Retro games and emulation - Discuss retro shit in case you're stuck in the past or a hipster

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

US20210365282 SPOOFING CPUID FOR BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY

<p id="p-0001" num="0000">To facilitate backwards compatibility, a computing device may respond to a call from an application for information regarding a processor on the computing device by returning information regarding a different processor than the processor on the computing device...

patentscope.wipo.int

So now we have new patents for old playstation style controllers for new hardware, trophy support for older games, and now Playstation 1-3 emulation on the PS5.

Clearly something is in the works.

Nah, that looks more like ensuring backwards compatibility on future x86 consoles.

Hedging my bets to avoid a reply: CPUID itself is an x86 thing and the patent explicitly names CPUID as the thing checked/spoofed, "In the x86 architecture, the CPUID instruction (identified by a CPUID opcode) is a processor supplementary instruction (its name derived from CPU IDentification) allowing software to discover details of the processor."

Why would they patent CPUID spoofing, not a generic term by the way, if they were referring to MIPS' "Processor Identification (PrId) and a series of daisy-chained Configuration Registers.", as it might apply to PS1/PS2, or the PowerPC's "Processor Version Register (PVR)" as it might apply to the PS3. This is a rhetorical question.

 

[Marissa Moira]

Nah, that looks more like ensuring backwards compatibility on future x86 consoles.

Hedging my bets to avoid a reply: CPUID itself is an x86 thing and the patent explicitly names CPUID as the thing checked/spoofed, "In the x86 architecture, the CPUID instruction (identified by a CPUID opcode) is a processor supplementary instruction (its name derived from CPU IDentification) allowing software to discover details of the processor."

Why would they patent CPUID spoofing, not a generic term by the way, if they were referring to MIPS' "Processor Identification (PrId) and a series of daisy-chained Configuration Registers.", as it might apply to PS1/PS2, or the PowerPC's "Processor Version Register (PVR)" as it might apply to the PS3. This is a rhetorical question.

In theory though, if they went the same route as xbox and had digital downloads via disc signature it would still use a similar set up.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

In theory though, if they went the same route as xbox and had digital downloads via disc signature it would still use a similar set up.

No it wouldn't and it wouldn't have to involve a Sony patented Intel specific CPUID spoof to fool a PS3 game to think it was running on a specific x86 processor with a specific set of hardware features because that makes no sense.

 

[Dojima's Dragon]

Well i am fucked looks like the ps2 silm is my only option given that the ps2 phat models are either look damaged or fucking laughably expensive we re talking 120 bucks for a phat model so is the silm model any good and also whats with sony and having fatal flaws with their hardware ( until the ps5 that is )

 

[Pissmaster]

Well i am fucked looks like the ps2 silm is my only option given that the ps2 phat models are either look damaged or fucking laughably expensive we re talking 120 bucks for a phat model so is the silm model any good

Yeah, I use a slim as my primary one. I installed FreeMcBoot via a Codebreaker disc ages ago, but I know there are newer ways to do it. FreeMcBoot doesn't launch on PS2s with serial no. 9xxxx, or ones made after 2008 (these will all be slims), so, try to get a lower one than that. But, you can still load games via DVD-Rs and USB drives.

Like I said, I hacked mine ages ago and haven't updated anything since, so everything I know about it may be obsolete, but: DVD-based games work with something called ESR Patcher, where you run the game's ISO through it, burn it like a regular ISO, and then it works. But when I did it, this only worked with standard DVD-based games, not CDs or DVD9s, so SSX and Metal Gear Solid 3 respectively were no-goes. There's also a way to load games via a USB drive, but the PS2 has USB 1.1 ports, so it's dog-ass slow. The CD-based games I tried worked, but the loading times were slower than playing off of an actual CD. Didn't have any problems other than that, so it was good enough for me.

Anyway, I can't personally vouch for this guide, but here's where I'd start: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/tutorial-the-great-ps2-aio-guide.30219/

also whats with sony and having fatal flaws with their hardware ( until the ps5 that is )

Sony's just a crappy company, what can I say

 

[Celebrate Nite]

• Take the 3 Castlevania GameBoy games
• Add these three patches
• Games become enjoyable now

Not only that, but their piss easy too, ESPECIALLY the first one... 4 stages, then dracula, the end, game loops afterwards and doesn't stop til game over. This just convinces me Konami half-assed these games and purposefully made the Belmonts slow as fuck just to artificially add difficulty.

 

[Pissmaster]

• Take the 3 Castlevania GameBoy games
• Add these three patches
• Games become enjoyable now

Not only that, but their piss easy too, ESPECIALLY the first one... 4 stages, then dracula, the end, game loops afterwards and doesn't stop til game over. This just convinces me Konami half-assed these games and purposefully made the Belmonts slow as fuck just to artificially add difficulty.

I figure they made the player slow in those games to compensate for Game Boy's screen ghosting

 

[Enig]

also whats with sony and having fatal flaws with their hardware ( until the ps5 that is )

The PS1 has a pass for being among the first systems to go for proper 3D rendering hardware, but the PS2 and PS3 were the result of multiple hardware teams coming up with ideas that never fit together right, the PS2 being essentially an upgraded N64 with RAM everywhere along with a better GPU and a proper SPU, and the PS3 being some batshit abstraction of the G5 processor with an nVidia chip glued in to make up for the Cell falling short in everything.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

I figure they made the player slow in those games to compensate for Game Boy's screen ghosting

Exactly. Compare it to the "wtf" that was Fortfress of Fear and other games.

 

[Jinmen]

If I have an snes can I get a flashcart to play romhacks on it or do I need to mod the snes?

 

[Blue Screen of Death]

If I have an snes can I get a flashcart to play romhacks on it or do I need to mod the snes?

You just need a flashcart, no modding necessary.
The SNES is actually one of the best entry level systems for people looking to get into the "enthusiast" side of retro gaming.

edit: It's pretty pricey for the SNES if you want full game compatibility though, the FXPAK Pro is the premium flashcart that supports all the fancy chips inside of certain SNES titles. (Like Starfox that uses the Super FX chip.)

 

[Jinmen]

You just need a flashcart, no modding necessary.
The SNES is actually one of the best entry level systems for people looking to get into the "enthusiast" side of retro gaming.

edit: It's pretty pricey for the SNES if you want full game compatibility though, the FXPAK Pro is the premium flashcart that supports all the fancy chips inside of certain SNES titles. (Like Starfox that uses the Super FX chip.)

That's really good to hear! I've been scouting out CRTs on ebay/amazon. I found a small triniton for an affordable price that would fit perfectly in my room. I was deterred before because I would justt think of big ass aged CRTs with spiders in them but I forgot way smaller compact tvs existed even though I grew up with them. Going to get one for Christmas.

 

[Marissa Moira]

That's really good to hear! I've been scouting out CRTs on ebay/amazon. I found a small triniton for an affordable price that would fit perfectly in my room. I was deterred before because I would justt think of big ass aged CRTs with spiders in them but I forgot way smaller compact tvs existed even though I grew up with them. Going to get one for Christmas.

Do you have good will stores by you? I'd check there first before ordering a CRT over amazon.

A ton of those listings are stuff that were bought for a few bucks at a Goodwill store. The market for those are mostly retro games and people who own Disney VHS movies. There's way more supply of good CRTs than demand.

 

[Blue Screen of Death]

That's really good to hear! I've been scouting out CRTs on ebay/amazon. I found a small triniton for an affordable price that would fit perfectly in my room. I was deterred before because I would justt think of big ass aged CRTs with spiders in them but I forgot way smaller compact tvs existed even though I grew up with them. Going to get one for Christmas.

I think even if you want to go the route of hardcore RGB output and all that (in the event you get something like a PVM), some models of the SNES output it natively without even needing to modify the console as long as you have the right cable for the A/V output.
It's pretty good shit, and if you don't care about the games that use the enhancement chips you can get an Everdrive for a good price I think.

 

[Jinmen]

Do you have good will stores by you? I'd check there first before ordering a CRT over amazon.

A ton of those listings are stuff that were bought for a few bucks at a Goodwill store. The market for those are mostly retro games and people who own Disney VHS movies. There's way more supply of good CRTs than demand.

Yeah, I've been burned twice. One TV I got stopped working and the other was dead on arrival. Most of the places I go to just have those shitty sony LCD.

I want to buy VHS tapes too, I'm such a whore for nostalgia. I remember going to suncoast in the 90s and seeing all the anime tapes lined up. Thought that was cool. I always preferred VHS to dvd too once tapes started being phased out.

 

[Marissa Moira]

I want to buy VHS tapes too, I'm such a whore for nostalgia. I remember going to suncoast in the 90s and seeing all the anime tapes lined up. Thought that was cool. I always preferred VHS to dvd too once tapes started being phased out.

Yeah Suncoast always had a huge selection until the day they went under

I remember picking this up from there.

Most CRTs should run you under 20 bucks still for a decent sized one at a second hand place, maybe ask about their return policy.

 

[Tuxedo_Zemus]

Fable 1 fucking sucks. I got the anniversary edition on a steam sale for cheap because I had a twinge of nostalgia for it, and now I remember why the game was such a let down.

I remember when this game was being hyped up as being the ultimate Xbox RPG and how there was all of this depth to the story progression and morality system and world, and it turned out to be a janky Zelda rip off with awful gameplay and animation, and a tiny, unrealized world and story.

This game was in development for over 4 years and the whole thing comes across as half assed and lazy. There are multiple times where the janky cutscenes will try to zoom on the player character's face, and your face will be completely out of the shot because your character is so tall from leveling up. I can't believe Peter Molyneux didn't have his career completely ruined right then and there. I played better shovelware on that fucking console.

 

[Stasi]

Some big news in the world of PS2 emulation. A full speed, free PS2 emulator for Android has just been released in open beta on the Play Store, AetherSX2. As far as I know up until a couple of days ago the only PS2 emu on Android was some Chink spyware using stolen code and a stolen logo from PPSSPP so this is pretty great news.

I haven't tested it myself yet but looking at some of the videos its pretty impressive considering its just come out in open beta.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

It's weird how everyone can play old Playstation titles with the exception of Playstation owners. Xbox owners can play PS2 games for fucks sake!

 

[Jinmen]

Grabbed a WF2703 at a flea market for 15$ along with a random 17 inch CRT in the parking lot for free lol. I know the TV is a far cry from a might trinitron and is on the cheap side but I should be ok right? Plan to mainly play nes, snes, psx and some ps2 on it. Can't test it yet because I need to re-purchase some console bits and pieces.