[PS2] POPS stuff & POPStarter

p.s. i tried sdtv modes with gsm 037 and it works (i think it must work on 038 and 023x too)
any hdtv modes dont work 480p 720p 1080i i try this mdoes on all 3 versions of gsm
i think problem is in not right desoldered chip or console model/region
scph 50003

 

@krHACKen, the last Beta 15 not works well with the CRT TV's using the standard cable, happens a heavy
interlacing and flickering which makes the emu completely unplayable, while with the previous Beta 14 they works fine.
I suspect the cause is the new introduced "SetGsCrt" hack parameter in the Beta 15.

Best regards.

 

From now the SetGsCrt hack is disabled by default. HDTV users will have to activate it manually. I made two ELFs. The CRT ELF is not patched. The HDTV ELF is patched with the SetGsCrt hack enabled :

POPStarter_r13_WIP_06_OBT_20161120.zip

I verified that both ELFs run. Although, since I haven't maintained POPStarter for 2 months or so and I'm still busy with non-PS2 things, I did not try this build more...

I leave the beta 15 download link to the 1st post, in case this beta 16 is dramatically bugged.

 

Thank you for this new version.

Tested in USB mode, with Crash Bandicoot PAL, VCD in POPS1 folder

On HDTV :
- HDTV ELF working with no side effect ;
- CRT ELF working with no side effect ;
- CRT ELF + $HDTVFIX in POPS/GAME/CHEATS.TXT working with no side effect.

Working perfectly now from POPS/GAME/CHEATS.TXT. Can you remind us the default value ? I did not record it.
BTW, $YPOS_## + $NOPAL = perfect to get PAL games running in NTSC with screen centered.

$D2LS confirmed working from POPS/GAME/CHEATS.TXT. Can't remind which games need $D2LS_ALT so did not test it. Is that MediEvil, right ?

All working from POPS/GAME/CHEATS.TXT.

Not tested yet, I need to install Grandia again.

How to check this ?

 

Thanks for taking the time to try it, @DaSA .

There's no default Y position value. It depends on the game you play (the games originally update the value according to the variable display resolution).

Can't remember which specific games need it. $D2LS is OK for most games. If it doesn't work, the user should try $D2LS_ALT.

Press a button combo to insert a VCD that is not assigned. Example :

MGS PAL has 2 discs. CD1 on line 1, CD2 on line 2. No line 3. No line 4.
Run the CD1 and load a CD2 gamesave so it tells you to insert the CD2;
Press Select+L2+R2+DOWN to select the non-existing VCD from the non-existing line 3;
Press Select+L2+R2+Triangle to open the lid;
Press Select+L2+R2+Square to close the lid;
Press Start to make the game check the inserted disc.

If the bug is fixed, the game will tell you that you inserted the wrong disc (because the safety code internally assigned Select+L2+R2+DOWN to CD1).
If the bug is still here, POPS will certainly freeze trying to mount the non-existing VCD.

The point of that "safety measure" is to copy the filename of the launched VCD to the unused VCD slots. So if the user mistakenly presses the wrong directional button, the emulator does not crash.

 

Any game that was bugged is now running without bugs? For example:

Tony Hawk Series
Gran Turismo 2
Crash Bash

???

 

Tested in HDD mode, MGS-FR PAL in __.POPS partition = working.

Beta 15 : trying to load an unassigned CD4 from CD2 returns a message "Maintenant vérification" (EN : "now loading...") after closing the lid - message which stucks like forever (most likely its trying mount the non-existing VCD like you explained) - tho I can summon IGR.

Beta 16 : same test - message returned : "Vous n'avez pas inséré le bon disque" (EN : "wrong disc inserted") - and I'm able to open the lid and test again to load another CD after that message.

*

Test for Grandia tonight - or tomorrow, still waiting for it...

 

@krHACKen, thank you very much, but although i understand that youd made two specific versions, i'm
confused when you say initially that from now the SetGsCrt hack is disabled by default as i thought is disabled
also in the HDTV version, i suppose that do you refer to the future when somebody confirms
you that the cause of the problem is really the SetGsCrt parameter right?

Well, an user who got previously the problem confirmed me now that the CRT version works fine while
the HDTV causes the interlaced/flicker problem, then yes, the cause of the problem is the SetGsCrt hack.

I suppose that you would make in a next version is just use only one ELF with the SetGsCrt disabled
by default, and then who needs it for his tv then he can activate it in the CHEATS.TXT or hex edit the offset no?

I tested the game Grandia (NTSC-U) with the simulated reset function and works partially.
The reset itself seems to works fine, but for this game after the reset is loaded the disc 1 instead disc 2.

The first time i did the reset i did directly without opening the lid and inserting the disc 2, then
loaded the disc 1.

Then in the second attempt i did this:

Select+L2+R2+Triangle == For opening the lid
Select+L2+R2+Right == For insert disc 2
Select+L2+R2+Square == For close the lid
Select+L2+R2+X == For make the reset

But after made the reset also loaded again the disc 1 instead the disc 2, or at least
i think is the disc 1 because when you are in the menu for load the saved game,
do not let you choose the saved game of disc 2.

Best regards.

 

i tried to play crash bash (pal version) and it has the same glitch. i didn't use any cheat, only the new ELF file

 

I tested change disc and reset game with D, Chrono Cross games it worked. Thanks.

 

To complete ElPatas report about Grandia (NTSC-U), tested in USB mode : I tried the opposite i.e. loading CD1 from CD2. And got same exact result : after the emulated reset, it's still CD2 - the game keeps asking me to insert CD1 when I try to start a new game after the reset.

But is that a real issue ? I mean, can't we just swap the VMCs for this game, when played like we should (from CD1 to CD2) ? I never played it - so I don't know.

 

@DaSA

Hi Daza

Would it be possible to update '' POPStarter ELFs BATCHER '' or create a new application from scratch to facilitate the creation of elf executables for each game?

I am contributing many games and I take longer time renaming the elf than getting the games and running them. It would be much faster the test of games to increase the list of compatibility.

Thank you

 

Is there a chance to re-upload at least latest BETA version of a POPStarter,
cause none of links (to http://aybabtu.chez.com) aren't working.

 

- OBT 16 : POPStarter_r13_WIP_06_OBT_20161120



*

@Nostro2 : I removed this "tool" from "download" since it was bundled with an obsolete version of POPStarter. I had the intention to upload an updated version of it with new features but I was kind of limited (because it's just basic batch language - and Im just a rookie at it). Might reupload it if there is a need (once i removed all the useless stuff).
But well, IMO, uLE_kHn is a lot better to not have to rename all ELFs. You know how to use it, right ?

 

Damn, I forgot about "Shaopedia" (The place where you can find a tons of curiosities).
Thanks.

 

Well, you wouldn't have found it - I was redirecting to kHn server for downloads links. I uploaded it when I read you message.

*

Sh*t, this thread is so huge now. 100 pages milestone ! WOW GG kHn !

*

EDIT : @Nostro2 : done, BATCHER is back. Please report if you find issues.

 

Novo link “Ferramentas_Tools_POPStarter_(BATs) (SMB, HDD e USB)”.

Translated by Chrome

New link “Ferramentas_Tools_POPStarter_(BATs) (SMB, HDD e USB)”.

Link: http://ps2home.freeforums.net/post/2967/thread

What I'm hearing right now.
Rage Against The Machine - Calm Like A Bomb

 

Yeah, 100 pages, great work to all and special thanks to kHn.
And thank you for the batcher, surely it helps specially to the SMB users which can't use the kHn uLE
and need rename the files.

Best regards.

 

Hi guys
i want to know when it will be released a new version of popstarter, and if developers are working for patching some games. always hope for Crash Bash and Spyro 2/3 FIX (Spyro 2 was fixed but had another bugs)

 

Hello!

Began to test POPStarter Revision 13, WIP 06, OBT 16

Fat PS2 through the component.

Found some problems with the games, but in the compatibility list which they work well.

1. "Castlevania - Symphony of the Night" (ntsc) (eng. redamp) game freeze after about 5 minutes of the game, tried PATCH_4.BIN does not help. (start via HDD and SMB)
"Castlevania - Symphony of the Night - (pal) (eng. redamp) does not freeze.

2. "Legend of Legaia 1" (ntsc) texture glitch (launch via HDD and SMB)

3. "Jersey Devil" (ntsc) problem - is no music in the game (CDDA) 1_patch does not help, helps 3_patch, but music may not play correctly, she's not looping on levels. On the first level after the completion of the track of the first level, then starts the track of second level and so on. Also the game is slow in some places (run via HDD and SMB)

4. "Gex 3" (ntsc) the problem with the music, the music stutters, the game runs slow in some places. Patches do not help. (start via HDD and SMB)

5. "Hermie Hopperhead" problem - is no music in some areas (CDDA) Patches do not help. (start via HDD and SMB)