A option to select the Color depth...

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:06 am

It's possible to add an option to select, besides the resolution, also the Color depth ?

For example...

This is ZSNES video modes...

Code: Select all

; Video Mode, 0 - 32
;   0 = 256x224   R WIN       1 = 256x224   R FULL
;   2 = 512x448   R WIN       3 = 512x448   DR WIN
;   4 = 640x480   S WIN       5 = 640x480   DS WIN
;   6 = 640x480   DR FULL     7 = 640x480   DS FULL
;   8 = 640x480   S FULL      9 = 768x672   R WIN
;  10 = 768x672   DR WIN     11 = 800x600   S WIN
;  12 = 800x600   DS WIN     13 = 800x600   S FULL
;  14 = 800x600   DR FULL    15 = 800x600   DS FULL
;  16 = 1024x768  S WIN      17 = 1024x768  DS WIN
;  18 = 1024x768  S FULL     19 = 1024x768  DR FULL
;  20 = 1024x768  DS FULL    21 = 1024x896  R WIN
;  22 = 1024x896  DR WIN     23 = 1280x960  S WIN
;  24 = 1280x960  DS WIN     25 = 1280x960  S FULL
;  26 = 1280x960  DR FULL    27 = 1280x960  DS FULL
;  28 = 1280x1024 S WIN      29 = 1280x1024 DS WIN
;  30 = 1280x1024 S FULL     31 = 1280x1024 DR FULL
;  32 = 1280x1024 DS FULL

Then, besides the resolution, you could also select the color depth, like this...

Code: Select all

;  FullscreenDisplayModeIndex
;  0 -   256x224, 8bit
;  1 -   256x224,16bit
;  2 -   256x240, 8bit
;  3 -   256x240,16bit
;  4 -   320x240, 8bit
;  5 -   320x240,16bit
;  6 -   400x300, 8bit
;  7 -   400x300,16bit
;  8 -   512x384, 8bit
;  9 -   512x384,16bit
; 10 -   640x400, 8bit
; 11 -   640x400,16bit
; 12 -   512x448, 8bit
; 13 -   512x448,16bit
; 14 -   512x478, 8bit
; 15 -   512x478,16bit
; 16 -   640x480, 8bit
; 17 -   640x480,16bit
; 18 -   800x600, 8bit
; 19 -   800x600,16bit
; 20 -  1024x768, 8bit
; 21 -  1024x768,16bit
; 22 -  1152x864, 8bit
; 23 -  1152x864,16bit
; 24 - 1280x1024, 8bit
; 25 - 1280x1024,16bit
; 26 - 1600x1200, 8bit
; 27 - 1600x1200,16bit

Noxious Ninja · Post by **Noxious Ninja** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:09 am

Why do you need this option?

Deathlike2 · Post by **Deathlike2** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:34 am

I could be wrong.. but color depth in ZSNES Windows is automatically determined by the color depth set on your desktop. However, I don't know what would happen if the color depth is set to 8-bit (256 colors).

In any case, if you're not using at least 16-bit color depth on your desktop.. you probably shouldn't be running an emulator.

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:44 am

Well, I think it could be usefull for a lot of things...

In my case, I'm using a software called AdvanceCab - from the same guys that made AdvanceMame - to control my video card to output a frequency of 15hz, instead of 31hz (in order to make the signal compatible with a TV).

This drive controls the VGA card's registers directly. It works great with DOS, but it's very unstable with Windows. The program also doesn't stay resident, any successive mode change will reset the original video mode or freeze the PC. I can't for example, select the fullscreen mode without freezing my PC. The only parcial solution is disable Directdraw and Direct3D accelerations, decreasing the video hardware acceleration. But then, I can't use a lot of things, like Vsync, for example.

Anyway, with all emulators it's possible to run fine using the windowed mode. But then, when I try to select "Fullscreen Mode", the PC always freeze. The only emulators I can use fullscreen just fine is ePSXe, FCE Ultra and UOSNES...what these three emulators have in common is a option to select the resolution and the color depth, at the same time.

For example...

Then, it would be great if ZSNES could do the same.

This guy, for example, it's doing almost the same...

http://board.zsnes.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3205

But he is using ZSNES on DOS, probability because he can't play emulators on Windows for reasons like this.

Post by **grinvader** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 10:30 am

Only the DOS port has any need of 8bpp, in case the card is so old it can only do basic VGA.
ZSNES Win/SDL is 16bpp. I don't think allowing Win/SDL users to choose 8bpp would be interesting. They'd lose too much stuff.

SquareHead · Post by **SquareHead** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:05 pm

grinvader wrote:Only the DOS port has any need of 8bpp, in case the card is so old it can only do basic VGA.
ZSNES Win/SDL is 16bpp. I don't think allowing Win/SDL users to choose 8bpp would be interesting. They'd lose too much stuff.

Hmm that brings me back to the days. No sound, very basic gui, no transparencies. Playing FF5 for the first time on that.

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:15 pm

I'm not only talking about 8bpp, but 16 and 32bpp.

With some configurations, 16bpp could be faster. Then, if you are using your desktop at 32bpp, ZSNES could change to 16bpp when you switch to fullscreen.

I guess it's something simple to do, and would not hurt anyone.

Post by **Agozer** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:19 pm

ZSNES uses 16bit regardless, AFAIK.

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:37 pm

Yes. But, but, but...maybe if someone wants to run ZSNES 16bpp windowed mode, but is using 32bpp at the desktop.

And of course, it would be very usefull for those who wants also to emulate the original SNES display, playing at the original, 15khz low-resolution.

Besides, trying to get as close as possible to the real hardware is all ZSNES is about, right...

...and using those drivers - that controls the VGA card's registers directly in order to do that - needs something like this.

Please, don't make people use only UOSNES. Now, that would be sad...

Jipcy · Post by **Jipcy** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:05 pm

vigi_lante wrote:Yes. But, but, but...

I don't think you're listening very well.

creaothceann · Post by **creaothceann** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:12 pm

Agozer wrote:ZSNES uses 16bit regardless, AFAIK.

Yes, internally. But some cards handle 32 bpp better, so...

Deathlike2 · Post by **Deathlike2** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:56 pm

I'm getting a bit annoyed at the guys that need "special attention" for features beyond the scope of the original program... I don't mind that they want support, but they forget that most devs are focusing their time on the EMULATION of the CONSOLE.. NOT THE TV.

Besides, trying to get as close as possible to the real hardware is all ZSNES is about, right...

Mmm.. to ZSNES.. it's emulating the SNES.. NOT YOUR TV. That's what those special apps are for.

Try using ZSNES DOS... as long as you know how to handle DOS.. (then again, there's too many people who don't read the damn readme from the app they download in the first place).

Post by **grinvader** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:32 pm

vigi_lante wrote:the original SNES display, playing at the original, 15khz low-resolution.

Huh?

Aerdan · Post by **Aerdan** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:44 pm

KTHX

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:00 pm

Aerdan wrote:

KTHX

lmao, Aerdan I saw it coming. I knew you were going to do it.

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:58 pm

I'm getting a bit annoyed at the guys that need "special attention" for features beyond the scope of the original program... I don't mind that they want support, but they forget that most devs are focusing their time on the EMULATION of the CONSOLE.. NOT THE TV.

I know it's something specific, and not everyone will use it. But since it's a option present in some others emulators, I thought it could be simple to add this feature.

Maybe just re-writing the way ZSNES set the color depth, not relying on the desktop display color, but forcing a specific color, in this case, 16-bit. Unfortunely, I don't have knowlegment to understand more about this...

Anyway, I'm justing asking, not demanding. This is a feature requests forum too. I'm not trying to annoy anyone. Sorry if I'm.

Try using ZSNES DOS... as long as you know how to handle DOS.. (then again, there's too many people who don't read the damn readme from the app they download in the first place).

I guess that maybe, just maybe...DOS nowadays is not very, let's say, friendly with some other devices, like USB controllers, mouses, keyboards, Sound Cards etc. And since I don't have a PC dedicated 100% to emulators, swaping to DOS everytime I want to play ZSNES is a bit annoying.

But I love DOS. It's great. And I'm glad that ZSNES team still supports it.

Huh?

You know, the original way that SNES hardware output the video signal: 256x224 (240) of resolution, 15khz.

Post by **grinvader** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:07 pm

vigi_lante wrote:
Huh?
You know, the original way that SNES hardware output the video signal: 256x224 (240) of resolution, 15khz.

Well the original way to PLAY it is on a TV, with analog stretch so the original resolution is moot (only the 4/3 approximate ratio stands), and 60FPS.
15.734 kHz is just the NTSC horizontal frequency. Playing zsnes at 1024x768@120Hz will give a lot more horizontal frequency for no visible difference besides less headaches.

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:31 pm

grinvader wrote:
vigi_lante wrote:
Huh?
You know, the original way that SNES hardware output the video signal: 256x224 (240) of resolution, 15khz.
Well the original way to PLAY it is on a TV, with analog stretch so the original resolution is moot (only the 4/3 approximate ratio stands), and 60FPS.
15.734 kHz is just the NTSC horizontal frequency. Playing zsnes at 1024x768@120Hz will give a lot more horizontal frequency for no visible difference besides less headaches.

It's not the frequency that makes the difference, but the resolution and the display device (a interlaced TV). And of course, if it's a interlaced TV, it will be 15.734 kHz.

Post by **grinvader** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:03 pm

If you're feeling that badass on such fine details you should grab a real machine with a copier.

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:14 pm

But you can't use component cables with a real SNES...

Post by **grinvader** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:24 pm

Well, you want the real experience or not ?

And besides, I think someone else already did the component mod.

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:29 pm

I don't want the real experience, only the best experience...for me, it's playing at the original resolution, on a TV. For you, could be at 1024x768@120Hz.

Viva La Difference

Aerdan · Post by **Aerdan** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 10:03 pm

mor liek VIVE LA STUPID

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 10:29 pm

vigi_lante wrote:I don't want the real experience, only the best experience...for me, it's playing at the original resolution, on a TV. For you, could be at 1024x768@120Hz.

Viva La Difference

It really isn't that serious. Just play the game, you acting like the colors is really bad and you can't see anything or something, jeeze, IT ISN"T THAT SERIOUS.

vigi_lante · Post by **vigi_lante** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:40 am

It really isn't that serious. Just play the game, you acting like the colors is really bad and you can't see anything or something, jeeze, IT ISN"T THAT SERIOUS

It really isn't that serious that I can't play it in fullscreen ?