Maximus78
Maximus78 is a Windows based Front End for the Atari 7800 Emulator, A7800.
Welcome to Maximus78!
You’ll need to complete the following steps first to enjoy the full experience of Maximus78 with all of the associated artwork, manuals, help files, and screenshots. These steps outline the basic requirements to get started, please see the official documentation for more specific information on using and configuring Maximus78.1. Download the A7800 Windows Package
Maximus78 requires the A7800 Emulator. Download the latest version from GitHub and unzip it to the folder of your choice. Below is a link to the Windows version of the emulator.
https://github.com/7800-devtools/a7800/releases/download/v5.2/a7800-win-v5.2.zip
For detailed information please reference the User’s Guide, which can be downloaded here.
2. Download the A7800 Optional Files
Download and unzip this package to the same root folder location as A7800. It is located on the Internet Archive at archive.org.
This file includes two subfolders, “bios” and “roms”, whose contents should be installed in the same respective subfolders in the A7800 installation folder. While optional, you will want to download this archive to use all of the features of Maximus78 and A7800. Note that the roms folder contains an older version of Trebor’s 7800 ROM pack, so you’ll want to dowload the latest version in the next step.
Note that this download package is periodically updated, and all versions of the A7800 Optional Files package can be viewed Here:
Internet Archive Search: a-7800-optional-files
As of this writing, below is a link to the most recent version:
https://archive.org/download/a-7800-optional-files-20220628/A7800_Optional_Files_20220628.zip
3. Download Trebor’s 7800 ROM ProPack
This file includes a comprehensive compilation of Atari 7800 Homebrews, Hacks, Demos, Prototypes, and all retail releases in both NTSC and PAL formats. You can safely overwrite the contents of the ROMs folder with this file if you have an older version of Trebor’s ROM pack. It’s important to note that all of the screenshots, manuals, and box art are tied to the exact file names in Trebor’s ROM Pack, it’s important that you do not rename any of the ROM files for Maximus78 to function properly.
Unzip it anywhere you’d like, but I’d suggest the roms folder in your A7800 Directory.
http://7800.8bitdev.org/index.php/Trebors_7800_ROM_PROPack
4. Download the Game Information zip file (includes Manauls and Screenshots) for Maximus78.
You can unzip this archive anywhere, however I would suggest creating a “gameinfo” subfolder in your main A7800 Directory. You’ll need to download all of the files, they are a split archive due to the 25MB file limit on GitHub.
Maximus78_GameInfo.zip
Maximus78_GameInfo.z01
Maximus78_GameInfo.z02
Maximus78_GameInfo.z03
Maximus78_GameInfo.z04
Maximus78_GameInf0.z05
Maximus78_GameInf.0z06
Maximus78_GameInfo.z07
Maximus78_GameInfo.z08
Maximus78_GameInfo.z09
The files includes all of the screenshots and manuals for Maximus78. The manuals archive will be periodically updated as it does not contain screenshots and/or manuals for every game in Trebor’s ROM pack.
Note that the Game information file includes images of many of the instruction manuals for retail and homebrew releases, and all are displayed with a corresponding HTM file that is also included in the archive. This HTML file is configured to display screenshots, manuals and in some cases cartridge images within the application, without this archive some features of Maximus78 will not display correctly.
The HTM files can be easily edited from within the application if you’d like to make changes yourself. The current HTM files are very simple and easy to edit, and simply contain links and formatting information to display the included manuals and screenshots. You can also create an HTM file for any game that does not currently have one. Simply create a “<filename>.htm” file in the gameinfo subdirectory, where “<filename>” is the exact same name as the ROM. For example, if you have a game ROM named “Dungeon Stalker (v1.42) (2015) (AtariAge).a78”, name the HTML file “Dungeon Stalker (v1.42) (2015) (AtariAge).htm”. The HTM file can then link to and display any image that’s placed in the gameinfo subdirectory, once edited to do so.
5. Download the Box Art zip file for Maximus78.
You can unzip this archive anywhere, however I would suggest creating a “boxart” subfolder in your main A7800 Directory.
If you wish to add your own box art to Maximus78, it’s a simple process. Simply place an image file with either a JPG or PNG extension in the boxart subfolder, give it the exact same name as the game ROM file, and it will automatically appear along with the ROM in the application. For example, if you have a game ROM named “Dungeon Stalker (v1.42) (2015) (AtariAge).a78”, name the box art file either “Dungeon Stalker (v1.42) (2015) (AtariAge).png” or “Dungeon Stalker (v1.42) (2015) (AtariAge).jpg” and it will appear automatically.
This file includes all of the box art I have availabe for Maximus78. The box art archive may be periodically updated as it does not contain screenshots and/or manuals for every game in Trebor’s ROM pack.
Maximus78_BoxArt.zip
Updates
1. For the latest updates and troubleshooting steps for A7800, you can view the release thread on AtariAge here:
A7800 – the Atari 7800 Emulator – Atari 7800 – AtariAge Forums
2. For the latest documentation and downloads for A7800, you can view the Home Page for A7800 here:
A7800 – the Atari 7800 Emulator – Atari 7800 – AtariAge Forums
3. If you have questions about using Maximus78 or would care to share updates to be included with the next distribution, the best method to have your voice heard is to post on the official release post at AtariAge.Com here:
Maximus78: A7800 Emulator Front End – Atari 7800 Programming – AtariAge Forums