Ample 0.232

• Now a universal binary! with arm64 and x64 support. (Which also means it's twice as big)
• Includes Mame 0.232
• New! Software list support.
• Log window now has a trash button to clear the contents
• (Mac machine) builtin SCSI devices are now configurable (Hard disk, CD Rom, or None)

Software List Support

MAME supports a shorthand method of specifying disk image sets. There is now an auto-complete text box to select one. This is most useful for self booting games.

See https://github.com/ksherlock/ample/wiki/Software-List-Search-algorithm for more information on how these disk images are found.

The auto-completion menu has a couple rough edges on Big Sur. Sorry!

Ample 0.231

• Updated naming convention to match the embedded MAME version
• Includes MAME 0.231
• Not much else going on

Release 12

Ample Changes

• Includes MAME 0.230 (custom build)
• Slots with sub options (serial cards and hard drives, primarily) now have a hamburger menu to configure the sub options. For example, you can configure the Apple II SCSI card to have 7 hard drive slots. *Note: For the Apple II SCSI card, higher slots take precedence when booting so your boot drive should be last *
• Built in disk drives can now be configured and disabled.
• Added a checkbox to disable disk access noises.
• NuBus and compact macs are now considered working in MAME so more are available in the UI.
• Added LCD grid to the graphic filter list

MAME Changes

• New Speed menu for selecting the emulator speed (when that's configurable). Please note that speed changes take effect after a soft or hard reset (or quitting completely).
• New mouse capture menu (option-command-space) to toggle mouse capture.
• When using a pseudo terminal serial port, the pty name is displayed to the console

Release 11

• Include MAME 0.229 (custom build)
• MAME Keyboard cheat sheat now works
• File -> Export Shell Script will generate an executable shell script to launch MAME with the current settings.

Release 10

• Includes MAME 0.228 (custom build)
• Some NuBus Macintoshes are now supported. Much like the real thing, these are not particularly usable. In particular, the SCSI disk drives need CHD disk images with a full partition table and drivers, not normal disk images. And the Apple IIe card isn't emulated yet.
• MAME keyboard cheat sheet available under the Help menu.

Release 9.1

Ample Changes:

• Add Apricot Super Serial Imager card
• Update the default rom download URL. This currently points to a 224 rom set so a few ROMs require extra work to acquire (mostly serial cards, IIRC).

MAME Changes:

• Based on current (Jan 6 2021) MAME Code with a few Apple-II related fixes since 0.227
• Command-option-keys no longer generate a key event for the non-modifier key. IE, if you press command-option-p to pause, command and option will be sent by the emulated machine but not the P key.

Release 9

• Includes name 0.227 (custom build)
• Log window dark mode support
• Adds a link to the MAME Apple 2 Wiki
• Bump SDL2 framework version
• (MAME) Added Paste Text and Fast Forward menu items

Notes:

MAME 0.227 includes ZipGS support. You will need to manually enable it in the config options - press fn-delete (MacBook) or delete (extended keyboard) to enable partial UI mode, then tab to bring up the config menu, then select machine configuration and set the ZipGS CPU speed (then of course disable partial UI mode again). This will be stored in the config file so it only needs to be done once.

The Throttle and -speed command line options don't seem to be effective anymore.

The archive.org mame rom repository I've been relying on has a tendency to self destruct so there isn't currently a good source for downloading a 0.227 rom set. The new rom files for 0.227 are:

• a2parprn
• a2suprterm
• a2uniprint
• ccs7710

Release 8

• Includes Mame 0.226 (custom build)
• ROM downloader is better about checking for errors
• ROM downloader now allows for custom URL
• Improved dark mode support

Release 7

• includes mame 0.225
• vgmplay support included in the mame build. drag-n-drop a .vgm or .vgz file to the dock icon to launch the mame vim player
• Added an window to show recent disk images. You can drag-and-drop disk images onto the window to create a library of sorts. Any images dragged directly onto the media slots will also be added.
• if you're using a custom member build (see the preferences panel) you can also specify the working directory.
• the vmnet_helper utility is included for use with uthernet emulation. This has to be run with root permissions (or with an entitlement that only exists through the app store). In the preferences panel, click the button to fix permissions.

Mame enhancements:

• mame 0.225 and all accompanying improvements therein
• VGM write support
• Menu bar short cuts (command-Q, command-W, etc) also need the option key (ala Sweet 16)
• Added a special menu with options to pause (command-option-p), throttle (command-option-t), soft reset, and hard reset.
• apple 2 gs driver - command key is mapped to left command key, option key is mapped to left option key. If for some you prefer the way it used to be, you can edit the keyboard config.
• should no longer read any pre-existing mame ini files you have lying around.
• in honor of ethernet support, there's a vmnet network driver. see above for details on setting it up

Release 6

• I can has icon?
• Added Capture Mouse option which captures the mouse (-mouse) in window mode. Very useful for IIgs emulation
• Reorganized and consolidated the window sizing options.
• Added options for the BGFX renderer which can emulate CRT distortion, scanlines, etc.
• moved Agat to their own category
• added missing agat_fdc rom to the rom list
• ROM Manager menu moved to the Window Menu
• ROM Manager now shows missing ROMs in red