Gaming FF9 problem

[Blaze163]

If FF9 doesn't work then I'd go back to Prometheus as all my other games are confirmed working on it, except for Fat Princess' story mode which won't work for some reason, possible bad dump. Plus Prometheus auto-patches so when I inevitably download the new Ace Combat Joint Assault at the end of next month I won't have to F about with patches and the like which make my head spin. Simplicity of use is best for me, even if I have to sacrifice a few games for it.

And what version of FF9 are you referring to? All I have is the PSN version.

 

[xist]

The PSN version you found elsewhere earlier on....

 

[Blaze163]

Oh, you mean the eboot I found where the link refused to show up. I can't download it, the link never shows up no matter what I do. Besides, it's the EU PSN version. So it'd be the exact same file I have now, surely?

 

[xist]

Well if there was no jiggery pokery involved it's guaranteed to work on 5.00M33-6 then. Also depending on Prometheus to decrypt/patch any upcoming games is a gamble.

 

[Blaze163]

But some of the games I have on my card now will apparantly cease working when I downgrade. Hence why I was trying to get a solution that didn't involve altering my firmware. I'm now debating whether it's worth losing Soul Calibur, Harvest Moon, etc for FF9, especially when you consider that although my access is limited I can still play FF9 through my PS3. Plus I have FF8 on its way. Is it worth messing about with my firmware or should I just stick with the PS3 version of 9 until I can get the acual disks, and replace the PSP file with something else?

 

[xist]

If you just use the Prometheus patch and edecrypt then every game will work, plus if you're intending on playing PSX games there's no guarantee that this issue won't rear it's head again in the future with the Prometheus firmware.

Prometheus is fine to choose if you just want to ensure you have the newest firmware and have access to some of the latest games without patching yourself, but if you want to take advantage of the wider range of options then it's better to go for something with a bigger scope of compatibility.

 

[Blaze163]

I'm a fan of simplicity. Bear in mind that my time on the net is quite often limited because my old man is going through another of his sulky phases and as such I don't often get to use the laptop. Ergo I'm looking for something that allows me to simply download the game to my memory card and not have to research the necessary patch, downloading extra stuff, all that junk. Basically the PSP version of my Cyclo's 'plug it in and it works' philosophy. I can't keep things installed on the laptop as he has a habit of deleting them to annoy me. If I ever get my backdated JSA payment then I'll have my own laptop and can bypass this issue, but while I remain poor I must maximise my time.

With FF9, while being able to play on my PSP would be advantageous as the old man cannot block me from it, I don't really think it's worth losing all my other games for the sake of one. I do have it available on PS3, plus when FF8 arrives I can play that any time through my PS2 so FF9 will probably take a back seat until my little brother goes home and I have the PS3 during the evenings again.

I get bored pretty easily and anything technical messes my head up, so I like having plenty of games available for variety and for them to work without me having to faff about with settings so I don't lose interest and watch whatever DVD is in the player at the time out of sheer boredom and despair. That's why I went for Prometheus. I don't expect it to be compatable with everything, but it simplifies things a whole lot from my point of view.

 

[xist]

Honestly i'd suggest just learning a little about the Prometheus patching process....it'd give you a whole lot more confidence to switch and open up some freedom to move.

 

[Blaze163]

It's not that I can't learn how to patch things, it can't be that complex and I've had to patch more than a few DS games over the years. It's a matter of having the time available on the net before my old man acts like a nob jockey again and formats the laptop back to factory settings purely to piss me off when I lose all my data, all my patching stuff, etc. Hence why Prometheus is best for me 'cause all it requires is my PSP. Nothing installed on the hard drive to lose. Simply a matter of 'download game direct to memory card, play, profit'.

I'm curious. If FF9 is confirmed working on older firmwares, what changed that makes it go screwy now? Surely there is a way to work around the issue in the next update for Prometheus or something.

 

[xist]

Since the guy who made the Prometheus firmware has lost the Source Code you'll be hanging on for an update. Simple fact is that the PSP scene is reliant on too few people who have a clue what they're doing these days.

 

[Blaze163]

It works with most stuff for the time being though. It's only FF9 and the story mode for Fat Princess giving me trouble at the moment. Everything else works fine. I've confirmed the other games that I've struggled with are just bad dumps, the site I was using at the time was hopeless. Prometheus seems best for what I need, for the most part.

As for FF9, if I'm really that desperate to play it, when I get my own laptop, which if Friday goes well won't be far off, I'll just torrent the original disks and convert them myself. I can't use torrents on this laptop without causing a shitstorm so it's not worth it, but once I'm using my own system I'll do as I damn well please. The PS3 version will tide me over until then, I suppose. Or I can just get the PS1 disks off eBay.

Now to decide. Do I delete FF9 from my PSP or not? I've got a little more time on the laptop so I should be able to fill most of the space. Metal Slug Anthology takes up half of it, I reckon Valkyrie Profile must take up the other half.

EDIT: Have decided on the grounds that FF8 is mere hours away that I can live without FF9 on my PSP. Replacing it with Metal Slug Anthology and something else.

 

[retKHAAAN]

little info regarding FF-IX PSN eboot:

Tested: 5.00 M33-6 > Select UMD ISO Mode : Sony9660
Tested: 5.50 GEN-D3 > Select UMD ISO Mode : M33 Driver
Put "SLES02965" folder to PSP/GAME folder on your memory stick.

 

[Blaze163]

Will test it out after dinner and let you know if Prometheus yields similar results. Good thing I backed it up to the laptop's hard drive before deleting it in favour of Metal Slug Anthology. Damn thing's taking ages to download though. Got another half hour to go yet...

Logic dictates that since 5.50 Prometheus is simply an update of Gen D3 to auto patch PSP games, it should make no difference to a PS1 game, right? Ergo by changing to the M33 driver (it's set to whatever the default is at the moment) it should work fine. Hopefully...would save me a lot of trouble.

Incidentally, these settings you mentioned. Will they affect the necessity of a UMD when I want to play other games? It's just that Soul Calibur Broken Destiny is a picky bitch. It won't play if my UMD tray is empty, and I have to have Dissidia in there for it to play. Won't play if Monster Hunter or Harvest Moon is in there. Strange but true.

 

[retKHAAAN]

now after reading some more, the PSN eboot probably needs to be decrypted and patched for m33 and gen. hopefully after you switch your driver to m33 on prometheus it'll work for you. don't know how it will affect your other games but it only takes a few seconds to change the driver back for them.

 

[Blaze163]

I change it via the recovery menu by holding R during power up, right?

 

[retKHAAAN]

yes

 

[Blaze163]

Well, I'll give it a shot, and if it fails I simply delete FF9 in favour of Metal Slug, Loco Roco and Patapon 2 (the link to the original is dead, sad face)

EDIT: Still no sound in the intro movie...it's not lookin' good...

EDIT 2: Nope, same fault. Ergo FF9 is not compatable with Prometheus. Kinda strange since it works on Gen D3 which is damn near the same, but whatever. Deleted and replacing with Metal Slug Anthology, Patapon 2, Loco Roco and maybe something else, I need to delete some crap stuff anyway.

At least Metal Slug seems to work. Very occasional slowdown but then I expect that when it gets as busy as Metal Slug.