How it goes? See in this 6 min video, captured from Mega STE.  17MB AVI, Xvid codec.
  Or 2 min video, captured from Falcon, 5MB ....    2 min video, captured from 1040STFM, with only 1MB RAM, 6MB - little slower because of Satandisk.   ...  4 min video  from Mega ST, 13 MB .
    MSTE 16:  L means that there is launcher for run at 16MHz on Mega STE, or common launcher will set it on 16MHz. But many is runnable from desktop, so may set to 16MHz before start (W-works well with 16MHz). Some are too fast, so better keep them on 8MHz.
Source files of launchers/depackers included.  In case of trouble lower hard disk cache (under 100KB), disable load of desktop ACCessories. Or make special gaming partition where no other (memory taking apps), and boot from that part. when playing.
   Launchers:   I made new, universal launchers for most of games, where system is detected, and optimal settings (speed, cache) is done.   If no Start.prg or similar then: when loader/starter program name ends with 16 it is special for Mega STE, and will crash on other Atari ST(E) machines. If ends with F, FALC , it is for Falcon. If ends with T24 is for TOS 2.06 and 4.xx (Falcon). I tested with TOS 1.04 on Mega ST,  TOS 2.06 on STE and Mega STE (and ST), and Falcon TOS 4.02 (VGA& PAL).
 New column 'With GAC' shows min RAM requirement with special partitioned hard disk, memory card, where we have special game cache partition. It is for holding game's floppy image files while playing. Access is via special driver, what uses not TOS, so may work in any game - just need to patch for, I did it with couple already RAMdisked games. Benefit is lower RAM requirement and possibility to play games such from hard disk which were distributed on many floppies. In most of cases 1MB RAM will be enough.

What is changed in games ?


NEW Utility:  Selectable game launcher for AUTO run. There is many game which runs well only from AUTO folder, but it is problem on hard disks - as  we can start at once only 1 game from AUTO folder + other files of game must be in root dir. Some existing solutions worked by file moving, renaming directories and similar - too complicated.
With this utility is simple to select desired game and run it, with only couple key pressings. Price is that need to make list with game executables (starters) paths. It can be done with any decent text editor.

Copy ALISTR.PRG in partition's AUTO folder. List file with name ARUNLIST.TXT into ROOT of same partition. Only files inside partition where AUTO and list files are can be started (in next version will be able to start from any partition) - this is good when can select boot partition, so may have more lists... 
List file example: ARUNLIST.TXT  . After each entry must press Return, so after last one too, and so save it from editor. Max path len is 127 char. Program is for low res (as AUTO runs in that), so line length is limited to 40 chars. Longer paths will be shown with stripped beginning, so may see complete filename .
Download PRG
Keys:  walk with arrows down and up. E exits, Enter or R launches desired program.
 This is initial version, will be refined. List making program with AES fileselector will be made soon (that fileselector can't be used from AUTO run, because AES is not initialised yet.)
Note: from AUTO we can run only programs which don't use AES functions (so, not GEM programs).
Example: Dungeon Master, hard disk installable - no need to copy files in AUTO folder. Just copy game files and files for AUTO in some folder, delete path in  DM_LOAD.INF . And just add line with path to DM_LOAD.PRG in ARUNLIST.TXT...
If you copy from floppy to hard drive, and there is AUTO folder on floppy do not copy it's content in hard disk's AUTO folder - copy executable from AUTO in game's main directory on hard drive. Launcher will take care about rest...



  PP, June, Aug. 2007.  Febr, July-Sept. 2008.