game-compatibility testing

[Smiff]

Update, 12th May 2003 - I've added an interesting cheat code to the end of this thread (page 5), also i'm looking to revive interest in the rdb, i have already make a lot of changes to the file and am going to release an updated file soon (within a week). So this is a good opportunity to get any changes you have made to YOUR rdb into the next official release. Many thanks in advance for you help!


OK so what's this thread about? Simply, if the browser says a game works, but it doesn't, I want you to tell me about it here

========================================

1) AutoDetect errors

ok let's start with a little lesson about how PJ works and how it's different in 1.5. in v1.0-1.4, the video plugin would calculate a CRC once per boot and once per state load, look this up in its internal database and (hopefully) select the correct RSP code simulation. There was a menu to let you pick incase this failed. The RDB could also force a particular ROM to use a particular uCode if this failed. Fast forward to 1.5. Jabo found that correct emulation of some games required him to allow a game to switch uCodes, whenever and as often as it likes. The upside of allowing this is that you've lots more graphics showing up, downside is that now uCode detection can fail anywhere during execution and we had a hell of time trying to cram all the references in before release. The result is inevitably that the internal database is not quite complete. This is not the disaster it would seem because the RDB can (as some astute folks have noticed thanks to my one example in the file) give these references, but now they are done per calculated-CRC not per ROM, in the header, meaning one line will fix all instances of that CRC being found, and a game can still change uCodes as it likes. Hurrah.

Now could people post any and all detect failures they find in this thread. I need to know:

1) The Good Name of the game
2) The calculated CRC (that's the 8 digit number with $ sign in front)
3) Please describe where in the game this happens, or provide a state save if the point is difficult to get to.
4) Have a go at assigning the correct uCode if you want, use the chart below to help you.

Video plugin uCode detect key

uCode ID#

RSPSW 0
RSPSW_EXT 1
RSPSW_GE 2
RSPSW_PD 3
RSPSW_DKR 4
RSPSW_RARE4 5
S1DEX 6
F3DEX1 7
F3DEX2 8
F3DZEX2 9
F3DEXGB2 10
S2DEX 11

The most common are 0,7,8.
6,11 are the new sprite microcodes.

If you choose the wrong uCode, one of these things could happen:
- Immediate plugin Access Violation
- Graphics will look very messed up
- Game will run with some graphics missing
Don't worry, just try a different one and reset the game (you may need to end and start emulation (F12-F11)).

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2) Resolution detection problems

Pretty easy to understand this, a game is squished or stretched, if you find any let me know here, preferably with the correct forced res value if possible.

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3) Any core settings errors - typically too-weak SMCM, failure from register caching, and so on and so forth... all these need to be worked through, state saves are very helpful.

[Allnatural]

Turok 2 - Seeds of Evil (U) [!] --$49571B97

Fails whenever you attempt to bring up the map.

[jvolel]

what about wipeout 64 during a race when your car is about to be blown to pieces you get an error..... um if i can get a print screen program i can show a pic... or maybe ill try a save state just before the error appears

[Smiff]

Someone was asking for a list of games that aren't supported by the video plugin. Here's everything ive got down as Needs video plugin, i.e. doesn't work well enough to be playable on default video plugin:



Good Name Plugin Note
AI Shogi 3 (J) [video] error(s):textures
Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh (J) [video] unsupported
Command & Conquer (E) [video] missing sidebar. error(s):various
Command & Conquer (G) [video] missing sidebar. error(s):various

Command & Conquer (U) [video] missing sidebar. error(s):various
Dark Rift (E) [video] missing players
Dark Rift (U) [video] missing players
Dexanoid R1 by Protest Design (PD) [video] unsupported
Dr. Mario 64 (U) [video] missing falling pieces
Famista 64 (J) [video] unsupported

Heiwa Pachinko World (J) [video] unsupported
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (U) [video] unsupported
Kobe Bryant's NBA Courtside (E) [video] geometry problem
Kobe Bryant's NBA Courtside (U) [video] geometry problem
Kuiki Uhabi Suigo (J) [video] unsupported
Last Legion UX (J) [video] unsupported

Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. (E) [video] slow
Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. (U) [video] slow
Mia Hamm Soccer 64 (U) [video] unsupported
Michael Owens WLS 2000 (E) [video] unsupported
Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Volume 1 (U) [video] unsupported
NBA Hangtime (E) [video] slow

NBA Hangtime (U) [video] slow
NBA Showtime - NBA on NBC (U) [video] unsupported [audio] unsupported?
Nushi Zuri 64 (J) [video] unsupported
Off Road Challenge (E) [video] slow, flicker (splitscreen)
Off Road Challenge (U) [video] slow, flicker (splitscreen)
Parlor! Pro 64 Pachinko Jikki Simulation Game (J) [video] error(s):textures

Pokemon Puzzle League (E) [video] unsupported
Pokemon Puzzle League (F) [video] unsupported
Pokemon Puzzle League (G) [video] unsupported
Pokemon Puzzle League (U) [video] unsupported
Power League Baseball 64 (J) [video] missing players
Puyo Puyo 4 - Puyo Puyo Party (J) [video] unsupported

RTL World League Soccer 2000 (G) [video] unsupported
SD Hiryuu no Ken Densetsu (J) [video] missing menus, HUD
South Park Rally (E) [video] depth problem
South Park Rally (U) [video] depth problem
Space Dynamites (J) [video] missing players
Star Wars - Rogue Squadron (E) [video] unsupported

Star Wars - Rogue Squadron (U) [video] unsupported
Star Wars - Shuggeki Rogue Chitai (J) [video] unsupported
Star Wars Episode I - Battle for Naboo (E) [video] unsupported
Star Wars Episode I - Battle for Naboo (U) [video] unsupported
Stunt Racer 64 (U) [video] unsupported
Super Bowling (J) [video] geometry problem

Super Bowling 64 (U) [video] geometry problem
Susume! Taisen Puzzle Dama Toukon! Marumata Chou (J) [video] severe errors
Telefoot Soccer 2000 (F) [video] unsupported
Toukon Road - Brave Spirits (J) [video] unsupported
Toukon Road 2 - The Next Generation (J) [video] unsupported
World Driver Championship (E) [video] unsupported

World Driver Championship (U) [video] unsupported
Yousuke Ide's Mahjong School (J) [video] unsupported

[Allnatural]

Turok 2 won't crash if you set the uCode indentifier to 9 for the map screen. Still no map visible, but I'm guessing that it's not supported.

[jvolel]

wow so that's the current games that aren't supported, not alot when you think about it, thought thats not including games that don't work period (ie don't even boot) and games that don't work so well

[Smiff]

AFAIK there are only 5 roms that don't boot:



Densha de GO! 64 (J)
Mario no Photopie (J)
NFL Quarterback Club 98 (E) ?

NFL Quarterback Club 98 (U) ?
Taz Express (E)

[Duncan]

Kobe Bryant's NBA Courtside (U) and (E) are playable, no probs and nice framerates.

[Smiff]

good good... anyone found any more in that list that work?

[jollyrancher]

Is it possible to put game-specific commands in the rdb that make the 1.5 video plugin stay on the same uCode for particular games? Just wondering if this would make certain games run smoother at the expense of certain texture problems.