Forcing PS2 Games to 480P

[Fudoh]

How can I find out if Battle Gear 2 works with this method?

only by trying. Obviously the patch was developed in the first place, because some games only work patched and NOT with a bootdisc.

Is there a japanese version of the HDtv xploder?

no there isn't. Was troubling me forever, as it does not act as a region boot disc. I ended up modding my PS2, using a burned exploder now with original games. Kinda ridiculous...

Could I test it in an emulator?

never tried, but should work. Let us know if it does.

[antron]

I could not get this to work with Gradius V. I am attempting to load it with HDLoader. The PS2 just locks up.

Here is the patcher output:

Code: Select all

Scanning ELF at sector 51
  - patching sceGsResetGraph() at 0xF808
  - changes written
Scanning ELF at sector 1972
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)
Scanning ELF at sector 1990
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)
Scanning ELF at sector 2005
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)
Scanning ELF at sector 2148
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)
Scanning ELF at sector 2163
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)
Scanning ELF at sector 2211
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)
Scanning ELF at sector 2216
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)
Scanning ELF at sector 2239
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)
Scanning ELF at sector 2245
  - didn't perform all patches (discarding changes)

when attempting the "aggressive" patch mode, the patcher quits without making any changes.

[Fudoh]

I have no problem applying the patch to a GV image file, but the game will lock up once an introduction video starts. It works fine with the HDTV bootdisc though. Actually played through half the game running in 480p already. And it's really one of those games which **REALLY** shine in 480p.

[moozooh]

Unfortunately the modchip installed in my PS2 barfs on a patched GV. :\

[antron]

I have no problem applying the patch to a GV image file, but the game will lock up once an introduction video starts. It works fine with the HDTV bootdisc though. Actually played through half the game running in 480p already. And it's really one of those games which **REALLY** shine in 480p.

I wonder why mine does not boot at all. hdloader conflict? can you skip the intro with the patched method and play?

thanks for the info.

[antron]

Yes, xploder HDTV works great with Gradius V. I just did a comparison between it and a PS3 running G5 at 480p via HDMI and I think the PS2 looks superior on my LCD TV. It's more defined.

Gamestop in the US is unloading these for $10 new including a component/composite cable.

[antron]

OK, back on topic:
these are with the ps2force240p patch and HDLoader,
don't take this as absolute, as I get different results from others with Gradius V

work (kinda):
DOJ - yoko works but image is horizontally compressed, tate half was pushed off screen
Mushi - both yoko and tate run but are compressed to the top of the screen (with screen horizontal)

does not work(yet):
Ibara (runs, but half of picture is always off screen, like DOJ tate)
Double Shienryu (this game may support 480p already)
Raiden III
ESPGaluda (only runs in tate! save to mem card first in non-HD, but half of picture is always off screen)
Dragon Blaze/Sol Divide

will not patch:
Gunbird 1+2
Gradius 3+4
Shiki II
Strikers 1+2
Gigawing 3

note: I am just updating this post with new information.

[Fudoh]

tate half was pushed off screen

does it make a difference if you set the game to TATE or TATEHOSE (?) ? TATE uses a 240p output mode whereas the other one uses 480i. Might be possible that the later one works with the patch...

[antron]

tate half was pushed off screen

does it make a difference if you set the game to TATE or TATEHOSE (?)

nope

added:
I bet you can fix this with the DY option (displace y)
this goes for ibara too.

Code: Select all

usage: ps2force480p.exe <input> [DY]

         input - Executable or an ISO (will scan for executables).
                 This input file will be modified!

         DY    - If specified, overrides the display vertical displacement.
                 Specify "aggressive" to perform an aggressive patch of
                 all display mode modifications.  This is more dangerous!

         NOTE: Ar Tonelico 2 (SLPS_258.19) uses DY=35 by default and the
               screen is cut off at the top.  DY=51 centers it, but I am
               not sure how general these numbers will be for other games.

edit: I tried 51 but this didn't seem to work.

[emphatic]

Has anyone tried this with Thunderforce VI?

[Fudoh]

What for ? TF6 supports 480p out of the box. Just keep Triangle + Cross during the bootup.

[emphatic]

What for ? TF6 supports 480p out of the box. Just keep Triangle + Cross during the bootup.

Awesome, thanks. I hope it works with HD Loader as well.

[Endymion]

Any game that supports 480p natively will support it via HD Loader as well. This is not news.

[emphatic]

Any game that supports 480p natively will support it via HD Loader as well. This is not news.

It's news to me. But thanks for clarifying how I should read more before asking here in the hardware section. I know Italics too.

[Strider77]

I know Italics too

you got SERVED!!!

[Endymion]

Any game that supports 480p natively will support it via HD Loader as well. This is not news.

It's news to me. But thanks for clarifying how I should read more before asking here in the hardware section.

I wasn't telling you to read more, I'm just genuinely puzzled why you wouldn't hold those lovely hardware buttons as the game boots, wherever it happens to be booting from. I mean if you had ever done that, it wouldn't be news to you. Did you really not know that's been the standard method for starting PS2 progressive mode for ages? And if not, why would you think it wouldn't work via HD Loader? Those games that enable via an options menu will work as well.

I know Italics too.

I would hope, you have a name to live up to.

[keropi]

damn, it was too good to be true, I was hoping for a 100% solution by now...

[emphatic]

I wasn't telling you to read more, I'm just genuinely puzzled why you wouldn't hold those lovely hardware buttons as the game boots, wherever it happens to be booting from. I mean if you had ever done that, it wouldn't be news to you. Did you really not know that's been the standard method for starting PS2 progressive mode for ages? And if not, why would you think it wouldn't work via HD Loader? Those games that enable via an options menu will work as well.

Sorry, I'm pretty new on the whole PS2 thing. I've only had it for about 2-3 years and only played lo-res until now.

I know Italics too.

I would hope, you have a name to live up to. [/quote]

Nice one.

[jfs]

Just tested Gradius 5 with xploder + blaze vga box.

The game is working but the picture is to high (too stretch)!!! Cant see bottom of the picture (so no option select).

please help

[Fudoh]

What does the Blaze VGA box so ? Is this simply a cable or some kind of converter ? G5 in 480p via component runs perfectly centered on my setup. Have you tried choosing, both VGA and 480p on the Xploder bootscreen ?

[jfs]

Just find the best solution : use the vga option in the matrix infinity menu.

Xploder not needed and g5 is centered perfectly!

[Endymion]

The Blaze "VGA box" is nothing more than a cable really, it has a wart on the VGA end. This is the product that was sold two or three years before the XPloder HDTV Player came available. Its documentation seems to indicate that it has a sync separator to prevent the green issue, but back when it was first made available I read a lot of tell about folks who had problems with it. I have only ever used it with screens that could handle sync on green and had no issues, so I never bothered to open mine up to see.

[D]

Results including 480p and 240p and hdtv xploder
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 25&t=30389

[Fudoh]

Thanks for the effort, D !

There are some titles on your list which make me want to try them again

DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou NTSC-J dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 True 480p
Gigawing Generations NTSC-J dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 True 480p -16
Hokuto no Ken NTSC-J dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 True 480p -4
Metal Slug 4 NTSC-U dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 Works great!
Metal Slug 5 NTSC-U dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 Works great! -16

What does the -4 or -16 at the end of the line mean ?

Could somebody supply a bootable CD version of GSM 0.36 ? I converted the 0.23 version back in december (download here: http://pms.hazard-city.de/GSM_BootCD.zip ), but I've already forgotten how to create a bootable ISO image from an .elf file.

[SGGG2]

Axis offsets.

http://psx-scene.com/forums/f19/gs-mode ... ack-61808/

[D]

Thanks for the effort, D !

There are some titles on your list which make me want to try them again

DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou NTSC-J dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 True 480p
Gigawing Generations NTSC-J dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 True 480p -16
Hokuto no Ken NTSC-J dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 True 480p -4
Metal Slug 4 NTSC-U dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 Works great!
Metal Slug 5 NTSC-U dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 Works great! -16

What does the -4 or -16 at the end of the line mean ?

Could somebody supply a bootable CD version of GSM 0.36 ? I converted the 0.23 version back in december (download here: http://pms.hazard-city.de/GSM_BootCD.zip ), but I've already forgotten how to create a bootable ISO image from an .elf file.

Indeed axis offset, just press down 4 times while in the GSM screen.
Not sure if Metal Slug 4 and 5 support True 480p or if it is fake 480p, let me check...
Both have True 480p. I´ll update my list accordingly. I don´t yet know the offset for Metal Slug 4 though. Try -32 for starters and see for yourself what the correct value should be.
These games look super in 480p, well worth the efforts.
I can´t help you out with a self bootable GSM disc, but why not just put it on a usb stick and boot it out of ulaunchelf?
In Free Mcboot I have R1 set to ulaucnhelf and in ulauchelf I have set R1 to GSM.
So while booting I just keep holding down the R1 button untill the GSM screen pops up

[Fudoh]

I can´t help you out with a self bootable GSM disc, but why not just put it on a usb stick and boot it out of ulaunchelf?

because I don't know or have ulaunchelf and I assume setting it up would take the same time as just burning the updated to a CD.

[emphatic]

I can´t help you out with a self bootable GSM disc, but why not just put it on a usb stick and boot it out of ulaunchelf?

because I don't know or have ulaunchelf and I assume setting it up would take the same time as just burning the updated to a CD.

+1 interested in .iso creation for the new version.

D. : Can you try if Mushihimesama works in 480p?

[SGGG2]

Gradius V boots into fake 480p with GSM 0.23, haven't tried the new version, works fine with Xploder.

Mushihimesama boots in 480p with GSM 0.23, but I preferred 240p with the XRGB-3.

[D]

I can´t help you out with a self bootable GSM disc, but why not just put it on a usb stick and boot it out of ulaunchelf?

because I don't know or have ulaunchelf and I assume setting it up would take the same time as just burning the updated to a CD.

+1 interested in .iso creation for the new version.

D. : Can you try if Mushihimesama works in 480p?

It was there in the list somewhere
I updated the list and now I first list the successes and then the not-worth-it´s
Mushi-Hime Sama NTSC-J dvd to hdl 0.8c 240 hex replace looks bad in yoko, but looks great in tate
Mushi-Hime Sama NTSC-J dvd to hdl 0.8c GSM 0.36 line doubled 480i, looks bad in yoko and tate -16
So for mushi I suggest the 240 hex replace if you are playing tate. If you are playing yoko, you are better off just in blurry old 480i (normal)