Hacking odd issue(s) with retro emulator(s), and what to use for these games?

[codezer0]

Okay, this is a bit of a multi-parter, but this is important.

So simply, since as soon as I'd been able to to have a PSP to run homebrew with, I'd been running the combination of CPS(MVS)PSP 2.3.1 emulators pretty much forever. Even more so because I was fortunate to find a bundled torrent with each that also included complete ROMsets complementing each. Didn't have a problem with it... up until a couple weeks ago. The problems common across all three programs now are:

• If I touch ANY of the bottom button bar buttons (volume, brightness, note on my 3k PSP), the thing will hard freeze... forcing me to hold the power button to turn it off.
• It will no longer go in stand-by properly if I need it to, also turning off
• Exiting the emulator causes it to turn off as well.

Now, on my end things I've done to try and troubleshoot this include:

• Deleting and reinstalling the emulators from their original source files
• I did try to find and install version 2.3.5. While I did appreciate some of the new features (especially the cheat functionality implemented), the most distressing part about this new build is that suddenly it refuses to work with ANY ROM I have in any of the sets. So unfortunately I can't use them.
• Uninstalling and reinstalling PRO-C CFW
• Formatting the Memory Stick and starting over again

Yet these problems still persist. So... what happened? What can I do here to fix them?

That covers part 1.

Part 2 of this is simple... as good as this trio of emulators can be, it hasn't entirely scratched my itch for what I'd want to play on the thing. So, with that in mind, what would I need to be able to try and play the following:

• Simpsons Arcade
• X-Men Arcade
• TMNT
• Ninja baseball batman
• WWF Wrestlemania the arcade game
• (Not expecting, but would love it if I could) Die Hard Arcade?

On a side note... after getting to try the awesome Nitrografx on DS Mode emulation for the TG-16, I'm honestly really disappointed with HuE for the PSP. I would have thought it would be better at handling games from that system? Or is there one better at handling turbografx emulation?

 

[Clydefrosch]

have you tried installing a slightly older version of pro? I had the same sudden trouble with freezing somewhat suddenly. it might have been because I updated pro at some point.

i'm not sure about the games you mention, but if they don't run on either of those emus, they don't run on psp at all.

as for hue... whats your trouble? besides the interface being seemingly better on the ds, I havn't really found a difference as far as running games went

 

[codezer0]

I've been using ProC (fix3) forever in large part because ProC2 refuses to work with any PS1 game, ever. And as far as I know, there's no ProC3 that remedies these.

HuE is just... bad. Really bad. Many of the games have broken audio, IF they have audio in the first place, and inconsistent framerate as all get out. It was so bad with the regular TG-16 games I've tried, I didn't even want to try Rondo of Blood, which also works flawlessly on nitrografx.

 

[kristianity77]

Daft question I guess, but have you tried a different memory card to see if the problem persists?

Also, do you have any crashing issues when doing anything else on the PSP like ISOs etc?

You are using the best version on a PSP 3K in PRO C Fix 3 so that shouldn't be your problem as your setup is identical to mine and I am also using the same versions of the emulators as you are too.

 

[codezer0]

I do not have a memory stick big enough. Main thing I have been using all this time on ny 3k is one of those CR-5400 clone adapters with two 16gb microSD cards. But again, I used to never have any problems until the last couple weeks or so. Much as I would like, it just is not cost effective to find a 32gig pro duo of any category anymore.

 

[kristianity77]

I do not have a memory stick big enough. Main thing I have been using all this time on ny 3k is one of those CR-5400 clone adapters with two 16gb microSD cards. But again, I used to never have any problems until the last couple weeks or so. Much as I would like, it just is not cost effective to find a 32gig pro duo of any category anymore.

Ah ok. Well i'm using the dual Micro SD adapter as well. Is it just with these emulators? Have you tried other ones to see whether they work like the Gameboy ones, or Picodrive? What happens when you start the emulators with no ROMS on the memory card, does it still crash?

 

[codezer0]

Since the reformat I hadn't had time to test out the other emulators. So far PSP and ps1 games all work as intended. However I use this trio of emulators quite a lot.

 

[kristianity77]

What about changing the Memory Card speedup option in the CFW? Thats about all thats left I can suggest

 

[Clydefrosch]

Well it could be something crazy like... maybe the cps emulators come with some date protection.
a bunch of old softwares sometimes becomes unusable/buggy after a certain system date has passed without installing a new version. which basically never is a problem as long as that stuff gets updated. as a last resort thing, try setting back the date to last year or so.
also, have you tried switching between the normal and the large memory mod versions?


also, for turbografx, i just realize i'm not using hue, but PCE for PSP. maybe try that one out? I have honestly not been playing a world of turbografx recently, but as far as i can remember, everything worked

 

[Hargrun]

Using 11 emulators right now.

I had some problems with SNES9xTYL not recognizing folders as folders (but... Empty archives?!) and MasterBoy not saving screenshots, but the first one was solved by recreating the folders (multi Operational Systems issue, I suppose) and the second was solved by itself (seriously, I have no idea).

Hmmm... Looks like you went too far trying to fix it. To be more drastic than that, only if you mess with the flash memory.

I'M NOT SAYING TO DO IT, just that I can't think of anything beyond.

Ah, unless you are OK to wait until RetroArch PSP is released...

 

[codezer0]

Using 11 emulators right now.

I had some problems with SNES9xTYL not recognizing folders as folders (but... Empty archives?!) and MasterBoy not saving screenshots, but the first one was solved by recreating the folders (multi Operational Systems issue, I suppose) and the second was solved by itself (seriously, I have no idea).

Hmmm... Looks like you went too far trying to fix it. To be more drastic than that, only if you mess with the flash memory.

I'M NOT SAYING TO DO IT, just that I can't think of anything beyond.

Ah, unless you are OK to wait until RetroArch PSP is released...

The hell did I just read?! To put it plain, I fail to understand any of what you just wrote.

 

[codezer0]

What about changing the Memory Card speedup option in the CFW? Thats about all thats left I can suggest

By chance, where would that be? It's been so long since I had to mess with the CFW settings that I forgot.

 

[Hargrun]

*sigh* I'm really sorry...


Well, you said you formatted the MS... But you did something with the flash memory? (Ignore this if you still don't know what I'm talkin about.)

I mean... I'm using the same emulators you're using, the very same CFW, the Speed Up function is also enabled and I have no problems. The only difference is the card size (mine is 8GB), but it's no problem since I have about 300 MB in ROMs.

Anyway, I'll leave here some tips:

1. To disable the Speed Up press Select on the XMB > Recovery Menu > Advanced > Memory Stick Speedup;

2. Try to disable all plugins if you didn't;

3. Try to use fewer ROMs, like 1~5 only for testing purposes;

4. Try another CFW (ME & LME are the newest, btw);

If the problem persists it may be caused by the PSP, MS or adapter...

 

[codezer0]

Well i think i figured out the problem. Only thing I found was that I had the speedup option off. Turning it to always and now it works like it should.

Still wish the emulators would respect when i change the dip switch settings for the games. But at least it works again.

 

[kristianity77]

Well i think i figured out the problem. Only thing I found was that I had the speedup option off. Turning it to always and now it works like it should.

Still wish the emulators would respect when i change the dip switch settings for the games. But at least it works again.

Yeah glad that worked. Had a feeling you might of had that switched off if you installed the CFW again. It doesn't normally make a difference but once you mentioned that you were using a Micro SD adapter I had a feeling it could be that. Its not normally an issue if you have two micro SD cards that are the same brand and same speeds. But if you mix and match them, I find having the speedup option on is always best. Plus, it makes everything load a touch quicker, which is always a bonus!

 

[codezer0]

Problem is that they are indeed identical model cards.
another strange problem i noticed is that SFA3 Max now won't save its system data.

 

[kristianity77]

Problem is that they are indeed identical model cards.
another strange problem i noticed is that SFA3 Max now won't save its system data.

When you reformatted these cards how did you do it? Did you let the PSP format them or did you connect the PSP to a PC via USB and then format as an external drive on the PC?

I know a lot of people tell you to format via the PSP, but I had more luck in the long term formatting via the PC, through USB using something called SD formatter (i think that was what it was called)

 

[codezer0]

When you reformatted these cards how did you do it? Did you let the PSP format them or did you connect the PSP to a PC via USB and then format as an external drive on the PC?

I know a lot of people tell you to format via the PSP, but I had more luck in the long term formatting via the PC, through USB using something called SD formatter (i think that was what it was called)

I know the instructions on the adapter explicitly state to use the PSP to format.

What happens currently with SFA3 Max is that I go to try to save the System Data and the screen itself just keeps flickering I guess trying to access the memory stick at this point. Not sure why. Plays just fine otherwise; I just find it weird that I can't save my settings because of this.

 

[Clydefrosch]

changing memory card speed up to always fixed cps2 from freezing? really?

 

[kristianity77]

changing memory card speed up to always fixed cps2 from freezing? really?

No. If you have normal memory cards I dont think it makes a difference to compatibility, just speed. However, from experience, not having speed up enabled with Micro SD cards, especially dual adapters can cause problems. So its always best to have it turned on. I've got no idea why this is the case but it certainly does work.