Tandy and Ample Lite

[TandyColorComputer3]

Thank you ksherlock, Ample Lite has been easy to modify so far.

I'm editing your files to support a Tandy-centric version of Ample Lite - to include something like the below. I love the concept of making MAME more accessible with menus - but also showing the command line instructions. Looking forward to future developments.

TRS-80

• Model I Level I
• Model I Level II
• Model 200
• Model II
• Model III

Tandy Color Computer

• CoCo 1
• MC-10
• CoCo 2
• CoCo 2 w/6309
• Deluxe Color Computer
• CoCo 3
• CoCo 3 w/6309

Dragon

• Dragon32
• Dragon64
• Dragon200
• Tano Dragon
• Dragon Professional

Tandy 1000 Series

• Tandy 1000 HX
• Tandy 1000 RL
• Tandy 1000 SL/2
• Tandy 1000 TL/2
• Tandy 1000 SX

Tandy Other

• Tandy 2000
• WP-2
• WP-3

[ksherlock]

I didn't realize MAME emulated the coco and friends. I'll include them in the next version.

[TandyColorComputer3]

Oh cool, great to hear.

A lot of the casual coco users avoid mame due to the setup. The primary ease-of-use dedicated emulators have their own issues - VCC scales pixels improperly and is windows only. XRoar is quirky due to its dragon lineage and is still fine-tuning CoCo3 and 6309 support. The bookmarks feature will be handy to save the different HW setups involved in supporting alternate ROMs, hard drive images, and NitrOS-9 operating system.

Tim Lindner is the technical brains behind a lot of coco mame development should you have questions that require that level of expertise.

https://github.com/tlindner
http://tlindner.macmess.org/

[ajacocks]

Yeah, definitely agreed. Ample really exposes the incredible work that the MAME devs do to a wider audience.

[TandyColorComputer3]

@ksherlock Quick first test on the CoCo for Ample 0.264: The CoCo Multi-Pak Interface, an important device, is not allowing Disks even though the disk controller appears to be plugged into Slot 4 as would be typical.

That will makes the MPI essentially non functional for use, since you will likely not be able to load programs off .dsks to take advantage of the extra slots for sound cards and serial etc.

Image for visual reference of Disk controller plugged into slot 4.

Thanks

[ajacocks]

Interesting. Any idea of why it's not being recognized?

[TandyColorComputer3]

I'm scanning the coco .plist, not sure yet. The DISTO Super Controller would be a workaround, but it also doesn't show floppy with the multipak. Glenside IDE is not showing a hard disk either with multi-pak. So the multipak is not set up for the CoCos or Dragons to allow options (any devices connected to carts attached to MPI).

Also TRS Model 1 Level 1 and Level 2 have issues with options.

[ksherlock]

It looks like the floppy disks are embedded within 6 levels of slots (eg, -ext:multi:slot4:fdc:wd17xx:1) and when I'm building the property list it doesn't go deep enough to find them.

[ksherlock]

I did a stealth update on the release to include the coco floppies

[TandyColorComputer3]

Thank you for the quick fix - mpi launching disks/HDs and working great. For future Tandy releases, I recommend:

• coco3h (this is 6309 processor version that is the new modern standard, a Hitachi-made m6809 clone that runs more efficiently - and as it turned out, has a Native mode with hidden instructions. Required for the fastest performance with NitrOS9 and a AAA game)
• mc10 (formerly the butt of doorstop jokes, the 6803-based MC-10 Micro Color Computer has become a favorite of the engineer class who have used it to test out concepts before bringing those ideas to the CoCo)
• coco3dw1 (I think this presets drivewire w/hdb-dos, DW is the protocol to communicate with a host pc / internet)
• coco3hdb (I think hdb-dos w/o dw. some folks use the additional features)

[ksherlock]

coco3h and mc10 were added in the Ample 0.265. The dw1/hdb machines were removed from mame a few months ago, in favor of selecting the disk drive ROM. Ample 0.265 now has a UI to select the disk drive ROM.

[ajacocks]

The interface looks good to me. Clear.