Mame emulations with additional opening and endgame roms

[DannyN]

Hi all,

By accident I discovered that it is possible to load a number of Mame emulations with additional opening book and endgame roms. 

Mephisto for instance  released opening modules for the MM I (hg170), MM II (hg240), MM IV (hg440) and MM V (hg550). By default these are not loaded by mess when the engine is started although the roms for them are available. However, it is possible to start these engines with their additional opening modules by simply adding the name of it to the file for the engine in /opt/picochess/engines/armv7l/mame. So for instance for the MM IV the file would read: 

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -video none -plugin chessengine mm4 hg440

MM V: 

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -video none -plugin chessengine mm5 hg550

etc.

For a number of Saitek computers (Corona, Stratos, Turbo King,  Simultano) it is possible to add the Saitek endgame rom for them (egr or egr2 ) in the same way.

Corona:

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -video none -plugin chessengine corona egr

For a number of Fidelity Challengers there are also two opening modules available but I did not test these as I don't have any Challengers installed.

Danny

[Randy Reade]

That's great info. Thanks, Danny!

Randy

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[DannyN]

It's also possible to run a number of modules for the Chafitz Modular Game Sytem (chessengine  ggm):

* Software list "ggm" (GGM Cartridges) matches: 

steinitz          GGM Steinitz Edition-4

steinitza         GGM Steinitz @ 4 MHz

steinitzb         GGM Steinitz @ 20 MHz

sandy             GGM Sandy Edition

boris25           GGM Boris-Sargon 2.5

capa              GGM Capablanca (Endgame)

See  https://www.chessprogramming.org/Chafitz_Modular_Game_System for this very old modular computer.

Op dinsdag 6 september 2022 om 17:31:18 UTC+2 schreef RandyR:

[DannyN]

Ulf Rathsman 's Conchess Plymate Amsterdam (concply) loads with opening module l16

Op dinsdag 6 september 2022 om 17:49:59 UTC+2 schreef DannyN:

[Alan Cooper]

Hi Danny,

Great stuff, I look forward to trying these out on my return from my cruise in a couple of weeks time 👍

Al

Sent from Scally's iPhone 13 Pro

On 6 Sep 2022, at 19:59, DannyN <dnug...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ulf Rathsman 's Conchess Plymate Amsterdam (concply) loads with opening module l16

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/picochess/3bc09388-b5b6-4706-b98c-3df1c782621cn%40googlegroups.com.

[DannyN]

Hi Al,

If you run mess -listslots you can see which roms have cartridge slots. If you next run the engine that has a slot with some nonsense eg. mess corona oi, you'll see what is expected, i.e. which roms can be loaded additionally.

Another one I found:

* Software list "arb" (ARB Modules) matches: 

sargon25          ARB Sargon 2.5

gms40             ARB Sargon 4.0 Grand Master Series

So arb gms40 loads the Sargon 4.0.

Most time is taken up by testing them out on the board.

But you should not be thinking about Picochess now ;-`)

 Enjoy your cruise

Danny

Op dinsdag 6 september 2022 om 20:38:59 UTC+2 schreef Scally:

[DannyN]

Some more interesting finds. The Saitek Leonardo, Galileo and Renaissance are chess computers that take modules just like the Mephisto's. Unlike the Mephisto's they can run without a module as they have a chess program built in, albeit with a relatively low elo of 1600. With the mame version that is in the current image (230) these machines can not load any modules and are stuck on the low elo of the built-in program. I tested Randy's compile of 245 a bit more and 245 does have the option to load the modules for these machines by adding -exp <name of module> to the engine. So command would look like this:

sudo SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -video none -seconds_to_run 10 -plugin chessengine renaissance -exp analyst

The Leonardo, Galileo and Renaissance can be loaded with these modules: analyst, maestro (Maestro B-D) maestroa (Maestro A) and sparc (so e.g. leonardo -exp  maestro; renaissance -exp analyst etc. etc.). Elo is much higher with these modules.

Unfortunately my DGTPi with the 3b inside does not have enough power to run these at full speed (analyst 84%; maestro 84%; maestroa 94%; sparc 34%) so I'll have to pass on these but for people with a Rpi4 this might be of interest. 

 

Op dinsdag 6 september 2022 om 21:13:32 UTC+2 schreef DannyN:

[DannyN]

Two more: the Saitek Turbostar 432 can be loaded with the Kasparov Selected Openings module by adding kso.

A lot of Fidelity's can be loaded with opening modules by adding cb9 or cb16

Op woensdag 7 september 2022 om 01:09:46 UTC+2 schreef DannyN:

[Randy Reade]

Very interesting. The only reason I was not considering updating the MAME version in the image was the lack of support for the custom chess graphics, which haven't been updated to SOL2. This only affects desktop users or those wanting to see the custom layouts via VNC. Maybe we should just continue updating MAME and not worry about the outdated custom layouts (provided by CB-Emu). I'm open to suggestions.

Randy 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/picochess/70320345-7796-4c87-9f3e-a788fdbe5118n%40googlegroups.com.

[DannyN]

Hi Randy,

If I had a Rpi4 I certainly would like to get MAME updated in order to run the Saitek modules (especially the Sparc one) as they represent some of the top of the line Saiteks. The ability to run these modules is the only difference I can see between 230 and 245. As it is, version 230 runs everything fine on my stock DGTPi - all other engines that allow the loading of extra roms work so I have no problem staying on 230 personally. 

Btw, I only tested 245 on the command line. I also did not copy over the whole mame_emulation folder this time but only the mess binary and boot.lua and init.lua. I had no problem loading several roms but did not test all the ones I have installed.

Danny

Op woensdag 7 september 2022 om 06:22:24 UTC+2 schreef RandyR:

[DannyN]

Discovered an option for the Tasc R30. It is possible to run this engine with different Ram sizes. Valid options are 512K, 1M, 2M, 4M and 8M. You can do this by adding -ramsize to the command for the engine. So for example:

sudo SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -video none --plugin chessengine tascr30 -ramsize 8m

Op woensdag 7 september 2022 om 10:27:23 UTC+2 schreef DannyN:

[Scally]

Hi Danny,

Nice find, keep them coming 👍

For anyone that is still on Raspbian Buster like me, I have managed to compile mame0245 with Randy’s help. I will be testing this today with my latest purchase of another Revelation II.

It’s using the LUA files from mame0231 and the Makefile is probably missing those extra chess computers that were added with each new release. So I plan to go through all the releases and add them accordingly, hopefully culminating with the latest mame0248 compile. I do have a Bullseye system too, but it’s lacking all my extra compilers, but I will do the same for Bullseye unless Randy beats me too it 😀

Al

[Dirk]

Hi Al,

always good to hear from you!

Another Revelation II? (the black one??? - I have seen a picture some days before and I must admit it is looking replay cool)

Looking forward for all your mame updatesand the new added machines  for both OS versions - I really appreciate your work!

Thanks

Dirk

[Scally]

Hi Dirk,

Unfortunately it’s not the black one, just a plain non AE Revelation II without any emulations, but it was a bargain price and includes the DGT Ebony Weighted Chess Pieces with Red felts …

So I now have two Revelation II’s, 1 without AE and 1 with AE …

I have just waxed the latest board as it was a bit dull …

Photos Attached ..

Cheers,

Al

(My Chess Computer Collection: https://rentry.co/ovvn9)

[Dirk]

Wow - It is looking perfect, Al.

How can it be that the labels/marking of the keys look so good for a used device???? (Maybe the owner has not used it that much or did you replace the labels somehow?)

Dirk

[Scally]

I haven’t touched it apart from a waxing, there’s a slight chip on the border beside the h4 square, but other than that it looks unused. There’s no rings on any of the squares and the pieces are mint too.

Anyway, let’s not hijack Danny’s MAME Emulation thread 🤣

Al.

[DannyN]

I don't mind you hijacking the thread with pictures of your collection. Those Revelations are things of beauty. Just out of curiosity, why do you prefer playing with Picochess on them and not with the built-in engines and emulations?

Op vrijdag 30 september 2022 om 13:20:31 UTC+2 schreef Scally:

[Scally]

Hi Danny,

As much as I love the Revelation II and all it’s built in Engines and emulations, Picochess offers later versions of most Engines and emulations.

Al.

[DannyN]

And you can upgrade everything yourself for free with Picochess ;-).

Anyway, I posted that you can load additional opening and endgame roms by simply adding the name of such a rom. While that does seem to work (i.e. the engines do not give an error and the additional roms seem to work), the proper verbage for the Mephisto opening roms is:

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -video none -plugin chessengine mm1 -cart hg170

So add -cart (or -cartridge in full)  in front of the name of the additional rom.

For the Saitek endgame roms you have to add -rom (or -romimage in full). So: cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -video none -plugin chessengine corona -rom egr2

Note that Corona only works with egr2 not with egr (Picochess will get stuck on "enginesetup").

 With the command -listmedia you can see if an engine rom supports additional media. For example:

sudo SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -plugin chessengine mm4 -listmedia

gives me the information:

SYSTEM           MEDIA NAME       (brief)    IMAGE FILE EXTENSIONS SUPPORTED

---------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------

mm4              cartridge        (cart)     .bin  

Op maandag 3 oktober 2022 om 14:22:44 UTC+2 schreef Scally:

[RandyR]

It looks like the source code drivers have a filter for some of the Saitek machines that support the endgame roms. 'egr' will only work with the Stratos and Turbo King as far as I can see. The others need 'egr2'. It should be noted that these endgame roms assisted with only kpk and kpkp endgames. We've come a long way since then. :^)

[RandyR]

Danny,

I was looking at this today after compiling 0.248. Do you know of a way to set the CPU frequency on the command-line? You can simulate a TASC R40 using the GUI (use TAB then 'Machine Configuration'/'CPU Frequency') but obviously that wouldn't help when using PicoChess. Also, I didn't see a way to change the RAM size via the GUI, but -ramsize probably works as you say. There is a note in the driver source (tasc.cpp):

"Regarding RAM: The King 2.2x will work fine with RAM expanded up to 8MB.
The King 2.50 appears to be protected against RAM upgrades though, and will
limit itself to 128KB if it detects a non-default amount of RAM. Gideon doesn't
use RAM above 128KB either, perhaps the R30 prototype only had 128KB RAM."

Randy

[DannyN]

According to https://docs.mamedev.org/commandline/commandline-all.html you can change the default RAM size with -ramsize on the command line if supported by the driver. I briefly tested it with the R30a and the engine loaded. Of course with only the DGTPi as a display I have no way of being absolutely sure that the engine actually loaded with the 2M I tried but the nvram size changed in the nvram folder so I guess it did.

As for not seeing that option in the GUI you’re using … in the GUI for Franz Huber’s Messchess on Windows you can set RAM size for the R30 (or any other engine that supports it) by right clicking the engine in the engine list and then choose properties-configuration. It needs to be changed before the engine is loaded. You can’t change it on the fly in the GUI once the engine is loaded.

The King 2.50 does work with more RAM. There was a discussion about this on schachcompute.info and Hap posted there that he was wrong about it not working:

“About King 2.5 and RAM: I double checked. Turns out I was mistaken. It works ok with more than 512KB RAM.

Why didn't I see it before when I checked it? It uses around 75% of RAM for the hash tables. So, when you install 8MB RAM, it puts the hash tables at 2MB-8MB area. I must have only looked at the 0MB-2MB region when I first checked.”

See : https://www.schachcomputer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=6658&highlight=tasc+ram&page=42

The Risc2500 and Montreux, which are also versions of The King, can also be loaded with more RAM (up to 2M I believe).

One thing to note is that in mess.ini or mame.ini (whatever you’re using) there is an option called nvram_save. If this is set to 1 an  engine will create a new nvram file in the nvram folder every time you start/exit it; a change of level will already do that on Picochess. This happens with every engine that has nvram not only the ones where you can change the size of RAM. It’s probably better to load engines once so that the nvram file is created for them and then set nvram_save to 0 in mess.ini or mame.ini. Setting nvram_save from 1 to 0 prevents creating a new nvram file every single time which seems unnecessary to me. I’ve set nvram_save to 0 in my ini and everything works ok but no more unneeded disk writes and starting/exiting them seems a bit quicker.

Regarding CPU frequency … I haven’t found a command line option to set CPU frequency directly and I don’t think there is any. Again, according to https://docs.mamedev.org/commandline/commandline-all.html you can overclock/underclock by activating cheats for a rom (with -cheat) and then loading a xml file with the cheat from a folder (specified with -cheatpath). Perhaps that’s more or less how Franz Huber is doing it as well, as he mentions on schachcomputer.info that there is now a mhz folder in his messchess (a cheats folder?) where you have to place .mhz files (equivalent of xml cheat files?) with the desired mhz. I haven’t looked further into it but in principle it should be possible to do something similar with the MAME engines on Picochess I think. 

Op woensdag 5 oktober 2022 om 23:30:28 UTC+2 schreef RandyR:

[RandyR]

Good info, Danny. I've never delved this deep into the inner workings of MESS. I saw in the tasc driver that a FAKE port was set up for the frequency. There must be ways to alter a machine's state besides using a GUI, at least I would think so. Perhaps there is a plugin that allows more hardware-level manipulations.

As for the nvram, perhaps a benefit to re-creating the file each time is that the engine could possibly become unusable if the file somehow got corrupted?

Randy

[DannyN]

In Al's 230 version nvram_save was set at 0 as default. It's also at 0 in Franz Huber's mess.ini (all the necessary nvram files are in his download). The mame.ini in your 245 version has it at 1. I only noticed the difference and looked closer at it when I checked the mamedev site for command line options and started playing around with the RAM size for the Tasc R30. But in general I think it's better to keep frequent disk writes to an sd-card  to a minimum. I will set it at 0 myself and if I notice any problems I'll just switch to 1.

I've already searched for a plugin but did not find one for changing CPU speed. It should be possible though. I think ;-).

Op donderdag 6 oktober 2022 om 16:10:56 UTC+2 schreef RandyR:

[DannyN]

Regarding the FAKE port ... I found out that there is another MAME Chess program floating around (MAME_Chess 2021) made by some Spanish folks. In the lua file for the Tasc R30 that's in that version, the FAKE port is used for switching mhz. If you follow the link that's in this post on schachcomputer.info you can download the program: https://www.schachcomputer.info/forum/showpost.php?p=104665&postcount=4894

I don't think it's of much use though.

 

Op donderdag 6 oktober 2022 om 16:10:56 UTC+2 schreef RandyR:

Good info, Danny. I've never delved this deep into the inner workings of MESS. I saw in the tasc driver that a FAKE port was set up for the frequency. There must be ways to alter a machine's state besides using a GUI, at least I would think so. Perhaps there is a plugin that allows more hardware-level manipulations.

[RandyR]

I think it could work with PicoChess. The new code would have to be added to the tascr30.lua file (for the interface.get_options() and interface.set_option(name, value) functions). Then the (e.g.) tascr30_king.uci file would have to add the new setting:

Version Rxx = 40Mhz (R40)

to the [DEFAULT] section. Then the tascr30_king file could be changed to:

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -video none -plugin chessengine tascr30 -ramsize 2M

Or something like that. :^) I think that would give you the TASC R40.

Randy

P.S. I did try that MAME_Chess 2021 a few months ago but removed it for some reason.

[DannyN]

I don't think that will work as "Version Rxx = " is not a valid UCI option as far as I know. Only level and style are, at least that's what the uci command tells me in 245. 

If it's only the R40 you're after, the easiest way to do it might be to add it to the source code before you compile MAME (i.e make a clone of the R30 but with 40 mhz i.s.o 30.).

Op donderdag 6 oktober 2022 om 23:03:34 UTC+2 schreef RandyR:

[DannyN]

I read your post too quickly. You would be adding "Version Rxx =" as a uci option. So no never mind my comment.

Op vrijdag 7 oktober 2022 om 09:11:28 UTC+2 schreef DannyN:

[Scally]

Hi Danny,

I have 2 actual Kasparov Simultano Chess Computers within my collection, one has an endgame rom in it, so I tried adding this using mame0248.

As you can see from the attached screen shot,  “-rom egr2”. works, but  “-rom egr”  gives an error message but doesn’t crash the system …

Cheers,

Al

[DannyN]

Hi Al,

That's correct. The Simultano, Corona and Turbo King II use the egr2 rom. The Stratos and the Turbo King use the egr rom. Which is actually like the real machines I believe. If you to try to play the Simultano with the egr rom it will not load but get stuck on "enginesetup".

Danny

Op zaterdag 8 oktober 2022 om 13:57:47 UTC+2 schreef Scally:

[DannyN]

An addition for the egr2 rom. It runs also with the Maestro and Analyst modules for the Leonardo, Galileo and Renaissance. So to start the Renaissance with the Maestro module and the egr2 rom the command would be:

sudo SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -video none  -plugin chessengine renaissa -exp maestro -rom egr2 

Op zaterdag 8 oktober 2022 om 14:50:05 UTC+2 schreef DannyN:

[Scally]

Hi Danny,

Shouldn’t the engine show a different name if I add the Maestro Module, it still shows as a Renaissance for me?

cat renaissa
#!/bin/bash

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -sound none -video none -plugin chessengine renaissa

Al@RPi4-SSD:/opt/picochess/engines/armv7l-MAME $ ./renaissa

uci
id name Kasparov Renaissance (set 1) (mame 0.248a-Scally)
option name Speed type spin default 100 min 0 max 10000
option name Level type string default a3
uciok
quit
Average speed: 100.00% (16 seconds)

Al@RPi4-SSD:/opt/picochess/engines/armv7l-MAME $ nano renaissa
Al@RPi4-SSD:/opt/picochess/engines/armv7l-MAME $ cat renaissa
#!/bin/bash

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -sound none -video none -plugin chessengine renaissa -exp maestro -rom egr2

Al@RPi4-SSD:/opt/picochess/engines/armv7l-MAME $ ./renaissa

uci
id name Kasparov Renaissance (set 1) (mame 0.248a-Scally)
option name Speed type spin default 100 min 0 max 10000
option name Level type string default a3
uciok
quit
Average speed: 100.00% (7 seconds)

This could be confusing for anyone running with the Maestro or other modules …

Cheers,

Al

[DannyN]

Hi Al,

I know it is a bit confusing. The Renaissance, Leonardo and Galileo each have their own programs with a relatively low elo. The Analyst, Maestro and Sparc modules were basically seperate computers that were stuck inside the boards of the R, L & G. With one of those modules inside you could still run them with the basic program but also with the newly added program by choosing different level codes. So if you run the R, L & G with a module you have to change the level codes for them to work (check Zanchetta for those). Note that the Sparc module did not work in the original Leonardo so I assume it won't work in the emu either.

If you want to use them I suggest setting the modules up with seperate engine command files, seperate UCI files and  in engines.ini with for example S Analyst; S Maestro; S Sparc or something similar to differentiate them from a R, L or G without a module but with just the basic program.

I'm certain that the modules load. The  -verbose option tells me:

unzip: found roms/renaissa.zip ECD

unzip: roms/renaissa.zip has no ZIP64 ECD locator

unzip: read roms/renaissa.zip central directory

unzip: closing archive file roms/renaissa.zip and sending to cache

unzip: found roms/renaissa.zip in cache

unzip: opened archive file roms/renaissa.zip

unzip: closing archive file roms/renaissa.zip and sending to cache

unzip: opened archive file roms/osa_maestro.zip

unzip: found roms/osa_maestro.zip ECD

unzip: roms/osa_maestro.zip has no ZIP64 ECD locator

unzip: read roms/osa_maestro.zip central directory

unzip: closing archive file roms/osa_maestro.zip and sending to cache

unzip: found roms/osa_maestro.zip in cache

unzip: opened archive file roms/osa_maestro.zip

unzip: closing archive file roms/osa_maestro.zip and sending to cache

unzip: opened archive file roms/egr2.zip

unzip: found roms/egr2.zip ECD

unzip: roms/egr2.zip has no ZIP64 ECD locator

unzip: read roms/egr2.zip central directory

unzip: closing archive file roms/egr2.zip and sending to cache

So all roms get loaded successively. Benchmarking confirms this as well. Renaissance without a module runs at 228% on my DGTPi, while loaded with the Maestro module it only scores a measly 76%. But again, to make use of them on the board you have to change the level codes in the UCI files otherwise they will use the basic program.

Danny

Op zondag 9 oktober 2022 om 10:17:40 UTC+2 schreef Scally:

[Scally]

Hi Danny,

Yes I’m aware of what needs doing from the engine, uci file names & levels etc, I’m just intrigued on what the Webserver will show as the engine name. 

I’ll try tomorrow when I get a board out (it’s packed away at weekends).

I like the lower graded machines, the Renaissance is around my grade so should give me a good game.

Cheers,

Al

[DannyN]

Hi Al,

Oops, sorry, did not understand you were talking about the webserver. I never use it myself. Anyway, I just tested it with a plain Renaissance and with a Renaissance with Sparc module loaded. They both give the same info in the "Game record" box (Player vs Kasparov Renaissance (set 1)) after the engine is loaded but in the "DGT Clock" box it says whatever you've named the engine in engines.ini (in my case Renaissance and Sparc) before the engine is loaded so it should be clear enough what engine you choose and play against I think.

Danny

Op zondag 9 oktober 2022 om 12:26:18 UTC+2 schreef Scally:

[Scally]

Hi Danny,

I’ve now also added the Sparc Module to Renaissance, the only difference in the uci is level g1 which is 5m for Renaissance and 3m 45s for Sparc, I’ve called it 4m

The grade goes from 1604 to 2200

Bench for me shows:

Renaissance - Average speed: 630.80% (29 seconds)

Sparc - Average speed: 144.21% (29 seconds)

Thanks,

Al

[DannyN]

Hi Al,

Only 1 difference? Are you sure you have used the right codes/levels because they are totally different.

Just to be sure, here's a copy of the codes/levels for both the Sparc module and the standard Renaissance/Galileo/Leonardo program from Franz Huber's very handy levels file:

Sparc module:
e1      5 sec/move
e2      10 sec/move
e3      15 sec/move
e4      30 sec/move
e5      1 min/move
e6      2 min/move
e7      3 min/move
e8      3.75 min/move

f1      30 moves in 30 min      then 30 moves in 30 min
f2      35 moves in 1.5 hrs     rest of game in 15 min
f3      40 moves in 2 hrs       then 20 moves in 1 hr
f4      45 moves in 2 hrs       then 23 moves in 1 hr
f5      50 moves in 2.5 hrs     then 20 moves in 1 hr
f6      60 moves in 1 hrs       then 30 moves in 30 min
f7      40 moves in 2.5 hrs     then 16 moves in 1 hr
f8      analysis

g1      5 min/game
g2      10 min/game
g3      15 min/game
g4      20 min/game
g5      30 min/game
g6      1 hr/game
g7      2 hrs/game
g8      3 hrs/game

h1-h8   search depth 1-8 plys

Standard Renaissance/Galileo/Leonardo:
a1      1 sec/move
a2      2 sec/move
a3      5 sec/move
a4      15 sec/move
a5      30 sec/move
a6      1 min/move
a7      2 min/move
a8      3 min/move

b1      30 moves in 30 min      then 30 moves in 30 min
b2      40 moves in 2 hrs       then 20 moves in 1 hr
b3      40 moves in 2.5 hrs     then 16 moves in 1 hr
b4      45 moves in 1.5 hrs     then 15 moves in 30 min
b5      50 moves in 2.5 hrs     then 20 moves in 1 hr
b6      exactly 10 sec/move
b7      analysis
b8      mate search

c1      5 min/game
c2      10 min/game
c3      15 min/game
c4      20 min/game
c5      30 min/game
c6      1 hr/game
c7      1.5 hrs/game
c8      2 hrs/game

d1-d8   beginner levels with reduced strength

Danny

Op zondag 9 oktober 2022 om 16:04:06 UTC+2 schreef Scally:

[Scally]

Hi Danny,

He he, there was only 1 difference in my set-up as I have my Renaissance levels totally wrong, I just checked with Alain’s site, and your settings are correct … hmm I wonder if I’ve got any others wrong 🤬

However I was right with the Webserver:

I just started Picochess on my DGT Pi and selected the Renaissance engine and get screenshot 1. 

When I selected the Sparc module, I get screenshot 2, only the grade was changed from the engines.ini file, both engines show as Renaissance like when started manually …

These are my engines.ini and armv7l-MAME settings:

Al@PicoChess:/opt/picochess/engines/armv7l-MAME $ cat renaissa

#!/bin/bash

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -sound none -video none -plugin chessengine renaissa

[renaissa]
name = Saitek Renaissance (set 1)
small = s renai
medium = S Renais
large = S Renais'ce
elo = 1604
levels = 13
ponder/brain = n

Al@PicoChess:/opt/picochess/engines/armv7l-MAME $ cat sparc
#!/bin/bash

cd /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation; SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy /opt/picochess/engines/mame_emulation/mess -skip_gameinfo -lightgunprovider none -sound none -video none -plugin chessengine renaissa -exp sparc

[sparc]
name = Saitek Sparc (rev.518)
small = s sparc
medium = S Sparc
large = Saitk Sparc
elo = 2200
levels = 13
ponder/brain = n

I wonder if they will show differently if a board is connected, as I did have the connection spiral “/“ going round, I’ll try tomorrow …

Al

[Danny Nugteren]

Hi Al,

Yes you were right with the webserver. However, the initial selection of the engine should not be a problem as it will show in the "DGT Clock" box with the name (large) you have set in the engines.ini file.

Sadly I can not play against the Sparc module myself on the DGTPi. The RPI3 simply has not enough power to run it at an acceptable speed. If I recall correctly I only get 30% when benchmarked. There are more MAME engines which are too slow on the DGTPi but the Sparc is the only one I regret not being able to play.

As for checking the uci levels for MAME engines - use Franz Huber's levels txt file from his latest CB-Emu (the one in the level sub-directory). When in doubt I always double check the manuals on Zanchetta to be absolutely sure but his file is very handy.

Danny

Op zo 9 okt. 2022 om 16:58 schreef Scally <scall...@gmail.com>:

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[Scally]

Hmm, not sure I like this as the game stored in the games folder will also reflect the Renaissance engine …

Al.

[RandyR]

I suppose a workaround would be to add 'Sparc' into the level names in the sparc.uci file. The (MAME) name comes from the init.lua script when it gets the 'uci' command:

local function describe_system()
    return manager.machine.system.description .. " (" .. emu.app_name() .. " " .. emu.app_version() .. ")"
end

.

.

.

    if cmd == "uci" then
        protocol = cmd
        send_cmd("id name " .. describe_system())
        send_cmd("option name Speed type spin default 100 min 0 max 10000")
        if interface.get_options then
            send_options()
        end

...which comes from the 'FULLNAME' entry in the renaissance.cpp driver for 'renaissa'..

Randy

[Scally]

Hi Randy,

There’s only 11 characters to play with in the level name and they are all used, unless I’m misunderstanding you?

Al.

[Randy Reade]

Hi AL. No, I mean in the .uci file. For example, change the level header from

[2-10s move]

to

[2-10s Sparc Module]

It should then show after the Renaissance text. 😊

Randy

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[Alan Cooper]

Hi Randy,

(Replying by email in bed)

Yes I knew you meant the .uci file but the level shows on the clock as well as in the Webserver. Agreed it would show better on the Webserver. 

The clock only shows 11 characters as I tried to say, maybe it scrolls but I don’t think so  (I’ll check tomorrow)

[2-10s move]  is 10 chars level 10 & above is 11

[2-10s Sparc Module] is 18 chars (11 to end of Sparc, but level 10 & above will be 12+ chars)

We were on the same page, just on different rows 🤪

Al

Sent from Scally's iPhone 13 Pro

On 9 Oct 2022, at 21:17, Randy Reade <randy...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Randy Reade]

Ah, I see what you mean. Yes, I was just thinking of the webserver text. Perhaps the init.lua could be modified to add cartridge or rom metadata to the text, if present.

Cheers.

Randy

[Scally]

Hi Randy,

I think your suggestion is the best yet, attached are a couple of screen prints showing the text on the DGT Pi when selecting a level (partial text, no scrolling as expected, needs a rethink for levels 10 and above) and the text on the Webserver (complete text)

Cheers,

Al

[Scally]

Sorry, when I said it needs a rethink for levels 10 and above I meant it needs a rethink when levels have move than 1 digit for seconds or hrs per move.

 i.e. [01-5s move] can become [01-5s Sparc Module] and show 01-5s Sparc on the DGT Pi, whereas [02-10s move] changed to [02-10s Sparc Module] would only show 02-10s Spar on the DGT Pi (11 characters). You can’t change levels 01–09 to 1-9 as level 10 onwards would be shuffled within the levels. So I’ll try 02-10sSparc to see how it looks on the DGT Pi.

Al

[Scally]

Ok, that was pants …

So I’ve settled for levels 1-9 and a, b, c, & d as per this short video.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wz1224uwhfzy27t/Sparc-Levels.mov?dl=0

Al.