Hacking The Great Quest for Wiiflow Plugins™ - A call for adventurers!

[Tetsuo Shima]

Yes I am. Everything is up to date now.

Hmmm this really leaves me clueless..
@fledge68 ?

 

[Ripster]

Hmmm this really leaves me clueless..
@fledge68 ?

Thing is, it worked yesterday. But then I changed something and the plugin seems to have gone. It is "there" but I have to re-enable it everytime in source-menu. Like what could it have been. Should I replace the whole source_menu, plugin_data folders?

 

[fledge68]

Thing is, it worked yesterday. But then I changed something and the plugin seems to have gone. It is "there" but I have to re-enable it everytime in source-menu. Like what could it have been. Should I replace the whole source_menu, plugin_data folders?

go to source menu>consoles
press controller HOME button
in the source menu setup menu select Link source to plugins
choose the turbografx source button
then go thru the list of plugins .... see if any are checked. is your plugin checked? are any of them checked? is your tubografx plugin even listed?

 

[Ripster]

go to source menu>consoles
press controller HOME button
in the source menu setup menu select Link source to plugins
choose the turbografx source button
then go thru the list of plugins .... see if any are checked. is your plugin checked? are any of them checked? is your tubografx plugin even listed?

PC Engine (pce_fast lr) and PC Engine (WiiMednafen) are liniked togheter. If I check one of them, both are checked. I cannot see any "turbograf plugin"

BUT, once I linked them, everything seems to show up properly. No need to re-enable so far. But should them both be checked at all?

 

[fledge68]

PC Engine (pce_fast lr) and PC Engine (WiiMednafen) are liniked togheter. If I check one of them, both are checked. I cannot see any "turbograf plugin"

BUT, once I linked them, everything seems to show up properly. No need to re-enable so far. But should them both be checked at all?

that means they both have the same magic number. you need to fix that.

 

[Ripster]

I see, I will fix that aswell. Finally it's sorted out. I totally forgot about that you could select Link source to plugins. Thank you both @fledge68 & @Tetsuo Shima for solving this mystery!

I may need your assistance once more to avoid messing that up too, @Tetsuo Shima how to replace PC Engine-CD with Turboduo? As I tried that before it ended up with wrong boxsize and not even a background for it. The source image was only that I could get working. I belive that needs a different magicnumber and do some changes in platform.ini?

I would appreciate if you could look into it when you have the time for it please.

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

I see, I will fix that aswell. Finally it's sorted out. I totally forgot about that you could select Link source to plugins. Thank you both @fledge68 & @Tetsuo Shima for solving this mystery!

I may need your assistance once more to avoid messing that up too, @Tetsuo Shima how to replace PC Engine-CD with Turboduo? As I tried that before it ended up with wrong boxsize and not even a background for it. The source image was only that I could get working. I belive that needs a different magicnumber and do some changes in platform.ini?

I would appreciate if you could look into it when you have the time for it please.

ok I'm just adding the TG16 and Turboduo plugins to platform.ini
it makes sense to include them, because the existing covers are not the same format as the Japanese counterparts.
I will soon release an update, with many other fixes as well.

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

New update! Link is in the 1st post

Plugins Pack - rev.5

Changelog:
-fixed dol path for Prboom (RA-hexaeco)
-fixed .ogg paths for Sega SG-1000 and Master System
-added mplayer-ce folder and files to apps, now mplayer-ce works
-added the temp folder to wiiflow/plugins/RA-HEXAECO/system. This will fix some RA-hexaeco plugins that were failing to launch the games.
-added the temp folder to retroarch/system, see above
-updated Not64 to June 5 2020
-fixed wrong magic number in FBA 2012 NEOGEO VM (Retroarch)
-updated many cfg files for Retroarch and RA-hexaeco
-added settings.xml in wiiflow/plugins for the "TX" emulators so they will use the same save folders as GX and RX
-Renamed GB Color to Gameboy Color for every GBC plugin
-Added TurboGrafx-16 and TurboDuo plugins

 

[OfficialRammy]

Awesome stuff @Tetsuo Shima. Is your new Update to the plugin pack safe to drag, drop and replace when prompted on the root? I really need to set up this cfg for RA-HEXAECO cause I use a HDMI Adapter on an LCD too. How simple is this to set up? on the subject, I use a Wii2HDMI Adapter, I have very faint lines on my screen horizontally. People say that's just the Sh*tty adapter as 1 in 3 are normally like this. Any 3rd party adapters you would recommend? What does everyone use personally? I would buy the HDMI Hardware upgrade but, for $100. I'd install it and fail putting the Wii back together LMFAO. Darn thing has INFINITE screws.

@OfficialRammy Are you still having issues in uploading the ogg for game&watch?

Honestly, I nabbed the Game & Watch.ogg from Danimals MasterPack as quite a lot of them are in there. I noticed there is quite a chunk of systems missing a .ogg. SG-1000 was one, I'll make a note as I carry on making my way through them all. (I couldn't find the SG-1000.ogg in Danimals pack) I'll happily send it over on email if you need, let me know

WiiMednafen is a great emulator, but GBA games will struggle & heavy 32 will not load.

Does emGBA have a full screen option and keep the quality like WiiMednafen does with GBA Games? It's crazy how emulators have been updated and adapted over the years. I trust whichever emulator you have for choice @RunningSnakes as I know you have done lots of testings

wiiflow 5.4.7 beta 6?

Beta 6!? Whats the changes? Has anyone got a link. @fledge68 really smashing out these updates <3 Keep up the amazing work everyone

I still haven't tested GBA on Wiimednafen

Here it is if you want to add it, I'm going to try a few of the mGBA Emu's in the meantime.

[PLUGIN]
arguments={device}:/{path}/|{name}|{loader}
bannersound=GBA/GBA.ogg
consolecoverid=nintendo
covercolor=000000
coverfolder=GBA
displayname=GBA (WiiMednafen)
dolfile=wiimednafen-mod4.dol
filetypes=.gb|.dmg|.zip
magic=4d45447e
romdir=ROMS/GBA
rompartition=-1

 

[RunningSnakes]

@OfficialRammy

I put HEXAECO in apps folder and run it (forwarder) on Wii Menu also. It is stripped down version, no MAME or FBA since I've never been able to setup input cfg the way I want (should be able) to. Its possible the cores need to be ran 1st to create it's cfg before using as WFL plugin? For me I copied & renamed sega.dol to path...
usb1:/wiiflow/plugins/Sega
arguments={device}:/{path}/|{name}|{loader}

PCEngine has same path and arguments.

I'm positive you can set up emGBA exactly the way you want it!!! I actually went to this emulator instead of official mGBA because after version 0.6.1 it stopped working as a WFL plugin for me through USB & the RA cores have never worked for me as plugin. I would be using the RA or Official most likely otherwise. The latest emGBA release does not center for me correctly in WiiFlow so I'm using the release from late February I believe. I'll post my emGBA apps folder if you want to take a look at it. I made myself instructions so I could change my setup in the future if I chose to. In the meta.xml you'll see my arguments and change them to your liking.

Edit:
I included my emGBA forwarder channel also.

Yes, emGBA is what I use for GBA. You can customize it any way you like, the official mGBA port is great too. For GB/GBC, RA Gambatte or WiiMednafen since emGBA/mGBA do not display full screen. On page 3 of this thread, I uploaded palettes for GB and NES for WiiMednafen if you are interested.

https://gbatemp.net/attachments/emgba-zip.211182/

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

To everyone using Not64 from the last update, there's an issue when you quit and return to Wiiflow with your Classic Controller connected: the home menu will automatically open, no input will respond, and it will begin to take continuous screenshots, until you disconnect the Classic Controller.
The best thing to do is to disconnect the Classic Controller before Wiiflow restarts, there will be no issues this way.

 

[Zael]

Hi everyone! As I said in my introduction thread, I was following this AWESOME thread in "voyeur mode" during months, but now I feel the need to say THANKS to all of you.

I modded my Wii in 2009, but I stayed on "simple" Homebrew Channel & Standalone Emus because I was afraid of break my Wii installing Wiiflow and the CIOs needed for it. But this thread and your incredible work encouraged me and finally I managed to install Wiiflow in my Wii.

I didn't feel so excited with a console scene since the great times of the PSP scene. Thank you again to all of you, specially to @Wiimpathy for his awesome plugins work and @Tetsuo for leading this epic "Great Quest for Wiiflow Plugins".

I have some minor issues that I'll ask help for, and also I have made some 8bit computer cassettes covers I hope to share (I'll ask how to do in cover's thread).

 

[Zael]

Hello again! Finally I got some time to write. Here are some questions/issues about my Wiiflow. I have to say that I'm using a very outdated Wiiflow version (4.2.3 r1054) because I fell in love with ABZ Carbonik theme and I saw that newer versions aren't 100% compatible with it.

Well, here are the questions. I manage to get EVERYTHING working except the following:





1) ZX81 EMULATOR (EIGHTYONE RETROARCH CORE):

I can load this emulator as plugin also as standalone emulator, but when I load a file (.p or .tzx) I always get the same screen...

​

I tried changing every option, adding bios files to /retroarch/system... but nothing. For now I'm emulating ZX81 through an emulator on the FBZX Wii (ZX Spectrum), but it's an "ad-hoc" solution and I'm not happy with it. Anyone has get ZX81 emulator working?








2) ELEKTRONIKA BK0010 EMULATOR (ELEKTRONIKA BK RETROARCH CORE):


With this emulator Wiiflow exits to Wii main menu. If I load as a standalone emulator, it loads the emulator menu but when loading a game it exits to Wii main menu too. I put every bios file in /retroarch/system, but nothing. Any idea?










3) PHILIPS VG5000 EMULATOR (DCVG5K):


I can run this emulator from Wiiflow, but it don't load the game, it stucks on the VG5000 BASIC screen.

I can't get any virtual keyboard or something similar. How could I run a game with this emulator? In plugin arguments line I have this: {device}:/{path}/{name}











4) PLUGIN'S INI TEXT ISSUE:


When I load some plugins, I see that some of them change the .ini text files, changin from a clean and organized text...

[PLUGIN]
arguments={device}:/{path}/{name}
bannersound=
consolecoverid=
covercolor=000000
coverfolder=vg5000
displayname=VG5000 (dcvg5k)
...

to a chaotic, continious and white spaceless text...

[PLUGIN]arguments={device}:/{path}/{name}bannersound=consolecoverid=covercolor=000000coverfolder=vg5000displayname=VG5000(dcvg5k)...

Why occurs this? Is there any solution?










5) WII & GAMECUBE BANNERS... HOW TO DISABLE THEM?


I don't like the banners that appears when you load a Wii/GC game. They break the the aesthetics of the theme (yes, another OCD user here ). Is it possible to disable them or change their size or position? Editing the wiiflow.ini fle, maybe?










6) WIIFLOW SCREENSHOTS:


Is it posible to take screenshots of the Wiiflow menu. Not ingame screenshots but Wiiflow covers, menu, options, etc. screenshots.





Well, this is all. Thank you in advantage!

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

1) ZX81 EMULATOR (EIGHTYONE RETROARCH CORE):
I tried changing every option, adding bios files to /retroarch/system... but nothing. For now I'm emulating ZX81 through an emulator on the FBZX Wii (ZX Spectrum), but it's an "ad-hoc" solution and I'm not happy with it. Anyone has get ZX81 emulator working?

The working ZX spectrum Retroarch core included in this pack, is FUSE not Eightyone.
https://docs.libretro.com/library/fuse/

2) ELEKTRONIKA BK0010 EMULATOR (ELEKTRONIKA BK RETROARCH CORE):
With this emulator Wiiflow exits to Wii main menu. If I load as a standalone emulator, it loads the emulator menu but when loading a game it exits to Wii main menu too. I put every bios file in /retroarch/system, but nothing. Any idea?

I don't even know what it is. I've left some obscure cores in the retroarch folder, but never actually tested it.

3) PHILIPS VG5000 EMULATOR (DCVG5K):
I can run this emulator from Wiiflow, but it don't load the game, it stucks on the VG5000 BASIC screen.
I can't get any virtual keyboard or something similar. How could I run a game with this emulator? In plugin arguments line I have this: {device}:/{path}/{name}

I never managed to make it work, either. This is another of those few system I don't know anything about. If anyone wants to give some help with this (or with the eightyone and the BK cores as well) I would be very grateful.

4) PLUGIN'S INI TEXT ISSUE:
When I load some plugins, I see that some of them change the .ini text files, changin from a clean and organized text...
to a chaotic, continious and white spaceless text...
Why occurs this? Is there any solution?

This is happening when you edit the .ini files with a text editor that doesn't support Windows End of Line (EOL) characters.
To fix this you need to open them with Notepad++ and save them.

5) WII & GAMECUBE BANNERS... HOW TO DISABLE THEM?
I don't like the banners that appears when you load a Wii/GC game. They break the the aesthetics of the theme (yes, another OCD user here ). Is it possible to disable them or change their size or position? Editing the wiiflow.ini fle, maybe?

I believe it's not possible.

6) WIIFLOW SCREENSHOTS:
Is it posible to take screenshots of the Wiiflow menu. Not ingame screenshots but Wiiflow covers, menu, options, etc. screenshots.

Yes, you can press the ZL button on the Classic Controller or the Z button on the Gamecube controller to take screenshots in wiiflow.

 

[Zael]

Wow, lot of thanks @Testuo Shima, some of these issues (specially the .ini text corruption) were making me mad.


About Philips VG5000 emu:

I'm thinking maybe a phisical keyboard is needed to insert commands on this emulator. I'll try if I get one.



About ZX81 core issue:

Ah, ok, but FUSE doesnt' support ZX81 emulation itself neither. I use an old ZX81 emulator for ZX Spectrum through FBZX emu (emulator on another emulator) to get ZX81 emulation. It works, but it's not a good solution.

As you said, ZX81 and Elektronika BK are "obscure" retroarch cores, maybe they weren't be tested. I'll keep testing with them anyway.



Thanks again @Tetsuo! I'm going to try the Notepad ++ solution for the chaotic .ini files.

P.S.: I tried to quote, but I read I'm not allowed until I reach 5 post.

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

@Zael sorry, it's ZR for screenshots. I was not in front of the wii

Edit:
To everyone: after updating wiiflow, you will need to reinstall these 2 files from the pack
dev:/apps/wiiflow/imgs/dvdskin_greenone.png
dev:/wiiflow/plugins_data/platform.ini

 

[Tototi]

WII & GAMECUBE BANNERS... HOW TO DISABLE THEM? = Set the Wiiflow audio volume to 0

 

[fledge68]

@Zael sorry, it's ZR for screenshots. I was not in front of the wii

Edit:
To everyone: after updating wiiflow, you will need to reinstall these 2 files from the pack
dev:/apps/wiiflow/imgs/dvdskin_greenone.png
dev:/wiiflow/plugins_data/platform.ini

i used the platform.ini from your v4 plugin pack. is there a newer one?

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

@fledge68 the one from v5. it's just a minor update with Turboduo / Tg16

 

[Wiimpathy]

About Philips VG5000 emu:

I'm thinking maybe a phisical keyboard is needed to insert commands on this emulator. I'll try if I get one.

I think this plugin only works if the games are launched from SD card. You shouldn't need a real keyboard at least to start most of the games.
The 2 commands to load a .k7 should be typed automatically: CLOAD and RUN

For those who don't know about this computer. It was sold in Europe(mainly in France?) in the early 80s under Philips brand. Some clones exist too.

It was conceived and built in France by La Radiotechnique. The same firm that conceived 'Le minitel', one of the internet's ancestor.
Le minitel was given to anyone who had a phone subscription back then. You could use it freely to search phone numbers for about 5 minutes for example.
The paid services were extremely expensive though. Mostly erotic chats that must have ruined some families.
The vg5000 shares the same keyboard.

I use to have a vg5000 clone and was forced to throw it out few years ago. I can't find any information about it online. It was an all in one(like le minitel) with monitor and keyboard included branded la radiotechnique. I wrote my first basic on a wednesday afternoon on this crappy computer.