Dream CPC 1.0 Alpha 3


History :
---------

13/10/2005 : alpha 3 version
	- 	Correct the the key mapping bug
	- 	Recode the file browser 
	- 	recode the auto screen size
	-	add the border color
	-	correct some sound pbm : add speed + sound better
	-	Change timing main loop : add speed 
12/06/2005 : alpha 2 version
	-	Correct the sound render pbm that made it sound so bad : should be better ;)
	-	Change the timing method : now the synchro isnt each frame but every xx frames : a longer frame wont slow down the emulator as before ? the emu back fullspeed for most of the games
	-	Add a variable sound quality and auto frame skip : if the emu cant still in time, it down sound rendering quality and add frame skip to try keep a constant frame rate. Not really perfect because most game doesnt need this trick to be full speed and game with pbm (Robocop ) near more than the time gained with this trick . Best than nothing: /. 
	-	Update the Z80 core with the latest PC-CPC core.
	-	Add a lot of statistics   
	-	Lot of code improvement 
	-	Game now launch without the CPC file extension (ex : toto.bin will launch with run"toto )

28/05/2005 : 1st Release date (alpha version)


About:
------

Dream CPC is a port of the Amstrad CPC 6128 : PC-CPC (ex Win-CPC) by Ludovic Deplanque (http://ldeplanque.free.fr/).

Dream CPC is freely distributable as soon this text is in the package.

Features:
---------

-	Full speed emulation with sound
-	DC Keyboard support
-	Amstrad Disk file and zip file support
-	Auto launch file
-	Auto or manual screen stretch
-	User PAD button/cpc key mapping (no save)


About AmsDOS & CPC Firmware :
-----------------------------

The binary include the copyrighted but distributable firmware files. Here is the original Copyright text : 

You can redistribute copies of these copyrighted code as long as

a) copyright messages are not changed
b) either in the program or the documentation you acknowledge that
   "Amstrad has kindly given it's permission for it's copyrighted
   material to be redistributed but Amstrad retains it's copyright."

More details at : http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cliff.lawson/cpchomec.htm

About the CPC BASIC, it is copyright Locomotive software.


About the games included : 
--------------------------

The binary include 2 commercials games (freely distributable).Thanks to Genesis8 for the list of freely distributable games.
 
- 5eme Axe : the game was written by Didier and Olivier Guillion, edited by Loriciels, they have now the rights back. 
- Head over Heels : almost freeware : Genesis8 have word of Jon Ritman which is the author, that Ocean doesn't bother to see these programs to be available. Thanks to them. Don't forget that they still own the copyright, please don't modify the programs.


How use it:
-----------

In the menu, you can move the cursor with the D-Pad and use A button for selection. 
You can select the options/text in the windows by click (A button) on it. 

On the top right, there is 4 icons to change the Menu Windows :
-	the disk : open the Amstrad disk file load and auto launch games
-	the Keyboard : open the key mapping windows
-	The Dreamcast : Open the options
-	The ? : open the about and reset windows
-	The Joystick : back to emulation

Launch a game:
In the disk windows, you can explore the CD (cd), the Ramdisk (rd) or the PC (if the emu run with a coder cable). When you choose a .dsk or .zip file, the disk is inserted and the Amstrad CPC files are automatically listed. If you select a file, the emulator will reset and autos launch the file. You can also back to the emulation, without reset the Amstrad with the joystick icon.

Map a Dreamcast PAD :
In the Pad mapping windows, you can change the default key mapping of the emulator. Select the PAD to change on the top of the windows (the edited one is in red). Click on the key of the PAD you want to change: the key will show ???. Then select an Amstrad key to associate on the virtual keyboard.

Options:
You can change the localisation of the Amstrad CPC rom (UK, French and Spain are included). You must reset the emulator if you want the rom change.
Keep virtual KB open : in the emulation mode, you use the left trigger to open the Virtual KB. With this open, you dont need to keep the trigger pressed to show the KB (try it, you will understand ;)
Sound: on/off (easy)
Show statistic: show few things on the screen like the frame rate
Hardware graphic filter: the PVR filter is add when the screen is draw on the screen. It can be useful when the screen is stretched.
 Screen auto size: automatically choose the best stretch for the Amstrad CPC mode. You can also choose a stretch manually.

Reset the CPC:
You can reset the cpc in the about windows

In emulation:
Show the virtual KB with the Left trigger and move the cursor with the Digital PAD. To select a key, use the right trigger. Press Start when the virtual KB is open to back to the menu.

Few Amstrad CPC commands:
To list the file on the disk, you must type CAT. To run the games, there is 2 mode: runname of the game (thats what the auto launch do) or the |CPM mode (you have to type |CPM to launch the game)
In general, only the bas and bin files are executable. The files can be hidden

Know bugs:
----------

-	The |CPC games dont auto launch. You must launch yourself.
-	Sometime, the auto launch dont launch the right file :  You must launch it yourself.

About Amstrad CPC :
-------------------

You can find information and resources about the CPC here:
-	AMSTRAD.CPC (French) : http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/index.php?op=edito
-	CPC-Zone (English) : http://cpczone.emuunlim.com/
-	The Amstrad CPC Game resource (English) : http://tacgr.emuunlim.com/
-	Phenix Informatique  (French) : http://www.phenixinformatique.com/index.php?op=edito
-	Genesis 8 (fr/eng) : http://genesis8.free.fr

Credits:
--------

PC-CPC : Ludovic Deplanque
Dreamcast Port : JMD
Thanks to : BlackAura, Phantom, GPF, Ender, Quzar, Fox68k, Ron , Wraggster, Sizious, Oggy, doragasu, The KOS team, Goat Store 


