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- David Barbour
Akiko CD32/CDTV Emulator for Windows
For those of you who would like to try out CD32/CDTV games and don't have access to a machine you might want to check out Akiko - it is a shareware emulator of German origins created by Airsoft. It is based on the famous WinUAE emulator. The good thing is that it doesn't need any of the special CD32/CDTV Kickstart ROMS in order to play the games. It does however need Kickstart 3.1 for CD32 and Kickstart 1.3 for CDTV to work.
WinUAE is also capable of emulating both systems but it does need the special - CD32/CDTV Kickstart roms in addition to Kickstart 3.1 or Kickstart 1.3. If you have access to an Amiga 500/600 or 1200 it is possible to dump the roms on floppy disk to be used with the PC emulator. For the CD32/CDTV roms to be dumped you do need access to a C32 or CDTV system that has a mouse, keyboard and floppy drive in order to dump the roms.
Check out the Airsoft website for more details on the emulator, they also offer a nice range of other Amige utilities, like the ability to install and run CD32 games on a hard-drive/disc of a compatible Amiga.
Not all will be interested in spending money on a cd32 emulator. I will be back later with a Howto/Tuturial on how to play cd32/cdtv games in WinUAE. I will also pay some attention to other Amiga emulators out there. So keep checking back here ;-P
From the Author's website:
Akiko is a CD32 and CDTV emulator for Windows®. It runs with the help of a CD32/CDTV adapted version of WinUAE and with the help of the Install2001 system which was also used in the Amiga version of the CD32 Games Install Kit. The CD32 is a 32 bit game console which was manufactured and released by Commodore in late 1993. The CDTV is a 16 bit multimedia unit which was also manufactured by Commodore. It was released in 1991.
Akiko is the first emulator on IBM PC for these machines. One of the advantages of Akiko is that it uses custom patches to start the games. Therefore the compatibility is extremely high. Additionally it does many things on the PC side which results in a big speed increase (e.g. Akiko reads the data as fast as it can and does not slow your CD-ROM down to double speed (CD32) or even single speed (CDTV)). But this is only one of many cool and innovative Akiko features. Please check out the list below to understand that Akiko is your one and only choice for CD32 and CDTV emulation.
Akiko is a Shareware emulator, that means that you can try it for free but you will have to order the full version if you want to use it constantly. MPEG module emulation is also in the works and will soon be finished.
Features:
-CD32 and CDTV extended roms are not required
-emulation of the CD32 and CDTV consoles
-perfect digital CD audio emulation
-boots games from CD-ROM, harddisk folder or ISO image
-audio tracks can be stored as MP3s on harddisk
-real Joypad emulation (controls can be assigned!)
-sexy NV Ram emulation which runs independently from DOS
-flexible NV Ram editor (patch, import, export)
-super smooth video playback
-language emulation for CD32 and CDTV
-supports over 150 games
-comes with covers for over 160 CD32 & CDTV games
-high compatibility due to the use of custom patches
-inbuilt image viewer for game covers
-games load ultra fast due to the usage of Win32's filesystem
-online help and a big documentation
-able to kick up the cool intro animations and rom applications
-interface is written in 100% C and the patches in 68k ASM
Requirements:
-Microsoft® Windows® 95 or better
-DirectX® 3 or better
-Kickstart 3.1 ROM for CD32 emulation
-Kickstart 1.3 ROM for CDTV emulation
Editor / Pixelator - Armchair Arcade, Inc.
www.markvergeer.nl
Comments
Very interesting MARK! Great seeing all the Commodore love (OTHER THAN C64 for a change)
around here lately! I actually have an NTSC US CD32, I have several titles, of course some
of the games were made for PAL mode so they don't run/display properly, I know I can boot
into pal but getting the EARLY STARTUP SCREEN by holding the buttons on an Amiga mouse
plugged in however I no display to correctly show the signal....................
Ah well, anyways I admit I love the AKIKO emulator but not enough to pay that much
for it, please do follow up and let us know some config tips for UAE. On that note I hope
everyone here into Amiga emulation is aware of a great front end for it. It's on the LemonAmiga
site and it's called Lemonade, I've pasted the details here:
What is Lemonade?
Lemonade is a frontend for the WinUAE Amiga Emulator. It's main purpose is to make Amiga gaming
easier and to organise your games so that you can play them in seconds at the click of a button.
Which Amiga models does Lemonade support? Will more models be added in the future?
Lemonade supports the following models:
* Amiga 500 (ROM 1.3, 68000, OCS, 0.5Mb Chip, 0.5Mb Slow)
* Amiga 600 (ROM 2.05, 68000, ECS, 1Mb Chip)
* Amiga 1200 (ROM 3.1, 68EC020, AGA, 2Mb Chip)
* Amiga CD32 (ROM 3.1, 68EC020, AGA, 2Mb Chip)
Lemonade was designed so that more models can be supported in the future if there are enough requests.
Until then, the Custom Configurations feature allows you to add any WinUAE configuration file to Lemonade so
you can add any Amiga model you desire.
Download HERE: http://www.lemonamiga.com/lemonade/get.php?file=setup098b.exe
I highly suggest though going directly to the site as you can also
download screenshot packs as well as get more info and read the FAQ. Besides it's an awesome site for
Amiga fans!
http://www.lemonamiga.com
I have used it myself and was damned impressed!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Oldschool games, some people just don't "get it"...
Oldschool - wow that is a great addition to this Windows Amiga Emulation section. Thanks for sharing this information. Lemon is indeed a great resource for both C64 AND amiga emulation. :-)
I'm actually going to test Lemonade too. Look out for a separate blog on it.
Editor / Pixelator - Armchair Arcade, Inc.
www.markvergeer.nl
A test run on my systems. Well I must say to my disappointment the Akiko emulator is fairly limited in the amount of games it is able to boot in the 'demo' / shareware mode. I was greeted by the following pop-up when I tried to run one of my cd32 game-discs:
I ordered the full-version in order to write a full review on the Akiko Emulator, but I am definitely going to try out the Lemon Front End that OldSchool gamer has suggested, I am very curious if it will cater for an easy to set up Amiga CDTV/CD32 environment. WinUAE is very versatile when it comes to emulating an Amiga - I have managed to get Workbench 3.9 up and running with the special A4000 graphicscards and all - but it has not been an easy to use emulator for the not-so-technically-inclined-individuals out there. As I haven't updated my WinUAE for quite a while I am curious to see if things have changed over at WinUAE headquarters.
I just paid 15 euros through pay-pal and I am awaiting my registration code, the website states that I will definitely receive a my registration code within the next 24 hours but that it will usually only take a couple of hours to process. More on Akiko later.
Update: 4.5 hours later and I have not received my registration code yet. I guess I'll just have to be a little more patient.
Well a little less than a full day later - the first part of the afternoon still to go - and it'll be 24 hours after I thought I bought a registered version of Akiko. I kindly emailed the author requesting my registered version. Let's wait and see how that goes.
Ah I've just gotten a friendly mail from the author - it seems the attachment containing the full version was caught up in some spam-filter somewhere. But now I have access to the full version, thanks Andreas!
I am going to try out the same games - on the same machine - on the Akiko emulator as the ones I ran on WinUAE, I am very curious after the experience and how both emulators stack up.
Editor / Pixelator - Armchair Arcade, Inc.
www.markvergeer.nl
Trying out the Emulator on Windows Vista got me in all sorts of problems, take a look at some of the video footage I made:
Although it installs in Vista, the emulator is best used on Windows XP or lower. I am going to give this emulator a shot on XP.
Editor / Pixelator - Armchair Arcade, Inc.
www.markvergeer.nl
Wow, this emulator looks like it may be much more difficult to use than regular ol' uae!!!
Good job with the videos. I hope Bill is able to come through soon with something, because we may be dead in the water if none of us can get these CD32 games running at something approaching optimal.
Wow, this emulator looks like it may be much more difficult to use than regular ol' uae!!!
Good job with the videos. I hope Bill is able to come through soon with something, because we may be dead in the water if none of us can get these CD32 games running at something approaching optimal.
That's not a problem. I will definitely have something within a week. I cleaned up my area downstairs again and am focusing on Intellivision stuff for obvious reasons, but the same materials I need out for that I also need for the CD32 stuff. I will definitely be coming through with quite a few things. It's good that we have even failed exercises, because if we're having trouble, then surely others are too! Even bad discoveries are good discoveries if they push knowledge forward!
Wii: 1345 2773 2048 1586 | PS3: ArmchairArcade
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director | Armchair Arcade, Inc.
A microscopic interview consisting of two questions I asked Andreas Falkenhahn - the author of the Akiko emulator - about his software:
Me: "I am very curious after your tweaked version of WinUAE. I've tried some games on the latest WinUAE and not all went well. I
am also going to have a look at your one in form of a small article. I think the way you went about it is rather smart as you did some patching and tweaking the 1200 emulation rather than emulating the whole cd32?
Andreas: "Yes. Akiko does not emulate any hardware but just patches the software to use special routines provided by Akiko's adapted version of WinUAE. Thus, it is often much faster than the WinUAE CD32 emulation.
Me: "Would you like to tell me how you came about developing the WinUAE into a specific cd32 emulator and how you went about it?"
Andreas: "Akiko is actually a Windows port of my Amiga program called CD32 Games Install Kit (see my website). CD32 Games Install Kit was created to start CD32 games on an A1200 from harddisk and that is pretty much what Akiko does now under WinUAE."
Well perhaps Bill could test out this software on a real Amiga 1200. To me it seems to function a little like the HDLoader program that allowed regular disk-based software to be installed and booted from within Workbench from Harddisk/drive.
Editor / Pixelator - Armchair Arcade, Inc.
www.markvergeer.nl
In my experience the Akiko Emulator and the latest WinUAE emulator have roughly the same compatibility when you use original game disks. WinUAE ran more custom made cd's in my case. Perhaps it had something to do with my hardware/OS combination. It is hard to recommend one over the other, apart from the fact that Akiko costs a little money.
WinUAE
An easy to use basic configuration setting that allows you to tweak it a little in order to get more out of a game. Very little extra configuration is needed to get it up and running, even with joypad. Speed of emulation can be very inconsistent with cd-games. Adf based games - also the ones converted to cd - run just fine. Original disks & custom / copied disks run equally bad/fine. The ability to use various Kickstart roms and even install Workbench or another version of Amiga OS on harddrive! Use WinUAE in that mode and use HDloader to run disk games from HD or convert them for use on cd-rom and the original cd32 - provided the cd32 ram restrictions don't cause the game not to function.
Akiko
An easy to use selectable menu with a choice for 'generic cd32'-mode, and various optimized settings for specific games. It does feel a little intimidating scrolling though the game lists and having to bother with all sorts of settings, but WinUAE is in fact far more intimidating. When you use an original game disk compatibility is high and speed of execution is better than with WinUAE-sec. Although it can be inconsistent too. This is not the emulator to use for adf-based games - the ones converted to cd-rom or the custom/copied game collections will more often refuse to work on Akiko than on WinUAE. Configuration can be a hassle, installing and configuration on Vista is something to avoid - use the emulator on Windows2K or XP. The emulator is picky when it comes to Kickstart roms. Once things are up and running, with original game disks it can be a breeze to use this emulator!
(coming up: a video showing off some of the games running on Akiko on WindowsXP)
Overall conclusion:
Using Akiko on XP or 2K gives it a fairer chance to compete against WinUAE. Once configured and using original game disks it is an easy to use emulator. With non-original or even home-brew disks Akiko is very picky and fails to boot/run more often than WinUAE on my systems. Supporting an emulator author is a good thing, especially when it is one who's also doing some nice dev-work for real Amiga's too! I think it is worth the money I paid. And I am very curious after the same functionality that the cd32 games install kit offers on a real 1200!
WinUAE is more versatile and flexible. Akiko is a specialized cd32 emulator that can do a good job - provided you run the right OS and you use original game disks!
It's hard to compare as both emulators actually cater for a different audience:
Akiko 4/5
WinUAE 5/5
I hope Andreas will continue to work on Akiko, make it more Vista compatible. The name alone makes it a winner for me, so much better than WinUAE :-P
Editor / Pixelator - Armchair Arcade, Inc.
www.markvergeer.nl
XP Pro: Asus P4P800, Intel HT P4 @ 3.4Ghz SSE3, Nvidia AGP 6600 GTS 128Mb, 2Gb ram, Pioneer DVD burner
Vista Ultimate: Acer M3610, Intel Core2Duo @ 2Ghz, Nvidia PCIe 8400GS 256Mb, Nec DVD burner
XP Pro: Dell Optiplex GX270, Intel P4 @ 2Ghz SSE2, Nvidia AGP 6200 256Mb, Nec DVD burner
I am unsure of the effects of the DVD-drivers, will software setting them to dual speed for example help with the erratic speed on WinUAE?
Could Akiko/WinUAE benefit from a two-core or HT system if it was optimized to use it?
What is the performance on other card manufacturers as I am Nvidia-only right now?
Editor / Pixelator - Armchair Arcade, Inc.
www.markvergeer.nl