7 replies to this topic

[George35]

Anyone have any trouble running Skeleton+ on the Harmony? All I get is a black screen, but I do hear sound effects.

[batari]

I examined the Skeleton+ game code and I found a programming error, so Harmony is not the problem.

The game code produces an improper vertical sync signal, which is needed for a proper video display. This also explains why the sound works but you see no video.

If you want to play this game, I suggest using a different television, as yours seems to require a proper vertical sync signal while other televisions may not.

[DEBRO]

Hi there,

batari, on Wed Jan 5, 2011 1:21 AM, said:

I examined the Skeleton+ game code and I found a programming error, so Harmony is not the problem.

The game code produces an improper vertical sync signal, which is needed for a proper video display. This also explains why the sound works but you see no video.

If you want to play this game, I suggest using a different television, as yours seems to require a proper vertical sync signal while other televisions may not.

Where can I find the Skeleton+ source? Was it released publicly? I looked at the Skeleton code and the VSYNC routine looks to be fine. Did it change in Skeleton+?

[batari]

DEBRO, on Wed Jan 5, 2011 8:07 AM, said:

Hi there,

batari, on Wed Jan 5, 2011 1:21 AM, said:

I examined the Skeleton+ game code and I found a programming error, so Harmony is not the problem.

The game code produces an improper vertical sync signal, which is needed for a proper video display. This also explains why the sound works but you see no video.

If you want to play this game, I suggest using a different television, as yours seems to require a proper vertical sync signal while other televisions may not.

Where can I find the Skeleton+ source? Was it released publicly? I looked at the Skeleton code and the VSYNC routine looks to be fine. Did it change in Skeleton+?

I did not find any source, I simply fired Skeleton+ up in Stella and found that the beginning VSYNC pulse occurred at cycle 20 in scanline 259 and the ending pulse occurred at cycle 9 of scanline 262. Ideally, the pulses should occur right after a WSYNC - i.e. cycle 3, but even though there seems to be a little leeway here, cycle 20 is way too late.

Edited by batari, Wed Jan 5, 2011 5:12 PM.

[DEBRO]

Hi there,

batari, on Wed Jan 5, 2011 5:11 PM, said:

I did not find any source, I simply fired Skeleton+ up in Stella and found that the beginning VSYNC pulse occurred at cycle 20 in scanline 259 and the ending pulse occurred at cycle 9 of scanline 262. Ideally, the pulses should occur right after a WSYNC - i.e. cycle 3, but even though there seems to be a little leeway here, cycle 20 is way too late.

Ahhh...I was just looking for the three scan lines. I totally missed the cycles when VSYNC is invoked.

[EricBall]

Huh, this is the first time I've heard of this problem. (Or is it... hmm, vague memories of a complaint.) There was a bug in the original release of Skeleton+ (and maybe in the Activision compilation) where the YOU WIN screen would roll because I messed up the scanline counter. This was corrected in later carts.

I don't think the source for Skeleton+ was ever released. The source for Skeleton (possibly an early version) might be in the Stellalist archives.

However, I might be able to track down the source code and make a patch. I just happen to be transferring my backups to a new 2TB external drive.

[DT Kofoed]

EricBall, on Thu Jan 27, 2011 12:22 PM, said:

However, I might be able to track down the source code and make a patch. I just happen to be transferring my backups to a new 2TB external drive.

Any word on the patch? I love the game, but it won't play on my HDTV through the Harmony cart, and I'm hesitant to purchase the cart of Skeleton+ itself if the error is causing havoc with my tv rather than the harmony...

[thegoldenband]

I had this exact same problem when playing on my little brother's TV, which is very sensitive to scanline problems and screen rolls -- it was rolling on Gunfight, and maybe even one or two mainline commercial releases (can't remember which). We were using my Harmony cart and his Atari Jr.; I don't remember the make of the TV.

A fix would be great, especially if I eventually get him an AV-modded console so that he can enjoy the stereo effects (he's planning to get a Harmony cart).