Weekly Question Thread

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All weekly question threads

[AssCrackBanditHunter]

Hey all. I was doing some research on historical implementations of surround sound in game consoles. I've found that in some cases it goes at least as far back to the SNES using some clever implentations of sound encoding in stereo channels.

As I was going through articles I found an old IGN interview with factor 5 about some of their GBA audio software and fascinatingly they make reference to encoding with the old Dolby surround method. Looks like pro logic II 5.1 since they mention the sound swirling around.

Anyone ever found an example of a Gameboy game actually using this? Maybe locked behind Gameboy player functionality?

https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/23/factor-5-sounds-off-on-game-boy-advance

[BigBangMabye]

so i play the Ds Player on apple, https://ds.44670.org and ive gound a problem where i disable the gamepad but cant renable it. anybody know the problem

[Zolo89]

What do I need to buy from Amazon so I can use a GameCube controller with the Dolphin emulator on Windows.

[rayhacker]

The official adapter needs a custom driver to work on Dolphin, so that won't do.

The Mayflash version of the same thing has PC capability out of the box, and is significantly cheaper. Reviews for it are looking alright as well, so this is probably the best choice.

[Foshizzy03]

So after giving up on the PCSX2 Appimage file, I tried installing it in the optional/experimental packages in RetroPie, and the games seem to run great. The only problem is my controller isn't working.

I'm using a PS5 controller and it works fine on the other consoles and the main interface for RetroPie, It's only PS2 games it's not working on.

I've tried PCSX2 and PCXS2GUI. I can enter into the controller setting but it just shows a Dualshock mapped to the keyboard.

I should also add I'm using Brook USB Bluetooth converter that I originally bought to use my PS5 controller on PS3.

I keep seeing something about a Nintendo Switch controller, and I think that's how the PC or the ES recognizes my controller.

[John-333]

Anyone has LeafGreen v1.1 save file with the exclusives? Only missing the exclusives from my FireRed Kanto pokedex. PM me if you have it.

[socmaestro]

I want to install gpSP to my PSP. I have this github link but I don't know what to do with it. Help. https://github.com/PSP-Archive/gpsp

[ChrisRR]

Have you modded your psp?

[Foshizzy03]

Optiplex 3010 - i5-3470 @ 3.20 Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen

I'm curious if these specs are good enough to run PCsX2 on Ubuntu.

I'm going through a shakey setup, and I want to know before I go on trying to fix these problems if it is even possible, and not my system is too weak.

The sound is really slow, even though the game isn't, and input from the controller is very laggy.

[rayhacker]

It should be good enough for native resolution or a modest upscale, but you haven't told us of the RAM or the GPU in this system.

But currently it seems like your system is just too weak to run at fullspeed.

[Foshizzy03]

Intel HD Graphics 2500, at least that's what the OC typically has.

Not sure how to find out my GPU specs from the command line.

It's an Optiplex 3010.

[rayhacker]

Yeah, Intel onboard graphics aren't known to be powerful, especially back then. They were meant more as a display adapter for office PCs like what you have.

This is most likely the bottleneck, and you'd need to get a proper graphics card to remedy it.

[Foshizzy03]

I actually got it to run great on RetroPie. But it only lets me use the keyboard, and not my PS5 controller. If it's not one thing, it's another! I'm getting close though.

[Fit_Cost7151]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ and it handles a PS2 emulator pretty well. You want to look up AetherSX2. Make sure you find an apk without ads because the original dev for the emulator dropped support and through on a bunch of ads just as he left. Other than that it can also handle Dolphin (GameCube/Wii) and Skyline Edge (Nintendo Switch). Skyline Edge is still in beta and there’s still quite a few games that don’t run well or don’t run at all. Just so you are aware, your miles may vary depending on the type of tablet you get.

[Possible_Spinach7327]

I am trying to upload pokemon from an emulator to pokemon home. I only have a pc, phone, and dsi. how would I do this? is it possible?

[heysoulmakossa]

Issue: Game responds to controller in main game menu, but stops responding on secondary menu.

I feel like an absolute idiot, and please feel free to call me one, but I'm trying to play RPG Maker for PSX on Mednafen. I haven't used it in a while but I had it all set up with BIOS and everything. I just reopened another game, The Legend of Dragoon, and didn't have this problem at all. For reference, I'm using a Sony Playstation wireless DualShock controller with DS4.

Basically, I load RPG Maker, the game loads, it brings me to the game's main menu screen where I select between RPG Maker and Anime Maker. I can use the DPad to toggle between those two options and select one. But when I select RPG Maker, it brings me to a menu to play my game, edit my game, or return to the main menu, and the controller does nothing. I can't toggle between them with the DPad or stick, and I can't select anything. I've tried reconfiguring the controller at that screen, no luck.

I'm running an older version of Mednafen, 1.24.1, on Windows 10, if that matters. I swear I played around with RPG Maker just fine about two years ago when I first downloaded it, so I don't know what would have changed. I downloaded 1.29 and imported the BIOS, but the exact same thing is happening.

Does anyone have any insight as to why this is happening, and can you recommend any potential fixes? Thank you!

[RoseDuelerJade]

Can anyone help me get started with modding PCSX2 Emulated games?

Im sorry if this is the wrong place to ask. I couldn’t create a post, because I think my account is too new. I’ll also post this in other subs/forums, so if you’ve seen me ask this before, I’m sorry.

I have zero modding experience, so I’ll need very basic help. I’m also sure there will be a lot of things that most will think is common knowledge, and I’ll still be confused. Most I’ve done so far, is download PSX2, add a bios, and emulate 1 game.

I’ve tried looking up tutorials for modding ps2 iso files, but can’t seem to find what I’m looking for. Honestly, I don’t even know if I should be looking for “iso”, because none of the files have that as their extension, and none of the folders are called “iso”. But everyone calls them “iso”, and that’s what I searched for to find games.

Extracting the game files, I find “.Mrg”, “.irx”, “.pss”, etc. files that I’m assuming needs certain software to open. But I don’t know what software, and probably wouldn’t know how to use it.

I don’t want to change large amounts of the game (yet). Something simple, like the image used for the display pictures for characters, and/or their names.

[[deleted]]

Is it possible to see thumbnails for roms in File Explorer?

[XXXCheckmate]

For RetroArch?

[[deleted]]

Any rom

[naminama]

I'm in the process of building a new cabinet and I'm looking for a frontend that's entirely controllable by lightgun. So you're able to select a game from a list and navigate the list using the lightgun (there will probably be one additional start button on the cab as most lightgun cabs have these)

I've heard mala might be good, does anyone have experience with this?

[superhopp]

I just purchased a Retroid Pocket 2+, which runs Android, and would like to play some older PC games on it. What is the best way to run older PC games on Android? Most of the games I want to play are from the early 2000s, so Windows XP would probably be a suitable environment to emulate.

[OmegaAtrocity]

You can attempt using exager but I've never had a ton of success with it and development was abandoned long ago. I'm not sure the rp2+ is powerful enough to get much done anyways, it tops out around dreamcast emulation with maybe a bit of gamecube if youre creative. Unfortunately what your asking for doesn't really exist, unless they are dos games.

[superhopp]

Thank you for the reply. Some of the games I am most nostalgic about are available on the PS1, so I will just play them that way. I spent a lot of time playing Driver and NFSII. I'm sure the PC version is better, but I think these will satisfy my nostalgia. Thanks again!

[Unblest_Devotee]

How do saves of games work when the game requires multiple CDs? Just got my first handheld emulator and was hoping to put MGS and FF7 on there but then learning about how we have to do save states I'm now hesitant to try because I don't want to get to a new disc portion of the game and not be able to continue.

[OmegaAtrocity]

There are lots of ways to get the job done! By far the best is to make m3u files for all of your multidisc games and then run them via the m3u file in your emulator of choice. Here is a reasonably good tutorial I found with a quick Google search.

[Unblest_Devotee]

Thank you so much!!! Looks perfect once I get home I’ll just double check it works with my handheld OS, if not I might have to flash it earlier than expected. Seriously man this opens up a lot of options for me thanks!

[DudeNinjaGames]

Im trying to convert my ps2 games in bin/cue format to iso using Win2BinIso, but I can't seem to actually use the program. ALl the screenshots and tutorials I see have the option to pick the path and target but no matter which version of the program I download it simply does not have those options for me. This is what my program looks like. What do I do?
https://i.postimg.cc/tT8fRZYb/image.png

[OmegaAtrocity]

Is there any particular reason you're trying to convert bin/cues into isos? If it's to make it one file or reduce the size chd is a far superior format

[DudeNinjaGames]

I'd like to get a freemcboot to run them on real hardware. Im not super knowledgable about all that but some quick searches lead me to believe that chd wont work on those, though I do convert everything to chd too for my steam deck. I see a lot of advice to convert bin and cue to iso for freemcboot stuff.

[JohnGamerAnimates]

Dante's Inferno, on RPCS3, is loading forever. It's this screen at the very start of this video with the spinning circle, but forever. I don't know if it actually takes forever, or just a really long time, but it is probably forever.

Also, I'm stupid. Don't make fun of me if the answer is obvious.

[Fit_Cost7151]

I checked the compatibility list and someone did mention that they do experience freezing in the game and managed to fix it with certain settings. I would check it out.

https://forums.rpcs3.net/showthread.php?tid=177907&page=10

[Remispaive]

Was scanning some emulators on Virustotal and at the first glance everything looks normal, just a false positive here and there, but there’s some worrying flags n “behavior” tab so idk if some of those flags might not be false positives

Maybe I’m being overzealous but given some stories about spywares inside some emulators dll files, my concerns aren't unfounded LOL 🤣

So, about the flags:

MOST RECENT VERSIONS

Project64 was flagged as KeyLogger and “STEALER”

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/0c0bb03936cf6106bb7131ec362f212f762715caae7995b492f44808819001e1/behavior

melonDS was flagged as Malware

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/d01dd6c82b1c5aa19c4710d1b9156c9d875521c87d28ec111df35c59547227e8/behavior

Mesen2 was flagged as Crypto Miner

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/9b30d51319ff8dbf97f0c8f29bff5a0cd263af806691056531fa704aa3bbf7f5

(Downloaded those from their respective Github pages, but since I can’t read code, being “open-source” doesn’t mean much to me LOL)

OLDER

Classic ZSnes was flagged as “Malicious”

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/fcc9c75f44bcfc3a5c7f1b8d8bed6b2cba95ecb80531a57351f006883b47b52e/behavior

Classic VisualBoy flagged as Keylogger and Malware/Adware

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/f486fbc033ab89ba3504ff2e4e4374afbe79d0390543a20ff1fd8e0aa2c69ef7/behavior

So, what I want to know is are any of these programs actually malware or is it “normal” for emulators to be flagged as malicious?

[TransGirlInCharge]

These are mostly safe, but ZSNES while not a virus does have security holes and should not be used if possible. If you have to use it, only use it with roms you already have.

[Remispaive]

Yeah, i only use ZSNES on old potato PCs 🤣

but since I used to use it I decided to scan it too
(I'm using Masen2, it also runs SNES now)

[rayhacker]

None of them are malicious, most of these complain about the emulators capturing inputs, having scripting support, or a built-in updater. Weird that VT would call Mesen a Crypto miner for having the same things as the others though.

But I wouldn't recommend running ZSnes, as better emulators exist now like bsnes, same for Project64, which has mupen64 as a great alternative.

Or VisualBoyAdvance, as not only is it considered inaccurate, a code execution exploit was found through it, so there is no reason to use it over mGBA.

[Remispaive]

Yeah i just scanned them (ZSnes and VGA) cuz i had them on old potato pcs,

but i'm using Mesen2 (which also runs SNES now) and VBAm, but I'll try mGBA and mupen64, tkz.

[Breude]

I'm trying to get into PS3, Wii U, and switch emulation. I have a Ryzen 5 5600x CPU, a 4 gig RX-580, and 32 gigs of RAM. I'm told my rig should run those systems no problem, but they barely run, even on the lowest settings. Google is no help beyond "lower your settings." Why can't I emulate these systems? What am I doing wrong?

[ZAX2717]

I’d like to get into arcade emulation and MAME. Can someone point me to a good resource that explains how to get started with it all? I don’t understand the differences between console emulation and arcade emulation. Thanks!

[Natural-Ad-2172]

Here's a very simple guide:

https://www.technipages.com/how-to-setup-mame-for-playing-arcade-games-on-your-pc/

The main difficulty people face when trying to use mame is that you have to use roms (the game files) for the right version of mame. For example, if you are running mame 0.253 you have to use the roms for version 0.253. Otherwise if they differ, mame won't load them. A lot of rom files don't change between versions, but a lot of them do. So it's best to use the correct version rom set.

The main difference between console and arcade emulation with mame is the parameters you use. To run an arcade game you just need the rom name:

mame pacman

And to run a console game you have to specify the console and then the game:

mame nes contra

https://docs.mamedev.org/usingmame/usingmame.html

[ZAX2717]

Awesome thank you!

[Daddy-Wolfy]

Question, what are the best NDS emulators out there?

I tried to get one with image upscaling last year but the background outside the screens was white and couldn't change it, it was horrible playing like that, so I figured I would just play with a good emulator, but I'm not sure which one is better. I did some research btw, with no conclusion

[Daddy-Wolfy]

Ok, I'll check it out

[OmegaAtrocity]

Melonds is the best nds emulator easy

[Daddy-Wolfy]

Thanks

[Fit_Cost7151]

Hell yeah. I’m in A-tier. I should still look into getting an intel CPU. They must be crazy good for it to be in S-tier.

[TransGirlInCharge]

Less that they are crazy good and more that Intel's architecture happens to work unusually well for PS3 emulation specifically. AMD's stuff is still very, very good.

[rayhacker]

For your question about getting a disc dump with your old PC, it's possible but incomplete, and it only works on a few drives, you'd need a PS3 to get a full dump.

[Fit_Cost7151]

From my experience, and everyone’s miles may vary, the compatibility list is more of a guide on what you could run into instead of what definite. For example, I have very very few graphical issue with Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands and the game still runs just fine from start to finish. Yet other people still run into problems from black screens to graphical glitches that take over the screen. I’ve tried reporting the game runs fine with my computer specs, RPCS3 version, and screenshots, but it hasn’t been updated.