Bought a Casio EM-500 for $300. Now waiting fo my 64mb MMC to arrive, then I'll try MAME on it. Could someone recommend some games that run particularly well on a non-OC'ed EM-500?

And I hear MAME CE3 uses older ROM sets than current MAME. Are there any plans to upgrade to the current sets? Is there some compelling reason why older sets are still used? My guess is that you're basing builds off older source codes and it would be a lot of work to upgrade the CE sources.

I also predict better Pocket PC emulation & retrogaming news coverage at Retrogames.com very, very soon. ;)

-P-

> Bought a Casio EM-500 for $300. Now waiting fo my 64mb MMC to arrive, then I'll
> try MAME on it. Could someone recommend some games that run particularly well on
> a non-OC'ed EM-500?
>
> And I hear MAME CE3 uses older ROM sets than current MAME. Are there any plans
> to upgrade to the current sets? Is there some compelling reason why older sets
> are still used? My guess is that you're basing builds off older source codes and
> it would be a lot of work to upgrade the CE sources.
>
> I also predict better Pocket PC emulation & retrogaming news coverage at
> Retrogames.com very, very soon. ;)
>
> -P-
>

About time you got one! :)
Marconelly can better tell you which games run best on the Em500. I suspect Pacman, Crazy Kong, and Mr Do should run well and I am sure there are others.

MameCE3 uses almost current roms from MAME version .36 final. Mameboy however uses older versions than that for some of the games, so that is what you may have heard about.

Yes of course MameCE3 will be upgraded to version .37 at some point. I was kinda waiting for a final release or at least a RC1. Seems like this beta cycle is lasting longer than usual.
With so many changes in version .37 I have been procrastinating on even attempting it yet. I will probably make the first attempt shortly. I have alot of things going on but I see some development time opening up in about 2 weeks or so.

Maybe you can update your links on your MAME Page. The old ones point to Ben's old (and dead)site and version, which are way out of date and (it seems) to be discontinued. I suggest you point them to my site and pop a copy of MameCE3 up into it's place :)

I'm glad we were able to draw you to the Pocket Side (muhahah!)
We are doing pretty good with reviews lately, both PocketPC Magazine and Gamecenter.com have done one.

Cheers,
-Techmaster

> Bought a Casio EM-500 for $300. Now waiting fo my 64mb MMC to arrive, then I'll
> try MAME on it. Could someone recommend some games that run particularly well on
> a non-OC'ed EM-500?
>
> And I hear MAME CE3 uses older ROM sets than current MAME. Are there any plans
> to upgrade to the current sets? Is there some compelling reason why older sets
> are still used? My guess is that you're basing builds off older source codes and
> it would be a lot of work to upgrade the CE sources.
>
> I also predict better Pocket PC emulation & retrogaming news coverage at
> Retrogames.com very, very soon. ;)
>
> -P-
>

Welcome to the Pocket PC Boat. You'll find that when it comes to games emulation there's nothing beats the PocketPC OS. Also if you're interested in some other game emulation check out the link below and you will see the rest of emulator currently available for the PocketPC.
http://www.pocketpcgames.net/emulation/index.shtml

> Bought a Casio EM-500 for $300. Now waiting fo my 64mb MMC to arrive, then I'll
> try MAME on it.

Nah, no need to wait! You can load MAME right away (well, you won't have much space left for other stuff, but who cares :))))


>Could someone recommend some games that run particularly >well on a non-OC'ed EM-500?

I suggest you use MAMEBoy 'cause it's a bit faster than MAMECE3. However, it supports much less games. Games that will run very well are Frogger, Galaxian, Space Invaders, Crazy Kong, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr, Mr Do, Q-Bert, Pooyan, Scramble + some probably some more. Do not hesitate to overclock it, though. I suggest going to 180 MHz, just make sure you install latest patch from Casio which solves MMC slowdown problem when overclocked.


> And I hear MAME CE3 uses older ROM sets than current MAME. Are there any plans
> to upgrade to the current sets? Is there some compelling reason why older sets
> are still used? My guess is that you're basing builds off older source codes and
> it would be a lot of work to upgrade the CE sources.

The real reason why MAMEBoy uses older roms is that it's based on 0.35 mame source which performs faster than the 0.36 source which Techmaster used for MAMECE3. I have no plans of upgrading the source to any newer version exactly because of that problem. Feel free to send me a request for any older rom set that proves to be difficult to find.

And make sure to shell out some cash for the super High-Quality emulators made for Microsoft by that wicked guy Larry Bank (Dig-Dug, Ms Pacman, Pacman). They run all at 60 FPS full speed with sound.

Have fun with your new toy!

The world of gadgets, that is. I own a Casio E-125, and just bought the new Palmax @migo. Great devices for take-along emus.

You MUST MUST try pocketGB (although it costs a small penny) it's worth every damn penny.

Enjoy!


> Bought a Casio EM-500 for $300. Now waiting fo my 64mb MMC to arrive, then I'll
> try MAME on it. Could someone recommend some games that run particularly well on
> a non-OC'ed EM-500?
>
> And I hear MAME CE3 uses older ROM sets than current MAME. Are there any plans
> to upgrade to the current sets? Is there some compelling reason why older sets
> are still used? My guess is that you're basing builds off older source codes and
> it would be a lot of work to upgrade the CE sources.
>
> I also predict better Pocket PC emulation & retrogaming news coverage at
> Retrogames.com very, very soon. ;)
>
> -P-
>


http://www.gadgethome.net/Gm/gadget-cade.htm

> The world of gadgets, that is. I own a Casio E-125, and just bought the new
> Palmax @migo. Great devices for take-along emus.


I almost bought an @migo. What's your opinion of it? How does it compare to the other PocketPCs. Is the screen and gamepad as good as the Casio (and iPaqs')? How good is it outside in sunlight, how about inside?
I'm sure others are as curious.


Cheers,
-Techmaster

Well, if you're as gadget-loving as I am, you gotta get one. A few things:
64bit color screen
Viewable in sunlight
PC card slot (yes yes yes) with a cf to pc card adaptor its the most versatile PocketPC yet
I borrowed back the iPaq I originally purchased 3 months ago (Sold it to a friend because it's button problem) and tested a few programs and games side by side, and the @migo actually seems faster.
Screen seems larger. May be an optical illusion, but it makes gameplay pretty enjoyable.
The 4 buttons in front PLUS the 8-way pad PLUS 5 more along the side make it really easy to use multi button emus like MAMECE.
Same size as the casio even with the built in PC card slot. Also, I know the iPaq supports PC cards, but the @migo has a removable main battery, which gives it an advantage on really long trips.
There's more, but my main impression is that it really rocks. I'm having more fun with it than I had with either my Casio or the iPaq.

Oh, yeah, speaking of fun, I took so long to respond to this because I am responding via the @migo, using the 3Com Airconnect 802.11b pcmcia card on my wireless network.

My casio could NEVER do that.

> I almost bought an @migo. What's your opinion of it? How does it compare to the
> other PocketPCs. Is the screen and gamepad as good as the Casio (and iPaqs')?
> How good is it outside in sunlight, how about inside?
> I'm sure others are as curious.
>
>
> Cheers,
> -Techmaster
>


http://www.gadgethome.net/Gm/gadget-cade.htm

> Bought a Casio EM-500 for $300. Now waiting fo my 64mb MMC to arrive, then I'll
> try MAME on it. Could someone recommend some games that run particularly well on
> a non-OC'ed EM-500?
>
> And I hear MAME CE3 uses older ROM sets than current MAME. Are there any plans
> to upgrade to the current sets? Is there some compelling reason why older sets
> are still used? My guess is that you're basing builds off older source codes and
> it would be a lot of work to upgrade the CE sources.
>
> I also predict better Pocket PC emulation & retrogaming news coverage at
> Retrogames.com very, very soon. ;)
>
> -P-
>

...for recommending this miniature device on Retrogames news....tempting me! :-) ....just when I just bought a new 1.7 GHZ pc in May...then bought a 80GB firewire hard drive......looking soon to get a digital camera (Fuji finepix 4900, 4.3 megapixel)..now this.......
Glad you're back in Retrogames! :-)

>
> ...for recommending this miniature device on Retrogames news....tempting me! :-)
> ....just when I just bought a new 1.7 GHZ pc in May...then bought a 80GB
> firewire hard drive......looking soon to get a digital camera (Fuji finepix
> 4900, 4.3 megapixel)..now this.......
> Glad you're back in Retrogames! :-)
>

Thanks Popeye, it's always great to see you around here. :) Seriously, I know how you feel. I want to get a digital camera next. But you truly will love the Pocket PC. Take a close look at Casios and @migos, as they have the best controls of the Pocket PC's. Next year the "Merlin" class Pocket PC's will arrive, and my bet is they'll have around 300 - 400 Mhz and likely be able to emulate NeoGeo games! Not to mention having the great classics full speed. An arcade in your pocket, who'd have ever thought?! =) And hey, it's a fine PDA and MP3 player as well!

-P-

Canon Powershot. Digital Elph, S300. Not only does it take great pics (AND VIDEO CLIPS, see my web page's screenshots section), it's got the best overall zoom and quality for about $550

And it's DAMN small!

Oh, on another note, I'm not sure about Merlin or what it is, but a couple of companies intend on packaging the next generation of PocketPCs with Crusoe Processors, and as anyone who owns a Sony VAIO Picturebook knows, that rocks!

Imagine a PocketPC runnign at 667 mhz or better!



> Thanks Popeye, it's always great to see you around here. :) Seriously, I know
> how you feel. I want to get a digital camera next. But you truly will love the
> Pocket PC. Take a close look at Casios and @migos, as they have the best
> controls of the Pocket PC's. Next year the "Merlin" class Pocket PC's will
> arrive, and my bet is they'll have around 300 - 400 Mhz and likely be able to
> emulate NeoGeo games! Not to mention having the great classics full speed. An
> arcade in your pocket, who'd have ever thought?! =) And hey, it's a fine PDA and
> MP3 player as well!
>
> -P-
>


http://www.gadgethome.net/Gm/gadget-cade.htm

> ....just when I just bought a new 1.7 GHZ pc in May...then bought a 80GB
> firewire hard drive

Since I got a Pocket PC and Mame for it, I almost never played with my Desktop Mame again. It's just so much better having it available everywhere and playing whenever you want without waiting 5 minutes for everything to load.

> >
> > ...for recommending this miniature device on Retrogames news....tempting me!
> :-)
> > ....just when I just bought a new 1.7 GHZ pc in May...then bought a 80GB
> > firewire hard drive......looking soon to get a digital camera (Fuji finepix
> > 4900, 4.3 megapixel)..now this.......
> > Glad you're back in Retrogames! :-)
> >
>
> Thanks Popeye, it's always great to see you around here. :) Seriously, I know
> how you feel. I want to get a digital camera next. But you truly will love the
> Pocket PC. Take a close look at Casios and @migos, as they have the best
> controls of the Pocket PC's. Next year the "Merlin" class Pocket PC's will
> arrive, and my bet is they'll have around 300 - 400 Mhz and likely be able to
> emulate NeoGeo games! Not to mention having the great classics full speed. An
> arcade in your pocket, who'd have ever thought?! =) And hey, it's a fine PDA and
> MP3 player as well!
>
> -P-
>

It also makes a great Digital Camera (for everyone except iPaq owners). Dam I wish they would hurry up with an iPaq Camera, I hate not having something that others have :)


Cheers,
-Techmaster

> Well, if you're as gadget-loving as I am, you gotta get one. A few things:

Hey, you are talking to another GadgetGurue here. :)
I love gadgets!

> 64bit color screen

Always a good thing :)

> Viewable in sunlight
How vieweable, equal to the Casio, better? I here the brightness inside is only as good a low bright on an iPaq and no where near as bright as the Casio, is that about right?

> PC card slot (yes yes yes) with a cf to pc card adaptor its the most versatile
> PocketPC yet
> I borrowed back the iPaq I originally purchased 3 months ago (Sold it to a
> friend because it's button problem) and tested a few programs and games side by
> side, and the @migo actually seems faster.
> Screen seems larger. May be an optical illusion, but it makes gameplay pretty
> enjoyable.
> The 4 buttons in front PLUS the 8-way pad PLUS 5 more along the side make it
> really easy to use multi button emus like MAMECE.
Definetly usefull.

> Same size as the casio even with the built in PC card slot. Also, I know the
> iPaq supports PC cards, but the @migo has a removable main battery, which gives
> it an advantage on really long trips.

Well you can create a Battery extender for the iPaq which negates the overall disadvantage of a removeable battery(even if it is not the optimal solution like a removable one is)

> There's more, but my main impression is that it really rocks. I'm having more
> fun with it than I had with either my Casio or the iPaq.
>
> Oh, yeah, speaking of fun, I took so long to respond to this because I am
> responding via the @migo, using the 3Com Airconnect 802.11b pcmcia card on my
> wireless network.
Love that wireless :)



Cheers,
-Techmaster

> > Well, if you're as gadget-loving as I am, you gotta get one. A few things:
>
> Hey, you are talking to another GadgetGurue here. :)
> I love gadgets!

Good, then this was made for you. There will be a 64MB version, but as I am finding, with a 1gb CF card, I can install nearly everything to the CF card, and I have most of my memory free.

>
> > 64bit color screen
>
> Always a good thing :)
>
> > Viewable in sunlight
> How vieweable, equal to the Casio, better? I here the brightness inside is only
> as good a low bright on an iPaq and no where near as bright as the Casio, is
> that about right?

My Casio isn't this bright. I play PocketGB in direct sunlight. Not sure if there's a better way to describe..

> > PC card slot (yes yes yes) with a cf to pc card adaptor its the most versatile
> > PocketPC yet
> > I borrowed back the iPaq I originally purchased 3 months ago (Sold it to a
> > friend because it's button problem) and tested a few programs and games side
> by
> > side, and the @migo actually seems faster.
> > Screen seems larger. May be an optical illusion, but it makes gameplay pretty
> > enjoyable.
> > The 4 buttons in front PLUS the 8-way pad PLUS 5 more along the side make it
> > really easy to use multi button emus like MAMECE.
> Definetly usefull.
>
> > Same size as the casio even with the built in PC card slot. Also, I know the
> > iPaq supports PC cards, but the @migo has a removable main battery, which
> gives
> > it an advantage on really long trips.
>
> Well you can create a Battery extender for the iPaq which negates the overall
> disadvantage of a removeable battery(even if it is not the optimal solution like
> a removable one is)

THose battery extenders are huge. Reminds me of the old days of the 10lb batteries you wore on your waist for extended VHS video camera times..


>
> > There's more, but my main impression is that it really rocks. I'm having more
> > fun with it than I had with either my Casio or the iPaq.
> >
> > Oh, yeah, speaking of fun, I took so long to respond to this because I am
> > responding via the @migo, using the 3Com Airconnect 802.11b pcmcia card on my
> > wireless network.
> Love that wireless :)
>

It works too good. Now all I need is a landscape program that works for the @migo, and I can use the VNC viewer without too many scroll bars.


http://www.gadgethome.net/Gm/gadget-cade.htm

> Well, if you're as gadget-loving as I am, you gotta get one. A few things:
> 64bit color screen
> Viewable in sunlight
> PC card slot (yes yes yes) with a cf to pc card adaptor its the most versatile
> PocketPC yet
> I borrowed back the iPaq I originally purchased 3 months ago (Sold it to a
> friend because it's button problem) and tested a few programs and games side by
> side, and the @migo actually seems faster.
> Screen seems larger. May be an optical illusion, but it makes gameplay pretty
> enjoyable.
> The 4 buttons in front PLUS the 8-way pad PLUS 5 more along the side make it
> really easy to use multi button emus like MAMECE.
> Same size as the casio even with the built in PC card slot. Also, I know the
> iPaq supports PC cards, but the @migo has a removable main battery, which gives
> it an advantage on really long trips.
> There's more, but my main impression is that it really rocks. I'm having more
> fun with it than I had with either my Casio or the iPaq.
>
> Oh, yeah, speaking of fun, I took so long to respond to this because I am
> responding via the @migo, using the 3Com Airconnect 802.11b pcmcia card on my
> wireless network.
>
> My casio could NEVER do that.
>
> > I almost bought an @migo. What's your opinion of it? How does it compare to
> the
> > other PocketPCs. Is the screen and gamepad as good as the Casio (and iPaqs')?
> > How good is it outside in sunlight, how about inside?
> > I'm sure others are as curious.
> >
> >
> > Cheers,
> > -Techmaster
> >
>
>
> http://www.gadgethome.net/Gm/gadget-cade.htm
>

The only problem is that there is a button limitation. You can only press 2 buttons at once. You can't run diagonally and shoot at the same time. (diagonal counts as 2 buttons up + left). But for most games this isn't a problem. Extremely good with MameCE3. ;-)

i use nyditot's virtual display on my @migo, it's awesome. no problems whatsoever, and from what i've heard it's far superior to jimmy's program (never tried it myself though).

and i agree, with a big honkin' battery extender, a pcmcia sled, a stinger hooked up to the serial port, and a balding woman nearby to supply hair for dust fishing, an ipaq can be everything that the @migo is... (sorry about that, just kidding). oops, except for the 16-bit color screen :)

> Canon Powershot. Digital Elph, S300. Not only does it take great pics (AND
> VIDEO CLIPS, see my web page's screenshots section), it's got the best overall
> zoom and quality for about $550
>
> And it's DAMN small!
>
> Oh, on another note, I'm not sure about Merlin or what it is, but a couple of
> companies intend on packaging the next generation of PocketPCs with Crusoe
> Processors, and as anyone who owns a Sony VAIO Picturebook knows, that rocks!
>
> Imagine a PocketPC runnign at 667 mhz or better!
>
>
>
> > Thanks Popeye, it's always great to see you around here. :) Seriously, I know
> > how you feel. I want to get a digital camera next. But you truly will love the
> > Pocket PC. Take a close look at Casios and @migos, as they have the best
> > controls of the Pocket PC's. Next year the "Merlin" class Pocket PC's will
> > arrive, and my bet is they'll have around 300 - 400 Mhz and likely be able to
> > emulate NeoGeo games! Not to mention having the great classics full speed. An
> > arcade in your pocket, who'd have ever thought?! =) And hey, it's a fine PDA
> and
> > MP3 player as well!
> >
> > -P-
> >
>
>
> http://www.gadgethome.net/Gm/gadget-cade.htm
>

Well the Fuji Finepix 4900 can be had for $630 at Abe's of Maine which I just placed an order. Features include 160 sec. movie captures, 4.3 megapixel resolution, ISO of 800 (low light capability), decent zoom of 6x (35mm to 210mm equivalent). Can't wait for it.