Patch is up (v1.01 incoming)

Talk about Kojima's hard sci-fi masterpiece.
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slowbeef
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by slowbeef »

The Spoony Hou wrote:So, the credits run at 640x480 and the rest of the game runs at 320x240 all the time?
Yes. I honestly feel like I should suffix that with "I'm not kidding."

You can actually see in VRAM from the video I posted in the romhacking.net thread that everything else is 320x240 - the Policenauts title screen graphics and the "Epilogue" title card are all small 320 graphics and WHAM this big fucker of a 640 credits graphic comes in.

Even worse, it's not doing standard graphical stuff, it's doing this magic "move the framebuffer vertically downward and wrap" thing. It's honestly not surprising the GPU plugins have trouble with it. I guess. Believe it or not I didn't have to touch the GPU for the ROM hack until now. Everything was changing how the game drew (meaning writing the actual bytes into memory)

More playtesting has shown the the E}I{ Plugin actually works pretty damn good and I think is going to become "slowbeef's recommended ePSXe Plugin for Policenauts" (tm).
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fairuza
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by fairuza »

here's the bios files i have if you need them for testing:

psx:
scph-1000 (1994)(sony)(jp)
scph-1002 v2.0 (1995-05-10)(sony)(eu)
scph-3000 v1.1 (1995-01-22)(sony)(jp)
scph-3500 v2.1 (1995-07-17)(sony)(jp)
scph-5000 v2.2 (1995-12-04)(sony)(jp)
scph-5500 v3.0 (1996-09-09)(sony)(jp)
scph-5502 - scph-5552 v3.0 (1997-01-06)(sony)(eu)
scph-7000 v4.0 (1997-08-18)(sony)(jp)
scph-7001 v4.1 (1997-12-16)(sony)(us)
scph-7003 v3.0 (1996-11-18)(sony)(us)
scph-7502 v4.1 (1997-12-16)(sony)(eu)

psx yaroze:
scph-1001 - dtlh-3000 v2.2 (1995-12-04)(sony)(us)
scph-1002 - dtlh-3002 v2.2 (1995-12-04)(sony)(eu)

psone:
scph-101 v4.5 (2000-05-25)(sony)(us)

also, i don't think it's a good idea to make a rom patch tailored to incomplete/buggy emulators/plugins. once the game translation is out there would be incentive to implement the correct "code" to run konami's obscure credit-scrolling hacks. most likely since no other games use it and the game is not in english, no one bothered before or even knew about it.

maybe people can play the game using whatever emulator/plugin they want, do a save state at the end, and switch to the working emulator/plugin for the credits.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by HorseFactory »

I think Castlevania Chronicles (also Konami) does some similar resolution swapping.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by The Prince II »

this last bug seems to be a bit of a shitbag eh? it just seems to be taking a longer time to fix than the others.

perhaps thats just my perception considering that one bug seems sooooooooooo much closer to the beta than one. a psychosomatic thing...
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Piratero
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Piratero »

Artemio wrote:
Piratero wrote:Will you guys release all the information based the FS used in Policenauts? Maybe I can help get the translation for the Sega Saturn considering that I have a good background on the hardware.
Being the case that you are interested, could you please wait until we release this and then I we'll figure out how we can work this out. In several cases I've checked how difficult it would be to apply the same changes to the Saturn version and I've found very small differences, so I believe the only big hurdle will be the asm changes.

BTW... Do I know you from somewhere else?
OK. SegaXtreme maybe?
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Piratero
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Piratero »

fairuza wrote:here's the bios files i have if you need them for testing:

psx:
scph-1000 (1994)(sony)(jp)
scph-1002 v2.0 (1995-05-10)(sony)(eu)
scph-3000 v1.1 (1995-01-22)(sony)(jp)
scph-3500 v2.1 (1995-07-17)(sony)(jp)
scph-5000 v2.2 (1995-12-04)(sony)(jp)
scph-5500 v3.0 (1996-09-09)(sony)(jp)
scph-5502 - scph-5552 v3.0 (1997-01-06)(sony)(eu)
scph-7000 v4.0 (1997-08-18)(sony)(jp)
scph-7001 v4.1 (1997-12-16)(sony)(us)
scph-7003 v3.0 (1996-11-18)(sony)(us)
scph-7502 v4.1 (1997-12-16)(sony)(eu)

psx yaroze:
scph-1001 - dtlh-3000 v2.2 (1995-12-04)(sony)(us)
scph-1002 - dtlh-3002 v2.2 (1995-12-04)(sony)(eu)

psone:
scph-101 v4.5 (2000-05-25)(sony)(us)

also, i don't think it's a good idea to make a rom patch tailored to incomplete/buggy emulators/plugins. once the game translation is out there would be incentive to implement the correct "code" to run konami's obscure credit-scrolling hacks. most likely since no other games use it and the game is not in english, no one bothered before or even knew about it.

maybe people can play the game using whatever emulator/plugin they want, do a save state at the end, and switch to the working emulator/plugin for the credits.
QFT. This suggestion seems to be the only sane suggestion. Those who cannot shell out $20 for a PlayStation off eBay shouldn't be pampered with an emulator hack on a patch!

Again, I'm reiterating through again and again, but it needed to be said once more.
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seraphssavior
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by seraphssavior »

Dude, calm down...Jesus.

A lot of people are going to be using emulators, because a lot of people don't want to mess around with mod-chips and importing.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Artemio »

Piratero wrote:
Artemio wrote:BTW... Do I know you from somewhere else?
OK. SegaXtreme maybe?
Bingo! Yes I used to hang around there quite a bit almost a decade ago... I even did some coding in C for the Saturn. CyberWarriorX helped a lot with getting this project started as a matter of fact.
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Piratero
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Piratero »

Artemio wrote:
Piratero wrote:
Artemio wrote:BTW... Do I know you from somewhere else?
OK. SegaXtreme maybe?
Bingo! Yes I used to hang around there quite a bit almost a decade ago... I even did some coding in C for the Saturn. CyberWarriorX helped a lot with getting this project started as a matter of fact.
I think you did write some 3D demos using the SGL. Yeah, CyberWarriorX has made a lot of contributions in not just translations, but just in everything in general.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Artemio »

Piratero wrote:I think you did write some 3D demos using the SGL. Yeah, CyberWarriorX has made a lot of contributions in not just translations, but just in everything in general.
Indeed, I had access to the softimage plug in to export models and did some very small experiments in the field.

Do you know what has happened with CyberWarriorX? Is he still active? I recall he retired from the "scene" some time ago.
From the mathematical perspective, consciousness might be regarded as a second derivative of sensation.
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Piratero
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Piratero »

Artemio wrote:
Piratero wrote:I think you did write some 3D demos using the SGL. Yeah, CyberWarriorX has made a lot of contributions in not just translations, but just in everything in general.
Indeed, I had access to the softimage plug in to export models and did some very small experiments in the field.

Do you know what has happened with CyberWarriorX? Is he still active? I recall he retired from the "scene" some time ago.
He is currently active working on Yabause. He has made a lot of progress with Guillaume.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Charlie Johnson »

seraphssavior wrote:Dude, calm down...Jesus.

A lot of people are going to be using emulators, because a lot of people don't want to mess around with mod-chips and importing.
You don't have to import to get a used PSX with mod-chip.

Just walk to the nearest store that sells used video game systems. Almost all used Playstation consoles I find in stores here are modded. (Because those are the only ones that are still likely to sell.)
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Piratero
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Piratero »

seraphssavior wrote:Dude, calm down...Jesus.

A lot of people are going to be using emulators, because a lot of people don't want to mess around with mod-chips and importing.
Don't want to mess with importing? Huh? What, are these people still in 1997?

I just bought a complete PlayStation SCPH-5501 with a plugmod for $25 shipped. How hard is it to find one?

Not hard at all.

Oh, what about those who have a PS2? Its much tougher, but its possible. There are products out there that'll make it easier.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Henry Spencer »

There are products out there that'll make it easier.
Such as?
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by snatchernaut »

swapmagic 3.6 does the trick for ps2
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Snatcher42 »

The reason for the focus on emulators, and ePSXe in particular, is mouse support. Policenauts was made to be played with one. Yes, there's a Playstation add-on, but that's another complication and cost (usually more than the PS itself) on top of the modded system. Also, how many console setups are ideally suited for point-and-clicking? I don't even have a TV myself.

I've already spent a couple hundred buying original copies of the game. Think I'll stop there.

However, I agree that if a bug isn't caused by the patch, it's not really our responsibility to fix it. Especially now that there are a couple of different workarounds.

So... beta? ;)
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by ratperson665 »

Piratero wrote:Those who cannot shell out $20 for a PlayStation off eBay shouldn't be pampered with an emulator hack on a patch!
And just what's wrong with emulators? Regardless of what hunk of plastic you use to play it, it's still the same game!
"Don't worry I got an idea. An Idea so smart my head would explode if I even began to know what I was taking about."-Peter Griffin
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Randam Hajile »

Snatcher42 wrote:
However, I agree that if a bug isn't caused by the patch, it's not really our responsibility to fix it. Especially now that there are a couple of different workarounds.
True. But whatever you guys decide to do is fine. No rush.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by ratperson665 »

Piratero wrote:Those who cannot shell out $20 for a PlayStation off eBay shouldn't be pampered with an emulator hack on a patch!
And just what's wrong with emulators? Regardless of what hunk of plastic you use to play it, it's still the same game.
Last edited by ratperson665 on Mon May 04, 2009 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by Andrigaar »

fairuza wrote:here's the bios files i have if you need them for testing:

psx:
scph-1000 (1994)(sony)(jp)
scph-1002 v2.0 (1995-05-10)(sony)(eu)
scph-3000 v1.1 (1995-01-22)(sony)(jp)
scph-3500 v2.1 (1995-07-17)(sony)(jp)
scph-5000 v2.2 (1995-12-04)(sony)(jp)
scph-5500 v3.0 (1996-09-09)(sony)(jp)
scph-5502 - scph-5552 v3.0 (1997-01-06)(sony)(eu)
scph-7000 v4.0 (1997-08-18)(sony)(jp)
scph-7001 v4.1 (1997-12-16)(sony)(us)
scph-7003 v3.0 (1996-11-18)(sony)(us)
scph-7502 v4.1 (1997-12-16)(sony)(eu)

--more--
I didn't realize Sony used the same numbering system for all their systems. Not that it's a logical misstep for anyone but me.
PSP-2000 = JP
PSP-2001 = US
PSP-2002 = dunno, but probably EU.
...
:D
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fairuza
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by fairuza »

well those names are from using a tosec dat file + clrmame. so that's how they (tosec) named them. i know if you open the files in a hex editor and go to the bottom you can see a date + version number in them, but i haven't check them all myself.
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by krelian »

I totally agree with el Piratero. That's pretty much what I wanted to say, just I didn't want to sound rude: "some" people can get very annoying and tend to forget these guys (Artemio, Marc, slowbeef, etc..) aren't paid to do this so we all should thankful and patient no matter when this patch is out

but generally speaking, yeah, I don't really get what's with these fucking emulators. You basically ruin the whole experience. Not only are they crippled, but old games look like shit on modern monitors anyway. These games are meant to be played on a low resolution CRT monitor/TV.
I also don't see where's the problem with costs. OK an original copy of Policenauts can fetch high prices, but ermm...you can get the romz on many places.
A PSX is $25-30, a mouse price varies between 5 and 20 bucks, IF they get even sold
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3D1&_rdc=1

if you don't want to mod the console or are so unlucky to not finding an already modded one just get one of those action replay

really, it ain't that hard
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seraphssavior
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by seraphssavior »

I think that you're all forgetting that the patch needs to be tested on an emulator, instead of wasting hundreds of CD-R's in order to test it each time.

Stop complaining, stop mentioning prices...let people play the game how they choose, and let the team do what they please in regards to emulation vs. console playing.
Life and Death hang in perfect balance...I'm only here to tip the scales.
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krelian
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by krelian »

seraphssavior wrote: let people play the game how they choose, and let the team do what they please in regards to emulation vs. console playing.
heh
well that is right but who was complaining? It's just that I really hate emulators and the way old videogames look on a PC and I noticed some of you were making a big deal about the costs involved in the whole thing
that's it
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slowbeef
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Re: Current Status (4/26/09): 1 Bug Till Beta

Post by slowbeef »

This is how I feel about the whole thing, in regards to the hack.

If you want to play Policenauts as originally intended, it will run fine on hardware. First and foremost, that's the job of a ROM hack. That said, I know that for some people that's a little less feasible or realistic - so to that end, I would like it if people can play it on an emulator. Reports suggest that if you use ePSXe 1.7 with the E}I{ Video Plugin, you can get through the whole game as originally intended. I have confirmed the ending plays correctly with the plugin, though I've yet to test the whole game on it (though what I have seen looks good). If you really don't want that plugin for whatever reason, the PEOpS GPU plugin almost does the job. If you choose that plugin, you'll have to forgive the fact that the end credits scroll strangely. (See the video I posted on Romhacking.net)

If you use pSX 1.13, it will crash at the very end of the game. You can play 98% of Policenauts, so if you absolutely love pSX, I suggest you use MemoryCardRex, convert your card over, and watch the credits and anything that may or may not be during or after them. (I do promise that this mystery content works correctly in ePSXe with either plugin.)

The pSX team has stated that the emulator is still under development and I have personally sent off Memory Dumps to the pSX staff for Policenauts Disc 2. Furthermore, one of the RHDN admins said he'd bug pSX Author for me. I won't speak on anyone's behalf but while pSX 1.13 doesn't support the very end of Policenauts right now, I think it is more than fair to assume there may be a fix coming for this. But I don't want to say anything definitive on someone else's behalf.

I consider the end credits issue an emulation one and furthermore, since there is a way to correctly emulate Policenauts, we don't think it will hold up the hack.

(that said I might look into it a little bit more if I get some spare time because I am curious about it...)




So, beta?

Well, we haven't begun final tests but we've found a couple minor bugs in replay-throughs and there's a couple graphical tweaks. There are no major issues and I think we're at a point where we're doing last minute type of stuff to make sure the game is how we want it for beta. Marc's finalizing the script, Artemio's done a lot of research for the patch.

So, almost beta. We're close and now it's kind of a matter of all of us looking at how the game currently is and any last minute additions/changes we want to make. I can say for now that major development is over and the game is functional. It's really about checking for things like typos and any bugs that snuck back in.

I wouldn't say beta just yet, but I would say "Damn it, we are getting soooo close."

If any major issues arrive, we'll keep you updated but for now, it's more tweaking and checking than further programming. Actually, I'm pretty confident that I am done writing new code for the game and I don't think I will have to look at any more assembly.

...That last part is actually pretty huge for a ROM hack, come to think of it.
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