Aemulor and Elite on a Raspberry Pi

Hi there,

I have made this game to work with Aemulor, by selecting the Arm3 CPU emulation. But there are some strange graphics problems! The screen seems to be drawn two times per frame of something like that. Frames seem to be displayed twice!
Any ideas on what to tweak? I have tried Aemulor options to no avail… all possible combinations.
I am using the Elite version available in acornarcade. Other versions I have tried just don’t start, taking me directly to a black screen.

Aemulor does nothing to correct for VSync occurring at the wrong time on the Pi. You could try forcing VSync’s with ADFFS, which will swap the VSync/Bank switch order. Try *ADFForceVSync 2

I’ve not tested this for years and never with Aemulor, so have no idea if it will actually work.

Do you have the right screen mode in your MDF? Nota: edid will not provide you some modes needed by old games.

@Jon: Aemulor does not load when ADFFS is loaded, so no way to try that I guess.
@David: I don’t use MDFs. On the Pi, any mode is possible, then scaled to the physical video mode in use by the hardware. As Doc Brown would say: “MDFs? Where we’re going we don’t need MDFs…”

I did have similar problems linked to some missing old modes. EDID or Anymode did not solve them alone. Removing EDID support + using Anymode + using an MDF (with old modes inside) solve all my problems. In fact, I can even remove Anymode, and my Pi still works OK with all the games I own.

@David: Does that include Elite? Do you have Elite working well on the Pi platform using Aemulor or whatever other method?
If that’s the case, can you post the MDF you use for it?

Hum, abort on data transfer (ARM3 mode).

Ah, I find a better version. Works OK in ARM3 or ARM6 mode.

My MDF is really classic.
Nota: Anymode not used here (reduces my uptime).

# Exported from ScrModes 0.61
file_format:1
monitor_title:Q2775
DPMS_state:3
# 
# 320 x 256 (70Hz)
startmode
mode_name:
x_res:320
y_res:256
pixel_rate:12587
h_timings:42,14,12,320,12,0
v_timings:2,106,0,256,0,85
sync_pol:2
endmode
# 
# 640 x 256 (70Hz)
startmode
mode_name:640 x 256
x_res:640
y_res:256
pixel_rate:25175
h_timings:92,24,22,640,22,0
v_timings:2,106,0,256,0,85
sync_pol:2
endmode
# 
# 640 x 512 (55Hz)
startmode
mode_name:640 x 512
x_res:640
y_res:512
pixel_rate:32000
h_timings:76,88,96,640,96,28
v_timings:3,19,16,512,16,2
sync_pol:0
endmode
# 
# Mode: 640 x 480 @ 75Hz
startmode
 mode_name:640 x 480
 x_res:640
 y_res:480
 pixel_rate:31500
 h_timings:64,120,0,640,0,16
 v_timings:3,16,0,480,0,1
 sync_pol:3
endmode
# 
# Mode: 640 x 480 @ 72Hz
startmode
 mode_name:640 x 480
 x_res:640
 y_res:480
 pixel_rate:31500
 h_timings:40,120,8,640,8,16
 v_timings:3,20,8,480,8,1
 sync_pol:3
endmode
#
# Mode: 640 x 480 @ 67Hz
startmode
 mode_name:640 x 480
 x_res:640
 y_res:480
 pixel_rate:27281
 h_timings:64,88,0,640,0,24
 v_timings:3,15,0,480,0,1
 sync_pol:1
endmode
#
# Mode: 640 x 480 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:640 x 480
 x_res:640
 y_res:480
 pixel_rate:25200
 h_timings:96,48,0,640,0,16
 v_timings:2,33,0,480,0,10
 sync_pol:3
endmode
#
# Mode: 640 x 480 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:640 x 480
 x_res:640
 y_res:480
 pixel_rate:25175
 h_timings:96,40,8,640,8,8
 v_timings:2,25,8,480,8,2
 sync_pol:3
endmode
# 
# Mode: 720 x 400 @ 70Hz
startmode
 mode_name:720 x 400
 x_res:720
 y_res:400
 pixel_rate:28322
 h_timings:108,54,0,720,0,18
 v_timings:2,34,0,400,0,13
 sync_pol:1
endmode
# 
# Mode: 720 x 480 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:720 x 480
 x_res:720
 y_res:480
 pixel_rate:27027
 h_timings:62,60,0,720,0,16
 v_timings:6,30,0,480,0,9
 sync_pol:3
endmode
# 
# Mode: 720 x 480 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:720 x 480
 x_res:720
 y_res:480
 pixel_rate:27027
 h_timings:62,60,0,720,0,16
 v_timings:6,30,0,480,0,9
 sync_pol:3
endmode
# 
# Mode: 720 x 480 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:720 x 480
 x_res:720
 y_res:480
 pixel_rate:27000
 h_timings:62,60,0,720,0,16
 v_timings:6,30,0,480,0,9
 sync_pol:3
endmode
# 
# Mode: 720 x 576 @ 50Hz
startmode
 mode_name:720 x 576
 x_res:720
 y_res:576
 pixel_rate:27000
 h_timings:64,68,0,720,0,12
 v_timings:5,39,0,576,0,5
 sync_pol:3
endmode
# 
# Mode: 720 x 576 @ 50Hz
startmode
 mode_name:720 x 576
 x_res:720
 y_res:576
 pixel_rate:27000
 h_timings:64,68,0,720,0,12
 v_timings:5,39,0,576,0,5
 sync_pol:3
endmode
# 
# Mode: 720 x 576 @ 50Hz
startmode
 mode_name:720 x 576
 x_res:720
 y_res:576
 pixel_rate:27000
 h_timings:64,68,0,720,0,12
 v_timings:5,39,0,576,0,5
 sync_pol:3
endmode
#
# Mode: 800 x 600 @ 75Hz
startmode
 mode_name:800 x 600
 x_res:800
 y_res:600
 pixel_rate:49500
 h_timings:80,160,0,800,0,16
 v_timings:3,21,0,600,0,1
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 800 x 600 @ 72Hz
startmode
 mode_name:800 x 600
 x_res:800
 y_res:600
 pixel_rate:50000
 h_timings:120,64,0,800,0,56
 v_timings:6,23,0,600,0,37
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 800 x 600 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:800 x 600
 x_res:800
 y_res:600
 pixel_rate:40000
 h_timings:128,88,0,800,0,40
 v_timings:4,23,0,600,0,1
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 800 x 600 @ 56Hz
startmode
 mode_name:800 x 600
 x_res:800
 y_res:600
 pixel_rate:36000
 h_timings:72,128,0,800,0,24
 v_timings:2,22,0,600,0,1
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1024 x 768 @ 75Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1024 x 768
 x_res:1024
 y_res:768
 pixel_rate:78750
 h_timings:96,176,0,1024,0,16
 v_timings:3,28,0,768,0,1
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1024 x 768 @ 70Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1024 x 768
 x_res:1024
 y_res:768
 pixel_rate:75000
 h_timings:136,144,0,1024,0,24
 v_timings:6,29,0,768,0,3
 sync_pol:3
endmode
#
# Mode: 1024 x 768 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1024 x 768
 x_res:1024
 y_res:768
 pixel_rate:65000
 h_timings:136,160,0,1024,0,24
 v_timings:6,29,0,768,0,3
 sync_pol:3
endmode
#
# Mode: 1280 x 720 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1280 x 720
 x_res:1280
 y_res:720
 pixel_rate:74250
 h_timings:40,220,0,1280,0,110
 v_timings:5,20,0,720,0,5
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1280 x 720 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1280 x 720
 x_res:1280
 y_res:720
 pixel_rate:74250
 h_timings:40,220,0,1280,0,110
 v_timings:5,20,0,720,0,5
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1280 x 720 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1280 x 720
 x_res:1280
 y_res:720
 pixel_rate:74480
 h_timings:136,192,0,1280,0,56
 v_timings:3,22,0,720,0,1
 sync_pol:1
endmode
#
# Mode: 1280 x 720 @ 50Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1280 x 720
 x_res:1280
 y_res:720
 pixel_rate:74250
 h_timings:40,220,0,1280,0,440
 v_timings:5,20,0,720,0,5
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1280 x 960 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1280 x 960
 x_res:1280
 y_res:960
 pixel_rate:108000
 h_timings:112,312,0,1280,0,96
 v_timings:3,36,0,960,0,1
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1280 x 1024 @ 75Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1280 x 1024
 x_res:1280
 y_res:1024
 pixel_rate:135000
 h_timings:144,248,0,1280,0,16
 v_timings:3,38,0,1024,0,1
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1280 x 1024 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1280 x 1024
 x_res:1280
 y_res:1024
 pixel_rate:108000
 h_timings:112,248,0,1280,0,48
 v_timings:3,38,0,1024,0,1
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1280 x 1440 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1280 x 1440
 x_res:1280
 y_res:1440
 pixel_rate:156000
 h_timings:136,232,0,1280,0,96
 v_timings:10,40,0,1440,0,3
 sync_pol:1
endmode
#
# Mode: 1440 x 900 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1440 x 900
 x_res:1440
 y_res:900
 pixel_rate:106500
 h_timings:152,232,0,1440,0,80
 v_timings:6,25,0,900,0,3
 sync_pol:1
endmode
#
# Mode: 1680 x 1050 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1680 x 1050
 x_res:1680
 y_res:1050
 pixel_rate:146250
 h_timings:176,280,0,1680,0,104
 v_timings:6,30,0,1050,0,3
 sync_pol:1
endmode
#
# Mode: 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1920 x 1080
 x_res:1920
 y_res:1080
 pixel_rate:148500
 h_timings:44,148,0,1920,0,88
 v_timings:5,36,0,1080,0,4
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1920 x 1080
 x_res:1920
 y_res:1080
 pixel_rate:148500
 h_timings:44,148,0,1920,0,88
 v_timings:5,36,0,1080,0,4
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1920 x 1080
 x_res:1920
 y_res:1080
 pixel_rate:172798
 h_timings:208,328,0,1920,0,120
 v_timings:3,34,0,1080,0,1
 sync_pol:1
endmode
#
# Mode: 1920 x 1080 @ 50Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1920 x 1080
 x_res:1920
 y_res:1080
 pixel_rate:148500
 h_timings:44,148,0,1920,0,528
 v_timings:5,36,0,1080,0,4
 sync_pol:0
endmode
#
# Mode: 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1920 x 1080
 x_res:1920
 y_res:1080
 pixel_rate:74250
 h_timings:44,148,0,1920,0,88
 v_timings:5,15,0,540,0,2
 sync_pol:0
 interlaced
endmode
#
# Mode: 1920 x 1080 @ 50Hz
startmode
 mode_name:1920 x 1080
 x_res:1920
 y_res:1080
 pixel_rate:74250
 h_timings:44,148,0,1920,0,528
 v_timings:5,15,0,540,0,2
 sync_pol:0
 interlaced
endmode
#
# Mode: 2560 x 1440 @ 60Hz
startmode
 mode_name:2560 x 1440
 x_res:2560
 y_res:1440
 pixel_rate:241500
 h_timings:32,80,0,2560,0,48
 v_timings:5,33,0,1440,0,3
 sync_pol:0
endmode

@David Feugey: Thanks for the MDF. I have tried removing AnyMode from the system, loading your MDF, and then running !Elite under Aemulor, but I am still getting the same graphics problems. Are you running it on a Pi1 or Pi3?

Pi3. ARM6 mode, StrongArm version of Elte. And, of course, I remove EDID support and switch to the MDF from Configure.

@David: Are you using the version that was available from Acorn Arcade then?

Yes, I think so.

Well, still getting the “frame overlapping” problem.
I believe the cause is this the explanation given by Jon Abbott: “Aemulor does nothing to correct for VSync occurring at the wrong time on the Pi.”
Strange part is that Hamsters, for example, works fine under Aemulor, perfect scroll included.

As for why Elite works for David on the Pi, well, I don’t know. Any other ideas are welcome. This game is an absolute Risc OS classic that defines the system.

Here it works with AEmulor + Pi 3 + MDF. But without EDID support and without Anymode. Are you really sure you removed them? That was the problem for me. I have RISC OS RC14.