The Need for a True Game Blaster

[Cloudschatze]

Is there a chance anyone can share this version of CMSDRV.COM?

http://cloudschatze.googlepages.com/CMSDRV.com

Have the same problems with my CMS compatability in some games with my SB1.0, 1.5 and SB 2.0 which all has CMS chips

Unless they specifically use the CMS driver, I doubt the above version is going to remedy anything. On the other hand, you'll be able to use Creative's CMS utilities, when using either the SB2.0 or DOSBox.

Where does this CMSDRV.COM driver come from?

I found it on a BBS repository somewhere...

[Amigaz]

Is there a chance anyone can share this version of CMSDRV.COM?

http://cloudschatze.googlepages.com/CMSDRV.com

Have the same problems with my CMS compatability in some games with my SB1.0, 1.5 and SB 2.0 which all has CMS chips

Unless they specifically use the CMS driver, I doubt the above version is going to remedy anything. On the other hand, you'll be able to use Creative's CMS utilities, when using either the SB2.0 or DOSBox.

Where does this CMSDRV.COM driver come from?

I found it on a BBS repository somewhere...

Thanks 

Speaking of CMS...have you checked the PM's I've sent you? 

[robertmo]

I don't know what is the difference between Operation Wolf and Sky Shark, Rambo 3, Bubble Bobble, Rastan, Arkanoid II or Puzznic. 

I have checked these games and the following ones have game blaster support
- Bubble Bobble
- Operation Wolf (only this one works with sb's cms chips)
- Puzznic
- QIX
- Rambo III
- Rastan

But the following ones doesn't have Game Blaster support:
- Arkanoid II: Revenge of Doh
- Sky Shark
They only have adlib, pc speaker, tandy.

Great Hierophant: how do you know Arkanoid II and Sky Shark have cms support?

[Great Hierophant]

To sum up, the Sound Blaster 1.0 software includes a CMSDRV.COM that does not rely on the CT-1302 chip that were on the Game Blaster/CMS cards.  The Sound Blaster 1.0 software also includes a version of C/MS Intelligent Organ (ORGAN.EXE) that does not rely on the CT-1302 chip that were on the Game Blaster/CMS cards.  Between the two, you should be able to get all the programs and music software from the Game Blaster/CMS disks to work. 

Unfortunately, this will not eliminate the need for a true Game Blaster, because the Taito titles Bubble Bobble, Puzznic, QIX, Rambo III, Rastan which robertmo identifies do not work on a Sound Blaster 1.0 or 1.5U.  I suggest that they have the old CMSDRV.COM driver embedded in them.  This could be fixed, anyone care to try?

[Mok]

Unfortunately, this will not eliminate the need for a true Game Blaster, because the Taito titles Bubble Bobble, Puzznic, QIX, Rambo III, Rastan which robertmo identifies do not work on a Sound Blaster 1.0 or 1.5U.  I suggest that they have the old CMSDRV.COM driver embedded in them.  This could be fixed, anyone care to try?

I don't think it's that easy. I have recently extracted adlib music from some of these games for use in Hoot and there is only a single driver, embedded in the main game executable, initialized with sound card type plus specific music files for each card. The driver in later games starts with "(c) 1989 Taito Software Inc.", version number and a date (operation wolf uses v2.08, qix 2.09, rambo 3 2.16, bubble bobble 2.18, rastan & puzznic 4.02). I don't think creative's driver is in there, it seems to be custom code.

Edit: The games do not work after forcing CMS support in setup because there's no hardcoded port number in the driver. Detection routine tries to find it and ends up with port 0 if no card detected. Forcing detection code to return port 220h solves the problem. I tried it in dosbox with Bubble Bobble and poor quality music started to play.

[robertmo]

I will just say that Harekiet managed to run these games in dosbox. They write 66 to port 0227 and expect to read the same value from port 022B. cmsdrv.exe v3.10 uses simmilar method so it will work too. test-sbc.exe and organ.exe use a more complicateded detection.

Prince of persia uses a complicated detection too, but this game is also aware of sound blaster cards so it can use cms music when it detects sb

Do you know any other games that doesn't work with dosbox's cms?

[Great Hierophant]

I will just say that Harekiet managed to run these games in dosbox. They write 66 to port 0227 and expect to read the same value from port 022B. cmsdrv.exe v3.10 uses simmilar method so it will work too. test-sbc.exe and organ.exe use a more complicateded detection.

Prince of persia uses a complicated detection too, but this game is also aware of sound blaster cards so it can use cms music when it detects sb

Do you know any other games that doesn't work with dosbox's cms?

So the games work in DOSBox now, or are you retelling Harekiet's debugging success? 

Prince of Persia, 1.0 supports the Game Blaster, 1.3 does not.  1.0 should support Game Blaster music if the Adlib chips are removed from a Sound Blaster, at least that is how you get it to work in DOSBox.  Whatever detection routine test.sbc and organ.exe use, they probably use only ports 220-223. 

[robertmo]

it will work in dosbox after harekiet makes the necessary changes to the cvs

pop v1.0 won't play cms with
sbtype=none
oplmode=cms
even if you type "prince gblast"
you need to have sbtype=anysb

[Great Hierophant]

I don't know what is the difference between Operation Wolf and Sky Shark, Rambo 3, Bubble Bobble, Rastan, Arkanoid II or Puzznic. 

I have checked these games and the following ones have game blaster support
- Bubble Bobble
- Operation Wolf (only this one works with sb's cms chips)
- Puzznic
- QIX
- Rambo III
- Rastan

But the following ones doesn't have Game Blaster support:
- Arkanoid II: Revenge of Doh
- Sky Shark
They only have adlib, pc speaker, tandy.

Great Hierophant: how do you know Arkanoid II and Sky Shark have cms support?

My mistake, Arkanoid II and Sky Shark don't have CMS support.

You say that the C/MS drivers write and read a certain value on certain ports to detect a Game Blaster.  Ports beyond 220-223 are not occupied by the Game Blaster (SAA-1099) chips, they must be used by the CT-1302 chip.  Do the games do anything else with the 224-22F ports?

[robertmo]

We will be able to check it in dosbox debugger when it supports these games.

And Harekiet also wonders what is that lage chip for

Maybe there are programming guides somewhere for game blaster so it will be possible to fingure out what is it used for.

[mace]

We will be able to check it in dosbox debugger when it supports these games.

And Harekiet also wonders what is that lage chip for

Maybe there are programming guides somewhere for game blaster so it will be possible to fingure out what is it used for.

My guess is address decoding, I really need to get my hands on one so I can try to create a truth table and burn a replacement with it.

[NewRisingSUn]

Remember that the Creative Music System/Game Blaster is basically a cut-down version of the Cubic CT/XT's computer's audio I/O card. I would assume that the chip handled speech in the original design.

[Great Hierophant]

Remember that the Creative Music System/Game Blaster is basically a cut-down version of the Cubic CT/XT's computer's audio I/O card. I would assume that the chip handled speech in the original design.

Essentially you believe the chip is a forebear of the CT-1351 DSP found in the Sound Blaster?  Is it vestigial or does it actually do something more than mere detection purposes?

My guess is address decoding, I really need to get my hands on one so I can try to create a truth table and burn a replacement with it.

Would the glue ICs on the card itself be sufficient to support the address decoding options the card requires?  The Sound Blaster does not have anything similar on it and it supports CMS and alot more.

[mace]

Remember that the Creative Music System/Game Blaster is basically a cut-down version of the Cubic CT/XT's computer's audio I/O card. I would assume that the chip handled speech in the original design.

The chip is a very basic PAL16, it cannot handle speech.

A PAL16 can be programmed with basic digital gates. Much like our modern CLPD and FPGA chips but again much more basic.

Would the glue ICs on the card itself be sufficient to support the address decoding options the card requires?  The Sound Blaster does not have anything similar on it and it supports CMS and alot more.

Quite possible, the glue chips are probably custom IC's or some kind of programmable IC, so they could easily handle it.

[Great Hierophant]

Here is a high resolution scan of a Game Blaster:

http://www.crossfire-designs.de/index.php?lang=en&what=showimage&name=images/articles/soundcards/gameblaster.jpg&title=The Game Blaster&num=3

As can be seen, other than the CMS-301 chips, the rest of the chips with the exception of the CT-1302 chip are bog-standard 74LS series parts.  If you only used those chips, would you be able to recreate the addressing scheme of the Game Blaster, I/O 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 or 260? 

[mace]

Here is a high resolution scan of a Game Blaster:

http://www.crossfire-designs.de/index.php?lang=en&what=showimage&name=images/articles/soundcards/gameblaster.jpg&title=The Game Blaster&num=3

As can be seen, other than the CMS-301 chips, the rest of the chips with the exception of the CT-1302 chip are bog-standard 74LS series parts.  If you only used those chips, would you be able to recreate the addressing scheme of the Game Blaster, I/O 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 or 260? 

Good idea, you'd need the circuit diagram tho.

[Lennart]

My guess is address decoding, I really need to get my hands on one so I can try to create a truth table and burn a replacement with it.

Well, if you promise you'll be careful with it and not fry it (or blend, grill, impale or whatever  ), I'm willing to lend you my Creative Music System card, so that you can study it. I live in the Netherlands too, so that's a nice coincidence. 

Just PM me and we'll work it out.

[robertmo]

I wonder whether anyone could check Prince of Persia with Game Blaster and later with Sound Blaster with cms chips to compare whether the music sounds differently on both. I wonder whether the music with Gambe Blaster would be better (with more additional effects) then the music on cms chips.

[mace]

My guess is address decoding, I really need to get my hands on one so I can try to create a truth table and burn a replacement with it.

Well, if you promise you'll be careful with it and not fry it (or blend, grill, impale or whatever  ), I'm willing to lend you my Creative Music System card, so that you can study it. I live in the Netherlands too, so that's a nice coincidence. 

Just PM me and we'll work it out.

Thanks!

I'm quite busy at work right now but in a few weeks things will quiet down some more and I'll be sure to take you up on your offer by then. 

[robertmo]

Looking for someone who would like to check his Game Blaster in a computer with DOSBox. A special dosbox build with cms passthrough will be prepared for him to log game blaster's actions.

Quick answare is needed as new dosbox is coming