Homebrew Saturn emulation using Cotton/Guardian Force testing and debug

[Deleted member 323844]

RAM cart compatibility on Saturn. For those who are changing it on every single game xD

https://www.satakore.com/cartridge.php

Only one game in the entire US catalog requires it.

 

[cucholix]

Thinking about it, with a Tex wallpaper/overlay, one could make a scanlines effect, isn't it

Wallpaper.tex goes behind the screen.

 

[AyanamiRei0]

So I just found out this didn't save my game is there a way to fix that?

 

[Prb]

OK, so, managed to get castlevania running. Used guardian force as base. Converted to NSP. Wallpapers were not applied in the NSP (error of file not found in the log???) but still, the NSP was refused to install by tinfoil, said it was garbage file. Converted from NSP to XCI using NSP_Builder and it's running OK in XCI format.

you need to use goldleaf to intsall

 

[MDashK]

you need to use goldleaf to intsall

i actually prefer to run them in xci format. installs sometimes corrupt in exfat. so it's all good to me.

 

[Prb]

i actually prefer to run them in xci format. installs sometimes corrupt in exfat. so it's all good to me.

you should be on fat32 exfat is no good if you like emulation

 

[MDashK]

you should be on fat32 exfat is no good if you like emulation

I don't really use the switch for emulation, for emulation on the go I mostly use a Vita or a 3DS. But loved the idea of having sega rally, daytona CCE and dracula X on the go, so got those 3 games good, and I'm done!

 

[Prb]

I don't really use the switch for emulation, for emulation on the go I mostly use a Vita or a 3DS. But loved the idea of having sega rally, daytona CCE and dracula X on the go, so got those 3 games good, and I'm done!

yeah i like retroarch on my switch no real need for you to make nsp's if you only want 3 titles may as will go down the atmosphere/contents/3 folder route tbh

 

[Zomorph]

A huge thank you to Shadow256 for taking the time to get the script working for me this evening

This guy is my hero. Saturn emulation was one of the main reasons I jumped into the cfw scene. Although I set-up an Android SD card for Yaba I don't have duel boot so it was always a pain switching with ATM. The script Shadow256 has created is the perfect solution for me and I am so grateful. Full unashamed man crush right here

Now to see if I can get those standalone Deathtank bin/cue files to work...

 

[bahgee]

From here forward I will host all of the icons within this Google Drive folder.
Again, a handful of these are not mine, but are from thecoverproject forums, so credit to those.
Additionally the template used was from them as well and I've included it within the Google Drive folder incase anyone wants to make their own.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_rjVgGDuTv0KTlYIRzhtCo_LBCfJXp6i?usp=sharing






This is not mine but originates from thecoverproject.
I've also included it within the previously mentioned Google Drive folder.

View attachment 281085

great stuff! Thanks for sharing. Feel free to add these if you feel they are worthy

 

[GAPMan]

Is this Saturn emulator on the Swtich more accurate than Mednafen or Yabause? I am just asking out of curiosity.

 

[Deleted member 323844]

3x3 Eyes - Kyuusei Koushu S (JAP)
DeathMask (JP)
Desire (JP)
Devil Summoner - Soul Hackers (JP)
Doukyuusei 2 (JP)
Eberouge (JP)
Gekka Mugentan Torico (1M) (JP)
Gekka Mugentan Torico (2M) (JP)
Haunted Casino (JP)
Lunacy (US)
Lunar 2 - Eternal Blue (JP)
Tengai Makyou: Daiyon no Mokushiroku: The Apocalypse IV (JP)

That's the complete list of games that require in-game discs swapping and, therefore, there's no way to change them in ZebraEngine. 12 games of the entire Redump set.

Every other multi-disc game supports saving-loading in between discs.

Extracted from the Fenrir compatibility list. That ODE does not support in-game swapping as well, but it will be included in a future firmware, according to Ced.

 

[shadow256]

That's the complete list of games that require in-game discs swapping and, therefore, there's no way to change them in ZebraEngine. 12 games of the entire Redump set.

Every other multi-disc game supports saving-loading in between discs.

Extracted from the Fenrir compatibility list. That ODE does not support in-game swapping as well, but it will be included in a future firmware, according to Ced.

Something could be tryed with these games:
- Finish the first disk and when you are on screen to swap, make a savestate.
- Install a NSP with the same TitleID or use layeredfs to launch the second disk.
- Load the savestate and see if you can continue the game.

It seems to easy to work but who knows...

 

[Rikua]

That's the complete list of games that require in-game discs swapping and, therefore, there's no way to change them in ZebraEngine. 12 games of the entire Redump set.

Every other multi-disc game supports saving-loading in between discs.

Extracted from the Fenrir compatibility list. That ODE does not support in-game swapping as well, but it will be included in a future firmware, according to Ced.

Awesome info to have! So has anyone manage to have all 4 discs of Panzer Dragoon Saga installed all at once? Would the extra bin files (Disc 2-4) just be placed in the same Romfs as Disc 1? Or if that's not possible, is there any way to combine the .bin(s) into one? Thanks for looking!

 

[ZER-O]

Something could be tryed with these games:
- Finish the first disk and when you are on screen to swap, make a savestate.
- Install a NSP with the same TitleID or use layeredfs to launch the second disk.
- Load the savestate and see if you can continue the game.

It seems to easy to work but who knows...

i want to suggest to make multi disc games injected in cotton game collection with 3 in 1 game

give each disc thesame title ID since that collectio9n share the same save file for all 3 games

another suggestion:
i also want to add a 4th cloned NSP into that collection to add the 4th DIsc of panzer Dragoon Saga

and then change the Disc from the main menu by editing the Cotton2, Cotton2 boomerang, Gardian force title logo names with disc1,2,3

Awesome info to have! So has anyone manage to have all 4 discs of Panzer Dragoon Saga installed all at once? Would the extra bin files (Disc 2-4) just be placed in the same Romfs as Disc 1? Or if that's not possible, is there any way to combine the .bin(s) into one? Thanks for looking!

you can compile all 4 Discs with same title ID, and install them 1 by 1 after you finish a disc, since this game will save your game before a Disc Swap, i confirm it works

Something could be tryed with these games:
- Finish the first disk and when you are on screen to swap, make a savestate.
- Install a NSP with the same TitleID or use layeredfs to launch the second disk.
- Load the savestate and see if you can continue the game.

It seems to easy to work but who knows...

i have a workaround for now, just get disc 2 game save and inject it into switch!
will have to share a repository for game saves to redeem the problems we cant solve
so far i managed to inject saves from PC SSF and Saturn game cart saves backups into switch

 

[Musgora]

Cheers to everyone who keeps researching this emulator. It's a very exciting time when the Switch library gets even bigger! Now that we know that we can play most multi disc games with replacing the NSP while having identical IDs I'm going to play through Panzer Dragoon Saga. I made a cover based on the NTSC / PAL version if anyone wants it. My PS skills aren't the best but I really wanted the NTSC experience XD

 

[Rikua]

i want to suggest to make multi disc games injected in cotton game collection with 3 in 1 game

give each disc thesame title ID since that collectio9n share the same save file for all 3 games

another suggestion:
i also want to add a 4th cloned NSP into that collection to add the 4th DIsc of panzer Dragoon Saga

and then change the Disc from the main menu by editing the Cotton2, Cotton2 boomerang, Gardian force title logo names with disc1,2,3


you can compile all 4 Discs with same title ID, and install them 1 by 1 after you finish a disc, since this game will save your game before a Disc Swap, i confirm it works


i have a workaround for now, just get disc 2 game save and inject it into switch!
will have to share a repository for game saves to redeem the problems we cant solve
so far i managed to inject saves from PC SSF and Saturn game cart saves backups into switch

That's a valid way to do it, however, is there anyway to avoid "swapping" or having 4 separate NSPs for the game?

 

[ZER-O]

That's a valid way to do it, however, is there anyway to avoid "swapping" or having 4 separate NSPs for the game?

there is no method for merging all 4 discs into 1 giant .bin image

i play this games for many years and always wanted a solution to carry it in my smartphone, i didnt find any

i dont have the skills to edit the main inside NCA file to add a 4th title into the cotton collection, someone should try it and send me PM with results

i strongly believe its possible to clone any of the 3 games and make a 4th title

 

[iLL wiLL]

ok I read through all 40 something pages here and right now I just wanna play one game castlevania sotn English translation which is supposedly better then the ps1 version.bigger castle and more enemies.can you do this in sxos or does it have to be atmosphere??? I got the full version of cotton which is all 3 games jap version.I just wanna swap it out with the castlevania sotn English translation jap version.I got the bin and cue.I also wanna know how to do the widescreen and 4mb ram trick.can you explain this to me or anyone have a finished injected nsp uploaded version of this??or a little easier explanation on how to do this.I never injected a game in place of another.this is totally new to me.any help appreciated thanks.

 

[iLL wiLL]

you need to use goldleaf to intsall

my advice is to use GuardianForce.nsp as your base

your problem is most likely miss match main/main.npdm as you are using cotton as a base
also if you change the name of the bin file make sure you open the cue and edit to match

is guardian force another saturn release??? everybody seems to be using cotton as the base.I have no idea how to inject a game!!! never did this before.can you explain how to do this with guardian force?? I really wanna play the English translated version of castlevania SOTN.thanks