14411
I was using a 31/2" disc, not that that matters, should be same with 51/4" IF unprotected
so it can save to file "HI" unlocked &46 length (only unlocked file on disc)
confirmed no worky on 33p MMFS, as again tramples over cat E00-1100

EDIT: my disc's in file load order for quicker loading : viewtopic.php?f=57&t=14166#p188068
EDIT2: just tried in beebEm414 M128 mode, it still works also (with File>Disc Options >Write Protect 0 'unticked' )
EDIT3: the ADFS (spit) version I made also works on M128 too

[lurkio]

defo worked again after initials, hence my high scores in challenge and in the beta versions before release!
... EDIT: my disc's in file load order for quicker loading

Have you tried using an unaltered copy of the .SSD from bbcmicro.co.uk?:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2712

EDIT: What I'm trying to do is work out whether there's something wrong with the .SSD on bbcmicro.co.uk.

[CMcDougall]

^never use that site, as mine (with files in loading order ) is on the release page on Retro Software , & I know it works 100%

[lurkio]

The file $.HI was locked. Oops.

Fixed now:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2712