Emulation Homebrew Emulator [UNOFFICIAL] Some Libretro cores compiled with RetroArch Wii v1.7.9 (and other versions)

[RunningSnakes]

T

@RunningSnakes

Setup: Frankenstein, core SNK NeoCD, bios neocd_z

Game: bins+cue Windjammers

Result: no sfx or effect music when the ball reachs the wall.

Thank you friend. I will test to confirm.

 

[SaulFabre]

New build of PicoDrive built until commit https://github.com/irixxxx/picodrive/commit/071a9e5904982c33fa5ec1ea7ae2a5d597fa891a

Starting from this Wii build, you're able to play the demo of the (WIP) 32X port of the fangame Sonic Robo Blast 2 (SRB2), called SRB32X, which is avaliable here: https://ssntails.srb2.org/srb32x/

Built using RetroArch Wii GUI v1.7.6

Game: bins+cue Windjammers

Result: no sfx or effect music when the ball reachs the wall.

That's a known issue with NeoCD...

https://github.com/libretro/neocd_libretro/issues/28

 

[RunningSnakes]

New build of PicoDrive built until commit https://github.com/irixxxx/picodrive/commit/071a9e5904982c33fa5ec1ea7ae2a5d597fa891a

Starting from this Wii build, you're able to play the demo of the (WIP) 32X port of the fangame Sonic Robo Blast 2 (SRB2), called SRB32X, which is avaliable here: https://ssntails.srb2.org/srb32x/

Built using RetroArch Wii GUI v1.7.6



That's a known issue with NeoCD...

https://github.com/libretro/neocd_libretro/issues/28

Thanks for the PicoDrive update Saul.

I have not got around to test the Neo CD audio issue, i wonder if using iso/cue/ogg fixed the issue? I will test soon and give input...

Edit:
I tested both iso/cue/ogg and bin/cue for Neo Turf Masters and Windjammers...

Using bin/cue for both games i was not able to reproduce the audio issue, all background music worked for me on trying 3 separate times for both games. However iso/cue/ogg did produce the audio issue 2 times for NTM and 1 time for WJ testing at least 8-10 boots for each game.

I did change Skip CD Loading to = Off in Options and it seems to have helped since the bg audio issue disappeared. But it is more likely it is just random when it happens. FWIW, i tested in RX and could not reproduce the issue.

 

[nhockon_cm]

I tested both iso/cue/ogg and bin/cue for Neo Turf Masters and Windjammers...

Using bin/cue for both games i was not able to reproduce the audio issue, all background music worked for me on trying 3 separate times for both games. However iso/cue/ogg did produce the audio issue 2 times for NTM and 1 time for WJ testing at least 8-10 boots for each game.

I did change Skip CD Loading to = Off in Options and it seems to have helped since the bg audio issue disappeared. But it is more likely it is just random when it happens. FWIW, i tested in RX and could not reproduce the issue.

Wait, "background music" you mean sfx/sound-effect or... soundtrack?

No SFX when the ball reachs the wall in Windjammers. There is only Neo CD RX can show all sfx.

Which RA did you test?

 

[RunningSnakes]

1.7.9 @SaulFabre recompile, then i hex edited for standalone.

Testing WJ more using iso/cue/ogg the sound effects issue happens every boot but it is random when it happens and a known issue.

NTM also has this issue sometimes but re-booting almost always fixes the sound effect issue for me.

I guess the best scenario is to use RX for WJ or other games with the audio issue. However you will have to accept the constant minor stutter RX produces for all games. It is not game breaking and users may get used to it, but it is noticably there on every game.

 

[SaulFabre]

New core for the bunch, SameBoy, a GB/GBC emulator.

I had to change a few things from the libretro branch of upstream SameBoy (didn't want to use https://github.com/libretro/SameBoy cause it's not updated anymore, stuck in v0.15.4 when latest is v1.0) for be able to compile for Wii.

My Wii fork source code can be seen here: https://github.com/saulfabregwiivc/SameBoy

The version of SameBoy i used for this build is the latest stable, SameBoy v1.0

Compiled with RetroArch Wii GUI v1.7.7 (won't compile with RA Wii v1.7.9)

Requested by @MeXen from his thread.

Please test this core, thanks

EDIT: I updated this post for include two versions. The one "noops" is original, no optimizations used. Second one, "ops1", where i tried to apply a few optimizations in Makefile, but still the core runs slow.
Both use latest SameBoy v1.0 core!!!

 

[RunningSnakes]

New core for the bunch, SameBoy, a GB/GBC emulator.

I had to change a few things from the libretro branch of upstream SameBoy (didn't want to use https://github.com/libretro/SameBoy cause it's not updated anymore, stuck in v0.15.4 when latest is v1.0) for be able to compile for Wii.

My Wii fork source code can be seen here: https://github.com/saulfabregwiivc/SameBoy

Please test this core, thanks

EDIT: I updated this post for include two versions. The one "noops" is original, no optimizations used. Second one, "ops1", where i tried to apply a few optimizations in Makefile, but still the core runs slow.
Both use latest SameBoy v1.0 core!!!

Yes, it is unfortunate it only runs at 35-36 fps. The core has many features plus save/load works great and is very stable.

 

[nhockon_cm]

Yes, it is unfortunate it only runs at 35-36 fps. The core has many features plus save/load works great and is very stable.

I wish there were more RAM.

 

[MeXen]

I wish there were more RAM.

Couldnt be optimized for Speed aiming over cycle accuracy then?

 

[RunningSnakes]

Couldnt be optimized for Speed aiming over cycle accuracy then?

If speed is your need, use mGBA, it is that simple. mGBA has just about everything anyone could ever need or want in GB/GBC/GBA emulation. Gambatte also works beautiful as an alternative to mGBA.

I am very curious why mGBA gets no respect? It is clearly better than everything by a wide margin, yet dismissed for something inferior.

Please enlighten me....)

 

[Charco]

If speed is your need, use mGBA, it is that simple. mGBA has just about everything anyone could ever need or want in GB/GBC/GBA emulation. Gambatte also works beautiful as an alternative to mGBA.

I am very curious why mGBA gets no respect? It is clearly better than everything by a wide margin, yet dismissed for something inferior.

Please enlighten me....)

Maybe it's the UI? Like that matters...

 

[RunningSnakes]

Maybe it's the UI? Like that matters...

I was referring to RA mGBA. It covers everything just about as good as the standalone.

Using RA 1.10.3 mGBA as your everything GB, GBC, GBA emulator is a close best option to the standalone. It is included in the Frankenstein pack release and edited to work with any RA setup.

 

[SaulFabre]

New updated GB/GBC cores for Wii.

VisualBoyAdvance-M - updated to latest release v2.1.11 until last git https://github.com/visualboyadvance...mmit/ddc93ec6e1d2a22c3b3f09ca5702bf9fcff37e12
Compiled with RA Wii v1.7.6

Gambatte - updated to latest until git https://github.com/libretro/gambatte-libretro/commit/695b915839acd8dbbcbb8e4f9985df1e0db2b23e
Compiled with RA Wii v1.7.9 (with RA libOGC, won't compile with RA Wii v1.7.6)

Please test these, thanks

Yes, it is unfortunate it only runs at 35-36 fps.

Couldnt be optimized for Speed aiming over cycle accuracy then?

It is supposed that SameBoy is an accurate GB/GBC emulator. In short: it focus on accuracy (the README of the project says that SameBoy is EXTREMELY accurate to hardware). So, don't expect to run fast on Wii, which is weak hardware.

And no, i don't think that the devs would make an option for focus the emu on speed rather than accuracy. Look for another GB/GBC emu instead.

I wish there were more RAM.

RAM is not the only thing that matters. It actually matters how much processing power we have... The Wii only has 729 MHz

I am very curious why mGBA gets no respect? It is clearly better than everything by a wide margin, yet dismissed for something inferior.

I think mGBA is superior for GBA games, even when there's the fastest GBA on Wii, gpSP.
mGBA is still not perfect for GB/GBC games, though.

Maybe it's the UI? Like that matters...

The mGBA Wii UI is so simple that i don't think there's a performance impact...

 

[RunningSnakes]

New updated GB/GBC cores for Wii.

VisualBoyAdvance-M - updated to latest release v2.1.11 until last git https://github.com/visualboyadvance...mmit/ddc93ec6e1d2a22c3b3f09ca5702bf9fcff37e12
Compiled with RA Wii v1.7.6

Gambatte - updated to latest until git https://github.com/libretro/gambatte-libretro/commit/695b915839acd8dbbcbb8e4f9985df1e0db2b23e
Compiled with RA Wii v1.7.9 (with RA libOGC, won't compile with RA Wii v1.7.6)

Please test these, thanks

Gambatte recompile is the most stable release i have ever tested. It will definitely replace 1.16.0.

VBA-M recompile is also very stable but i still need to test more. Most likely this release will also replace 1.15.0 if it passes WFL tests.

Thank you for these updates! If or when you get some time, maybe you could recompile FreeIntv, Vecx and Fuse with 1.7.9, they all could use an update and most likely be the best emulators for those platforms. Especially FreeIntv and Vecx.

 

[RunningSnakes]

Update for my testing...

Gambate 1.7.9 recompile is beautiful. It does load games slower than other releases but it has never failed me through multiple tests through Frankenstein or WiiFlow Lite.

VBA-M works well through RA Frankenstein but it does fail through WFL. Other VBA-M recompiles Saul has released also have this issue, so i will continue to use and distribute 1.15.0 as the most stable release of VBA-M.

Latest PicoDrive recompile 1.7.6 core is also brilliant. It has replaced the older version (1.7.9) which is also great, through Frankenstein distribution since it adds more compatibility.

However 1.7.6 recompiles do not allow me freedom 1.7.9 recompiles do when hex editing, so i will continue to distribute PicoDrive 1.7.9 as a standalone.

 

[nhockon_cm]

Any PSX core can play at max speed?

 

[RunningSnakes]

Any PSX core can play at max speed?

Not through RA-Wii.

WiiStation runs full speed 60fps.

 

[SaulFabre]

requested by @RunningSnakes

FreeIntv - until git https://github.com/libretro/FreeIntv/commit/beab9af119fc117833d2d866d8d4ea0857ec0236

FUSE - until git https://github.com/libretro/fuse-libretro/commit/cad85b7b1b864c65734f71aa4a510b6f6536881c

Vecx - until git https://github.com/libretro/libretro-vecx/commit/a103a212ca8644fcb5d76eac7cdec77223c4fb02

The ones compiled using RA Wii v1.7.9 uses RetroArch's toolkit libOGC, while the ones with RA Wii v1.7.6 uses vanilla libOGC.

Please test these, thanks

 

[RunningSnakes]

requested by @RunningSnakes

Please test these, thanks

Thank you for recompiling these cores Saul, very appreciated.

I am not completely done testing but here are my results so far...

Vecx 1.7.6 - Load/Save work, Overlays Work, Wiimote only supported. The issue here is i believe the core is running a little fast (overclocked) it feels. This causes audio distortion not present in the 1.20.0 official release.

Vecx 1.7.9 - Same as 1.7.6, everything works here but this is definitely running too fast and audio again suffers badly.

I think for now 1.20.0 is the best available Vecx core even though it requires Classic Controller to play.

Fuse 1.7.9 - Everything works including Wiimote only. During limited tests this core froze on me 3 separate times so stability is not good.

Fuse 1.7.6 - With this recompile Fuse is updated from (Fuse 1.1.1 - RA 1.8.8) to (Fuse 1.6.0 - RA 1.7.9) and Wiimote only is supported again unlike current RA releases that require CC. This passes all tests as the best ZX core for RetroArch or Hexaeco, however it is not perfect. Some .tap games have issues but possible my roms are at fault and not the core. This core will replace RA 1.8.8

FreeIntv 1.7.9 - Save/Load finally working with Wiimote only supported. With a simple edit to Input, all 8-10 games i tested are fully functional and stability is still great. Like O2em, this core requires some games to use 2 player control that is simply switched on/off in the options. Without a question, this is the best Intellivision gaming experience on the Wii!!!

FreeIntv 1.7.6 - Like 1.7.9 recompile this core passed all tests although it was not tested nearly as much as the others. I think this core may be equal to 1.7.9 recompile but more testing should be done.

Thank you so much @SaulFabre for your work and contributions to the Wii scene.