gc-forever - Gamecube/Wii Forums

OK - I'm taking a risk here with this release - normally I can test out Gamecube builds on my 64MB SD card with a Wiikey SD Adapter, but I have lost it and my 512MB SD card is not picked up by SDLOAD.DOL (to add to the chore I also have to go through the Phantasy Star Online exploit everytime). So I have been unable to test this beforehand even though a lot of things got changed. I'm mostly assuming that since the Wii port works, the Gamecube port (being more or less the same code) will also.

So - please let me know if the Gamecube version boots at all (either by launching the cores directly from SWISS or SDLOAD or by trying to launch boot.dol) -

I tried it and it was beyond my expection! Even CPS2 games could run at full speed! Though only one game (Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo) could run, others CPS2 games got code dump screen after ROM was loaded. I think they are just too big for Gamecube RAM. I alse tried Nestopia core and it ran super mario 3 perfectly.
FBA core is too big and swiss won't let you boot it. If you could seperate CPS1 drivers out and compile it then we could get a perfect CPS1 emu for Gamecube.
FBA Neo Geo core also works as good as CPS2 core. More small sized games work, but if you want to change one game from another, you have to reset Gamecube, or you will only get black screen after another ROM is loaded. Maybe this bug is related to unclean RAM.
Boot.dol doesn't work and after loaded it with Swiss, only black screen shows.
After all, it shows brilliant prospects to Gamecube fans.

emu_kidid wrote:Get them to write a good generic ARAM ROM cache for the GameCube and you should be set for all emulators to not run out of memory (CPS2 especially).

Regarding the Gamecube port -

I think it's best if we make each libretro core for Gamcube standalone instead of trying to do this 'core switching' on the Gamecube - it simply isn't sustainable and scaleable since we have to copy the DOL to ARAM (around 16MB) everytime we want to do a core switch - I could be thinking of better uses for that extra block of 16MB RAM instead of going it to waste like that - plus it isn't really stable anyways and I expect most people will just be loading the DOL files directly from some loader.

I'm going to release a new version of the Gamecube port with that in mind - it will also have a CPS1 FBA Cores (I really can't believe you couldn't even play CPS1 games on a Gamecube properly without GC Linux)

emu_kidid wrote:Get them to write a good generic ARAM ROM cache for the GameCube and you should be set for all emulators to not run out of memory (CPS2 especially).

Squarepusher wrote:
But yeah - back to the central issue - I'd like some coders to start participating in this endeavor because I can't do it all and I have a lot of other stuff to do as well (Blackberry/iOS port of RetroArch - ScummVM libretro finishing up - MAME 0.78 libretro finishing up - potential Mupen64 libretro port - and on and on) - I bite off more than I can chew at times.

Squarepusher wrote:

emu_kidid wrote:Get them to write a good generic ARAM ROM cache for the GameCube and you should be set for all emulators to not run out of memory (CPS2 especially).

By all means - if you feel it can be done, help us out in this endeavor. The fba-libretro source is all available on Github as is RetroArch itself.

Still - 16MB ARAM is still not a whole lot - there are CPS2 ROMs that are over 23MB (such as Vampire Savior and Street Fighter Alpha 3) - so you would be looking at maybe sprite memory going into ARAM (if it fits since it's usually the largest aspect of the game ROM), then the remaining stuff on the 24MB RAM, and if that doesn't pan out (due to framebuffers also taking up their own memory) - a bit of virtual memory for some segments of the game RAM.

And to put this in perspective right now with the CPS1 core - loading Dinosaurs & Cadillacs into RAM leaves me with 20MB out of the 24MB of the 1T-SRAM RAM filled. Dinosaurs & Cadillacs' ZIP file is around 4.4MB or so. A typical CPS2 game like Street Fighter Alpha 2 weighs in at 12MB (and more in most cases). So we're already talking a tight squeeze with just the CPS1 core and a ~4MB ZIPped ROM.

Really, getting games like Street Fighter Alpha 3 to run on Cube will be one hell of an achievement (and a big, big hack). I mean - Street Fighter Alpha 3 BARELY fits on an Xbox 1 with fba-libretro (and by barely I mean maybe 1 or 0.50MB remaining) - and that is a system with 64MB of unified memory. Gamecube's theoretical max of 43MB is well below that - so it isn't as easy making CPS2 ROMs fit in the Gamecube's RAM as you would believe.

Also - speed is of no issue (that is without taking into consideration virtual memory or memory streaming which could have the potential to drastically reduce speed) - I've benchmarked the Gamecube and it has better performance than an ARM Cortex A8 Android tablet (about 10+fps in Donkey Kong Country 1 at World 2-1 with SNES9x Next). That tablet runs almost all CPS2 games fullspeed (except for Marvel Vs Capcom when there is a lot of sprite activity going on) - so if the RAM issue can be sorted out, all CPS2 games could be running fullspeed on Cube.

But yeah - back to the central issue - I'd like some coders to start participating in this endeavor because I can't do it all and I have a lot of other stuff to do as well (Blackberry/iOS port of RetroArch - ScummVM libretro finishing up - MAME 0.78 libretro finishing up - potential Mupen64 libretro port - and on and on) - I bite off more than I can chew at times.

emu_kidid wrote: You can only DMA to ARAM so if games are expecting ROM files to sit in a flat array you might need to write some on-demand 2 level cache. Example, you make a static block of rom[] that is a fixed size, before any access to it is made, copy the chunk you need from ARAM to the smaller rom[] block and off you go. As for ARAM being 16MB (16384-40KB actually), you'd load the first 16MB of a ROM into there and if the block you need to fetch from ARAM to MEM1 isn't there, then, worst case, you stream a block from the file system into ARAM then it'll be fetched to MEM1.

It's what we did in cube64 and it worked well in most cases.

You can only DMA to ARAM so if games are expecting ROM files to sit in a flat array you might need to write some on-demand 2 level cache. Example, you make a static block of rom[] that is a fixed size, before any access to it is made, copy the chunk you need from ARAM to the smaller rom[] block and off you go. As for ARAM being 16MB (16384-40KB actually), you'd load the first 16MB of a ROM into there and if the block you need to fetch from ARAM to MEM1 isn't there, then, worst case, you stream a block from the file system into ARAM then it'll be fetched to MEM1.

It's what we did in cube64 and it worked well in most cases.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
v0.9.8.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* [NEStopia] Famicom Disk System support. For Android users - put disksys.rom
into the same folder as the FDS ROM you're trying to load. For everyone else -
put disksys.rom into your system directory.
- Y Button will switch sides of a disk.
- If you get any problems of the sort DISK A / B ERR 07' - pressing Y button again or letting it run its course should do it.
- NOTE - Famicom Disk System loading is slow, so you might be tempted to fast forward through most of it. However, I'd advise caution when doing so and to savestate regularly in case 'fast forwarding' can negatively affect disk loading.
* [FBA core] Various changes/fixes
- Hook up Eco Fighters controls (Turn 1/Turn 2 bound to L and R buttons)
- Hook up Pnickie controls (Turn 1/Turn 2 bound to L and R buttons - press
one of the buttons to progress beyond start screen)
- Hook up Continental Circus controls - Brake 2/Brake 3 (L1/L2 buttons)
and Accelerate 2/Accelerate 3 (R1/R2 buttons)
- Hook up Gun Smoke controls - Start button (needed to progress beyond
title screen)
- Hook up Mighty Pang controls (P1 Shot1/P1 Shot2/P2 Shot1/P2 Shot2)
- Fixed Varia Metal palette
- Fixed Fairyland Story palette
- Fixed Return of the Invaders palette
- Fixed Act-Fancer palette issue
- Endian fixes in the following games (PS3/360/Wii/Gamecube) -
- Surprise Attack
- Rollergames
- Ultra Man
- Oh My Gods
- Moonwalker (Sega System 18 bootleg) [magicseb]
- Hyper Pac
- Snow Bros 1
- Honey Dolls
- Fixes pitch issue in Gals Hustle (will possibly fix more games as well)
* [FBA core] [For Wii/Gamecube/Xbox 1 only] The main FBA version now has CPS1/CPS2/
Neogeo and Mega Drive/PC Engine drivers removed. To play CPS1, use FBA Cores CPS1.
To play CPS2, use FBA Cores CPS2. To play NeoGeo, use FBA Cores Neo.
* [FBA core] Made FBA Cores CPS1 - use this to play CPS1 games (all CPS1 ROMs
fit into memory on Gamecube).
* [Android] Fixed regression where a button bound to AKEYCODE_BACK would 'exit out'
of RetroArch.
* [Android] Fixes Madcatz fighting stick being autodetected properly.
* [Android] Input autodetection expanded -
- iControlpad
* [Gamecube] Made RetroArch cores 'standalone' - ie. no core switching.
* [Xbox 1] Add Low RAM mode - this needs to be used to play games that won't otherwise fit into RAM,
such as Street Fighter Alpha 3/Vampire Savior and other big ROMs in FBA Cores CPS2/NeoGeo/FBA.
* [Unzipping [All consoles/Android]] Moved from rzlib to miniz/minizip -should increase compatibility
with ZIP archives

Squarepusher wrote:Here is version 0.9.8.4.

I made a CPS1 core as requested - all CPS1 games should fit into the Gamecube's memory.

Wii build (0.9.8.4): https://anonfiles.com/file/c63b1960ed5c ... 2f735b4582
Mirror: http://multiupload.biz/dyyy0jil9mfm/ret ... SFxHNGVthE

GameCube build (0.9.8.4): https://anonfiles.com/file/243a0c175272 ... f01ddc108c
Mirror: http://multiupload.biz/8xdft2vuve14/ret ... SFxmtGVthE

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
v0.9.8.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* [NEStopia] Famicom Disk System support. For Android users - put disksys.rom
into the same folder as the FDS ROM you're trying to load. For everyone else -
put disksys.rom into your system directory.
- Y Button will switch sides of a disk.
- If you get any problems of the sort DISK A / B ERR 07' - pressing Y button again or letting it run its course should do it.
- NOTE - Famicom Disk System loading is slow, so you might be tempted to fast forward through most of it. However, I'd advise caution when doing so and to savestate regularly in case 'fast forwarding' can negatively affect disk loading.
* [FBA core] Various changes/fixes
- Hook up Eco Fighters controls (Turn 1/Turn 2 bound to L and R buttons)
- Hook up Pnickie controls (Turn 1/Turn 2 bound to L and R buttons - press
one of the buttons to progress beyond start screen)
- Hook up Continental Circus controls - Brake 2/Brake 3 (L1/L2 buttons)
and Accelerate 2/Accelerate 3 (R1/R2 buttons)
- Hook up Gun Smoke controls - Start button (needed to progress beyond
title screen)
- Hook up Mighty Pang controls (P1 Shot1/P1 Shot2/P2 Shot1/P2 Shot2)
- Fixed Varia Metal palette
- Fixed Fairyland Story palette
- Fixed Return of the Invaders palette
- Fixed Act-Fancer palette issue
- Endian fixes in the following games (PS3/360/Wii/Gamecube) -
- Surprise Attack
- Rollergames
- Ultra Man
- Oh My Gods
- Moonwalker (Sega System 18 bootleg) [magicseb]
- Hyper Pac
- Snow Bros 1
- Honey Dolls
- Fixes pitch issue in Gals Hustle (will possibly fix more games as well)
* [FBA core] [For Wii/Gamecube/Xbox 1 only] The main FBA version now has CPS1/CPS2/
Neogeo and Mega Drive/PC Engine drivers removed. To play CPS1, use FBA Cores CPS1.
To play CPS2, use FBA Cores CPS2. To play NeoGeo, use FBA Cores Neo.
* [FBA core] Made FBA Cores CPS1 - use this to play CPS1 games (all CPS1 ROMs
fit into memory on Gamecube).
* [Android] Fixed regression where a button bound to AKEYCODE_BACK would 'exit out'
of RetroArch.
* [Android] Fixes Madcatz fighting stick being autodetected properly.
* [Android] Input autodetection expanded -
- iControlpad
* [Gamecube] Made RetroArch cores 'standalone' - ie. no core switching.
* [Xbox 1] Add Low RAM mode - this needs to be used to play games that won't otherwise fit into RAM,
such as Street Fighter Alpha 3/Vampire Savior and other big ROMs in FBA Cores CPS2/NeoGeo/FBA.
* [Unzipping [All consoles/Android]] Moved from rzlib to miniz/minizip -should increase compatibility
with ZIP archives

Squarepusher wrote:Here is version 0.9.8.4.

I made a CPS1 core as requested - all CPS1 games should fit into the Gamecube's memory.

Wii build (0.9.8.4): https://anonfiles.com/file/c63b1960ed5c ... 2f735b4582
Mirror: http://multiupload.biz/dyyy0jil9mfm/ret ... SFxHNGVthE

GameCube build (0.9.8.4): https://anonfiles.com/file/243a0c175272 ... f01ddc108c
Mirror: http://multiupload.biz/8xdft2vuve14/ret ... SFxmtGVthE

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
v0.9.8.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* [NEStopia] Famicom Disk System support. For Android users - put disksys.rom
into the same folder as the FDS ROM you're trying to load. For everyone else -
put disksys.rom into your system directory.
- Y Button will switch sides of a disk.
- If you get any problems of the sort DISK A / B ERR 07' - pressing Y button again or letting it run its course should do it.
- NOTE - Famicom Disk System loading is slow, so you might be tempted to fast forward through most of it. However, I'd advise caution when doing so and to savestate regularly in case 'fast forwarding' can negatively affect disk loading.
* [FBA core] Various changes/fixes
- Hook up Eco Fighters controls (Turn 1/Turn 2 bound to L and R buttons)
- Hook up Pnickie controls (Turn 1/Turn 2 bound to L and R buttons - press
one of the buttons to progress beyond start screen)
- Hook up Continental Circus controls - Brake 2/Brake 3 (L1/L2 buttons)
and Accelerate 2/Accelerate 3 (R1/R2 buttons)
- Hook up Gun Smoke controls - Start button (needed to progress beyond
title screen)
- Hook up Mighty Pang controls (P1 Shot1/P1 Shot2/P2 Shot1/P2 Shot2)
- Fixed Varia Metal palette
- Fixed Fairyland Story palette
- Fixed Return of the Invaders palette
- Fixed Act-Fancer palette issue
- Endian fixes in the following games (PS3/360/Wii/Gamecube) -
- Surprise Attack
- Rollergames
- Ultra Man
- Oh My Gods
- Moonwalker (Sega System 18 bootleg) [magicseb]
- Hyper Pac
- Snow Bros 1
- Honey Dolls
- Fixes pitch issue in Gals Hustle (will possibly fix more games as well)
* [FBA core] [For Wii/Gamecube/Xbox 1 only] The main FBA version now has CPS1/CPS2/
Neogeo and Mega Drive/PC Engine drivers removed. To play CPS1, use FBA Cores CPS1.
To play CPS2, use FBA Cores CPS2. To play NeoGeo, use FBA Cores Neo.
* [FBA core] Made FBA Cores CPS1 - use this to play CPS1 games (all CPS1 ROMs
fit into memory on Gamecube).
* [Android] Fixed regression where a button bound to AKEYCODE_BACK would 'exit out'
of RetroArch.
* [Android] Fixes Madcatz fighting stick being autodetected properly.
* [Android] Input autodetection expanded -
- iControlpad
* [Gamecube] Made RetroArch cores 'standalone' - ie. no core switching.
* [Xbox 1] Add Low RAM mode - this needs to be used to play games that won't otherwise fit into RAM,
such as Street Fighter Alpha 3/Vampire Savior and other big ROMs in FBA Cores CPS2/NeoGeo/FBA.
* [Unzipping [All consoles/Android]] Moved from rzlib to miniz/minizip -should increase compatibility
with ZIP archives

static void wofch3p_decode()
{
// Fix blood color
CpsRom[0x7715] = 0x60;
// Enable 3 Players
CpsRom[0xED928] = 0x1;
// Enable hidden mode
CpsRom[0xED946] = 0x1;

wof_decode();
}

Aressi wrote:very nice job, super puzzle fighter 2 plays perfect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gjWamuqFcI

julius wrote:I cannot load games with the fab core or neo-geo core, only with cps1 core (Strider, Air Wing, Capcom WOld 2), and cps2 core (Super Puzzle Fighter 2). What did you do to make this two cores to work?