MESS v0.77

posted in Emulator Release by narvick on Nov 18th, 2003

MESS is a multi-system emulator packed with features. The Windows version was updated today. Many things are new:
    System Driver Changes:
  • [A2600/A7800] Fixed reset handling
  • [A7800] Fixed RAM0 and RAM1 bank handling, which has been broken since MESS v0.61. Ikari Warriors now runs, among other games most likely
  • [A7800] Video patch; Choplifter runs better among other games
  • [A7800P] Minor PAL fix
  • [AMSTRAD, MSX, SORD, KC] Changed CPU core on these systems from Z80_MSX to Z80. Since the MAME core now has CPU opcode reading safety now, Z80_MSX is no longer necessary
  • [APPLE, APPLE2P] "Down-sized" the video hardware in accordance to the capabilities of these systems
  • [COCO3] Fixed a bug in DMK handling
  • [COCO3] Fixed a bug that caused Hi-Res graphic modes where the line pitch was less than 128 byte to fail
  • [COLECO] Extra Controller support which fixes Turbo etc
    -Memory handlers/IO ports modified to better emulate a real ColecoVision
    -Memory map now has only 1k of RAM mapped on 8k Slot
    -Paddle handler now is handled as on a real ColecoVision
    -Support for a Driving Controller (Expansion Module #2), enabled via configuration
    -Support for a Roller Controller (Trackball), enabled via configuration
    -Support for two Super Action Controllers, enabled via configuration
    -Most (All?) carts work now - Let us know which ones still don't
  • [MSX2] MSX2 no longer marked as a clone of MSX
  • [PC] Fixed a bug in the i86 CMPSW instruction
  • [PC] Fixed a pit8253
  • [SORD] Added cassette support


  • User Interface Changes:
  • HOME and DEL now have default natural keyboard bindings, to ASCII values 12 and 8 respectively. For systems that use a key with those values, like the coCo, this change now enables those keys to be used from the natural keyboard
  • When a cassette motor is active, another icon will be displayed indicating whether play or record is set


  • Imgtool Changes:
  • Major source code reorg and cleanup; uses new generic floppy and parameter system


  • Source Changes:
  • The core is based on MAME v0.77. This incorporates all features of the update to this core
  • Overhaul on generic floppy and cassette image systems; added new generic parameter layer. Read/write cassette images are now supported. Also moved CoCo, Apple II and PC drivers onto the new floppy system. Note that there is potential for breakage here, but in the long run both of these overhauls will be worth it
  • Fixed cheat engine
  • The documentation was gutted and integrated with Paul Vince's easyEmu guide. All of the documentation is now under docs/ in the source tree. Platform specific help now goes in subdirectories like docs/windows and so on
  • Added some consistency code to sanity check drivers' extension lists
  • Drivers now have the ability to add custom disassembler procs, to customize the way the cores disassemble code
  • CRC files will now be read for driver parents
Get it from the MESS Emulators page!