[Coco] Best emulator for Windows nowadays?

Mon Aug 28 16:24:50 EDT 2017

So, back to the original question, what is "the best" emulator for Windows?

"Best" is a very subjective term, VCC, since you are running Windows, is by
far the easiest, and most user friendly, it emulates a CoCo 3, which also
runs a vast majority of CoCo 1 & 2 software, has support for multi-pack
interface, Orchestra 90 cart, floppy and hard drive controllers, and
supports Drive Wire.  There are some compatibility issues, there are things
that run on a real cocos that wont run on VCC, there are things that will
run on VCC that won't run on real CoCos.  I've heard there are some core
6309 CPU emulations glitches that affect BASIC-09 on NitrOS-9 for example,
that may never effect you.  If you're into gaming, you'll find the harsh
red and blue artifact emulation less than soothing or accurate, but it
works.  VCC does not require you to install/copy and ROM files to make it
work "out of box" and I'd give it an overall 8 out of 10 rating.

Xroar for Windows, was just updated this month, and will probably be
updated again soon.  Xroar is the _only currently and actively developed
and maintained emulator specifically for the CoCo and Dragon_  Xroar is not
multi-purpose like MAME, and we have direct access to the author who makes
frequent revisions.  You will need to drag ROM files into the program
directory, but that's a one-time shot.  It's great for DISK based games and
loading cassette and BIN files, but I've had issues with ROM
pack/cartridges on it, partially due to my lack of time to research the
process.  The sound issue I mentioned previously I've shared with Ciaran,
he's heard it, he's aware of it, and aware it's specific to Xroar and is
working on it.  Can't say the same for VCC at the moment.  I give Xroar a 9
out of 10 rating for compatibility, ease of use, and for pristine colour
artifact emulation that's literally scientifically accurate. The only
downside is that it's not a CoCo 3 emulator, at the moment.

MAME, is a multi-splendor beast which offers a lot of rock solid
compatibility and seems to be the developers choice as there is are
real-time debuggers, break points, watch points, etc., but MAME requires a
little work to setup and the user interface, again, far from elegant, so I
give it 9 out of 10 rating.

What's "best" for you depends on what you want to do, just play games, or
actually develop bare-metal assembly.  It should also be noted that  there
are things on MAME that don't show up there that do show up on real
hardware, the thing we recently became ware of are GIME "sparklies" that
are a by-product of the 86 GIME and don't show up on emulators but do on
real hardware.

So none are perfect, none are a complete one-stop-shop, but between the 3
choices there is something for everybody, I'm leaning towards Xroar and
MAME for both my recreation needs, and in the near future,
cross-development platform.

Steve Strowbridge, aka
The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
ogStevieStrow at gmail.com

Website:  http://ogsteviestrow.com
Merchandise:  http://8bit256.com
All things CoCo:  http://imacoconut.com
CoCoTALK!  http://cocotalk.live

On Sun, Aug 27, 2017 at 8:06 PM, Steve Strowbridge <ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Good point Bill Pierce, yes VCC is a CoCo 3 emulator, but I've run plenty
> of CoCo 1/2 games on it with little or no issue, just like a real CoCo 3 is
> mostly CoCo 1/2 compatible, so is VCC.
>
>
> Steve Strowbridge, aka
> The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
> ogStevieStrow at gmail.com
>
> Website:  http://ogsteviestrow.com
> Merchandise:  http://8bit256.com
> All things CoCo:  http://imacoconut.com
> CoCoTALK!  http://cocotalk.live
>
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 27, 2017 at 12:15 PM, Bill Pierce via Coco <
> coco at maltedmedia.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>  Steve, VCC does NOT do 1 &2 as stated "1. VCC - Windows Only - emulates
>> CoCo 1/2/3". It will ONLY emulate a Coco3.
>>
>>
>>
>> Bill Pierce
>> "Charlie stole the handle, and the train it won't stop going, no way to
>> slow down!" - Ian Anderson - Jethro Tull
>>
>> My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
>> https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
>> Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
>> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
>>
>> E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Steve Strowbridge <ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>
>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
>> Sent: Sun, Aug 27, 2017 12:19 am
>> Subject: Re: [Coco] Best emulator for Windows nowadays?
>>
>> Currently, there are three ways to emulate the CoCo;1. VCC - Windows Only
>> - emulates CoCo 1/2/32. MAME (MESS is now included as part of MAME) - cross
>> platform, emulatesCoCo 1/2/3/Dragon/MC-10, et. al,3 XROAR - cross platform
>> - emulates CoCo 1/2/DragonVCC is by far the simplest, and is a
>> self-contained .EXE file that ispretty much plug and play, that last
>> version of VCC is 2.something the 1.xseries is out dated.  VCC is simple to
>> use, but has not actually beenupdated in roughly a year, and there are some
>> known emulation compatibilityissues with is, as well as a few random
>> Windows/PC issues on occasion withpermissions, video driver compatibility
>> with Windows, 10, etc.XRoar is the 2nd easiest to use, the only "techie"
>> thing you need to do isto drag ROM files into the directory for the system
>> you wish to emulate,and in the Case of the CoCo, you'd need the BASIC,
>> Extended BASIC, and DiskBASIC ROMS to run everything, similar with Dragon
>> ROMS.The only "issues" I've found with XROAR are running cartridges, and
>> somevery random compatibility issues with some CoCo games, and occasional
>> sound"glitches" where data coming through the 6-bit DAC continue to
>> produce"buzzing" noises, this is not 100% consistent with all programs, but
>> it hasoccurred.  Xroar is actively updated by it's author, and member of
>> thislist, Ciaran Anscomb, so questions/issues/bugs can be reported and
>> areaddressed.  Xroar also has some of the best artifact color emulation
>> atthis point.Last but not least, we have MAME/MESS, the current version is
>> somewherearound .187 or .188 and if you're running anything older, you
>> really shouldupdate.MAME, being the large beast that it is, is designed to
>> emulate literallyevery arcade system on the planet, and MESS, being now
>> part of the project,is designed to emulate every home computer and video
>> game console on theplanet, and the project is handled by a team of
>> (hundreds? dozens?) ofpeople around the world, and has a regular
>> update/release cycle of(monthly?) versions.The good:  MAME is probably the
>> single best across the board solid emulatorwith some of the highest level
>> of emulation compatibility across the entireCoCo line from the CoCo
>> 1/2/2b/3/3h, etc.  The artifact colors are prettydarn good, but Ciaran
>> upped the ante with Xroar recently.  I've yet toexperience any of the
>> DAC/Joystick/Sound issues, and, things like theSpeech and Sound Cartridge
>> emulation have been added recently, which noother emulators currently
>> support.The bad;  setup is less than plug and play, ROM files need to be
>> draggedinto the ROM directory, user settings require some tweaking, and
>> thebuilt-in UI is, to be fair, as well as an under statement, less
>> thanelegant.  This UI can be augmented, on Windows, at least with a tool
>> calledMESS UI that gives you a menu bar and some more direct access to
>> mountfloppies, etc.Like many other projects and topics in the CoCo
>> community, there isfragmentation in the adoption/support/awareness and
>> fairness about "thetruths" of these products.  From my own experience I
>> have spent a lot oftime using, researching and learning about all of them,
>> and currently myfavorites are both MAME and XROAR, I lean a little more
>> towards MAME at themoment for both the Speech and Sound Pack emulation, and
>> the slightlycleaner sound, but I'll still run XROAR quite a bit for CoCo
>> 1/2 stuff.I have links to the various emulators and ROMS on my web
>> sitehttp://imacoconut.com and I have over 200 videos I've been doing on
>> YouTubefor the past 2 years, all of which started on VCC, because I didn't
>> evenhave a real CoCo when I started, and over time, I've transitioned away
>> fromVCC, initially because of the very harsh way it emulated the
>> artifactcolors, but also due to the fact that certain things didn't run
>> well.On my YouTube channel, there are videos showing how to set up and use
>> VCCand Xroar, and on some of our most recent CoCOTALK! shows, we've shown
>> howto set up MAME, how to utilize the Speech and Sound Pack emulation, and
>> howto use MESS UI to simplify MAME, and even how to use MAME for
>> developmentpurposes to take advantage of it's debugger.Feel free to check
>> out some of those videos athttp://youtube.com/ogsteviestrow and have
>> some current facts and examplesto make an informed decision on which
>> emulator would work best for you, andfeel free to hit me up with any
>> additional questions.Steve Strowbridge, akaThe Original Gamer Stevie
>> StrowogStevieStrow at gmail.comWebsite:  http://ogsteviestrow.comMerchandise:
>> http://8bit256.comAll things CoCo:  http://imacoconut.comCoCoTALK!
>> http://cocotalk.liveOn Thu, Aug 24, 2017 at 5:01 PM, Salvador Garcia via
>> Coco <coco at maltedmedia.com> wrote:> The two "main", but definitely not
>> the only emulators around, are VCC and> MAME. If I were to recommend
>> anything, I would say get them both and be> happy :-).>> VCC is simpler to
>> get running while MAME needs a little work to get it> going. On the flip
>> side, MAME has been favorably criticized for its great> debugging
>> capabilities.>> To start with I got VCC and have been happy with it. Once I
>> needs more> debugging capabilities I will get MAME.>> Salvador>> On
>> Thursday, August 24, 2017, 3:24:30 PM CDT, John Guin <>
>> johnguin at hotmail.com> wrote:>> Say gang,>> I've lost track of emulators
>> and now that I have my laptop working again,> would love to get one
>> installed.>> The last I used MESS - two/three years ago?- it had earned its
>> name,> IMHO.  But is that really all there is at this point?>> Or has there
>> been a better update or new client that is worth using?>> Thanks all!>
>> John>> --> Coco mailing list> Coco at maltedmedia.com>
>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco>> --> Coco mailing
>> list> Coco at maltedmedia.com> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mai
>> lman/listinfo/coco>-- Coco mailing listCoco at maltedmedia.comhttps://
>> pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>>
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