PS2 hugopocked Fixes for Popstarter 11.08.2023

[hugopocked]

Hello my nickname is hugopocked, I am the one who has been correcting games for use in the Popstarter emulator, here in this publication I will leave information regarding the work I have been doing, notice in this publication there is no support or tutorials for the installation of the emulator or the games, only the installation of the patches [I hope this is clear]

This is the Link's of outdated patches from date (2023-08-11):
https://www.mediafire.com/file/rznkr05pci45w5p/Hugopocked_POPStarter_Fixes_%282023-08-11%29.rar/file

CRT (USA) POPSTARTER Any Mod Fix
https://www.mediafire.com/file/fqlirum08hxihfb/CTR_%28USA%29_POPSTARTER_Mod_Fix.rar/file

Tekken 3 improved fix 31/01/2024
https://www.mediafire.com/file/ymuk6yyfyfqbacb/Tekken_3_%28ALL_VER%29.rar/file

Password: hugopocked

Contact Reports and support:
[email protected]

My Youtube Channel doing tests:
https://www.youtube.com/@hugopocked6695

For those who are grateful and in a position to want to support, to increase the chances of dedicating my time to this hobby that undoubtedly benefits others, I will leave my PayPal link but first contact me by email:

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/hugopocked

Greetings!

 

[TnA]

I stick(i)ed the thread.

 

[hugopocked]

I stick(i)ed the thread.

Perfect

 

[maxstyle]

I need "Triple Play 97" fix please game's freezing.

 

[60fpshacksrock]

If only you could get the source to to POPStarter.

Though it is great to see this is even possible without it

(Also: SPU_IRQ_ON: "Permanently enable the hack used in other emulators called SPU IRQ ALWAYS ENABLE, this prevents loops
and freezes caused by non terminating sounds, so far it has only been useful in games:
#Alien Resurrection
#Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragonball Densetsu
Being no longer useful in the game "Alien Resurrection" because Hugopocked made an individual fix that is better.
Note: Maybe it's useful in some other game that's why Hugopocked releases it."

The first thought that came to my head was MGS's music when I saw that.

 

[TnA]

Well... Maybe some day??? @krHACKen

 

[hugopocked]

If only you could get the source to to POPStarter.

Though it is great to see this is even possible without it

(Also: SPU_IRQ_ON: "Permanently enable the hack used in other emulators called SPU IRQ ALWAYS ENABLE, this prevents loops
and freezes caused by non terminating sounds, so far it has only been useful in games:
#Alien Resurrection
#Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragonball Densetsu
Being no longer useful in the game "Alien Resurrection" because Hugopocked made an individual fix that is better.
Note: Maybe it's useful in some other game that's why Hugopocked releases it."

The first thought that came to my head was MGS's music when I saw that.

Greetings, in fact, this is the list of games in which I have seen that the SPU_IRQ_ON It is useful:
1#Alien Resurrection
2#Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragonball Densetsu
3#The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
4#Thousand Arms

And for those 4 games I already created perfect individual fixes, but so far I have only released the Alien Resurrection fix to the public.

After I restore the ORGB / IRGB GTE [black textures] I recently noticed a few small graphical flaws in some games like the Tomb Raider 3/4/5 series, Phosphorescent colors where they shouldn't go and was caused by miscalculating color saturation on the GTE so I had to restore that on the GTE as well, I haven't released it yet but it's perfect now.

I have also made other improvements on the GTE in perspective and vertices calculations among other things.

The GPU had a texture transparency problem in games like Jade Cocoon and Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, i create a compatibility mode that will fix that in all games with that kind of problem.

I have other games that I have corrected then I review and report which ones I don't remember, some I have made videos on Youtube the link to my channel is above in the publication.

I also shared Overclocks to the r3000A Emulated CPU but recently it was syncing the audio CD buffer, also other modes that play with the GPU_Timings to fix bugs when applying Overclocks, I haven't shared these updates yet.

Greetings.

 

[60fpshacksrock]

The overclock files are very nice.

It might be possible to play GT (not in "HI-FI" mode only) and GT2 at 60fps with codes and your overclock patches on PS2.
I am not sure if anyone has posted it but I found the address that enables GT1's 60fps from "HI-FI" mode.

 

[Peppe90]

I also shared Overclocks to the r3000A Emulated CPU but recently it was syncing the audio CD buffer, also other modes that play with the GPU_Timings to fix bugs when applying Overclocks, I haven't shared these updates yet.

The new overclock fixes are amazing. I tested some games.


For example Grandia. This game have very poor performance even with Patch 4.

I tested it with "Overclock_CD Sync_PAL&NTSC - CPU_Clock+50". Totally disappeared any slowdown. As for FMVs and music, everything remains perfectly synched, no need to add any "GPU Timing_OverclockFix".
Everything works perfectly (I was even using a mod for jap dubbing on USA game).

Kingley's Adventures has now better performances than played from the original disc.

I'm going to test some modes with Legend of Dragoon for the audio issues this game has on POPS.

 

[hugopocked]

The new overclock fixes are amazing. I tested some games.


For example Grandia. This game have very poor performance even with Patch 4.

I tested it with "Overclock_CD Sync_PAL&NTSC - CPU_Clock+50". Totally disappeared any slowdown. As for FMVs and music, everything remains perfectly synched, no need to add any "GPU Timing_OverclockFix".
Everything works perfectly (I was even using a mod for jap dubbing on USA game).

Kingley's Adventures has now better performances than played from the original disc.

I'm going to test some modes with Legend of Dragoon for the audio issues this game has on POPS.

Hi Peppe90, yes I gave you a preview of what I've done, maybe the new modes that I release will improve the sound problems in that game that you mention, do not forget to report if the result is positive, if it is negative it is not necessary lol.

 

[60fpshacksrock]

@hugopocked

Good news:

Two games have been fixed and made playable by "Renew CodeCache Scan 1"

Rockman Dash (NTSC-J)
Be default with POPS in certain areas of the game, rockman would fall through the ground endlessly making the game unfinishable unless the save was exported to another emulator and the area bypassed then exported back. This had to be done multiple times to finish the game because the emulator glitch affects multiple areas. No longer though. Your patch fixed it.

MegaMan Legends 2 (July 13 2000 prototype) (This is basically the full game but has English subtitles and text with the Japanese voice track(s).

On this game it would freeze when you attempted to leave the snow area to go to the next area. But again no longer, the patch fixes it.

Edit: It fixes that part mentioned above but causes a debugger-like exception showing registers at a later part on the game/demo. The patch may only be needed for the first part but I'm not sure yet. The exception occurs after the girl is rescued on Calbainia Island and you
attempt to walk back though the doors to the flutter.

I know this is just a demo, and the full Retail game is already fully playable, but if you want the vmc where this occurs let me know. Since this is a prototype easy mode is unlocked and you start with a very powerful weapon so it takes only a few minutes to run through

As you may notice I prefer the Japanese voice acting on the RockMan Dash Series. I also noticed on RHDN a while back some tools to modify the first game so hopefully the person that uploaded it will do an undub of the game a implement English subtitles for all cutscenes on the first and second NTSC-J games.

 

[hugopocked]

@hugopocked

Good news:

Two games have been fixed and made playable by "Renew CodeCache Scan 1"

Rockman Dash (NTSC-J)
Be default with POPS in certain areas of the game, rockman would fall through the ground endlessly making the game unfinishable unless the save was exported to another emulator and the area bypassed then exported back. This had to be done multiple times to finish the game because the emulator glitch affects multiple areas. No longer though. Your patch fixed it.

MegaMan Legends 2 (July 13 2000 prototype) (This is basically the full game but has English subtitles and text with the Japanese voice track(s).

On this game it would freeze when you attempted to leave the snow area to go to the next area. But again no longer, the patch fixes it.

Edit: It fixes that part mentioned above but causes a debugger-like exception showing registers at a later part on the game/demo. The patch may only be needed for the first part but I'm not sure yet. The exception occurs after the girl is rescued on Calbainia Island and you
attempt to walk back though the doors to the flutter.

I know this is just a demo, and the full Retail game is already fully playable, but if you want the vmc where this occurs let me know. Since this is a prototype easy mode is unlocked and you start with a very powerful weapon so it takes only a few minutes to run through

As you may notice I prefer the Japanese voice acting on the RockMan Dash Series. I also noticed on RHDN a while back some tools to modify the first game so hopefully the person that uploaded it will do an undub of the game a implement English subtitles for all cutscenes on the first and second NTSC-J games.

Hi, well I've only played the (USA) versions, and in both games mode 0x04 should never be activated because it causes crashes, maybe this information will help you find a solution, if this is not the problem then if needed to release an individual fix for that game, as you mention that part of the problem is corrected by the RenewCodeCache that means to me the problem is a code update, the same thing that I have fixed in other games.

Greetings.

 

[60fpshacksrock]

Hi, well I've only played the (USA) versions, and in both games mode 0x04 should never be activated because it causes crashes, maybe this information will help you find a solution, if this is not the problem then if needed to release an individual fix for that game, as you mention that part of the problem is corrected by the RenewCodeCache that means to me the problem is a code update, the same thing that I have fixed in other games.

Greetings.

I never mentioned that I had mode 4 enabled, but I do in fact. I will remove it from both. The reason is I read it fixes a lot of games or helps to stop some game-variable amounts of slowdown.

Thanks. And greetings to you as well. Thanks for continuing to make more games playable on this great emulator.

One last important thing:

Disc read delay: POPS has none. While it is nice to have shorter loading times than real hardware, I am very sure this is a contributing factor in compatibility for some games.

A loader/hypervisor/virtualizer that loads GC games on a Wii (in Wii mode because the system slows its CPU clock down to 486MHz like GC hardware) is called Nintendont. It originally had no disc read delay. Shortly after it was added compatibility increased. Some games have no issue with it.

I also asked for an option to remove the disc read delay from ND so some games that have no issue with it could load faster.

 

[Peppe90]

Hi Peppe90, yes I gave you a preview of what I've done, maybe the new modes that I release will improve the sound problems in that game that you mention, do not forget to report if the result is positive, if it is negative it is not necessary lol.

Trojan_5 from Xenogears patch (I didn't checked what actual patch this is, yet) perfectly solves audio problems also in Legend of Dragoon

 

[hugopocked]

Trojan_5 from Xenogears patch (I didn't checked what actual patch this is, yet) perfectly solves audio problems also in Legend of Dragoon

Hello, all those modes are in the folder:

POPS GENERAL FIXEs

And the mode used in Xenogears is:

SPU VOICES FIX 2

Very good, and that game doesn't have another problem? graphics?

 

[Peppe90]

Hello, all those modes are in the folder:

POPS GENERAL FIXEs

And the mode used in Xenogears is:

SPU VOICES FIX 2

Yes I know, I compare the MD5 when I want to know which mode you used. In this case you avoided me the work ^^

Very good, and that game doesn't have another problem? graphics?

I was playing also with MODE 4 enabled (I have it into POPS folder). To be very picky you can see a couple little stutterings entering a battle when the camera is rotating.

But that's a fusiness I mentioned just to let you know precisely. The game is pratically perfect.
I'd have to try the game from disc, maybe it is the normal behavior.

 

[hugopocked]

Yes I know, I compare the MD5 when I want to know which mode you used. In this case you avoided me the work ^^



I was playing also with MODE 4 enabled (I have it into POPS folder). To be very picky you can see a couple little stutterings entering a battle when the camera is rotating.

But that's a fusiness I mentioned just to let you know precisely. The game is pratically perfect.
I'd have to try the game from disc, maybe it is the normal behavior.

Sound stutter? You can try one of these modes:

GPU Timing_OverclockFix
This eliminates stuttering in games like FFIV/FFV/FFVI Chrono Trigger and more games, not compatible with all games but you can try, before doing VMC backup read the text file for more information.

Renew CodeCache Scan
This might help too.

Greetings.

 

[Peppe90]

I was talking about video stuttering, sorry forgot to mention. Actually I don't remember if also the audio stutters togheter with the video.
I'll check those modes, thank you for the advice.

I readed GPU Timing_OverclockFix may slowdown the emulation, should I also use some overclock when testing that patch?

 

[Peppe90]

I tried some patches with Vib Ribbon but couldn't make it to work.

Both JAP and EUR versions behave the same. The game starts. Music on first menu perfectly plays. From here you can select the instruction mode and it starts but with no music.
If you select Game mode freezes on the loading screen after some seconds.

I tried the 3 SPU_IRQ, one of them does nothing and the other 2 worsen the issue (returning back from instruction menu freezes the game making also the visuals a mess).

 

[hugopocked]

I tried some patches with Vib Ribbon but couldn't make it to work.

Both JAP and EUR versions behave the same. The game starts. Music on first menu perfectly plays. From here you can select the instruction mode and it starts but with no music.
If you select Game mode freezes on the loading screen after some seconds.

I tried the 3 SPU_IRQ, one of them does nothing and the other 2 worsen the issue (returning back from instruction menu freezes the game making also the visuals a mess).

I have never played Vib Ribbon, but according to reports the incompatibility must be at the SPU level.

What I've been doing these days is debugging Speed Punks, it crashes at the recompile level, the bad is a headache to find the origin, I have to translate the recompiled code to look it up in the game code it's the only way the current PS2 debuggers are buggy, the problem is that the code that I have to translate is very common, nothing special that has few coincidences.

And I was seeing that some games have crackling or stuttering sound in their videos especially when Pal is forced to NTSC the example of Suikoden II, I was able to optimize the buffer a bit and it was enough to correct these problems but I have to create a conditional activation only on videos since the sounds are broken.

Greetings.