PS2 - Playing PS1 games on OPL. I don't understand the drama... Just want to play!

Hi,

After much googling and reading back stories on forums... I find myself bashing my head against a brick wall. So it seems I should just ask for help / explanation. Hopefully this is a non biased & neutral place to find help.

Anywho...

So I used to just load my PS2 and PS1 games through OPL. When I tried updating OPL, popstarter, ulf loaders etc, its pretty much bricked it - Can't load a PS1 game at all... let alone get it to list. So I'm just getting by on the really old versions of the software, which works some what.

The question is, why is this so damn difficult? What are the newest builds that are known to not contain these deliberate blocks to PS1 games? I'm not sure which guy is which, but there is krHACKen and JayJay both releasing software that blocks each other or something... Then there are a few PS2 sites hosting all sorts of versions, both claiming the other is a fake version.

It's so frustrating that I'll go bald trying to figure this out myself. If someone could please point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it

I just want to play my PS1 games the same way as my PS2 games with some kind of layout like OPL. If there is a working alternative or competitor to the OPL w/o the bs, that would be sweet.

Cheers

 

Welcome!

OPL was Jimmikaelkael's project, who worked on it until he left in 2011. I took over from 2012-2015. Then I decided that I no longer wished to work on it, in September 2015.

The source code for OPL is still available on Ifcaro's account. Previously, it was hosted on Bitbucket, now Github. But either way, the vanilla versions have no support for POPStarter. That was unofficially added by somebody you know (under his own fork of OPL), and it is known as the "ELM" feature.

POPStarter is a project that allows everybody to POPS with other games (other than BishiBashi Champ). POPS is the PlayStation emulator from Sony.

You can actually use POPStarter with OPL, without the ELM feature. Although troublesome, it does work. And so you can see that the blocking was not against OPL itself, but against the ELM feature.
Anyway, the blocking in POPStarter has been worked around by that somebody and there will be no further versions of POPStarter, so I guess it does not matter anymore if you use ELM or not.... as long as you use that guy's latest work.

That guy has personally caused me some grievance, so please try to understand that I (as a single individual) will not endorse his work nor actions.

 

Hi and welcome,

Simple.
First, delete or rename all your *.elm files.<- IMPORTANT !
Get the official OPL from psx-scene.com, or the newest vanilla version from the rogue site.
Get the latest POPStarter build from here [or this older beta if your USB games lag].


Ignore the tuts which involve the "POOF" vaporware. That POOF bs is not required and would give you nothing but a massive headache.
The morons gentlemen over at PS2 Home thought it's clever to let the OPL users update their POPStarter installation to bugged POPStarter prototypes. So they've made POOF to circumvent the OPL block and trolled me hard. Ultimately, POPStarter did poof too, since it was impossible for me to publish a prototype without having to face another PS2 Home shitstorm. Have had enough.
I did release a [rushed] final POPStarter build (which again, does not need POOF to run), abandoned it's development and retired from the PS2 business. Epilogue of the "drama" in a nutshell.


Just get rid of the old elm files, then POPStarter will run fine from the official and crapola versions of OPL.
I guess you know which one of the two OPL versions I do recommend lol.

 

Thanks for the reply guys. Slowly making sense of this.

Any idea where I can find a basic walkthrough of this process? From all of the ones I've found, they've been badly out of date, not working, completely wrong and really badly written. So I've never been able to get .vcd files or .elf files to list in the later versions of OPL. If this new method means I can avoid having to create gamename.elf every single time and manually adding it to that config txt, that would save a moderate amount of ball ache.

Last night I was trying to make sense of this poof thing... just made me more confused about which software is blocking who. I couldn't figure it out, so I gave up and tried using the new opl manager and the latest opl build (v1030 iirc). Can't remember which site I downloaded it from. In fact, my memory card and HDD has gotten so cluttered with different versions etc, I'm almost tempted to format it, reinstall free mcboot and start again.
So I tried using the new OPL manager - and it wouldn't work over the network. I later figured out I was supposed to use an internally linked download to a standalone HDL server .elf. Ran that and worked, despite it sneakily changing its IP address on me. After installing games, the games list in opl manager wouldn't update. So I ran a fresh copy and updated fine... but then it wouldn't transfer the art over FTP... So I transferred manually via USB. Now working.
Also when I tried installing more games, I've found OPL v1030 freezes when trying to run HDL server. The included HDL dumb refused to work so I used the gui helper instead with an older version of OPL through the included HDL server. Funny though as access to regular SMB shared folder over ethernet is working fine...

As for which sites are good / bad - I literally have no idea. I've been through psx-scene, ps2 home etc. I don't even know which site I'm looking at half the time lol. What is the rogue site though? I have no idea which of the two versions of OPL I'm supposed to be using. Every time I've downloaded opl from where ever, it says specifically not to download from anywhere else as others are fake etc. It seems they all say that about each other... which doesn't help the confusion... Maybe this is why nothing I try ever works? Perhaps I'm mixing up 2 competing families of software?

As much as it gives me the shits... I can't leave it broken so I'm still keen to get it working. Would be nice to keep my hair in the process
I was beginning to worry that maybe it was just me who sucks at running homebrew... Hoping you guys can straighten me out :/

Cheers guys.

 

Then unfortunately, you must use that guy's work (ELM). As much as some of us dislike him, I have to agree that some users were simply living for his work...

It's simple: POOF is supposed to be the counter against kHn's block within OPL. There's no block in their version of OPL, against POPStarter (in fact, they want it to work for them).

So some people see the developer as the bad guy because because the developer takes away their fun time, right? That seems to be a common argument on ps2-home.
Well, they fail to understand that nobody wants to work when there is always somebody stiring up trouble or if we're not appreciated. These aren't paid projects, so nobody is obligated to do any free work for anyone (particularly when thousands could be charged for a single programming project).

FMCB has nothing to do with this, BTW. Please don't wipe it!

If I am not mistaken (I don't use OPLM), it needs a FTP server running. So unless they provided you with one, I think you're supposed to start LaunchELF's FTP functionality (MISC/PS2NET option).

HDLDump does not use SMB, but its own protocol. OPL was also designed to wipe all modules and load the HDLDump ones, when the user elects to use the HDLDump server.
So when the HDLDump server does not work, it may not affect the SMB client (the "ETH" mode) functionality.

Although I must say, I did fix the server before the v0.9.3 release. Where did you get the "r1030" build from?

I'm not saying that it is surely the problem, but the addition of ELM caused a buffer overflow in the UI and some things that should have worked, stopped working correctly. Although the bug was highlighted to him not too long ago, I don't know if he ever fixed it.
It is also possible that the issues with the HDLDump server were just not totally fixed, and I have no idea if that is true...

If you wish to get an answer to this (i.e. out of curiosity), you can try the "official" releases, which do not have the ELM modification: http://psx-scene.com/forums/f150/open-ps2-loader-official-beta-revisions-releases-156209/

On a side note:
If you must use HDLDump, you can also consider using this standalone server: http://psx-scene.com/forums/f19/new...mpt-gain-full-access-hdd-over-network-113411/
The one built into OPL is a v0.8.6-compatible server, which is quite slow.

There's also HDLGameInstaller, which is my own project: https://assemblergames.com/threads/cbt-hdloader-game-installer.45707/
This was designed to have similar performance as the one above, but uses TCP. So it should have better reliability than HDLDump. However, you have to use its own client, as this isn't considered a HDLDump server.

Well, I'm from psx-scene. No seriously, the project was from Jimmikaelkael, who was from psx-scene too.
But we're not actively working on OPL anymore, so... it is nothing more than the origin of this project and perhaps remains solely as a distribution point for beta builds that come from the Ifcaro repository.

As far as I know, there's no counter-mechanism for OPL builds. If you have problems, please elaborate to ask.

But if you have problems with ELM, then you might want to ask that guy from ps2-home. That, or wait for somebody from his user-base to show up here. Especially when kHn threw in the towel, some of their members registered here.

Like I said, I don't endorse his work, but it is still his work (or is related to it) and so he should know how to help you...

 

EDIT : nvm, I've posted too late. See the above reply of sp193.

Sounds like OPL does not find your config file (the one containing your indexed ELF files).
Please download and install the newest official OPL. The stable and beta releases are linked here.
Make sure your configuration file is named conf_apps.cfg.
Set “Applications start mode” to auto in the OPL settings.
This page may help you.

Only this modified uLaunchELF build is able to run POPStarter just by selecting the VCDs. No redundant gamename.elf file copy or config file needed.
But if you still want to run your multiple gamename.elf from the OPL interface, there are softwares like PSXVCD which automates the tedious process.

It's the kind of situation I wanted you all to avoid, by cancelling the development of POPStarter. Believe me or not, this could have been worse than this, with even more rubbish files and unusable setups...
Free MCboot is fine. Do not delete/reinstall it. Just remove the old "elm" files from your setup.

 

Thanks guys. massive help sorting out this noob.
fair bit to digest, but I think I'll get through it. You've mentioned a few crucial things that I either misunderstood, glossed over or never read from the tutorials. So I should have better luck next time.

The versions I'm using are:
OPL_966_DB-[f5ebbe0] VMC GSM0.39 IGS0.1 PS2RD (Most things work)
OPL 1030-DB-V2-c3257f5 VMC GSM0.39 IGS0.1 PS2RD PADEMU (Most things not working)

Though seriously, my MCC and HDD folder directories are a mess with different versions scattered. I'm probably using the incorrect BOOT.ELF as well... So just so I have a better chance of figuring this out, I first need to clean out all of the stuff on the memory card and start again. I think the hardest part is trying to work out what files are absolutley essencial (to keep), where they live and what they're called.

Anywho, I'll have another muck around tonight and I'll see how I go. Also I've just noticed there was a new daily build 1033 released a few days ago, so I might give that a go as well. Though when comparing to psx-scene (linked to bitbucket), the newest version is only dated 26.10.2016. Not sure if I've followed the links correctly, but this seems a bit outdated? I'll look again later tonight.

Lastly, what am I supposed to do with the files opl.icn and icon.sys?

Again, Thanks so much guys

 

There's also another thing: when you have PADEMU, particularly when it is enabled, things may not work because of what it is.
If you have problems, consider trying the same revision of OPL, but without all the bells and whistles. None of them (i.e. GSM, VMC, PADEMU, CHEAT/PS2RD, IGS) are related to gameplay itself.

On the bright side: there isn't really an "incorrect" LaunchELF. Only old(er) versions.

So next time, you can just put all your apps in the APPS folder.

Bitbucket? It should be this one: https://github.com/ifcaro/Open-PS2-Loader/releases
I checked and the last build was September 7th, 2017.

They're the icon files. Each save on the memory card must have a valid icon. Each directory is a save.

 

I seem to remember that at one stage POPS was dangerously incompatible with LBA48 drives - is that still the case or has is been fixed or worked around now?

 

That's right. The proof-of-concept release (POPS-00001) came with the original LBA48-incompatible ATA device driver.

Fixed. A homebrew driver is used, since the very first POPStarter build iirc.

 

Does POPstarter not have a bunch of emulation inaccuracies? That is why I never bothered with it. The PS2 Should be used as a PS2 only machine. If you want to play your PS1 games I implore you to try mednafen PSX/Bettle PSX core on retroarch. This emulator/core allows for highly accurate PSX emulation (I personally think even better than Xebra), with graphical correction and enhancement possibilities if you wish. This also gets around the PS2's trashy video, allowing you to use crt shaders with retroarch to get near PVM level video quality for PS1.

 

POPStarter is just a homebrew program which loads, tweaks and executes POPS. It (POPStarter) does not emulate anything.
POPS is a PS1 emulator that was developed by $CEI. Closed source obviously. Only one PS2 version is known, and it was made to run a specific game demo. Yes, it does have inaccuracies. But the major problem I've noticed is the uber-bugged recompiler.
To sum it all, we can't do shit to this emulator but binhacking, unless it gets fully reversed. And as you said, it'd be best to use an open source emu on another system, rather than trying to "improve" POPS.

EDIT : POPStarter is gonna have a frontend soon, it's part of the XEB+ project
http://www.psx-place.com/threads/coming-soon-xtremeeliteboot-a-powerful-alternative-for-fmcb.15471/

 

Of course, you get what you pay for. Maybe this phrase doesn't really work in this case, you get the point; there's no way a PlayStation 2 (1999-tech) will match up with the emulation capabilities of a modern-day PC...

Although the PS2 generally uses hardware emulation for the PS backward compatibility functionality, its GPU is software-emulated. The IOP eventually became software-emulated in the late PS2 models, which could explain the increase in incompatible titles towards the end.
There is no way for emulation of the PS to have been accurate in that era.

POPS is a software emulator, which makes things worse. But because it was written by SCEI, it does work quite well... I guess.

 

Hi guys, Sorry for the late reply.

Wow, I didn't realise that the PS2 was running PS1 games in emulation all this time! This is unacceptable! So I guess I will have to look into adding PS1 hardware into my mix. Though I am not currently aware of any possibility of loading directly from HDD and the other minor issue is that I've ran out of room. Unfortunately 6 shelves weren't enough for all my consoles. :/

So in the end after trying all combinations / methods to get this to work - it seemed that somehow my freemcboot install / bootleg pops binary file I found off a shady russian forum... or maybe my memory card was corrupt? So I just got a new OEM 8mb memory card, installed the latest copies of FMCB, OPL, uELF, standalone HDL server. And I'm pleased to report that its now all working I also incorporated kHn's advice and is now loading fine in the apps menu. I formatted my original mem card and seems to be working fine now.

Unfortunately it seems this has just been the first hurdle out of what seems to be a much more difficult task - fixing the disgusting video quality. Despite using brand new high quality D-Terminal cables, its unfortunately it still looks like yellow compost. I'd add more detail, but it's probably better to start a new thread about that.

Thanks again guys for the input. I'll be looking into XEB project. Sounds exciting