Hacking WiiFlow Lite with emulator's database

RunningSnakes

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Here are some Atari 7800 & 2600 WiiFlow Lite cart_disk files for download as well. Atari Lynx will be next, then ill have a look at what else is lacking, if anything. GBA & Mega Drive are available on previous post.

Added 75 Atari Lynx cart_disk files

Added 93 PCE CD cart_disk files

Added 12 NEO GEO Pocket cart_disk files
 

Attachments

  • Atari 7800 cart_disk (48).zip
    3.2 MB · Views: 291
  • Atari 2600 cart_disk (My Favorites).zip
    7.9 MB · Views: 248
  • Atari 2600 cart_disk (146) # - F.zip
    7.4 MB · Views: 227
  • Atari 2600 cart_disk (162) G - R.zip
    8 MB · Views: 236
  • Atari 2600 cart_disk (148) S - Z.zip
    7.3 MB · Views: 310
  • Atari Lynx cart_disk (75).zip
    3.8 MB · Views: 269
  • PCE-CD cart_disk (93).zip
    3.1 MB · Views: 278
  • Neo Geo Pocket cart_disk (12).zip
    643.7 KB · Views: 204
Last edited by RunningSnakes,

RunningSnakes

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I have been editing the .ini files for various consoles to coincide with my dumps. I intend to post the "updated" .ini files here, just in case they could be useful going forward with this project. I am working on SNES & all is going well with the exception of "Star Fox" - "Cybernator" - "Aero Fighters".

1. Added snap & cart for Star Fox but not showing.
2. Added snap & cart for Cybernator but not showing.
3. Edit .xml for Aero Fighters shows my snap & cart, but All other snaps & carts are not showing?

I reverted back to original SUPERNES.xml file with no Edit & have accepted i don't have the skill to improve this. I believe the problem with Star Fox / Starwing
is also a .xml naming problem, but i am not knowledgeable enough to confirm this. The Cybernator problem has me stumped though, any feedback would be helpful so i can continue if possible.

I also found the MEGACD.ini does not recognize CRC32 Hash the way most of the other consoles do. I am using HashTab to confirm.
 
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Wiimpathy

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Why are you editing the .ini? Are you adding crc to existing entries? Or modifying the names?

There are 2 possible naming for snaps/carts :

1. The name in the xml. The game name= line. For example, Assault Suits Valken.
2. The GameID. This is the <id>... line. Here, it's 2348AA for Cybernator.

The name in .ini is only used to identify the game's file. And yes, sometimes they're not good like Star Fox / Starwing. You can modify that if you want.

You shouldn't have to modify the xml files. Except if you want to add info or modify a title. There are forbidden characters in xml like '&' that must be replaced by '&amp;'.
Well, if you're not too familiar with this maybe it's not a good idea to edit them. It took me a lot of check, re-check to have well formed files.;)

As explained int the first post, MegaCD is using serials instead of crc.

EDIT
By the way, if you add entries to the .ini and xml files, you must delete the corresponding gametdb_offsets.bin and let wiiflow re-create it.

I've added the libretro crc to DOS.ini(Wiiflow_Database_DOS.zip in the 1st post).
I'll suggest a code to @fledge68 that tries to grab game's path from .conf file and then check crc if found.
 
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RunningSnakes

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Thanks for the response Wiimpathy. I missed the Mega CD information in the 1st post, but now I should be able to get the 4-5 games to match that weren't already in the MEGACD.ini.

Why are you editing the .ini? Are you adding crc to existing entries? Or modifying the names?
I am adding crc to existing entries. In most cases, i am adding crc to coincide with patches & translations "SNES & NES" that were not a crc32 match in the .ini files. In the case with PCE CD, I have 40-50 bin/cue that did not match up with the PCECE.ini so had to manually add the crc to existing entry.

Edit:
I did get "Cybernator" to recognize snap & art. I overlooked adding the crc as i was adding several at the same time:wacko:. I also got Star Fox & Aero Fighters working properly as well. When I edited the .xml file the first time, I changed "Aero Fighters / Sonic Wings" to "Aero Fighters" & changed "Star Fox / Starwing" to "Star Fox". This worked only for those two games but the rest of my games had no snap or cart as i stated in the previous post. My new edit of the .xml file was "Aero Fighters - Sonic Wings" & "Star Fox - Starwing", just replacing the "/" with "-" on both the .xml & .ini files.
Thank You for your help:grog:
 
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Wiimpathy

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Ah ok, good. Snes and Nes are rather complete but there are surely missing crc.

Regarding PCE CD, it was 1 of the problematic system. The default plugin is using .cue which can be easily modified. For example when you convert audio to ogg. So it means altered crc...
Using .bin directly for crc would take too long to calculate. And what about iso in several parts (02.iso ...)?
We can't use serials found in header either. It's the same for Nec PC-FX.
The most reliable way in this case is the name matching.
 

RunningSnakes

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These are SNES "snapshots" & "cart_disk" files that were not named correctly or adds. The SNES .xml file is just a few changes I made to make a few games present their artwork. The WiiFlowLite_ini_update is a half dozen .ini files i have edited for crc that were not present in the existing .ini files. These all work for me & i hope they can be useful to others.
 

Attachments

  • SNES Fixed snapshots.zip
    807.2 KB · Views: 317
  • SNES Missing - Fixed cart_disk.zip
    2.5 MB · Views: 327
  • SNES_xml_Update.zip
    1.5 MB · Views: 310
  • WiiFlowLite_ini._Updated.zip
    516 KB · Views: 215
Last edited by RunningSnakes,

RunningSnakes

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Here are 90 more Mega Drive cart_disk files. If there are specific console systems that need attention please let me know for "snapshots" or "cart_disk" and i'll see if i can help. Also, could someone please direct me to the program(s) that allow to compress the snapshot .png files the way Wiimpathy has provided. Thanks
 

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  • Mega Drive cart_disk (91).zip
    4.1 MB · Views: 317

Wiimpathy

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Here are 90 more Mega Drive cart_disk files. If there are specific console systems that need attention please let me know for "snapshots" or "cart_disk" and i'll see if i can help. Also, could someone please direct me to the program(s) that allow to compress the snapshot .png files the way Wiimpathy has provided. Thanks
I've used this tool to compress png : https://github.com/kornelski/mediancut-posterizer
There's a windows versions in 'releases'.

I've used these commands in scripts:

Screenshots

posterize -Q 80 input.png "SNAPFOLDER/SNAP_NAME.png"

Carts/disks

posterize -b -Q 90 input.png "CARTFOLDER/CART_NAME_2D.png"
 

Tetsuo Shima

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@Wiimpathy So, to fix infos for games not recognized by the database, I have to match the game names in .xml, .ini and file name (all three)?
And how can I add support for the eDuke plugin? (Duke Nukem 3D + the 3 add-ons).
 
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Wiimpathy

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I suppose you want to add them to the existing DOS database. It seems the standard Duke Nukem 3D is already there. The simpler way if you can is just renaming your game file like it appears in DOS.ini : Duke Nukem 3d.GRP

If you want to add new games and their descriptions, you have to edit both DOS.ini and DOS.xml. You're not forced to rename your games too.
As explained in the opening post, WiiFlow first searches if the filename exists in the .ini or if not found looks for the crc signature.
Forget the crc, if on Windows that may require an external tool. And if the file is too large, that takes a long time to calculate in Wiiflow anyway.

Ok, an example with 'Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach' :

- Open DOS.ini and look for Duke Nukem 3d= line and write 'name=GAMEID|' :
Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach=900000|

- Open DOS.xml and search <game name="Duke Nukem 3d"> line. After the </game> tag add this block and edit to your liking :
<game name="Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach">
<id>900000</id>
<locale lang="EN">
<title>Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach</title>
<synopsis>Duke Nukem Bla Bla...</synopsis>
<genre>Shooter,Shooter / 1st person</genre>
</locale>
<developer>3D Realms</developer>
<publisher>GT Interactive</publisher>
<date year="1996" month="01" day="29"/>
<rating type="NOTE" value="17">
</rating>
<input players="1">
<control type="wiimote" required="true"/>
<control type="nunchuk" required="false"/>
<control type="classiccontroller" required="false"/>
<control type="gamecube" required="false"/>
</input>
</game>

Some notes. If you can't rename your file(special character, emulator not allowing it), modify it in .ini and the game name=... line in xml.
The GameID is abritrary but shouln't already be present. Starting at 900000 should be ok.
When you modify the database, you must delete the gametdb_offsets.bin in the DOS folder. Just let WiiFlow re-create it with the correct offset, this may be long, it's normal.
 

Tetsuo Shima

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I suppose you want to add them to the existing DOS database. It seems the standard Duke Nukem 3D is already there. The simpler way if you can is just renaming your game file like it appears in DOS.ini : Duke Nukem 3d.GRP

If you want to add new games and their descriptions, you have to edit both DOS.ini and DOS.xml. You're not forced to rename your games too.
As explained in the opening post, WiiFlow first searches if the filename exists in the .ini or if not found looks for the crc signature.
Forget the crc, if on Windows that may require an external tool. And if the file is too large, that takes a long time to calculate in Wiiflow anyway.

Ok, an example with 'Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach' :

- Open DOS.ini and look for Duke Nukem 3d= line and write 'name=GAMEID|' :
Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach=900000|

- Open DOS.xml and search <game name="Duke Nukem 3d"> line. After the </game> tag add this block and edit to your liking :
<game name="Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach">
<id>900000</id>
<locale lang="EN">
<title>Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach</title>
<synopsis>Duke Nukem Bla Bla...</synopsis>
<genre>Shooter,Shooter / 1st person</genre>
</locale>
<developer>3D Realms</developer>
<publisher>GT Interactive</publisher>
<date year="1996" month="01" day="29"/>
<rating type="NOTE" value="17">
</rating>
<input players="1">
<control type="wiimote" required="true"/>
<control type="nunchuk" required="false"/>
<control type="classiccontroller" required="false"/>
<control type="gamecube" required="false"/>
</input>
</game>

Some notes. If you can't rename your file(special character, emulator not allowing it), modify it in .ini and the game name=... line in xml.
The GameID is abritrary but shouln't already be present. Starting at 900000 should be ok.
When you modify the database, you must delete the gametdb_offsets.bin in the DOS folder. Just let WiiFlow re-create it with the correct offset, this may be long, it's normal.
Ok, I've managed to edit existing games info and art for Dos an Scummvm and they work. Added Blade Runner in Scummvm and Flashback and Another World in Dos. I will upload them here if you wish.
But source ports like Duke 3D (eDuke32) and Doom (prboom) are not recognized from the Dos database.
Could it be that it's because they're not running in Dosbox? Should I try to create separate database entries for eDuke32 and prboom?

Also, I've found a litte bug in Scummvm game info (don't know if it's due to wiifow code): if I view some game info, then I press B (once) to go back and press + again, the info are messed up. It's showing game title, snapshot, players:256 and no other info.
To fix things up, I have to press B twice to go back to the coverflow and then if I try again it works.
 

Wiimpathy

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You have also added the eDuke32 and prboom magic # in platform.ini? I mean in the [PLUGINS] section like this ########=DOS
You shouldn't have to create another database as long as your plugins are identified as DOS games.

That'd be cool if you could upload your updated files indeed.

I've seen this bug too, it seems rather recent. We should ask @fledge68 he should know more about it.
 

fledge68

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You have also added the eDuke32 and prboom magic # in platform.ini? I mean in the [PLUGINS] section like this ########=DOS
You shouldn't have to create another database as long as your plugins are identified as DOS games.

That'd be cool if you could upload your updated files indeed.

I've seen this bug too, it seems rather recent. We should ask @fledge68 he should know more about it.
Yes ill fix it soon.
 

Tetsuo Shima

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You have also added the eDuke32 and prboom magic # in platform.ini? I mean in the [PLUGINS] section like this ########=DOS
You shouldn't have to create another database as long as your plugins are identified as DOS games.

That'd be cool if you could upload your updated files indeed.

I've seen this bug too, it seems rather recent. We should ask @fledge68 he should know more about it.
Yes, I had already added them when I was working on Rhapsodii Shima, but as separated entries.
This is how they are configured in my platform.ini:
PLATFORM.INI said:
[PLUGINS]
44554B45=EDUKE32
444E4356=EDUKE32
444E4443=EDUKE32
444E4E57=EDUKE32
5052424D=prboom

[FLOWS]
EDUKE32=pc_box
prboom=pc_box
These magic#'s already are in the source_menu.ini, next to dosbox and scummvm.
So, if I change them all to ...=DOS they will work?

I'm updating the database for a few games that are still not showing info or art (being named differently or not present at all). I will work on it some more, then I'll post it here.
But I just have to warn you that it may not be for everyone's liking: in some cases I edited the database to my needs e.g. for the Monkey Island serie.
In my setup I wanted all the Monkey games to be next to each other, so I renamed them to:
Monkey Island - The Secret of Monkey Island
Monkey Island 2 - Lechuck's Revenge
Monkey Island 3 - The Curse of Monkey Island

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Hello.:)

What a great and admirable Collaboration,Gentlemen. :bow::bow:

Thank you for your great Work and your Time you have invested into this huge Project.:yay:
Yes, it's awesome to have people like Fledge68, Wiimpathy and a few others here. For me, they're the lifeblood of these boards. And I have never used a console as much as the Wii:yaywii:
 
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Wiimpathy

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Yes, I had already added them when I was working on Rhapsodii Shima, but as separated entries.
This is how they are configured in my platform.ini:

These magic#'s already are in the source_menu.ini, next to dosbox and scummvm.
So, if I change them all to ...=DOS they will work?
Yes, this is how it works. If you want these plugins to point to the DOS database, just add 44554B45=DOS etc.
It's the first check done in WiiFlow to know in which files to search. Here DOS.ini.

Because it has to restrict the search to 1 platform. Imagine if that should browse in all the available platform databases, it'd be longer. And what about games appearing in several platforms? We couldn't rely on filenames anymore.
 

fledge68

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Ok, I've managed to edit existing games info and art for Dos an Scummvm and they work. Added Blade Runner in Scummvm and Flashback and Another World in Dos. I will upload them here if you wish.
But source ports like Duke 3D (eDuke32) and Doom (prboom) are not recognized from the Dos database.
Could it be that it's because they're not running in Dosbox? Should I try to create separate database entries for eDuke32 and prboom?

Also, I've found a litte bug in Scummvm game info (don't know if it's due to wiifow code): if I view some game info, then I press B (once) to go back and press + again, the info are messed up. It's showing game title, snapshot, players:256 and no other info.
To fix things up, I have to press B twice to go back to the coverflow and then if I try again it works.
this bug only happens with scummvm games?
what beta are you using?
so it shows release: and genre: etc... but they are empty except players?
 

Wiimpathy

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Using 5.3.0 beta 12 here with Tetsuo's theme.
What happens for me is when in game view, you press A again to see the back cover then B to return, if you press + there's the 'No game info!' screen.

What describes @Tetsuo Shima seems a bit different. The messed up info may happen if the databases files are edited(adding games entries) and if the gametdb_offsets.bin hasn't been deleted first.
 
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fledge68

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Using 5.3.0 beta 12 here with Tetsuo's theme.
What happens for me is when in game view, you press A again to see the back cover then B to return, if you press + there's the 'No game info!' screen.

What describes @Tetsuo Shima seems a bit different. The messed up info may happen if the databases files are edited(adding games entries) and if the gametdb_offsets.bin hasn't been deleted first.
and curently for me if i press A to flip the cover and B to deflip it then press + I get the title, gameID, and players: 255. with the snapshot. if i press B to go back and press + again the info shows correctly. also going to settings and categories and back also seems to fix the issue.

game id and title are taken from the games header. all other info is taken from the current database xml. which means we have an issue where the database xml is not being loaded or read from for some reason. back to the code.
 

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