Getting Tyrian up and running

[agranlund]

When you run pgusinit /mode sb
and then pgusinit /save, does it return error messages at the end? :?:

Yes it says that I've not set the sound blaster variables and doesn't save.

Does it keep the sb mode after shutdown or do you need to pgusinit /sb every time?
I admit it was a while since I used the picogus and I think it was before the last pgusinit update. I believe it used to work even without the environment variable but I could also be imagining things :) I might have had it set.
Perhaps I should look at getting rid of the check for it in the Atari version if it's causing a hassle.

You can add the environment variable though, using a program of your choice that lets you set them.
I found a few and there is an open source one included in the raven package: tools/setenv.prg
There is also tools/autoexec.prg that'll let you run programs with commandline options which can be quite handy.

[PhilC]

Yes it says that I've not set the sound blaster variables and doesn't save.

Does it keep the sb mode after shutdown or do you need to pgusinit /sb every time?
I admit it was a while since I used the picogus and I think it was before the last pgusinit update. I believe it used to work even without the environment variable but I could also be imagining things :) I might have had it set.
Perhaps I should look at getting rid of the check for it in the Atari version if it's causing a hassle.

You can add the environment variable though, using a program of your choice that lets you set them.
I found a few and there is an open source one included in the raven package: tools/setenv.prg
There is also tools/autoexec.prg that'll let you run programs with commandline options which can be quite handy.

yes at the moment I have to keep re-running Pgusinit each time. I did see setenv and was wondering about that, I'll give that a go and see if it then stores the mode with /save

I've stopped using the Mach32 right now because it's not compatible with some of the stuff with the driver as it is or it'll put a small window in the centre of the screen :lol:I do want to learn how to make my own drivers so that I can capitalise on its extra power and make some of the other cards etc work as well.

[PhilC]

I've just added the Pgusinit to autoexec.cnf, was simpler to do

Code: Select all

# Enable CD-IN on OPLSAX (WSS)
#
#c:\raven\mon.tos pb $81000534 2
#c:\raven\mon.tos pb $81000535 5
#c:\raven\mon.tos pb $81000534 3
#c:\raven\mon.tos pb $81000535 5

# Enable sandblaster mode on Picogus

c:\raven\drivers\picogus\pgusinit.prg /mode sb

[agranlund]

I've stopped using the Mach32 right now because it's not compatible with some of the stuff with the driver as it is or it'll put a small window in the centre of the screen :lol:

Yep, it'll pick the closest resolution you have available and put the game in the center of that.

The Nova driver runs the Mach32 in hardware accelerator mode, as it should, and Mach8/32/64 cannot go lower than 640x480 in that mode.

I was experimenting with hooking some of the Nova functions, hijack control and put the card in normal VGA mode when the caller requests 320x200, and return control back to Nova on restore. But it was never completed as I lost urgency once I got hold of the W32i card :)
If I remember correctly I think the restore back was the biggest missing part.

[PhilC]

@agranlund that's interesting to know and makes sense as you'd not want to run windows in 320x200 mode.

I am on the lookout for either an S3 or W32 ISA card but they are either unobtainium or expensive so far.

[luciodra]

Does it keep the sb mode after shutdown or do you need to pgusinit /sb every time?
I admit it was a while since I used the picogus and I think it was before the last pgusinit update. I believe it used to work even without the environment variable but I could also be imagining things :) I might have had it set.
Perhaps I should look at getting rid of the check for it in the Atari version if it's causing a hassle.

You can add the environment variable though, using a program of your choice that lets you set them.
I found a few and there is an open source one included in the raven package: tools/setenv.prg
There is also tools/autoexec.prg that'll let you run programs with commandline options which can be quite handy.

At the moment I don't need to run the command pgusinit /mode sb at every reboot. There are two ways:
1 - put Picogus in a PC (I used the A2286 of my Amiga 4000TX) and then give the commands pgusinit /mode sb and then pgusinit /save;
2 - on Raven give the same commands and even if an error returns, sooner or later, it will work (you have to try several times)!!!