DarcNES DOS - Come to the DarcNES....
-------------------------------------

  This is the DOS version of DarcNES, a Multi-Console Emulator for Linux/DOS.
  It currently emulates the NES, SMS/GG and TG-16 (not perfect yet)
  This is an UNSUPPORTED version. This means that, if you use it, USE AT YOUR
  OWN RISK!!. I  can't be held responsible for anything that this program may
  cause to you. And one note: NEVER ASK FOR ROMS!!!!

History:
---------

990711

  Everything from the Linux port, changed -info to -credits (try it!!) and a
HUGE speedup!! Play SMS games at FULL speed on a P166 with -fskip 1!!
Previously you needed -fskip 3 to do this..... :)

990704

  Finally a new release, catching up with the latest linux port. This version
is heavily pentium optimized, so it should give a (noticiable, at last)
speed boost. Everything else is from the Linux version, including the new 
joystick/keyboard code (if you have any problems with this, let me know).

990525a

  This version fixes a long-standing bug that caused darcnes to crash on
startup if you had any apps running that used the soundcard. MANY thank's to
FX3 (from Rocknes) for the code.

990525

Here's the list of changes in this version:

- Volume Control: There's now a -vol command line switch, which lets you
  adjust the sound volume. As the codename says, you can now tell DarcNES to
  be completely silent with -vol 0 , or crank up the volume with -vol 15.
- TG-16 Frameskip support: Now frameskip works on TG-16 also!! Notice that
  the switch for enabling frameskip has changed from -frameskip to -fskip.
  The reason?? To prevent problems with that stupid character limit on the
  DOS command line....
- Wait.... : Some games (eg: SMS Golden Axe) can take some time (up to 5
  seconds) to start, so the "Wait..." message on the screen while starting up.
  You probably will only see the message if you are on a slower machine.

990502

  Finally a new release!!! And I've added some "extra" features this time,
including:

-Error Messages: DarcNES will now tell you if there's a wrong command line
parameter, or if it can't find a ROM. Type just darcnes to see a "mini-help".

-Frameskip: Finally I've added frameskip!!!! It currently works on the NES
and SMS/GG (not implemented on the TG16 yet). Activate it with the -frameskip
command line parameter. Valid frameskip values are between 0 (default) and 9.
EX: For a frameskip of 2, type:

darcnes <romfile> -frameskip 2

-I've changed the executable compressor used, from DJP to UPX (used in MAME
also). If you have problems when starting DarcNES (including SIGSEGV's
Page Fault's, etc...) let me know.

 There's also all that neat improvements from the Linux version, including SMS
sound support and primitive (read: doesn't work yet) Genesis support.

PS: Many thank's to Nyef for helping me solve a lot of problems/bugs with this
release!!.

990314

  Same as the Linux version. I barelly had time to compile this version,
imagine if I added extra features.... :)

PS: I've just noted that 2 button gamepads also work with DarcNES. The only
problem is that you will need to use the keyboard to press start/select (or
select/run, on the PC-Engine)

990222

  The only change: Now I'm using Allegro 3.1 to compile DarcNES DOS.

990220

  Few changes in this version. Here's what's new:

* Implemented a way to map the joystick buttons, matching the layout of the
original joysticks. So, on a 4 button joystick, the layout is the following:

--------------------+---------------------------+-----------------------+
       NES          |          SMS/GG           |         TG16          |
--------------------+---------------------------+-----------------------+
                    |                           |                       |
Button 1: A         |        Button 1: 1        |      Button 1: I      |
Button 2: B         |        Button 2: 2        |      Button 2: II     |
Button 3: Select    |                           |      Button 3: Select |
Button 4: Start     |                           |      Button 4: Run    | 
--------------------+---------------------------+-----------------------+

* Reduced the executable size, using DJP (and EXCELLENT executable compressor).
It's now only 228 KB!!!

990214

  There's various changes in this version, including: 

* Implemented proper video_setsize() function.

* Because of the above, some PC-Engine demos (and some games) are working!!!
Double Dungeons is playable, and Jamanoid shows the title screen/level select.

* Modified screenshot code to capture only the game image, not the whole
screen. Now NES/TG16 screenshots are 256*240, and SMS ones are 256*190

* Now the video code detects correctly wich system is being emulated, and
selects the correct size for the game screen. So, there's no garbage at the
bottom of the SMS screen anymore.

The rest is from the Linux 990214 version  

990213

  I've changed slightly the screenshot code, and images are now saved in .bmp
format. The rest is the same as the linux 990213 version. Just a note:
PC-Engine games/demos DO NOT WORK on this version, because I haven't noticed
that the screen routines for it were just a "dummy version". I'll fix that
soon.

PS: I've forgot to add the screenshot code on the past version (seems that no
one noticed this:). This is what you get for coding at 4:00 AM..... it's back
now.

990202

  Sorry for the delay, but I've been VERY busy, and didn't had time to update
my DOS port. The only change in this version is that I've reverted the button
order for the NES (joystick button 1=B, Joystick Button 2=A), but this reverts
the SMS button order also... I'll probably add code to handle this properly
in the future. The rest is the same as linux 990202.

990131

  Everything from linux 990131, plus I've added screenshot feature (just press
F12). Images are saved in .pcx format and you can have up to 999 screenshots.

990124

  This version haves all the features from the Linux version, and adds the
following "extras":

 -Joystick support (currently only 4 button gamepads)
 -320*240 videomode (default). Looks better than the original 640*480 one.
 -Compiled with GCC optimizations, giving a slight speed-up. This version 
  is optimized for 486+ machines.

Compatibility:
--------------

  Same as on the Linux version. I've only tested a few roms, can someone do a
"compatibility list"?? If someone does this, send it to phobos40@hotmail.com
Thanks!

Use:
----

  Run it with: darcnes <romfile> <options>

  Type just darcnes to see a list of available command line options.

  Keys are: A, S, [, ], Up, Down, Left and Right. Esc to exit.
  You can use a 4 button gamepad with this version. The button order is the 
same as on the "table" above.


Credits:
--------

  DOS "Port" - Sephiroth
  Original Linux version - Nyef. Thank's for all your help!!
                           I've never tought that a calloc() would make such
                           a difference... :)
  Allegro GFX Library - Shawn Hargraeves
  UPX .exe Compressor - Copyright (C) 1996-1999
                        Markus Franz Xaver Johannes Oberhumer
                        Laszlo Molnar
  DJGPP - DJ Delorie

More info:
----------

  http://www.netway.com/~nyef/ - DarcNES oficial homepage
  http://www.emulationzone.org/darcnes - DOS version homepage
  http://www.emulationzone.org/news - General emulation news site!!
  http://www.emulationzone.org - One of the best emu sites around, providing
                                 you with the latest info on the emu scene
                                 since 08/28/96.
