[Fru.T Bunn]

Hi everyone, although I haven't had time to finish the file selector yet, I've decided to release a new version of BeebEm 'as is'.

BeebEm runs really well with the gmenu2x selector, so I consider it usable enough to release a new version of the emulator now! I'll also release an update as soon as the internal file selector is finished.


New features:

* No longer dependant on a hardwired directory, should now install anywhere on your SD card.

* Fully working virtual keyboard with excellent graphics by Rooster.

* Configuration pages, simply click the options you want enabled and off you go!

* A Button mapper, no more messing about with configuration files! Simply use the built in mapper and click save - bingo!

* You can now change the audio volume via the user interface, so the volume is no longer fixed for 'flipped' mode games (or if you remap the volume buttons).

* I've added a few (free) games to get newbies started: Ball Game by Dominic Beesley: http://www.brahms.de.../bbc/index.html, and OddJob by Mike Wyatt: http://www.mikebuk.d...m/software.html.


Limitations:

* You will need to install gmenu2x or something simular and configure beebem.gpe to start-up with the Selector Browser:

Press 'SELECT' over the beebem.gpe application in gmenu2x and then configure the 'Selector Directory' (probably as "/mnt/sd/beebem04/discs/") and set 'Selector Browser' to "ON". You should also use "ssd,dsd" as the 'Selector Filter' (to stop gmenu from listing any possible .kbd files you may create).


* Or alternatively make start-up scripts for each game (painful..):

exec /mnt/sd/beebem04/beebem.gpe /mnt/sd/beebem04/discs/Ballgame.ssd

Or something like this from within sterm:

cd /mnt/sd/beebem04
echo "exec /mnt/sd/beebem04/beebem.gpe /mnt/sd/beebem04/discs/Ballgame.ssd" > ./Ballgame.gpe
chmod a+x ./Ballgame.gpe

Some useful links for newbies:

* If you're not sure which games to try first then there are excellent reviews on this site: http://www.bbcmicrogames.com.

* Plus visit Stairway To Hell for all the latest Beeb news: http://www.stairwaytohell.com.

* If you would like to install BeebEm on a PC, then take a look at Mike Wyatt's BeebEm site: http://www.mikebuk.d...ipex.com/beebem.


Finally the emulator itself:

(As a tar.gz archive) http://beebem-unix.b...beebem04.tar.gz
(As a zip archive) http://beebem-unix.b...ds/beebem04.zip


Right then, down to business:

* To bring up the virtual keyboard press START, and to bring up the user interface press SELECT while the virtual keyboard is displayed.

* The enclosed readme.txt file has a few more hints etc.


Some screenshots:


The main menu.


The virtual keyboard.


The configuration page.


The button mapping page.


Mapping a BBC key to a GP2x button.


Go insane in 'flipped' mode.


OK then, that's it, so have fun!

[WhizzBang]

Wow! It looks great, the key mapping looks particularly handy. I had better get readin up on gmenu2x so I can use this.

[sensible GP32]

citidel here i come,

!!!!

thanks for your hard work.... the bbcb is possibly the computer i hold most dear as she was my first....

[Gruntfuggly]

Great stuff - downloading now! Many Thanks Mr. Bunn!

[GunPei2X]

This looks fantastic. The BBC is one computer I've never used, so I will love exploring it now :)

One thing, from the pictures above--the virtual keyboard looks brilliant, but would it be better to remove the topmost part of the graphic (where there are no keys, it seems) so that you can see more of the screen while using it?

[Fru.T Bunn]

GunPei2X, on Feb 23 2007, 08:34 PM, said:

This looks fantastic. The BBC is one computer I've never used, so I will love exploring it now :)

One thing, from the pictures above--the virtual keyboard looks brilliant, but would it be better to remove the topmost part of the graphic (where there are no keys, it seems) so that you can see more of the screen while using it?

That will probably become an option eventually, as well as other ideas.

EDIT: Forgot to say, it does actually work on a GP2x, it only really looks too big on the PC! Plus we have other cool ideas for that function key strip!

This post has been edited by Fru.T Bunn: 23 February 2007 - 09:04 PM

[Gruntfuggly]

Just to confirm - this release is awesome - works really well with gmenu2x. The emulator's file selector will be useful, but it works fine without it...

This release should be on the main news page...

Fru. T Bunn - have you got a paypal account? I'd like to send you a small 'thank you'...

This post has been edited by Gruntfuggly: 23 February 2007 - 10:06 PM

[DaveC]

Fru.T Bunn, on Feb 23 2007, 08:53 PM, said:

GunPei2X, on Feb 23 2007, 08:34 PM, said:

This looks fantastic. The BBC is one computer I've never used, so I will love exploring it now :)

One thing, from the pictures above--the virtual keyboard looks brilliant, but would it be better to remove the topmost part of the graphic (where there are no keys, it seems) so that you can see more of the screen while using it?

That will probably become an option eventually, as well as other ideas.

EDIT: Forgot to say, it does actually work on a GP2x, it only really looks too big on the PC! Plus we have other cool ideas for that function key strip!

You could always make the KB transparent with an adjustment for the opacity of it.

Nice menu and config screens.

Good work, thanks.

This post has been edited by DaveC: 24 February 2007 - 04:02 AM

[Gruntfuggly]

Instead of making the keyboard transparent, it might be simpler to just allow it to be moved to the top or bottom by pressing the L or R buttons?

Also, another suggestion - on the game key config screen could you move the 'back to game' button into the middle, and put the flip mode config box underneath? Otherwise you have to keep moving across the flip mode box to change the controls for the normal mode....

[DaveC]

Gruntfuggly, on Feb 24 2007, 02:25 PM, said:

Instead of making the keyboard transparent, it might be simpler to just allow it to be moved to the top or bottom by pressing the L or R buttons?

It would still cover half of the screen though. If what you need to read is near the middle it would still be a pain to read. If it was transparent you could see what you need. Maybe it would be good to do both, make moveable and transparent.

[Fru.T Bunn]

Gruntfuggly, on Feb 24 2007, 02:25 PM, said:

Also, another suggestion - on the game key config screen could you move the 'back to game' button into the middle, and put the flip mode config box underneath? Otherwise you have to keep moving across the flip mode box to change the controls for the normal mode....

I could swap the 'normal' and 'flipped' button boxes round so the 'normal' one is at the bottom. I want to rethink that whole mapping page anyway.

DaveC, on Feb 24 2007, 07:07 PM, said:

Gruntfuggly, on Feb 24 2007, 02:25 PM, said:

Instead of making the keyboard transparent, it might be simpler to just allow it to be moved to the top or bottom by pressing the L or R buttons?

It would still cover half of the screen though. If what you need to read is near the middle it would still be a pain to read. If it was transparent you could see what you need. Maybe it would be good to do both, make moveable and transparent.

I think ultimately the only way is to implement as many options as possible and let people decide what fits best for them. If I can get something that allows me to play text adventure games with ease then I know I've won! :lol:

On another note, the Beeb has a hardware cursor, so keeping that on-screen (say second to last row from the virtual keyboard) may be an effective way of working with a partial screen display.

It may also be an option to move the visible part of the screen rather than the virtual keyboard.

[rooster]

This should be a headline in the News section too. It's far too juicy for one forum post! :D

[Goemon4]

Gruntfuggly, on Feb 24 2007, 09:25 AM, said:

Instead of making the keyboard transparent, it might be simpler to just allow it to be moved to the top or bottom by pressing the L or R buttons?

Also, another suggestion - on the game key config screen could you move the 'back to game' button into the middle, and put the flip mode config box underneath? Otherwise you have to keep moving across the flip mode box to change the controls for the normal mode....

or mabey a hide/show key (mabey R if its un used) so if you need to use it, hit R and it will display the keyboard, then hit R again to hide it?idk i havent tried the emu, but that seems, logical...

[Fru.T Bunn]

Goemon4, on Feb 24 2007, 09:44 PM, said:

or mabey a hide/show key (mabey R if its un used) so if you need to use it, hit R and it will display the keyboard, then hit R again to hide it?idk i havent tried the emu, but that seems, logical...

Does that already by pressing START.

The problem with using L and R is in 'flipped' mode (i.e.: using the GP2x upside down) they are forever being pressed because they are now at the bottom corners rather than the top.

[sensible GP32]

Well faff me its not on the front page is it!

ill get it moved..

the world most know of this great release!

edit ..... Ha of course its too big for the front page!!

right then move it back to emulation.. !

This post has been edited by sensible GP32: 24 February 2007 - 10:18 PM