Hacking The Great Quest for Wiiflow Plugins™ - A call for adventurers!

[Tetsuo Shima]

Before of all congratulations for this awesome work, i have tested the rasodii shima theme in the last wekend and is incredible!!

I have some questions:
1: In the search for plugins for this theme, i found this post, in the first coment you put a link with a mediafire download.
Is the last to date?

2: I have problems with nintendo64, found roms but say that roms arent compatibles. I have the roms in zip format.
¿What can be wrong?

3: I use my Wii in a CRT TV, with RGB Cable. But Retroarch dont show an original resolution for the games. I think this config is the best por LCD displays, but for a CRT is better original 240p resolutions, with GL drivers. Do you know how to change this config for show scanlines on CRT tvs?

Sorry for my bad inglish.

Thank you!!!

Thanks for appreciating. And seeing this is your 1st post, welcome to gbatemp.
Regarding your questions:
1) the plugin pack linked in the OP is not recommended to be used. It's there just for testing purposes and as I've noted in that post, many Retroarch cores are broken. This whole thread is aiming to assemble a fully working plugins pack, but it's still not finished.
2) I still have to check the N64 emulators, I admit I've never used them (Not64 and Wii64) so I cannot be of much help. For your issue you'd better ask for help in their respective threads.
3) Yes I know, you are perfectly right. That pack in the OP contains my personal setup, and unfortunately I don't have a CRT TV with me (I live in a small rat hole and I have no space for that). But Wii at 240p + CRT is really the best way to enjoy retrogames, and you don't even need scanlines overlays, because with CRT's you already have real scanlines. So all you have to do is to remove every .cfg file in root:/retroarch (it will reset everything to default) and reconfigure the video to your liking.

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

Ok, after further testings in Wiiflow with RA / RA-Hexaeco, here's the situation.
Some cores are working better with standard RA, some others need Hexaeco, and a few cores are equally working or not working with both.
So I think the only option for me is to mix them.
1) When both are good, I could include both to let users decide their ethical preference (no source code available for Hexaeco)
2) When both are bad, there are always the standalone emus.
However, I'd like to know everyone's thoughts about point 1). I know it may seem redundant.

Here I'm sharing with you my tests results:
Arcade FBA (fbalpha, Cps1, Cps2, NeoGeo) - (both are Good)
Mame2003+ - All the alts core are missing in Hexaeco - (perfect with RA 1.7.6)
Fceumm NES - Can't press Start with RA!! - (perfect with Hexaeco)
Fceumm FDS - can't turn disk sides / read errors when you do - (both RA and Hexaeco are bad)
Lynx - Rotating the screen requires to change the core option, save settings, return to Wiiflow and restart the emu (both are bad)
Gambatte - Wrong DMG palette in Hexaeco - random code dumps in RA - (both are bad)
Wswan - RA randomly code dumps - bad audio stutterings in Hexaeco - (both are bad)
Neo geo pocket - RA random code dump - (perfect with Hexaeco)
Game & Watch - major issues in Hexaeco - (perfect with RA)
Cannonball - (both are Good, but HEXAECO adds motion controls)
Virtual Boy - slow as hell - (both are bad)
Pce CD fast - Stuttering audio in Hexaeco - (perfect with RA)
Pce Supergrafx - RA random code dump - (perfect with Hexaeco)
GenplusGX - with hexaeco you can save different cfg's without the need of duplicating the dol (needed in RA because GG - SG1000 - SMS - MD all use different resolutions) - (both are Good) but I think Hexaeco wins for the mentioned reason
Snes9xGX - performance issues in RA - (perfect with Hexaeco) - Satellaview is good too.
mGBA - Hexaeco won't correctly scale the grid scanlines overlays - (perfect with RA)

 

[RunningSnakes]

https://mundowiihack.wordpress.com/?s=libretro

Here are some stand-alone libretro cores made by @rogerioronin .

I have been testing quite a few of these & have had some nice results. I put the cores inside the HEXAECO folder & there doesn't seem to be any conflicts. These cores allow you to have separate input configurations & have their own designated save folders. I don't want to add more workload or confusion but some of these cores are worth a test/look...

Arcade - CPS1, CPS2, FBA (video altering not quite perfect) I am using all as main core
ProSystem 7800 - not robust but a good solid 2nd option to the standalone
FCEUmm - I am using this as main NES games core
Nestopia - Nothing here to see, a downgrade from FCEUmm
Gambatte - I am using this as main GB/GBC core
SNES Next - Plays 100% speed in my testing. I am using this as main core
mGBA - a downgrade to official RA
Sega - I am using this as main Sega/All core
PCE Fast - Still in the process of more testing (RA 188 has no problems)
PCE SGFX - Still in the process of more testing
Cannonball - Works very well and has motion controls working, please test this.
PrBoom - Runs well but code dump changing wad in same session.

Im still using official RA Arcade Neo core. Metal Slug 1 & 2 are not working using other cores, there may be many more not working?

Also the HEXAECO GearBoy GB/GBC emulator works surprisingly well for a new addition core.

Using Snes9xGX HEXAECO, i still have frame drops (much better than official RA) testing StarFox & SMW2 which is why im using SNES Next. I don't think Stellaview is supported with Next and that could be an issue for some users.

I'm going to run some more tests using WFL on these last few emulators PCE, PrBoom, Cannonball. Ill report back later.

 

[xLAKITUx]

Ok, after further testings in Wiiflow with RA / RA-Hexaeco, here's the situation.
Some cores are working better with standard RA, some others need Hexaeco, and a few cores are equally working or not working with both.
So I think the only option for me is to mix them.
1) When both are good, I could include both to let users decide their ethical preference (no source code available for Hexaeco)
2) When both are bad, there are always the standalone emus.
However, I'd like to know everyone's thoughts about point 1). I know it may seem redundant.

Here I'm sharing with you my tests results:
Arcade FBA (fbalpha, Cps1, Cps2, NeoGeo) - (both are Good)
Mame2003+ - All the alts core are missing in Hexaeco - (perfect with RA 1.7.6)
Fceumm NES - Can't press Start with RA!! - (perfect with Hexaeco)
Fceumm FDS - can't turn disk sides / read errors when you do - (both RA and Hexaeco are bad)
Lynx - Rotating the screen requires to change the core option, save settings, return to Wiiflow and restart the emu (both are bad)
Gambatte - Wrong DMG palette in Hexaeco - (perfect with RA)
Wswan - RA randomly code dumps - bad audio stutterings in Hexaeco - (both are bad)
Neo geo pocket - RA random code dump - (perfect with Hexaeco)
Game & Watch - major issues in Hexaeco - (perfect with RA)
Cannonball - can't switch gears in Hexaeco, clunky motion controls - (perfect with RA, even if no motion controls)
Virtual Boy - slow as hell - (both are bad)
Pce CD fast - Stuttering audio in Hexaeco - (perfect with RA)
Pce Supergrafx - RA random code dump - (perfect with Hexaeco)
GenplusGX - with hexaeco you can save different cfg's without the need of duplicating the dol (needed in RA because GG - SG1000 - SMS - MD all use different resolutions) - (both are Good) but I think Hexaeco wins for the mentioned reason
Snes9xGX - performance issues in RA - (perfect with Hexaeco) - Satellaview is good too.
mGBA - Hexaeco won't correctly scale the grid scanlines overlays - (perfect with RA)

1) In cases where both are equally good, I'd personally just rather go with regular RA to keep things simple.
2) So... Have we abandoned the whole notion at the beginning of this thread of moving away from RA and migrating gradually towards standalone emulators for the most part? If so, why?

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

So... Have we abandoned the whole notion at the beginning of this thread of moving away from RA and migrating gradually towards standalone emulators for the most part? If so, why?

That was before discovering things like RA(2020-05-25) and RA-Hexaeco. With that I'm finally able to solve the conflict and performances issues that almost made me gave up on the task.
As I've previously stated, all the standalone emus are missing the most important feature of all (for me): scanlines overlays. Being unable to play on a CRT, I really hate to play the old games without the scanlines, and that's especially true for handhelds consoles. I find them to be horrible displaying on LCD's bigger screens.
So, as long as performances are the same, I will always prefer RA over the standalones.
Furthermore, there are cases where you really have no choice other than using RA (Arcade games, PC Engine CD, Game and Watch...)

Also the HEXAECO GearBoy GB/GBC emulator works surprisingly well for a new addition core.

Using Snes9xGX HEXAECO, i still have frame drops (much better than official RA) testing StarFox & SMW2 which is why im using SNES Next. I don't think Stellaview is supported with Next and that could be an issue for some users.

Gearboy is promising, but has really bad audio. Try to play Hammerin' Harry (one of my favourites on GB) to see what I mean.
With HEXAECO the core to use is snes9x_next.dol. I forgot to mention it in my previous post. All the other snes cores have stutterings issues (including snes9x 2010). It works perfectly for BS games too.

Update on my tests:
discard my Cannonball HEXAECO report. I changed "gear=manual (2 keys)" to "gear=manual" and now I can switch gears in the game.
I was also wrong on Gambatte for RA. It can't be mixed with the other RA versions (random code dumps when loading games). I will try @rogerioronin version

 

[xLAKITUx]

That was before discovering things like RA(2020-05-25) and RA-Hexaeco. With that I'm finally able to solve the conflict and performances issues that almost made me gave up on the task.
As I've previously stated, all the standalone emus are missing the most important feature of all (for me): scanlines overlays. Being unable to play on a CRT, I really hate to play the old games without the scanlines, and that's especially true for handhelds consoles. I find them to be horrible displaying on LCD's bigger screens.
So, as long as performances are the same, I will always prefer RA over the standalones.
Furthermore, there are cases where you really have no choice other than using RA (Arcade games, PC Engine CD, Game and Watch...)


Gearboy is promising, but has really bad audio. Try to play Hammerin' Harry (one of my favourites on GB) to see what I mean.
With HEXAECO the core to use is snes9x_next.dol. I forgot to mention it in my previous post. All the other snes cores have stutterings issues (including snes9x 2010). It works perfectly for BS games too.

Update on my tests:
discard my Cannonball HEXAECO report. I changed "gear=manual (2 keys)" to "gear=manual" and now I can switch gears in the game.
I was also wrong on Gambatte for RA. It can't be mixed with the other RA versions (random code dumps when loading games). I will try @rogerioronin version

That’s amazing. Thanks for the informative post! Getting close to a plugins pack 1.0??

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

Yes I'm getting closer. At least I see a light at the end of the Retroarch tunnel.

I stiil can't estimate a release date. Unfortunately my health is not very good.
I cannot concentrate for long. Some days I have to stay in bed. I'm doing some medical examinations, it seems not to be covid-19.
I'm waiting to do some cardio tests, but it's difficult during these times.

 

[RunningSnakes]

Sorry to hear that Tetsuo. Hope good news will come your way soon. Take care friend.

 

[fledge68]

Yes I'm getting closer. At least I see a light at the end of the Retroarch tunnel.

I stiil can't estimate a release date. Unfortunately my health is not very good.
I cannot concentrate for long. Some days I have to stay in bed. I'm doing some medical examinations, it seems not to be covid-19.
I'm waiting to do some cardio tests, but it's difficult during these times.

Sorry to hear your not feeling well. Hope you get better soon.

But i have to say im the opposite. I prefer stand alone emu's over retroarch any day. And i really dont like scan lines. Just my opinion.

 

[RunningSnakes]

So I finished testing @rogerioronin libretro cores. Both PCE cores, Cannonball & PrBoom run outstanding as WFL plugins. I also figured out how to alter video exactly to my choosing, just a simple push of (2) button. SNES Next was updated just yester/today as well. Separate input cfg for these emulators put them at the top of the list for me. It is sorely lacking in RA official cores.

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

Thank you all guys.
@RunningSnakes I've tested the cores from Rogerionin, but aren't they the very same as Hexaeco? Just older versions based on RA 1.0.0.2 (when they where named RA-SS)? They're good as well, but I see no improvements over the Hexaeco cores.
However, I think I've finally solved the issue with the Gambatte core from RA 1.8.8 (25/05/2020). No more random code dumps after I've disabled the Frame blend in core-options. I've successifully launched all my GB / GBC games without any error. Re-tried the Wiimpathy Mame cores (since they are from RA 1.7.6) and then back to RA 1.8.8. No more issues!
I think I won't include the RA cores for the old computers, like Fuse or Theodore, because in that case the standalones have better usability. I also tried the Wolf3D core, but I couldn't make it work. I see no good reason to waste any more time on RA tests.
So, I can finally say I'm done with Retroarch plugins!!
On my to-do list there's now to clean up all the ini's, dol's, and to platform.ini which will be also included.

 

[xLAKITUx]

Yes I'm getting closer. At least I see a light at the end of the Retroarch tunnel.

I stiil can't estimate a release date. Unfortunately my health is not very good.
I cannot concentrate for long. Some days I have to stay in bed. I'm doing some medical examinations, it seems not to be covid-19.
I'm waiting to do some cardio tests, but it's difficult during these times.

Mi dispiace. Rimettiti presto!

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

Mi dispiace. Rimettiti presto!

Grazie

 

[Wiimpathy]

I think I won't include the RA cores for the old computers, like Fuse or Theodore, because in that case the standalones have better usability.

Theodore is the only available emulator for Thomson computers.
Well, it may not be of great interest for most. I was very pleased someone worked on a good alternative to the original Daniel Coulom's emulators. Dcmoto became windows only and closed source. At least retroarch is multi platform and free.

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

Theodore is the only available emulator for Thomson computers.
Well, it may not be of great interest for most. I was very pleased someone worked on a good alternative to the original Daniel Coulom's emulators. Dcmoto became windows only and closed source. At least retroarch is multi platform and free.

Oh yes, thank you Wiimpathy! I'm always confusing on the name of that emulator So many of them, it never fits into my mind.
OK I will test the theodore RA core and include it in the pack.
By the way, I'm having a hard time testing some of the computer emus. I'm not familiar with so many of them.
The TRS-80 black and white model says I don't have a rom installed for model 1, I tried downloading trs80model1.rom but it keeps giving me that error message. No issues with the color model.
The Apple II emu boots with a black screen and a message saying "Apple // e". I try pressing all the buttons but I can't do anything from there. Trying to power off the Wii it crashes with a code dump.

Other issues with console emus:
Creativision (funnymu-wii) - Many of the roms I've tried are giving a black screen (I have to hard-reset the Wii). I've tried to use a rom (sonic invaders) from another source and it works, but I'm hearing an endless beeeeeeeep during gameplay that makes my head explode.
Snes9x_next from HEXAECO is strangely booting the BS games when launched from the HBC, but not in Wiiflow. Oh well, not a big issue, as there's plenty of alternatives. But I'd be curious to understand why.
Lastly, VBA GX... is there still reason to use it? Is anyone still using it?

 

[davejsp]

I use VBA GX, which alternatives are there? If so, are they better?

 

[fledge68]

Oh yes, thank you Wiimpathy! I'm always confusing on the name of that emulator So many of them, it never fits into my mind.
OK I will test the theodore RA core and include it in the pack.
By the way, I'm having a hard time testing some of the computer emus. I'm not familiar with so many of them.
The TRS-80 black and white model says I don't have a rom installed for model 1, I tried downloading trs80model1.rom but it keeps giving me that error message. No issues with the color model.
The Apple II emu boots with a black screen and a message saying "Apple // e". I try pressing all the buttons but I can't do anything from there. Trying to power off the Wii it crashes with a code dump.

Other issues with console emus:
Creativision (funnymu-wii) - Many of the roms I've tried are giving a black screen (I have to hard-reset the Wii). I've tried to use a rom (sonic invaders) from another source and it works, but I'm hearing an endless beeeeeeeep during gameplay that makes my head explode.
Snes9x_next from HEXAECO is strangely booting the BS games when launched from the HBC, but not in Wiiflow. Oh well, not a big issue, as there's plenty of alternatives. But I'd be curious to understand why.
Lastly, VBA GX... is there still reason to use it? Is anyone still using it?

i use vba gx. i use all the gx emu's. no problems. but then again i'm not picky about slow downs or scan lines or whatever. I guess i just like the nicer looking user interface and more simplistic setup.

 

[Hakaisha]

I still use VBA-GX for GB/GBC. I prefer how it handles the application of custom SGB BORDERS on a per-game basis pulled from a folder of PNGs named after internal game IDs, and how it immediately loads them up without any of the weird and delayed graphical drama that I've experienced with mgba SGB borders.

I suppose a similar result could possibly be achieved in RA with enough work, but I typically don't use RA on Wii unless it's absolutely necessary.

 

[Tetsuo Shima]

@fledge68 @Hakaisha
Oh that's ok. Sorry, I was asking this because I've never used VBA GX since so many years ago, and I was remembering it was inferior to mGBA in terms of performances. I thought it was a very outdated emuator and never tested it. Now I now I was wrong.
Sorry again

 

[Hakaisha]

@Tetsuo Shima , no need for apologies. It's just a matter of personal preference.

You're correct. mGBA does provide superior performance for GBA games, compared to VBA-GX. So I use mGBA for GBA games, and VBA-GX for GB/GBC games.