MAME 0.37b8

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Release Date

MAME 0.37b8 was released on 3 October 2000.


Contributors

The known contributors for this version are, in alphabetical order:


Specific Contributions

The known contributions for this version are, in the order specified in the whatsnew:

  • Nicola Salmoria fixed scrolling in Major Title and priority in Hammerin' Harry.
  • Bryan McPhail added preliminary sound in Blade Master, Gunforce, UUCops and Lethal Thunder.
  • Juergen Buchmueller made major changes to the memory interface.
    • Drivers must use the new MEMORY_READ_START etc. macros, and for 16-bit CPUs the API is completely changed: the new READ16_HANDLER, WRITE16_HANDLER function types must be used for memory handlers. The macros READ_WORD(), WRITE_WORD() etc. are obsolete: handlers must directly access 16-bit wide arrays (use data16_t * instead of the old unsigned char *); always use the new macro COMBINE_DATA() to store data in the arrays correctlyhandling 8-bit wide memory accesses. Use ACCESSING_MSB and ACCESSING_LSB to know if the specified byte is being accessed (necessary for 8-bit wide external hardware). You no longer have to use MRA_BANKx for sparse RAM areas, you can use MRA_RAM just like with the 8-bit games.
    • A handful of drivers haven't beenconverted to the new API yet, and therefore don't work. On startup, they will give the error cpu # uses wrong data width memory handlers! and refuse to start.
    • The cheat system might be broken for 16-bit CPUs (untested).
  • Phil Stroffolino changed the tilemap API:
    • tilemap_render() is obsolete
    • struct tilemap is private - can't be accessed directly
    • tilemap_set_transparent_pen() and tilemap_set_transmask() replace direct poking in the tilemap
    • tilemap_mark_all_pixels_dirty() is obsolete (replaced by tilemap_dirty_palette() which is automatically called by palette_recalc())
    • additional parameter to tilemap_draw() to specify the priority mask to be stored in the priority buffer
  • Nicola Salmoria removed palette_transparent_color which is no longer needed by any driver.
  • Nicola Salmoria removed osd_clearbitmap(). The correct way to black the screen in drivers is, and has always been, fillbitmap(). osd_alloc_bitmap() no longer has to clear the bitmap (it isn't necessary since it's cleared by the drivers anyway). extern int need_to_clear_bitmap removed as well; use schedule_full_refresh() instead (clearing the bitmap is not necessary because drivers are required to redraw the whole screen when full_refresh is 1).
  • Bryan McPhail rewrote the Nec CPU core, with correct timing and support for encryption.
  • Nicola Salmoria changed the profiler so it also watches memory read and write handlers. They were previously cumulated with the CPU emulation. Also, the profiler is now disabled in non-debug builds because the performance hit is quite noticeable.
  • Darren Olafson changed the x86 asm 68000 core so it now has limited 68020 support and runs the Psikyo games, so is reenabled by default.


Game Support

New Games added or promoted from GAME_NOT_WORKING status


New clones added

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