Homebrew Saturn emulation using Cotton/Guardian Force testing and debug

[dragonz]

Did anyone managed to make the updated version of this emulator work ?
(the version that came bundled with later games & updates)
It really seems it has less input lag.

Nope, people discovered it was encrypted. However, some claim that (With the current version) input lag varies depending on how you create your NSP or the game itself. For instance, I found that Guardian Heroes has less input lag than Dragon Force, while The Legend of Oasis seems to have little to no input lag at all."

 

[DaSkanker]

Fyi it has to be Cotton Boomerang otherwise it wont work. Concerning the "prod.keys" make sure that they are inside the tools folder and also in the saturn to nsp folders and you should be good to go.

Die Hard Arcade ( 80% speed , low volume and SFX )

So it seems I owe you a massive thank you. From putting the prod.key in that extra location and using cotton boomerang this method has 100 % worked for me.

On the Die hard aracde bit I've found that I beleive I have it running at full speed from overclocking using sys-clk.
Setting are
CPU Frequency 1428MHz
GPU Frequency Stock
MEM Frequency 1600MHz

Without this I have audio stutter and slow down.

Seems I've now got a fresh task ahead of me :-)

 

[dragonz]

So it seems I owe you a massive thank you. From putting the prod.key in that extra location and using cotton boomerang this method has 100 % worked for me.

On the Die hard aracde bit I've found that I beleive I have it running at full speed from overclocking using sys-clk.
Setting are
CPU Frequency 1428MHz
GPU Frequency Stock
MEM Frequency 1600MHz

Without this I have audio stutter and slow down.

Seems I've now got a fresh task ahead of me :-

So it seems I owe you a massive thank you. From putting the prod.key in that extra location and using cotton boomerang this method has 100 % worked for me.

On the Die hard aracde bit I've found that I beleive I have it running at full speed from overclocking using sys-clk.
Setting are
CPU Frequency 1428MHz
GPU Frequency Stock
MEM Frequency 1600MHz

Without this I have audio stutter and slow down.

Seems I've now got a fresh task ahead of me :-)

Glad it worked for you @DaSkanker Hey everyone! I’m new to sys-clk and wanted to know if it’s safe to use. Could anyone share their overclock settings for Nights if you have the game? Or, in general, recommend settings that ensure every game runs at 100% in handheld and docked modes safely?
Also, there are many settings like when charging, dock mode, handheld, original USB charging, etc. Do you overclock all those settings as well?
Thanks for your help! Any advice for a newbie like me would be greatly appreciated!


Edit:

MEM clocks​

• 1600 → official docked, boost mode, max clock
• 1331 → official handheld
• 1065
• 800
• 665

CPU clocks​

• 1785 → max clock, boost mode
• 1683
• 1581
• 1428
• 1326
• 1224 → sdev oc
• 1122
• 1020 → official docked & handheld
• 918
• 816
• 714
• 612

GPU clocks​

• 921 → max clock
• 844
• 768 → official docked
• 691
• 614
• 537
• 460 → max handheld
• 384 → official handheld
• 307 → official handheld
• 230
• 153
• 76 → boost mode

Notes:

1. GPU overclock is capped at 460MHz in handheld and capped at 768MHz if charging, unless you're using the official charger.
2. Clocks higher than 768MHz need the official charger is plugged in.

 

[DaSkanker]

Glad it worked for you @DaSkanker Hey everyone! I’m new to sys-clk and wanted to know if it’s safe to use. Could anyone share their overclock settings for Nights if you have the game? Or, in general, recommend settings that ensure every game runs at 100% in handheld and docked modes safely?
Also, there are many settings like when charging, dock mode, handheld, original USB charging, etc. Do you overclock all those settings as well?
Thanks for your help! Any advice for a newbie like me would be greatly appreciated!


Edit:

MEM clocks​

• 1600 → official docked, boost mode, max clock
• 1331 → official handheld
• 1065
• 800
• 665

CPU clocks​

• 1785 → max clock, boost mode
• 1683
• 1581
• 1428
• 1326
• 1224 → sdev oc
• 1122
• 1020 → official docked & handheld
• 918
• 816
• 714
• 612

GPU clocks​

• 921 → max clock
• 844
• 768 → official docked
• 691
• 614
• 537
• 460 → max handheld
• 384 → official handheld
• 307 → official handheld
• 230
• 153
• 76 → boost mode

Notes:

1. GPU overclock is capped at 460MHz in handheld and capped at 768MHz if charging, unless you're using the official charger.
2. Clocks higher than 768MHz need the official charger is plugged in.

So I'm by no means an expert on over clocking but from the bit of reading I've done online it comes across to me that nintendo under clocked the switch for battery life reasons.
I have noticed that when I up the clocks in handheld mode that the battery drains a fair bit faster.
Of all the games I've tested so far the Saturn taking the mem clock to 1600 and the CPU clock to 1428 seems to do the job.
I only do this as needed myself due to the warning that pops up about over clocking when I use retroarch and overclock for dreamcast in that.
I've not heard of anyone frying their switch from using sys clk yet but my guess is if you overclock all the time and play games that demand the power you'll likly need a new battery sooner if playing handheld often than if you never over clocked.
Also may I ask what version of nights you mangaged to get going? I've only got Christmas nights to work so far and would love to have the original on my switch.

 

[dragonz]

So I'm by no means an expert on over clocking but from the bit of reading I've done online it comes across to me that nintendo under clocked the switch for battery life reasons.
I have noticed that when I up the clocks in handheld mode that the battery drains a fair bit faster.
Of all the games I've tested so far the Saturn taking the mem clock to 1600 and the CPU clock to 1428 seems to do the job.
I only do this as needed myself due to the warning that pops up about over clocking when I use retroarch and overclock for dreamcast in that.
I've not heard of anyone frying their switch from using sys clk yet but my guess is if you overclock all the time and play games that demand the power you'll likly need a new battery sooner if playing handheld often than if you never over clocked.
Also may I ask what version of nights you mangaged to get going? I've only got Christmas nights to work so far and would love to have the original on my switch.

Thanks for the info. concerning Nights, look up the named similar to "

NiGHTS Into Dreams... (RE)​

 

[DaSkanker]

Thanks for the info. concerning Nights, look up the named similar to "

NiGHTS Into Dreams... (RE)​

Nice one for this. Finally got nights on my switch. Dam thats a blast from the past Just wondering do you know if anyone has any luck with multi disk games using this emulator? Like I was thinking about making a save state at the end of a disk one, then injecting a second disk through the contents folder in atmosphere and then attempt to load state once second disk has been injected in the hope the second disk will pick up where I left off.
Any idea if this would work or do you know of another method that might?

 

[dragonz]

Nice one for this. Finally got nights on my switch. Dam thats a blast from the past Just wondering do you know if anyone has any luck with multi disk games using this emulator? Like I was thinking about making a save state at the end of a disk one, then injecting a second disk through the contents folder in atmosphere and then attempt to load state once second disk has been injected in the hope the second disk will pick up where I left off.
Any idea if this would work or do you know of another method that might?

From the 90+ pages I’ve read, I came across information about creating separate NSP files for each disc in a multi-disc game. For example, if it’s a 3-disc game, you would need three different NSPs and potentially transfer save files to the NSP for disc 2 and disc 3. However, I haven’t seen any reports of success with this method. I don’t own any multi-disc games myself, so I’m curious—what game are you referring to?

 

[DaSkanker]

From the 90+ pages I’ve read, I came across information about creating separate NSP files for each disc in a multi-disc game. For example, if it’s a 3-disc game, you would need three different NSPs and potentially transfer save files to the NSP for disc 2 and disc 3. However, I haven’t seen any reports of success with this method. I don’t own any multi-disc games myself, so I’m curious—what game are you referring to?

Ok cool, so you've heard it is doable then.
There is a point and click horror game I've come across called Phantasmagoria, It has 8 disks but don't fancy starting it unless i know i'll be able to get past the first disk as it'll wind me up if can't. The first disk loads up fine so i'm sure the others will to.
Maybe I'll just give it a go and see how it goes and report back with my findings.
If i can get to the end of that first disk lol

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2024

Ok cool, so you've heard it is doable then.
There is a point and click horror game I've come across called Phantasmagoria, It has 8 disks but don't fancy starting it unless i know i'll be able to get past the first disk as it'll wind me up if can't. The first disk loads up fine so i'm sure the others will to.
Maybe I'll just give it a go and see how it goes and report back with my findings.
If i can get to the end of that first disk lol

So I didnt expect to report back so fast. Game was running well and then crashed when i tried to exit the menu entered from pressing the start button. Think i'll leave multi disk games alone for a while and try again at another time when another strikes my intrest.

 

[dragonz]

Ok cool, so you've heard it is doable then.
There is a point and click horror game I've come across called Phantasmagoria, It has 8 disks but don't fancy starting it unless i know i'll be able to get past the first disk as it'll wind me up if can't. The first disk loads up fine so i'm sure the others will to.
Maybe I'll just give it a go and see how it goes and report back with my findings.
If i can get to the end of that first disk lol

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2024

So I didnt expect to report back so fast. Game was running well and then crashed when i tried to exit the menu entered from pressing the start button. Think i'll leave multi disk games alone for a while and try again at another time when another strikes my intrest.

LOL-woot! 8 DISC!?
I had to google it - is this the translated version? Maybe that's why it crashed?

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2024

LOL-woot! 8 DISC!?
I had to google it - is this the translated version? Maybe that's why it crashed?

By the way, what’s the deal with the Title ID when using Saturn2nsp to create NSPs? Are all your games named something like "Cotton-blablabla"? And when you assign a Title ID, are you just picking random numbers? I noticed that if I rename two NSP files to the same Title ID, the Switch overwrites the previously installed Saturn game.

 

[DaSkanker]

LOL-woot! 8 DISC!?
I had to google it - is this the translated version? Maybe that's why it crashed?

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2024

By the way, what’s the deal with the Title ID when using Saturn2nsp to create NSPs? Are all your games named something like "Cotton-blablabla"? And when you assign a Title ID, are you just picking random numbers? I noticed that if I rename two NSP files to the same Title ID, the Switch overwrites the previously installed Saturn game.

Yeah 8 disks has got to be the most any games has on the system I would guess. And yes it's the translated patched version. I've been thinking on the crash and it may have been a switch glitch rather than the game. I've had a switch game or two do the same in the past so may give it another go at some point.

And yeah that is annoying, I had the same thing at first.
Thankfully i have been able to change or just remove that lable using atmosphere.
I've found it useful if you wish to do so, that when assigning a title ID to make note of it if you want to give the game a proper lable later using a config file.
Myself I started at 01 and worked up to help prevent using the same numbers by accident twice for that reason.
With those notes I can then make a folder to put in the contents folder in atomosphere.
If you don't have a contents folder you can just make one and put it there.
The folder to put in the contents folder would be of the title ID of the NSP.
So if I gave the game the ID of 01, the folder I would make would be 010077001526E001
If i gave it the ID of 02 it would be 010077001526E002.

So from root of SD Atomosphere - contents - 010077001526E0## - config

If you just want to get rid of the cotton lable, put an edited config file that looks like this on desktop and copy it into every folder you make in contents folder.

[override_nacp]
name=
author=
display_version=1.0.0

I edited mine using note pad.

I found the config file somewhere in this thread and it works a dream.

1 last trick I use for this emulator is also putting a folder labled romfs in your game folder (010077001526E0##) and putting the CottonBoomerang_Switch.ini file in there.
That will give you the ability to change things on the fly if you install a text editor on your switch such as wide screen mode, volume level (useful for Diehard arcde and fighters mega mix as i think it makes them slighty louder) and the type of card that is placed in the saturn as some games need the 4mb mode to work.
you do need to deleate the games save data on the switch for those changes to take effect though which is slightly annoying but it's good to have option to make such changes I think.

I also found the CottonBoomerang_Switch.ini somewhere in this thread.
Top marks to every hear for their works BTW, it truly is great to have such a good saturn emulator running like this on the switch.

Post automatically merged: Sep 24, 2024

LOL-woot! 8 DISC!?
I had to google it - is this the translated version? Maybe that's why it crashed?

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2024

By the way, what’s the deal with the Title ID when using Saturn2nsp to create NSPs? Are all your games named something like "Cotton-blablabla"? And when you assign a Title ID, are you just picking random numbers? I noticed that if I rename two NSP files to the same Title ID, the Switch overwrites the previously installed Saturn game.

Thought i'd add one more note that I've just discovered regarding title IDs for this program.
When using letter and number combo's and letter letter combo's (e.g A1 and AA) NSPs wont be made from using the letter G onwards.
So F9 will be the last in that catergory if working up from A1 and I've not checked all but I would assume FF is the last to work from working up from AA.
Maybe its just me that has this happen I but thought it might be worth sharing incase this makes people assume games don't work when they do, but just not with combos above mentioned.

So with that in mind the max number of saturn NSPs you would be able to install on the switch at the same time would be just under 200 using this program.

 

[dragonz]

I have several Saturn NSP games installed, but they’re all named "Cotton-Tribute ****." Is there a way to edit the names of these installed NSPs, or would I need to recompile them to make the changes? If recompiling is necessary, it might not be worth the hassle, haha!

Thanks for any insights!

 

[DaSkanker]

I have several Saturn NSP games installed, but they’re all named "Cotton-Tribute ****." Is there a way to edit the names of these installed NSPs, or would I need to recompile them to make the changes? If recompiling is necessary, it might not be worth the hassle, haha!

Thanks for any insights!

If you have tinfoil installed you can find out your tittle ID number by pressing y on the game for more info within tinfoil.
Take note of that number.
Connect switch to PC.
On PC create a folder with the number you noted for your game.

There is a config.ini file somewhere in this thread that looks like this below. You will need to find that or create a .ini file with the 4 lines below in it.

[override_nacp]
name=
author=
display_version=1.0.0

Once found ore created put game name after name=

Save doc.
place that file in the folder you made previously.

Then from the root of switch SD Card on PC go into your Atomosphere folder.
Then drop your new folder into the contents folder.
If you dont have one in the Atomosphere folder simply create one.

If all has gone well your game should now be labled correctly when you next boot up your switch.

Hope this helps mate.

 

[dragonz]

If you have tinfoil installed you can find out your tittle ID number by pressing y on the game for more info within tinfoil.
Take note of that number.
Connect switch to PC.
On PC create a folder with the number you noted for your game.

There is a config.ini file somewhere in this thread that looks like this below. You will need to find that or create a .ini file with the 4 lines below in it.

[override_nacp]
name=
author=
display_version=1.0.0

Once found ore created put game name after name=

Save doc.
place that file in the folder you made previously.

Then from the root of switch SD Card on PC go into your Atomosphere folder.
Then drop your new folder into the contents folder.
If you dont have one in the Atomosphere folder simply create one.

If all has gone well your game should now be labled correctly when you next boot up your switch.

Hope this helps mate.

Thanks for the detailed explanation! Just to clarify, are you referring to this .INI file?
https://gbatemp.net/threads/saturn-...n-force-testing-and-debug.600756/post-9622892
And since I have the "Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute" what would the .ini file be named?

 

[DaSkanker]

Thanks for the detailed explanation! Just to clarify, are you referring to this .INI file?
https://gbatemp.net/threads/saturn-...n-force-testing-and-debug.600756/post-9622892
And since I have the "Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute" what would the .ini file be named?

No thats a different one but very useful to have if you want to change thing on your game such as screen size, game volume and type of cart you want plugged into your virtual saturn.
You may very well be able to use that file to make the file you need though as it will aleady be in .ini format.
Just deleat all in file with note pad and copy that what i mentioned previous into it and rename it config

 

[dragonz]

No thats a different one but very useful to have if you want to change thing on your game such as screen size, game volume and type of cart you want plugged into your virtual saturn.
You may very well be able to use that file to make the file you need though as it will aleady be in .ini format.
Just deleat all in file with note pad and copy that what i mentioned previous into it and rename it config

I tried it yesterday, and I noticed that Tinfoil recognizes the folder as the game I'm referring to (for example, 0100777777 <DIR> Cotton Boomerang Saturn Tribute). However, the title for Saturn Bomberman still shows up as Cotton Boomerang Saturn Tribute, even after I restarted the Switch. Is there another location I should check aside from the contents folder?

 

[DaSkanker]

I tried it yesterday, and I noticed that Tinfoil recognizes the folder as the game I'm referring to (for example, 0100777777 <DIR> Cotton Boomerang Saturn Tribute). However, the title for Saturn Bomberman still shows up as Cotton Boomerang Saturn Tribute, even after I restarted the Switch. Is there another location I should check aside from the contents folder?

So no matter what as far as I'm aware the title will always stay that in tinfoil but the name of the game will change on your switch home screen.
The config file you place in the numbered folder for your game in Atomsopher - Contents should be labled config.
As far as i'm aware the only place you can change the title is through the contents folder.

 

[dragonz]

So no matter what as far as I'm aware the title will always stay that in tinfoil but the name of the game will change on your switch home screen.
The config file you place in the numbered folder for your game in Atomsopher - Contents should be labled config.
As far as i'm aware the only place you can change the title is through the contents folder.

One last question mate, and you got this working with the Create_Saturn_NSP_v1.2.bat I recommended? Meaning the recent nights game you got running you are able to see the name Nights in the home screen? LOL I tried everything you mentioned and still no luck.

 

[DaSkanker]

One last question mate, and you got this working with the Create_Saturn_NSP_v1.2.bat I recommended? Meaning the recent nights game you got running you are able to see the name Nights in the home screen? LOL I tried everything you mentioned and still no luck.

I did indeed mate, it's nicly labled Nights into dreams on mine.
I'll have a raid for that file for you just incase editing the .ini like i mentioned before dont work.

 

[dragonz]

I did indeed mate, it's nicly labled Nights into dreams on mine.
I'll have a raid for that file for you just incase editing the .ini like i mentioned before dont work.

If you could please upload the config file here or PM (whatever works for you) that would be wonderful - it could be the program I use and the way I'm saving the .ini file. Thanks Mate

 

[DaSkanker]

If you could please upload the config file here or PM (whatever works for you) that would be wonderful - it could be the program I use and the way I'm saving the .ini file. Thanks Mate

So I take no thanks for these works. They can be found some place in this thread but Its taking to long to look through to find the origial uploaders works. Massive respect to them and I hope they don't mind me resharing.
I have however changed a few values and labled them in folders.
To add said setting labled on folder, drop the contents of the folder into your numbered game folder in the contents folder in atmosphear.
Droping these contents in the folder will remove cotton lable from game on home screen.
To rename game, open the config file in note pad and enter the game name after name=.
Note 4MB does not save.

Hope this helps.