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NES, SNES, Game Boy and arcade v0.4

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@vivitheblackmage vivitheblackmage released this 09 Nov 21:10
· 3 commits to main since this release
v0.4
7c4eb02

Jotego's Bubble Bobble core (jtbubl) now has lockstep netplay. The netplay module lives in his framework, jtframe, so other jtframe arcade cores can get it the same way later.

Download mister-netplay-v0.4.zip: copy the folder SD card to the root of the MiSTer's SD card on both MiSTers, then run Scripts → netplay_on. Server/ has netplay-server for Windows, Linux and Raspberry Pi.

New: arcade netplay (Bubble Bobble)

  • Start Bubble Bobble (US, Ver 5.1) [netplay] in the Arcade list. The core is _Arcade/cores/jtbubl-netplay.rbf, next to Jotego's jtbubl.rbf, which is not changed. It uses the ROM set the MiSTer updater installs (games/mame/bublbobl.zip), and both players need the same one.
  • Host: OSD Netplay → Host. Join: pick the room in the game's OSD (Join room). The game is not reloaded. The same rooms are in the Arcade list, folder _Netplay, also from the main menu. Without a server, set peer= and pick Netplay → Join.
  • The ROM set and the core version are checked. The host's DIP switches are used during a session, and your own come back afterwards. The RAM is cleared when a session starts.
  • The checksum covers the game state, so a desync is caught in the frame it happens. When an input is late, HDMI repeats the last picture without a glitch.

Tested on hardware: two MiSTers over the internet through the lobby server on a Raspberry Pi, 33 levels in 20 minutes with no desync and no picture glitches.

Server

  • A join without a picked room (Netplay → Join and load the game) only goes into a room when exactly one room with that game is open. With several, the OSD says <n> rooms with this game: pick one. This applies to NES, SNES and Game Boy 2P too.
  • The status page has an Arcade tab and needs no key by default (public_page=no asks for the key). The page is lighter.
  • Raspberry Pi: sudo sh install-linux.sh installs or updates the server as a service.

Known limits

  • With mode=join in netplay.ini, or the OSD on Join, loading a game joins by itself when exactly one room with the game is open. Keep mode=off to pick rooms yourself.
  • Bubble Bobble is the only arcade game so far. Pause, test and service are off during netplay. Analog video may flicker for a moment when an input is late.

Everything from v0.3 (NES, SNES, Game Boy 2P) is included. Details: RELEASE_NOTES.md. Source: tag v0.4, ./setup.sh recreates the source trees from the upstream repositories and the patches.

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