ZX Plus News

This describes the progress of ZX Plus with details of version releases, new features, etc. Note that features newer to the last version of ZX Plus are not included in the downloadable version but will appear in the next version instead.

Date News

11/11/1999 ZX Plus version 0.23 released.

11/11/1999 128K Soundchip implemented without enveloping.

11/11/1999 48K and 128K sound using Direct Sound (tested with a Sound Blaster AWE64).

11/11/1999 Randomised Spectrum memory on startup.

11/11/1999 DirectX 7 Required.

11/11/1999 Fixed all known memory leaks.

01/10/1999 Various code optimisation.

01/09/1999 More Z80 bugs fixed so games like Antiriad now work.

01/08/1999 Correctly(!) fixed corrupted display for some video cards using display mode cache.

05/07/1999 ZX Plus version 0.22 released.

04/06/1999 Added joystick configuration including joystick button mapping to the keyboard so games requiring the keyboard and joystick can have all the keys mapped to the joystick. Changed the zxplus.dat configuration file to include version number and joystick configuration.

03/07/1999 Fixed more Z80 bugs. Bravestar and a few other games now work better than before. Fixed the border when loading from Windows Explorer to now change to the correct colour when it runs. Fixed the loading of Z80 version 1.45 files when from Windows Explorer.

03/07/1999 Fixed corrupted display for some video cards using display mode cache.

21/06/1999 Due to a bug the already available version of ZXPlus can play Abu Simbel's Profanation.

19/06/1999 ZX Plus version 0.21 released.

18/06/1999 Fixed the loading of version 2 and 3 z80 snapshots due to the incorrect order of the page blocks. Changed the timing of the delay so the emulator calculates the correct speed more quickly. Progressing well on the AY8912 soundchip and expect to release a working version in version 0.3. Modified the menu to only allow presses of keys to act as one key press while backspace, page up, page down and the arrow keys can be held down to produce multiple key presses. This stops multiple options been chosen when you wanted only one such as holding down the enter key.

14/06/1999 Improved the sound when soundblaster is selected. Fixed a bug which means that the music in alot of games plays now; eg. Nodes of Yesod, KnightLore, etc. Changed the 128k roms, now a 128 reset will work properly.

12/06/1999 ZX Plus version 0.20 released.

12/06/1999 Fixed a few bugs in the Z80 emulation. There are still a lot more bugs to find.

11/06/1999 Implemented higher resolution timing to improve the sound on faster computers. The Sound Blaster port is now automatically set using the BLASTER environment variable. If it is not set the default is 220h.

08/06/1999 Implemented the Spectrum 128K without 128K soundchip emulation, loading 128K .SNA and .Z80, Saving 128K .SNA, and the shadow screen. The 128K Rom emulation crashes so 48K mode is set to default. Games that work okay are Yie Ar Kung Fu, Target Renegade and a few others. The extra 128K keys on the keyboard have not yet been mapped.

07/06/1999 Implemented some of the undocumented flags (bits 3 and 5 of F) so when writing BASIC in the 48K Rom some of the spacing is now correct while others are always wrong. Before these values were random. Mapped the delete key to the PC Backspace and the break key to the PC grave key.

06/06/1999 Added a screen mode option letting you choose what type you want, either Classic (Full screen and no interpolation), Interpolation (Full screen and horizontal interpolation), Scanlines (black lines inserted inbetween screen lines so twice as quick as full screen), and Scanlines and Interpolation (default for Version 0.10). The screen mode is also saved in zxplus.dat.

04/06/1999 ZX Plus version 0.10 released.

03/06/1999 Completed the menu options allowing you to choose the joystick emulation, sound options, load z80 or snap, save snap, etc. A file zxplus.dat loads and saves the options automatically. Soundblaster port 220h mode can cause zx plus to crash if not a true sound blaster or not at port 220h.

28/05/1999 Implemented windows joystick support. Up to two joysticks can be used. It has been tested with Gravis Gamepad Pro, Gravis Xterminator, and a six button joypad. Kempston, Sinclair 1, and Sinclair 2 emulation added. The menu can now be driven using the joystick. Improved the timing of the Z80 interrupt and ULA so games like ghost and goblins now do not flicker.

27/05/1999 Started work on a "Load File", and "Save File" menu box.

26/05/1999 Implemented Spectrum 48K sound using Sound Blaster port 220h. We have not yet found a way to emulate the sound properly using Direct Sound.

22/05/1999 Inplemented the sprectrum cursors which are now mapped to the keyboard cursors and the control key.

20/05/1999 Implemented the data bus to optimize the calculation of the spectrum screen to the Z80 screen.

16/05/1999 Implemented the reading of Z80 file formats.

14/05/1999 Finished a reasonable emulation of the Z80 with the screen, keyboard, and reading of snapshots implemented.

01/06/1998 Started the ZX Plus project.

Last Modified : 11/11/1999

Date	News
11/11/1999	ZX Plus version 0.23 released.
11/11/1999	128K Soundchip implemented without enveloping.
11/11/1999	48K and 128K sound using Direct Sound (tested with a Sound Blaster AWE64).
11/11/1999	Randomised Spectrum memory on startup.
11/11/1999	DirectX 7 Required.
11/11/1999	Fixed all known memory leaks.
01/10/1999	Various code optimisation.
01/09/1999	More Z80 bugs fixed so games like Antiriad now work.
01/08/1999	Correctly(!) fixed corrupted display for some video cards using display mode cache.
05/07/1999	ZX Plus version 0.22 released.
04/06/1999	Added joystick configuration including joystick button mapping to the keyboard so games requiring the keyboard and joystick can have all the keys mapped to the joystick. Changed the zxplus.dat configuration file to include version number and joystick configuration.
03/07/1999	Fixed more Z80 bugs. Bravestar and a few other games now work better than before. Fixed the border when loading from Windows Explorer to now change to the correct colour when it runs. Fixed the loading of Z80 version 1.45 files when from Windows Explorer.
03/07/1999	Fixed corrupted display for some video cards using display mode cache.
21/06/1999	Due to a bug the already available version of ZXPlus can play Abu Simbel's Profanation.
19/06/1999	ZX Plus version 0.21 released.
18/06/1999	Fixed the loading of version 2 and 3 z80 snapshots due to the incorrect order of the page blocks. Changed the timing of the delay so the emulator calculates the correct speed more quickly. Progressing well on the AY8912 soundchip and expect to release a working version in version 0.3. Modified the menu to only allow presses of keys to act as one key press while backspace, page up, page down and the arrow keys can be held down to produce multiple key presses. This stops multiple options been chosen when you wanted only one such as holding down the enter key.
14/06/1999	Improved the sound when soundblaster is selected. Fixed a bug which means that the music in alot of games plays now; eg. Nodes of Yesod, KnightLore, etc. Changed the 128k roms, now a 128 reset will work properly.
12/06/1999	ZX Plus version 0.20 released.
12/06/1999	Fixed a few bugs in the Z80 emulation. There are still a lot more bugs to find.
11/06/1999	Implemented higher resolution timing to improve the sound on faster computers. The Sound Blaster port is now automatically set using the BLASTER environment variable. If it is not set the default is 220h.
08/06/1999	Implemented the Spectrum 128K without 128K soundchip emulation, loading 128K .SNA and .Z80, Saving 128K .SNA, and the shadow screen. The 128K Rom emulation crashes so 48K mode is set to default. Games that work okay are Yie Ar Kung Fu, Target Renegade and a few others. The extra 128K keys on the keyboard have not yet been mapped.
07/06/1999	Implemented some of the undocumented flags (bits 3 and 5 of F) so when writing BASIC in the 48K Rom some of the spacing is now correct while others are always wrong. Before these values were random. Mapped the delete key to the PC Backspace and the break key to the PC grave key.
06/06/1999	Added a screen mode option letting you choose what type you want, either Classic (Full screen and no interpolation), Interpolation (Full screen and horizontal interpolation), Scanlines (black lines inserted inbetween screen lines so twice as quick as full screen), and Scanlines and Interpolation (default for Version 0.10). The screen mode is also saved in zxplus.dat.
04/06/1999	ZX Plus version 0.10 released.
03/06/1999	Completed the menu options allowing you to choose the joystick emulation, sound options, load z80 or snap, save snap, etc. A file zxplus.dat loads and saves the options automatically. Soundblaster port 220h mode can cause zx plus to crash if not a true sound blaster or not at port 220h.
28/05/1999	Implemented windows joystick support. Up to two joysticks can be used. It has been tested with Gravis Gamepad Pro, Gravis Xterminator, and a six button joypad. Kempston, Sinclair 1, and Sinclair 2 emulation added. The menu can now be driven using the joystick. Improved the timing of the Z80 interrupt and ULA so games like ghost and goblins now do not flicker.
27/05/1999	Started work on a "Load File", and "Save File" menu box.
26/05/1999	Implemented Spectrum 48K sound using Sound Blaster port 220h. We have not yet found a way to emulate the sound properly using Direct Sound.
22/05/1999	Inplemented the sprectrum cursors which are now mapped to the keyboard cursors and the control key.
20/05/1999	Implemented the data bus to optimize the calculation of the spectrum screen to the Z80 screen.
16/05/1999	Implemented the reading of Z80 file formats.
14/05/1999	Finished a reasonable emulation of the Z80 with the screen, keyboard, and reading of snapshots implemented.
01/06/1998	Started the ZX Plus project.