RockNES X - First released on March 9th, 2000

by Alexandre da Veiga <alexandre@ppgia.pucpr.br>
original DOS version by Fx3 <fx3rnes@hotmail.com>

many thanx to:
fx3 - for all the emulator core!!!!
rmendes - for all the testing!
luiz - for the new artwork!
			   
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

   Disclaimer:

   - I am not affiliated with Nintendo or any other company, not advocates
the piracy of Nintendo games.
   - This software is FREEWARE, absolutely non commercial.
   - You can distribute it freely, as long as it is not modified.
   - Commercial games cannot be packaged with this emulator. NEVER.
   - When you use this software you do it at your own risk. The author cannot
be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the use or misuse of
this software.
   - If you do not agree with these terms, DELETE THIS SOFTWARE NOW.

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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

DirectX 7
Pentium-class processor 
A good (fast!) videocard

My system is a PII-300, 128M RAM, Viper 770 videocard, Live! soundcard.
It runs perfectly at 800x600, stretched mode, frameskip 0, 16 bit color mode,
with joystick enabled.

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READ THIS... BEFORE YOU EMAIL-ME

1. Many games do not work correctly... mainly because bad dumps, MOSTLY with
junk in the header. (use NESTOY or another similar tool to fix the roms)

2. I cannot teach you using RockNES X (come on, it's so easy!!!!!)

3. Do not ask me for ROMs, games... anything like that.

4. Do not send me anyting before asking me if I really want to receive that.

5. PLEASE be sure you have DirectX 7 before asking me why the emulator doesn't work.

6. If you are having poor performace, send me a mail with the following information:
   
   CPU, RAM, video card, sound card, the video and sound modes used.

   Example:
   CPU: Pentium II-300 RAM: 128MB
   SOUND: Sound Blaster Live! VIDEO: Viper V770 (32MB)
   VIDEO MODE: 800x600, 16-bit color
   STRETCHED: YES
   SOUND: ON
   SCANLINES: NO
   FRAMESKIP: 0
   FPS: 60

   This information is really helpful for me, so I can improve the compatibility.

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WHAT'S NEW:

Version 1.201

- Joystick mapping fixed
- Now you can play again with sound disabled ;o)


Note: the RockNES X 1.1 was not public released.
SEND ME FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS NEW RELEASE!

Version 1.2

- Joystick support!!!!
- Load Game fixed
- GUI improvements and fixes
- New artwork
- New "Font Engine"
- Pixel Interpolation (if supported by the hardware)
- Scanline modes added
- The 16-bit mode is compatible with old videocards
- 24-bit mode fixed
- 8-bit color palette now is 100% correct
- new synchronism system: now the video is smooth even on ultra-fast machines
- now a thread controls the sound output. Many sound related problems (mainly with
  slow machines) were solved
- Command line support. Now you can type "RockNESX game.nes" or create shortcuts to
  your favorite games!
- A ROM can be loaded by a Windows standard load file dialog (you asked for it...
  so you got it!)
- FULLY compliant with the RockNES 1.06 (newest DOS version)


Version 1.05

-All the emulation related changes in the rocknes 1.05 (dos) release
-Minor speed improvements in the rendering engine
-High color and True Color modes support (16, 24, 32 bits)
  -if supported by hardware, the stretched mode uses pixel interpolation...
   on a Viper 770 it looks just great!
  -in newer video cards (like Viper770), the 16-bit mode is faster than
   the 8-bit mode
-2 players support (thanks!)
-The keys are now configurable
-now the configurations are saved when are editing them, not only when you
 close the RockNES X
-the savestate format changed (because of the new CPU core)
-Better sound output
-New keyboard controls
-Now the GUI supports files with any extension
-GUI bug fixes
-General code optimization
-Minor bug fixes

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ROCKNES X FEATURES

This software is a Nintendo Entertainment System 8-bit (NES) emulator.
The RockNES X is the Win32/DirectX 7 (Windows 9x, Windows 2000) version of
the original RockNES emulator for DOS.

Currently, the following things are emulated:

- 6502 CPU using Matt Conte's emulator;
- Full PPU emulation with scanline gfx engine;
- NES I/O (such as joypads);
- Sound emulation (all the 5 channels and VRCVI sound);
- Palette (very closed to real NES);
- Save RAM (backed battery if present in a game);
- Mappers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,13,15,16,17,18,19,21,22,23,24,25,26,32,
  33,34,40,41,64,65,66,68,69,70,71,78,79,85,88,90,91,99,113,151,160,225,226,
  227,228,229,230,231,232,233,255. Most of these 56 mappers are partial. If
  you want to get emulated a non-listed mapper, send me docs.

The following extra features are emulated as well:

- Konami's jap. VRCVI extra sound chip emulation (Akumajo Densetsu/Madara);
- VS Unisystem arcade machines (missing linked-system) in .NES format,
  emulated as mapper #99;
  Famicom DiskSystem (preliminary), you need 'diskbios.rom' in the same dir,
  find it by yourself (do not request it);
- NES Movies (*.RMx files, x=0..9);
- Save states (*.RNx files, x=0..9);

The X features:

- Windows GUI interface;
- Full screen video at ANY resolution supported by the videocard;
- Stretched video mode;
- 256x224 alternate video mode;
- 8, 16, 24 and 32 bits color mode supported (many newer videocards work better
  in higher video color depths (16-bit or higher);
- Scanlines support;
- Pixel Interpolation (great, but only if sopported by the hardware);
- Full joystick support (if Windows supports, the RockNES X supports);

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HOW TO USE

Just run ROCKNES X and try... it's so easy!
When the game starts, the keys are:

Emulator Keys:

F1: Help!
F2: Save game
F3: Change slot (add)
Shift+F3: Change slot (subtract)
F4: Load Game
F5: Reset
F9: Start/Stop movie recording
F10: Start/Stop movie playing
+ (numpad): add frameskip
- (numpad): subtract frameskip

Default Keys for Player 1:

Enter: Start Button
Right Shift: Select Button
Z: A buttom
X: B buttom

notes: -the config file (rockconfig.dat) is created when you run RockNES X for
        first time or when the file is not found.


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THIS README WILL BE IMPROVED SOON...
JUST TELL ME WHAT DO I NEED TO ADD HERE...