A few months ago ROMLOAD 1.99p was released on both BiFi's Home Page and right here in the Download database. A few days ago a list of feature requests came up as I didn't have any new features to think of since the patch system was implemented. I think it's a good idea to start a seperate thread on it. For starters, doba came up with the following (my replies are printed in italic):

• Force language for games supporting it. Konami titles like Vampire Killer and the Nemesis saga has such support.
  At first, I thought is was a bit obsolete idea and refered to the patch system as an option. Later I thought it was worth adding in some extra options. The next version will have two switches /E and /J to force either English or Japanese texts regardless the language the system was made in.
  
  
• Redirect the init code to a predefined block of code to enable to boot to DOS or BASIC without removing the Sound Cartridge to 'forget' after MSX reset.
  I think it can be done with ROM images that are smaller than the 64KB or 128KB available in the cartridge. In other cases it's not that easy as you can't know if there is some free space left in the ROM image where that code can be stored to add this feature. And I'm not into modifying ROM images just for that. Meanwhile, you can always use the patch feature to modify one of these bytes to prevent it from restaring after a reset. The /R option would reboot to DOS or BASIC though instead of starting the ROM image. I'll take it in consideration to add.
  
  
• Support to load from at least one of the popular MSX archive formats like PMA, LZH or ARC to enable twice as many games on a floppy!
  This might be an idea. It'll require just 1 file in the archive (matching the criteria, in most cases it'll be the extension of a file) and I do need sources for the extraction part as well as permission to add it to get the feature going and to release the source.
  
  
• Add some visual mode to launch a WIDTH 40 with a simple disk browser with settings to launch it.
  I actually have been thinking about this, but for version 2. I don't see it as a significant part of the program to implement it in a hurry.
  
  
• Create a CRC database with known parameters, so users don't have to experiment to get a game working if they have a popular ROM image that is in the database
  I have added a list with common ROM image file names with the options necessary to get it working in one go. It's called ROMLOAD.LST and should get most people started. It might be an idea to combine with the previous feature request.
  

Maybe there are more users who expected features in such a tool? Right here every request can be discussed, evaluated and taken into serious consideration to implement in a later release.

This thread will also be a nice place to show neat patches. I'll start off with one:

Replican/Replicart - 3,03fc,20
This will activate the Magic Key. You can enter the Magic Key menu from the intro screen using the Graph key. This is also displayed in the intro screen.

If you have discovered more, you can post them here as well.

Perhaps it would be good to include some type of CPU detection, to enable running it in R800/z80 (I guess that this is already done) and if in Z80, then dectect if it is a Z80A or Z80B or Z80H, and enable (if possible) a higher CPU clock if desired. This could be useful to start, let's say, SOLID SNAKE in 6 MHz mode in Panasonic MSX2+ computers.

I haven't read the doc, but if there is enough RAM, would it be possible to simulate a doble cartridge entry, just to enable all Konami cheats and/or emulate the Game Master? I know that if all RAM is in the same slot that is difficult. This feature is included in OPF, but, of course, that's an absolutely different approach.

And what about -I know that this is difficult to implement- a new BIOS ROM compatible with the original MSX BIOS that enables to do some debugging? The idea is to remap the entry points in BIOS to include a key combination detection. If pressed, then switch to DEBUG MODE. It would be useful for analysing the code, generate cheats or simply for debugging purposes. Something similar to F10 key in BrMSX emulator.

These are some delirant ideas, I know. But let's dream a bit...

BiFi, I have used ROMLOAD and it works great. The only thing is that it lacks of easy-to-use interface. Because I do not use megaROMs very often, I prefer the LoadROM program by Trunks. It is not half as stable as yours, but it is easier to use.

And I was looking for those ROMs versions of the Konami's Game Collections in your site, but they have disappeared. For testing purposes of my hardwarwe config, would you mind to tell where can I find them?

Regards,

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Perhaps it would be good to include some type of CPU detection, to enable running it in R800/z80 (I guess that this is already done) and if in Z80, then dectect if it is a Z80A or Z80B or Z80H, and enable (if possible) a higher CPU clock if desired. This could be useful to start, let's say, SOLID SNAKE in 6 MHz mode in Panasonic MSX2+ computers.

At this moment I will not add CPU detection to it as there are enough tools to change the CPU before ROMLOAD is used. I will add CPU detection to the user interface I'm planning to make for version 2. In the user interface it will be more useful to have such a selection, just like 50Hz/60Hz selection. About Z80A, Z80B or Z80H detection, I'm not sure if it's even possible to detect the particular CPU. Most MSX computers with a Z80H have a hardware switch to change to the fast mode. For software switching I would like to add it, but don't know how I can detect its existence. Any info about this is highly appreciated.

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I haven't read the doc, but if there is enough RAM, would it be possible to simulate a doble cartridge entry, just to enable all Konami cheats and/or emulate the Game Master? I know that if all RAM is in the same slot that is difficult. This feature is included in OPF, but, of course, that's an absolutely different approach.

With ROMLOAD it's possible to load a ROM image in a second sound cartridge and using the patch system you can patch the ROM image to set all combinations.

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And what about -I know that this is difficult to implement- a new BIOS ROM compatible with the original MSX BIOS that enables to do some debugging? The idea is to remap the entry points in BIOS to include a key combination detection. If pressed, then switch to DEBUG MODE. It would be useful for analysing the code, generate cheats or simply for debugging purposes. Something similar to F10 key in BrMSX emulator. These are some delirant ideas, I know. But let's dream a bit...

This would indeed take quite some time to implement, if not undoable. I guess the user interface would be implement much earlier then.

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BiFi, I have used ROMLOAD and it works great. The only thing is that it lacks of easy-to-use interface. Because I do not use megaROMs very often, I prefer the LoadROM program by Trunks. It is not half as stable as yours, but it is easier to use.

As written in my initial post, plans are being made for a user interface in version 2.

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And I was looking for those ROMs versions of the Konami's Game Collections in your site, but they have disappeared. For testing purposes of my hardwarwe config, would you mind to tell where can I find them?

These were taken offline due to copyright issues.

One last-minute suggestion. Again, I don't know if this feature is already included in ROMLOAD:

-Support for different MSX BIOS: load the BIOS as a ROM and lauch it. Perhaps you could run a MSX1 system inside a MSX2 system, for example. The same applies to use different country versions. Or perhaps, patched BIOS or even freeware BIOS, like Boukuchi's C-BIOS.

-Support for BASIC ROMs. I mean that game cartridges that were written in BASIC. There are some of them out there. Does ROMLOAD support this format?

-Support for page 0 ROMs (I guess that this is of course implemented).

Let me think about it. Surely I will have some more ideas.

This is good, and I will ask you also for some ideas to implement in the next version of WAVeR v.3. It is a totally different tool but with very similar goals. Do we share feedback then?

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One last-minute suggestion. Again, I don't know if this feature is already included in ROMLOAD:

Then I suggest you read the manual first...

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-Support for different MSX BIOS: load the BIOS as a ROM and lauch it. Perhaps you could run a MSX1 system inside a MSX2 system, for example. The same applies to use different country versions. Or perhaps, patched BIOS or even freeware BIOS, like Boukuchi's C-BIOS.

This sounds more like emulating MSX in an MSX, which seems a bit like overkill to me, honestly. Unfortunately, this isn't possible due to the fact the Sound Cartridge can't be mapped in page 0.

I have been thinking about some method to put BIOS in RAM to be able to redirect, for example, the tape routines to some other media which should work fine on earlier versions than just the MSXturboR I've got it working on, but that's simply because that machine copies some ROM to RAM already. But that's a different project.

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-Support for BASIC ROMs. I mean that game cartridges that were written in BASIC. There are some of them out there. Does ROMLOAD support this format?

I think I didn't support this type seperately yet and you're right that I should. As it takes some extra work before the program can actually run, a reset should be required. I'll look into the possibility to add support for starting it up without the reset. Meanwhile you can use ASCII16 option with reset to get it started.

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-Support for page 0 ROMs (I guess that this is of course implemented).

As written earlier the Sound Cartridge can't be mapped in page 0. Of course I could add some routine to copy it to RAM in page 0 before starting it up. If that's not too much of a problem it's not hard to implement this one. It does mean some MSX1 systems can't run this type as it doesn't have enough RAM.

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This is good, and I will ask you also for some ideas to implement in the next version of WAVeR v.3. It is a totally different tool but with very similar goals. Do we share feedback then?

If I can think of anything you could add you can be sure to get some feedback about it.

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This is good, and I will ask you also for some ideas to implement in the next version of WAVeR v.3. It is a totally different tool but with very similar goals. Do we share feedback then?

btw, how can I know what is implemented in WAVeR v3 already? It's hard to think of any ideas when I don't know what it already can do.

WAVeR v.3, at the moment, is only an improvement of WAVeR v.2, whose documentation can be seen at http://www.robsy.net/waver2.htm

It uses a custom loader that is able to handle speeds up to 8250 bauds. And to improve loading time it uses a compression algorythm. The average final speed is about 12500 bauds.

I am also planning to add BASIC ROM cartridges and support for different BIOS loading, but, as you said, nothing like a good reset. It is easier to make a CALL 0000h rather than recoding BIOS routines.

Hmm. You might want to add some user interface as well in WAVeR v3. then.

Why you two and Ramones don't start a common sourceforge project, something like Universal MSX Rom Loader

ROM patching and GUI code could be common, and then separate plugins or drivers to write to SCC+, flash Padial / Pazos carts and may be support patching for MegaRAM and regular mapper as well.

Another option I was thinking of indeed... Add support to flash images to ROM. Would've been added in v2 as well though. It would result in one complete ROM image loading tool for several of these cartridges.

This would be fantastic

I own Padial 512K FLASH G from Padial, and plan to buy soon Pazos 512K SCC Flash

And I am hunting for russian Yamaha MSX 503III or even better 805. If I get 503III, I need Waver thing to feed games from my mini-mp3 player

Too bad I am such a looser in gameplay. For instance in Vampire Killer I never got further second level

I have the Padial flash cartridge as well. A quite useful device to develop.

Haha, the only annoing thing is stupid switches

I hope Mr. Padial will remove them eventually, like Mr. Pazos did

I would be nice to have these in software indeed.