fastload

[BloodyCactus]

I'm knocking down design notes for my retro crpg I'm planning before I start coding. I was thinking about adding a fastloader but am having second thoughts. I wonder about its utility in this day and age emulators like vice with its warp mode, uIEC does not support it, Ultimate II will etc.

It seem if I add it I'll be locking out a lot of devices (particularly uIEC which a lot of people have). so was planning on not implementing one.

Whats the consesus these days on implementing fastloaders like U3 model 3?

[Diddl]

A fastloader working with µIEC is already finished: SJLOAD

[saehn]

I recommend no fastloader:

   
• less hassle on your part
• greater compatibility with a wider range of devices
• most everyone in CBM today who cares about load times already has a fastloader

[BloodyCactus]

Thanks for the info on SJLoad.

Saehn this is the direction I was leaning toward, I just wanted to see what the consensus might be. I think no fastload offers the most flexibility.

[RobertB]

most everyone in CBM today who cares about load times already has a fastloader

The only fastloader for several of our FCUG members is an Epyx Fastload.

              Truly,
              Robert Bernardo
              Fresno Commodore User Group
              http://videocam.net.au/fcug
              July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.portcommodore/commvex

[Hydrophilic]

No fastloader is the simplest / most flexible solution.  But I recommend you leave 1kiByte or so available in low RAM for the user who has something like RAMDOS or SJLOAD (or similar like Epyx Fastload).

[BloodyCactus]

Hydrophilic, is there info around on what I need to do for that (what address to leave a 1kb hole at). I googled and found a page on SJ128 and where it loads into memory.
http://sites.google.com/site/h2obsession/CBM/C128/JiffySoft128

[Hydrophilic]

It's been a while since I worked with RAMDOS, so I'm not sure... I just checked and it's a little monster!  From what I can tell, it uses $2000 ~ $3fff.  So support for that might be a little difficult.

For Jiffy Soft 128 (SJLoad), the default area is $1680~$1bff.  This is almost 1.5ki.  Unfortunately there isn't a run-time configuration of the location.  If needed, it can be recompiled for a different location (like $400~$980 if not using VIC text screen or BASIC).