Homebrew Retroarch Emulation Thread (Nightly Builds Included)

[SeongGino]

Looks like I'll be disecting this bit by bit...

I'm a bit confused on the usage of MAME at the moment. I've read in this thread about putting an XML in the .3dsx folder, but I want to confirm a few things before I do that first.

Yes, that is correct, but it has to be named the same as the .3dsx. Not what you're proposing/asking for, but was just clarifying in case...

I'm running themehax 2.5 on an N3DS 9.9.0.26U, and when I load retroarch .3dsx MAME I get junk on the screen and no retroarch menu. I've also read something about launching through youtube, Smash, or something like that, but I'm unsure what that means.

Basically to simplify the process, the XML file points to an existing app that is installed on the system (In this case, let's say YouTube). What the program does at boot is that if it finds the app specified first in the XML (It goes by AppID), it piggybacks off of it, using it for memory since the programs are so huge, and launches it (sort of) from the app.
I asked this before to someone else, but if you have YouTube, do you have it updated to the latest version? It only works when updated.
Other applicable games are Sm4sh, and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Demo or Cart/Downloaded full game).

On an another note, I've been running pcsx-rearmed with scph1001.bin and getting about 10-13 fps on Spyro. Would I get different speeds with different BIOS dumps?

Not really. You CAN run PAL versions instead since they would run at 50fps instead of 60fps, but even then more problems would arise from there. Simply changing the bios wouldn't help at all. PCSX isn't fast at all at the moment, especially on an over 9.2 O3DS. Even on N3DS it's... meh.

Additionally, are there any tweaks or changes I should be taking advantage of to squeeze more out of the N3DS for homebrew?

Not much more can be done, but I CAN recommend some settings that I use often on N3DS.
I set my sound resampler (Settings -> Audio) to "Nearest", which basically means it doesn't do much sound processing.
I keep Software Driven Sound, or CSND as the main audio driver (Settings -> Driver), since DSP is currently Experiencing Bugged sound mechanics. (If you get the joke, you get a cookie)
Also, for best display, I would recommend (In Settings -> Video) keeping the Aspect Ratio at "X:X (PAR 1:1)" and integer scale disabled (I believe, or enabled). Basically it renders the image as it should without blowing up the image or messing with the aspect ratio.

Thanks for indulging me. I haven't done homebrew since Wii.

No problems!

I also can't get Picodrive to look nice on the 3DS screen (I think it forces overscan or underscan so it screws up the 1:1 and doesn't look as nice as Genesis Plus GX).

Do you have Aspect Ratio set to PAR 1:1 and Integer Scale On/Off?
I also do recommend keeping Overscan on. Helps for NES.

 

[ric.]

Been out of the loop for a while - and after checking the OP I couldn't help but notice FCEUMM is marked as fullspeed on O3DS. Is it really, or just close?
Because if it is, then I really don't see a reason to use QuickNES anymore.
I also noticed Picodrive isn't mentioned under the O3DS list, does that mean it's not available, or is it just not worth using?

 

[heyguysitsme]

Looks like I'll be disecting this bit by bit...

Do you have Aspect Ratio set to PAR 1:1 and Integer Scale On/Off?
I also do recommend keeping Overscan on. Helps for NES.

Yup! The same rom on GPDX vs. Picodrive with the same exact settings looks totally different. I think Picodrive might be automatically stretching or cropping in spite of its settings?

The only place it really matters is for Sega CD games, every Genesis game I've thrown at GPDX runs at full speed with no drops.

 

[darklinkpower]

how is fmsx working for everyone? I have the correct bios but almost all games don't get past the blue screen. I just wanted to play Metal Gear 1 and 2 at least (And Snatcher, but I don't think it will run ever)

 

[RegularMoron]

Ran some Pcsx tests with 3D-environment-games :

- Rayman 2 : about 25-30 FPS
- Metal Gear Solid : 30-40 FPS

Guess I'll stick with 2D games from now on.

 

[Azel]

how is fmsx working for everyone? I have the correct bios but almost all games don't get past the blue screen. I just wanted to play Metal Gear 1 and 2 at least (And Snatcher, but I don't think it will run ever)

haven't messed with msx stuff, I think I read that you have to set 256Kb of ram or something..core menu ? please try, I'll update the OP if that was it

 

[aliaspider]

added experimental dynarec support for the 3dsx build of gpSP on FW9.2 or less, can you test if it is working correctly ?

 

[ShadowOne333]

added experimental dynarec support for the 3dsx build of gpSP on FW9.2 or less, can you test if it is working correctly ?

Dynarec only works through CIA/3DS, right?
3DSX does not support it?

 

[aliaspider]

it is possible for 3dsx too, but only up to FW 9.2.

 

[ShadowOne333]

it is possible for 3dsx too, but only up to FW 9.2.

Awesome!
I will test it out when I get home.

 

[TheCasketMan]

Anyone know how to change the sound rate? It seems to be locked at 33075Hz. I want to change it to 44100Hz for SNES and 22050Hz for Genesis. Just want those accurate sound emulation

 

[SeongGino]

how is fmsx working for everyone? I have the correct bios but almost all games don't get past the blue screen. I just wanted to play Metal Gear 1 and 2 at least (And Snatcher, but I don't think it will run ever)

Quick Menu (In Game) -> Core Settings -> Set Machine to MSX2 or MSX2+.
I also recommend just grabbing the bios files from fMSX (PC version) itself (Basically .ROM files) and put them in retroarch/system/cores.

 

[ShadowOne333]

Can someone tell me what are the best settings for a SNES emulator through RetroArch?
I have a N3DS and I want to have the SNES configured the best way possible so that the biggest offenders like Yoshi's Island and Star Fox can run decently without that much lag.

 

[SeongGino]

Anyone how to change the sound rate? It seems to be locked at 33075Hz. I want to change it to 44100Hz for SNES and 22050Hz for Genesis.

Nope.

Can someone tell me what are the best settings for a SNES emulator through RetroArch?
I have a N3DS and I want to have the SNES configured the best way possible so that the biggest offenders like Yoshi's Island and Star Fox can run decently without that much lag.

I refer you to the last post I made on the subject. But you cannot make any major speedhacks...

 

[duwen]

how is fmsx working for everyone? I have the correct bios but almost all games don't get past the blue screen. I just wanted to play Metal Gear 1 and 2 at least (And Snatcher, but I don't think it will run ever)

The Sega CD version of Snatcher works great on Picodrive.

 

[andremario81]

Cant get them to run. However, use MAME 0.139 sfiii.zip and sfiiin.zip and you get SFIII working around 30FPS->50FPS


Depends on which Game you are running. Most run pretty good. But for game like Hydro Thunder, it will go to 19FPS, then at one point will crash the Video but sound will keep running

Is that for users on 10.2 firmware using 3dsx files? Or cia? And what games do u suggest? I got sotn so far.

 

[NostalgicMillennial]

whoa! holy new thread batman!

I watched the teampleb thread but didn't see this one. Any news about PCSX advancements?

 

[kenseiden]

This is wrong - It's in the OP what they should be called and where they go:

The funny thing is, the filenames I used still worked fine for Picodrive; I booted up Final Fight CD PAL version, Fatal Fury Special (U), and Snatcher (U). Other Genesis emulators on other platforms (PC and Android, for example) also used the same filenames, which is why I had them named as such.

 

[Jacobeian]

Anyone know how to change the sound rate? It seems to be locked at 33075Hz. I want to change it to 44100Hz for SNES and 22050Hz for Genesis. Just want those accurate sound emulation

There is nothing accurate about these samplerates, original SNES DSP output was ~32kHz and Genesis FM sound something unusual like 52kHz or so from what I've read somewhere else. The Wii version of GPGX had a low-pass filter option like in Kega Fusion on PC to make the sound more close to original but it does not seem this exists in retroarch version.

The funny thing is, the filenames I used still worked fine for Picodrive; I booted up Final Fight CD PAL version, Fatal Fury Special (U), and Snatcher (U). Other Genesis emulators on other platforms (PC and Android, for example) also used the same filenames, which is why I had them named as such.

Not surprising considering GPGX and Picodrive both require different filenames for Sega CD BIOS. The ones quoted in OP are for GPGX only, Picodrive expect different names and I needed to rename them like you did to play CD games with it (still a little bit too slow on o3DS for many games though).

 

[RegularMoron]

Ran some Pcsx tests with 3D-environment-games :

- Rayman 2 : about 25-30 FPS
- Metal Gear Solid : 30-40 FPS

Guess I'll stick with 2D games from now on.

I've just tested Abe's Odyssey. The cutscenes run at 45-47 FPS. Gameplay seems to be full speed at 59 FPS.