Homebrew Saturn emulation using Cotton/Guardian Force testing and debug

ploggy

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Weird, does the game creates a save file bigger than standard Saturn game? Could be the way it’s patched causes issues, would worth trying the vanilla japanese version and see if still happens.
I'm using the 3 in 1 Cotton/2/Guardian Force collection version and the save for that comes in at 46.8MB, all the games I've tested are over 100MB


The (E) version of Clockwork Knight 2 WORKS!! :yay::yay:
 

Levine91

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I mean, what more evidence is needed to confirm that this is clearly SSF?
Three Dirty Dwarves (USA) takes random Start + C button presses to get beyond the main menu, which is yet another known issue from SSF (Use this link for SSF Compatibility reference http://www.segasaturn.org/USA update.htm )

However, from my testing, once the game gets to 99% loading for the first stage, the game crashes.
I'm still only doing Handheld+No-Overclock so it's possible that Docked or OC may prevent the crash.
Obviously testing should continue to be done as there are still new issues for game compatibility that we are encountering, like this one^^^.
 

ZER-O

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It could be useful edit the OP with all the info we got so far to avoid people asking same questions :P
You can add me in the private conversation if you want, I can make a script to use these template files to build a NSP with easy changing of the TitleID, Titlename, Publisher, Version, Icon, Logo and Game files suplied by the user. After that I think I will integrate a function in the script to edit more easily the ini file, at least for the options witch need to be adapted frequently.

This project is realy intresting so I will take some time to work on it.
everything we gather so far should be added in this post
https://gbatemp.net/threads/saturn-...n-force-testing-and-debug.600756/post-9621207

well if things get complicated or we cant share some of the files Due to illegal Stuff, we can form a Discord and Contribute to the Research and Figure out how we can rebuild the NSP with our own Assets
i have the skills to make Graphic assets for anything and can test anything, plus i cam provide some resources


for now lets try and share as much info in public to have as much help as we can in here

Idea #1
for starters i want to make Template NSP and delete Cotton2.bin from it
- then we can just drop our new Saturn Iso in RomFS
we can make several Templates, example as following:
NSP Template 1: Castlevania SOTN
NSP Template 1: Nights Into Dreams
NSP Template 1: Panzer Dragoon II
NSP Template 1:Radiant SilverGun
now let me explain how an average GBATemper will use the Template:

these NSP templates wlil not have Cotton2.bin inside them

you will provide your own Saturn Image matching the Game Title Name i mentioned above and put it in RomFS folder
the 4 premade NSP files will have only the .cue file renamed to each of the 4 mentioned games

Idea #2
this will not be possible to share in public

Rebuild Cotton2 NSP
remove all traces of Cotton 2 names and replace with the new game name
inject the edited .tex file that remove the lower Menu options
inject the edited .tex file that remove the wallpaper
replace settings file with widescreen+ignore aspect ratio and 4mb ram changes
inject the new Saturn iso into cotton NSPO (no need to make a RomFS folder)
make Custom Professionally looking assets for intro and game image and replacing cotton2 assets from Unity menu intro . developer/publisher logo

share a pre made NSP with 1 of the 4 games mentioned

i have been gathering all the breakthrough in a Discord for later use when i need to build the Custom NSP with Assets
 
Last edited by ZER-O,

Levine91

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everything we gather so far should be added in this post
https://gbatemp.net/threads/saturn-...n-force-testing-and-debug.600756/post-9621207

well if things get complicated or we cant share some of the files Due to illegal Stuff, we can form a Discord and Contribute to the Research and Figure out how we can rebuild the NSP with our own Assets
i have the skills to make Graphic assets for anything and can test anything, plus i cam provide some resources


for now lets try and share as much info in public to have as much help as we can in here

Idea #1
for starters i want to make Template NSP and delete Cotton2.bin from it
- then we can just drop our new Saturn Iso in RomFS
we can make several Templates, example as following:
NSP Template 1: Castlevania SOTN
NSP Template 1: Nights Into Dreams
NSP Template 1: Panzer Dragoon II
NSP Template 1:Radiant SilverGun
now let me explain how an average GBATemper will use the Template:

these NSP templates wlil not have Cotton2.bin inside them

you will provide your own Saturn Image matching the Game Title Name i mentioned above and put it in RomFS folder
the 4 premade NSP files will have only the .cue file renamed to each of the 4 mentioned games

Idea #2
this will not be possible to share in public

Rebuild Cotton2 NSP
remove all traces of Cotton 2 names and replace with the new game name
inject the edited .tex file that remove the lower Menu options
inject the edited .tex file that remove the wallpaper
replace settings file with widescreen+ignore aspect ratio and 4mb ram changes
inject the new Saturn iso into cotton NSPO (no need to make a RomFS folder)
make Custom Professionally looking assets for intro and game image and replacing cotton2 assets from Unity menu intro . developer/publisher logo

share a pre made NSP with 1 of the 4 games mentioned

i have been gathering all the breakthrough ina Discord for later use when i need to build the Custom NSP with Assets

I am always on Discord as it is, so if it comes down to that, fine by me.
I could be wrong but I think most people would agree that Idea #2 is going to be the more ideal situation.
 
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helvetinperkeles

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Also not sure
It likely would work, I would think the configs are nearly identical. Just would need to properly name the file to match Cotton Boomerang.
I can confirm that Cotton2 ini file works just like you say. Added widescreen to Nights, Virtual on and wordwide soccer and they all work. Nice 👍
 

Levine91

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That’s a good idea, @Levine91 feel free to add the decrypted ini in your post and the intro .tex, so people can gather the info in your post.

I am doing this as we speak / cleaning up my post as well.

@Levine91 you can put Clockwork Knight 2 (E) as working in your list ;)

I will get it added once I finish cleaning up/editing the post.
If anyone would be gracious enough to compile games others have posted their findings for, that I have not added to my Page 1 compatibility list, I will get those added as well. Thanks!
 
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cucholix

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Max CPU overclocking fixed the input lag in Panzer Dragoon for me, the difference is day and night :)

BTW I don’t use nsp installation, I do title override if someone is interested in this method to avoid risk of being banned.

A82FBB94-8B17-4D56-B008-C6A17C349AAE.jpeg
 
Last edited by cucholix,

Levine91

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I had been thinking throughout the testing that I was having to turn the volume up on my Switch more than I usually do, but I didn't really think much about it beyond just having the thought.

I see now however that they set the emulator volume to only 70%... I wonder what that's all about?
 

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