06529: spec128 (strider): Finishing Stage 2, the computer resets into the main menu

ID	Category [?]	Severity [?]	Reproducibility	Date Submitted	Last Update
06529	Crash/Freeze	Critical (emulation)	Always	Mar 29, 2017, 23:58	10 days ago

Tester	StHiryu	View Status	Public	Platform	MAME (Unofficial Binary)
Assigned To	holub	Resolution	Fixed	OS	Windows Vista/7/8 (64-bit)
Status [?]	Resolved			Driver	sinclair/spec128.cpp
Version	0.184	Fixed in Version	0.244	Build	64-bit
		Fixed in Git Commit	c1f32bb	Github Pull Request #	#9670

Summary	06529: spec128 ( strider): Finishing Stage 2, the computer resets into the main menu
Description	After reaching the top section of the level, the level stage clear message appears and then the computer reboots. This bring me memories with my amstrad cpc when there was a read error from the cassete :) Tested in ZxSpin emu, the game doesn't hang. The tzx image used is Strider (1989)(US Gold - Capcom)(128k) from planetemu.net, couldn't find another tzx or dsk image since the distribution of the game is denied. Attached a save state finishing the second stage.
Steps To Reproduce	1-Launch spec128 at 0.184 with the tzx image 2-highlight TAPE LOADER and press intro 3-TAB, TAPE CONTROL, Press play and wait the game to load. 4-Load the savestate using F7 and then the M key (Don't forget to enable the keyboard emulation) 5-When the state is loaded, sometimes a white border appears instead the black one (This may bring us to a crash, so you can kill yourself, and load the state again at the title screen with the black border). 6-Walk to the right pressing p and wait until the game crashes.
Additional Information	Provided a save state
Github Commit

Flags
Regression Version
Affected Sets / Systems	spec128 (strider)

Attached Files	sta.zip (57,749 bytes) Mar 29, 2017, 23:58 Uploaded by StHiryu
Attached Files	strider_snapshot.zip (113,330 bytes) May 13, 2022, 23:50 Uploaded by ICEknight Snapshots for Spectrum 128K/+2

No.13751 B2K24 Senior Tester Mar 31, 2017, 04:18	Confirmed using the save state.
No.16737 ICEknight Tester Aug 10, 2019, 20:25	I can confirm that this is not a problem with the dumps since the same happens in both softlist entries (strider and striderk). Also, the third level is accessible in 48K mode, where you have to load each of them separately as you progress. Curiously, this game also resets in ZXDS but after finishing level 4 instead (also in both dumps).
No.20177 StHiryu Tester May 11, 2022, 18:26 edited on: May 11, 2022, 18:51	Fixed with latest Holub's changes. Edit. Using spec128 the game crashes at the end of the Level 1. However using specpl3e (the model I play usually), the game won't crash. So I suppose each model has different cfg or timings. Anyway, It's solved for me.
No.20180 ICEknight Tester May 13, 2022, 23:51 edited on: May 14, 2022, 16:45	Added a couple of snapshots for the 128K/+2 models, saved right before the new (according to this reported issue) crash happens, when Level 2 shoud start.
No.20181 StHiryu Tester May 14, 2022, 01:06	Not a new crash since that one always happened at spec128, but is good to remark it.
No.20566 ICEknight Tester Sep 25, 2022, 20:45	This specific issue hasn't been fixed and shouldn't be marked as Resolved, regardless of the game now working on a different driver.
No.20569 Robbbert Senior Tester Sep 26, 2022, 00:32	You can either reopen it, or make a new report.
No.20570 ICEknight Tester Sep 26, 2022, 09:46	Can't reopen it, it's not my report.
No.20571 Robbbert Senior Tester Sep 26, 2022, 12:00	Reopened for you.
No.20572 Haze Senior Tester Sep 26, 2022, 13:42 edited on: Sep 26, 2022, 13:43	wouldn't surprise me if it turns out the game is buggy on a real spec128 or something, especially with how close the timings are now, although given the number of other floppy games that still have issues, there's almost certainly room for error in the code there which could affect timings enough.
No.20587 holub Tester Oct 5, 2022, 14:10 edited on: Oct 5, 2022, 15:00	This behavior is (more likely) valid failure for spec128 and not issue in MAME. I did couple experiments which allowed to restore saved stated: * reconfigured contention patterns in 128 similar to +3 * manually skip single INT which leads to jump at #0000
No.20594 ICEknight Tester Oct 8, 2022, 19:14 edited on: Oct 8, 2022, 21:42	I've just managed to load the Erbe Software release from the TOSEC set (with turbo load for levels only) on a real UK Spectrum +2, and it can be played up to level 4 just like in ZXDS. This version also makes MAME reset right after level 1 is finished.
No.20595 ICEknight Tester Oct 8, 2022, 21:42 edited on: Oct 9, 2022, 19:17	One thing that might be of note is that this game shows some "snow effect" on screen, on real 128K hardware. Here's a video I've just recorded from a real UK Spectrum +2, showing how the game only resets (and proceeds to display a very noticeable snow effect) after finishing Level 4: (I've also uploaded a few more gameplay videos to the same channel, but this one's the longest) Note that, right before the "Level 2" title card, some of this snow effect always appears briefly on the HUD, momentarily freezes and then continues again for a bit before the message is shown. This doesn't seem to happen with the other level titles, might be related with the reason for MAME resetting the emulation right there.
No.20658 ICEknight Tester Oct 22, 2022, 22:20 edited on: 10 days ago	Here's some direct footage I just took the opportunity to capture: Points where MAME resets: - 04:24 - 12.05 - 16:58 Point where it should reset: - 23:43 By the way, this report's title should have "finishing Level 1", since that's where it resets currently (also, I guess that would make my report a duplicate: https://mametesters.org/view.php?id=8322 ).
No.21026 peterferrie Developer Jan 20, 2023, 15:04	According to the game instructions, "please play in 48K mode". It's not compatible with 128K timing.
No.21027 ICEknight Tester Jan 20, 2023, 15:36	This report still stands since the reset occurs earlier than expected.
No.22422 ICEknight Tester 10 days ago edited on: 10 days ago	Somebody please change the report title to mention that it actually resets after level 1 (which does not happen on real hardware, regardless of whether it should theoretically happen or not).
No.22423 StHiryu Tester 10 days ago	There is no sense to change the title report since the issue (Crash at stage 2) was solved some time ago. I think you should open a new one with those new problems. Anyway seems Holub is looking into it...
No.22424 Robbbert Senior Tester 10 days ago	Since the OP says the problem has been fixed then it can be closed. Not sure about Holub looking into it, since the assignment was done by someone else 2 years ago and there's no evidence that Holub even knows about it. Of course, like any other report, it can be reopened if needed.