B-EM 2X

B-EM 2x
Download(s)	(archive)
Developer(s)	Rlyeh
Porting developer(s)	Matt Jesson (bohemiath)
Version	v1
Status
Webpage	Information

B-EM 2x is a port of the B-EM BBC Micro emulator. It doesn't modify your GP2X in any way (all libs are static). It was written using SDL.

Installation

1. Get one of the desktop ports of the B-EM emulator
2. From here extract (and make lower case) the following files into the bem2x directory:

roms/OS -> bem2x/roms/os
roms/b/DFS.ROM -> bem2x/roms/dfs.rom
roms/b/BASIC.ROM -> bem2x/roms/basic.rom

1. Obtain a disc image of the game you want to play (use your imagination).

  For example Thrust.ssd. Copy (and make lower case) into bem2x/discs/thrust.ssd

1. Edit b-em.cfg to taste (see below).
2. Copy the whole bem2x to your SD card.

Configuration

b-em.cfg is documented in the B-EM distro. I've added a couple of things. All filenames must be lower case. For example, the thrust game can use the following button setup.

 GP2X_BUTTON_UP =
 GP2X_BUTTON_LEFT = CAPSLOCK
 GP2X_BUTTON_DOWN =
 GP2X_BUTTON_RIGHT = RCONTROL
 GP2X_BUTTON_L =
 GP2X_BUTTON_R =
 GP2X_BUTTON_A = SPACE
 GP2X_BUTTON_B = ENTER
 GP2X_BUTTON_X = LSHIFT
 GP2X_BUTTON_Y =
 GP2X_BUTTON_CLICK =

This maps GP2X buttons to BBC Micro keyboard keys (actually these are the PC keyboard keys). For example: 'A' - 'Z', '0' - '9', 'UP', 'DOWN', 'CAPSLOCK', 'RCONTROL', ENTER (not RETURN), etc.

The "disc0 = discs/thrust.ssd" can be changed to insert the appropriate disc into the drive. Again, remember to make filenames lower case.

Operation

1. Run from the utilities menu. The script is called bem2x.gpu
2. Press the <start> button at any time to return to the GP2x menu.
3. Press the <select> button to "type" CHAIN "LOAD" to run many games.

Known Issues

• I Don't know why the files must be lower case. A problem with my GP2X runtime library perhaps.
• It's still a little slow, although very playable. This is my first go, a quick port, I'll

continue to work on it.

• Some cropping occurs, at times the top and / or bottom of the screen become hidden.
• Source code will be released soon. I've some house keeping to do, then I hope to release the

code as part of Tom's distribution.

• Could use a pause / save state option.
• Would also benefit from an in-game config editor / game selector.
• Implement sound.
• Only BBC-B supported at the moment.
• Oh, and perhaps a keyboard simulator for the BBC BASIC fans like me (Dijkstra hates me).