Final Burn Alpha finally comes to Wii

[BPzeBanshee]

http://gbatemp.net/topic/333126-retroar ... -emulator/

Via RetroArch, some kind of frontend system that loads the cores of various other emulators to give support for a wide range of areas. Kinda like Mednafen but better and current.

Big deal here because for a long while now the only way to play any arcade games was with a crap port of MAME 0.13x-something that had issues with anything/everything, let alone Progear and CPS2 games (the main highlight of this).

Of course the memory issue is still there, so the general FBA core is kept separate from the main package as it'll crash loading anything past Dangan Feveron/ESPRade in the Cave category. Battle Bakraid was the newest game I could get to load in the general core at about 15 MB zipped, and Guwange crashed.Progear works fine via the FBA core variant for CPS1. Still a hell of a lot better then before, and if you can compile it yourself and remove the other drivers one could in theory have their own Psikyo SH2 core and/or Cave-only core which would load whatever.

The only real pain with this is that vertically-oriented games have the RetroArch menu rotated with them, it's impossible to get to or seriously use the dipswitch settings as the controller combo equivalent for F3 includes the coin insert which triggers a coin error for most games. Mind you FBANext on the PS3 started off with similar issues and got fixed in a later update, and it looks like these guys are going to be around to keep developing (there's talk of a new GBA core to improve the existing one which already runs stuff better than VBA GX in some areas).

[dan76]

Nice! Looks like they are going to add mame at some point. Hopefully light gun support will be included for the Wii pointer.

Screw shmups.

[BPzeBanshee]

Yeah, I dunno about adding MAME, especially an older build - most of the good stuff is already covered in FBA, but I guess some people really like Mortal Kombat 3 (quoted reason for it from me reading the thread anyway).
I reckon it'd be time better spent on porting over a MAME driver into FBA and then just keeping it in that bundle, or building specific cores to support loading larger ROMs (ie. a FBA-Cave core that'll load Guwange as well). Light gun support would be sweet though.

Note: if you're in the PAL region running this go into your Wii System settings and change the output to 60hz if you haven't already done so. Most emulators don't give a crap but this one seems to follow the system settings in that regard. Also, the Irem driver appears to not work at the moment, so no R-Type, and if anyone else that got this to work can figure out how to get Raiden working let me know.

[dan76]

With mame it would be great to be able to use the Wii pointer for old lightgun games like Crossbow or Beast Busters - even the old Atari Star Wars games.

Slim chance I suppose.

[Obiwanshinobi]

With mame it would be great to be able to use the Wii pointer for old lightgun games like Crossbow or Beast Busters - even the old Atari Star Wars games.

Slim chance I suppose.

Three vector Star Wars games are unlockable extras in Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike for the 'Cube. Better than nothing.

[Marc]

Three? Star Wars, Empire, what's the third?

[MathU]

Someone should upload this to the Homebrew Browser.

[BPzeBanshee]

Someone should upload this to the Homebrew Browser.

That's run by teknecal who hasn't seem to have updated the HBB site or app lately but has recently replied to some comments on his website at CodeMii so I dropped off a comment there. Hopefully my comment will show and get some attention within the next few days.

[dan76]

Three? Star Wars, Empire, what's the third?

There's a jedi game but it has raster graphics. Still uses the same controller as the first two. It's not very good.

[evil_ash_xero]

Does this run Metal Slug X?

[Tokyo-J]

Does this run Metal Slug X?

Metal Slug X is on Virtual Console.

So not really needed. Yet I am sure playable.

[BPzeBanshee]

Does this run Metal Slug X?

Metal Slug X is on Virtual Console.

So not really needed. Yet I am sure playable.

That's a Neo-Geo title right?

There's been talk about trying to support the Neo-Geos with larger size ROMs but I think anything over 23 MB at the moment will crash it (mslugx.zip for me is 27.2 MB) due to RAM constraints. I'll test later though cause I think someone did get one of the Metal Slugs to work.

EDIT: Tried to load it, didn't work. Ran fine in FBA for PC so either I'm not putting the BIOS in the right place or it just won't load since it's well over 23 MB.

[guigui]

I just tried Retro-Arch today on my wii. It works pretty well. Two questions :

-Any chance I can play arcade games that are not CPS1-2 and NeoGeo ?

-I could not set controls to the regular A focused shot, B Bomb, C Autoshot. I cannot concentrate while button mashing. Any ideas ?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Protip - if you are using a CCP or DualShock (2), do your button mashing on the right bottom trigger. Pretty much the only button on any popular pad suit for the job (or, to be precise, the only joypad button mashing on can be fun). Comes from a big-handed person.

[BPzeBanshee]

The download link is separate from the main release because it's just everything compiled into one and hoping it all works (which it doesn't thanks to memory usage, so Psikyo SH2 games are buggy/crash and Guwange crashes, etc) but there's a thread for it at GBATemp I think the website's called which has a link to it.

If you're willing to hit the bleeding edge there's experimental versions of the SNES emulator module as well, or just compile to lot yourself (good luck, I haven't figured it out yet).

@Obiwan
There's a DualShock 2 for the Wii? What madness is this?

[null1024]

The download link is separate from the main release because it's just everything compiled into one and hoping it all works (which it doesn't thanks to memory usage, so Psikyo SH2 games are buggy/crash and Guwange crashes, etc) but there's a thread for it at GBATemp I think the website's called which has a link to it.

If you're willing to hit the bleeding edge there's experimental versions of the SNES emulator module as well, or just compile to lot yourself (good luck, I haven't figured it out yet).

@Obiwan
There's a DualShock 2 for the Wii? What madness is this?

You can get a PS2->GC controller converter for pretty cheap, I have one.
I've also heard of PS2->Classic Controller converters as well.

[Obiwanshinobi]

There's a DualShock 2 for the Wii? What madness is this?

There are adapters that make your Wii think your PlayStation joypad is a 'Cube controller. I liked Mario Kart Wii better played this way.

I've also heard of PS2->Classic Controller converters as well.

Interesting, but there's very little wrong with CCP and those can be still bought brand new. There are USB adapters too, so people faithful to their beliefs PlayStation controllers are no good can finally play Super Metroid emulated and Cave Story with a contoller best for the job.

[BPzeBanshee]

Oh right, third party stuff. Nearly thought there was an actual DualShock 2 that plugged in out of the box.

I was under the understanding that PS2 controllers sucked for shmups anyway though. Maybe Op Intensify/Estebang/Whateverhisnextincarnationwillbe's construing of hearsay is rubbing off on me.

[guigui]

The download link is separate from the main release because it's just everything compiled into one and hoping it all works (which it doesn't thanks to memory usage, so Psikyo SH2 games are buggy/crash and Guwange crashes, etc) but there's a thread for it at GBATemp I think the website's called which has a link to it.

I checked GBATemp and the site it redirects to.
I must admit I do not understand many things though. Do you mean there is a "core" that lets try and play regular arcade game ? If yes, how is it called ?

[Obiwanshinobi]

I was under the understanding that PS2 controllers sucked for shmups anyway though.

For shmups? I wouldn't say so. I still prefer the most worn out of my PlayStation controllers for shmups. I suck at 1vs1 fighting game type moves with it (that's why I suck at Symphony of the Night as Richter). At those Im best off with the phat GBA SP d-pad of all controllers.
Depends on whether you like having opinions better, or having experienced things you are talking about.
With DS(2) vs the 'Cube pad case, though, it's not about qualities of d-pad itself as much as it is about the placement of it. For my money Saturn 3D pad struck the sweet spot of balance between d-pad and analogue stick. DualShock, however, favours the former, whereas on GameCube joypads d-pad kind of just sits there.

[BPzeBanshee]

I checked GBATemp and the site it redirects to.
I must admit I do not understand many things though. Do you mean there is a "core" that lets try and play regular arcade game ? If yes, how is it called ?

There's RetroArch Wii itself, the front end. It loads different 'cores' for each emulator. So Final Burn Alpha has several ones, one for CPS1, one for CPS2, one for Neo-Geo, and the experimental one that just tries to have everything (which isn't included with the standard download). Should be in the first post of this thread towards the bottom: http://gbatemp.net/topic/333126-retroar ... -emulator/

For shmups? I wouldn't say so. I still prefer the most worn out of my PlayStation controllers for shmups. I suck at 1vs1 fighting game type moves with it (that's why I suck at Symphony of the Night as Richter). At those Im best off with the phat GBA SP d-pad of all controllers.
Depends on whether you like having opinions better, or having experienced things you are talking about.
With DS(2) vs the 'Cube pad case, though, it's not about qualities of d-pad itself as much as it is about the placement of it. For my money Saturn 3D pad struck the sweet spot of balance between d-pad and analogue stick. DualShock, however, favours the former, whereas on GameCube joypads d-pad kind of just sits there.

Well I certainly have some experience with the GameCube D-Pad and I found it good albeit very hard. Unfortunately I have no GameCube shmups though (and I'm too lazy to even pirate one - large download on a explainably slow internet).

I did just get XII Stag off eBay though so this Friday I'll probably give the controller at my uncle's place a go. I think he broke his original DualShock 2 some time ago so it'd probably be some third-party cheap shit one. It's probably bound to get the cricket bat treatment soon anyway knowing the third-party ones.

[Obiwanshinobi]

The least used of my PlayStation pads is Hori made in Japan. Being exclusively digital, it probably doesn't work with the aforementioned adapters at all, but seems sturdy alright. Unorthodox d-pad, too. Not that I can perform double diagonal tapping in VF4 Evo any better with it, but then again, it seems barely used.
I can appreciate how mellow Saturn d-pad feels even out of the box, but the snappy original GBA SP d-pad is where it's at in my book.

Well I certainly have some experience with the GameCube D-Pad and I found it good albeit very hard. Unfortunately I have no GameCube shmups though (and I'm too lazy to even pirate one - large download on a explainably slow internet).

I wouldn't know as in the 'Cube's "native" games I play it's of marginal use.
Isn't the GBA Micro d-pad exactly the same?

[guigui]

I checked GBATemp and the site it redirects to.
I must admit I do not understand many things though. Do you mean there is a "core" that lets try and play regular arcade game ? If yes, how is it called ?

There's RetroArch Wii itself, the front end. It loads different 'cores' for each emulator. So Final Burn Alpha has several ones, one for CPS1, one for CPS2, one for Neo-Geo, and the experimental one that just tries to have everything (which isn't included with the standard download). Should be in the first post of this thread towards the bottom: http://gbatemp.net/topic/333126-retroar ... -emulator/

Hey thanks, I just did not read the whole thread to the bottom, dumbass. I'll give it a try, Toki comes to me !

EDIT : Just tried the FBA full core. Certain games wont load with my settings (Battle Garegga for instance), but Dodonpachi runs very fine ! A pleasure.

[e_tank]

@guigui: i'm running retroarch + fba on arch linux and battle garegga segfaults when i try to run it, so it's not just the wii version. the fba core i'm currently using was compiled without debugging information, but i'll make sure to include it next time i update in order to look into it. i'll most likely take care of reporting what i find to the appropriate party.

as for ddp be aware that it may be laggy in fba, i'm pretty certain it has at least 1 more frame of lag compared to current mame.

Depends on whether you like having opinions better, or having experienced things you are talking about.
With DS(2) vs the 'Cube pad case, though, it's not about qualities of d-pad itself as much as it is about the placement of it.

Well I certainly have some experience with the GameCube D-Pad and I found it good albeit very hard.

the dpad on the gamecube controller is small, very stiff, and located far away from the thumbs natural resting postion. i find it completely useless for anything that requires fast reaction times and/or precise movement.

For my money Saturn 3D pad struck the sweet spot of balance between d-pad and analogue stick.

^ this. whoever decided to fuck with that formula for the dc controller should've been fired immediately and publicly shamed for the rest of his days.

Isn't the GBA Micro d-pad exactly the same?

it's not, the dpad on the gba micro is, iirc, slightly bigger and of much higher quality. the closest dpad it compares to would be the one on the wiimote.

[BPzeBanshee]

How odd. Pretty sure Garegga ran fine for me. Batrider and Bakraid certainly do. I should give this a go later. As for lagginess I doubt you'll notice any instant input lag playing the console unless you're like me and noticed how sloppy ESPRade feels on standard MAME. I gave DDP a go and it seemed more than tolerable.

the dpad on the gamecube controller is small, very stiff, and located far away from the thumbs natural resting postion. i find it completely useless for anything that requires fast reaction times and/or precise movement..

Stiff, that's the word I was looking for. Definitely not the best controller in the world but I can't say I enjoyed using the PS2's D-Pad last time I used it extensively either.

[guigui]

How odd. Pretty sure Garegga ran fine for me. Batrider and Bakraid certainly do. I should give this a go later. As for lagginess I doubt you'll notice any instant input lag playing the console unless you're like me and noticed how sloppy ESPRade feels on standard MAME. I gave DDP a go and it seemed more than tolerable.

You're right, I just launched the wrong zip file. I am not used to those roms.
As for input lags, I must admit I almost never notice them. Not japanese enough I guess.

Anyway, since I refuse to play on my PC, I'm having quite a good time with this wii FBA, yay !

[BPzeBanshee]

Tried it yesterday and it wouldn't run for me but I'm not sure if the zip I had was the one with Zakk ROMs (which would've failed the CRC check and given an error) or if I even had the right core loaded (though I tried Batrider straight afterwards and it worked fine). I'm sure I remember it working at some point though so maybe it was just being weird on me.

Nice to know you had luck with it though. It can be a bit inconsistent at times and if you're going to play many games definitely reload RetroArch completely after each game.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Anyway, since I refuse to play on my PC, I'm having quite a good time with this wii FBA, yay !

Oh, I see why you like S&P2 now. It's a lot like PC games have been for quite a while. I recommend: Serious Sam (the very first one; there's a decent demo out there, just forget about console ports), Painkiller (the first one as well, with mouse and keyboard too), Quake III, Tribes (not sure which one, just try out some demos and stick to the one still played online), Unreal Tournament 2004 (and mods)... Have a nice trip.

Just play in your monitor's native resolution (I suggest getting a CRT for the lowest possible input lag and no scaling issues) and get something better than Vista (I suggest WinXP). I hope there's no need to remind you that nothing makes for a better mouse than actual mouse (not most literally, but you get the idea).

Last but not least, just like wiimote and nunchuk, mouse and keyboard are better off placed further apart than your hands are whilst holding a gamepad. They need to have some steady support (such as desktop), therefore your gaming place might take some rearrangements for comfort (I'm pretty sure it can be done on a comfy sofa; where there is a will, there is a way).
Oh yes, get used to tinkering with audiovisual settings to find optimal setup (it can be fun too). I play Painkiller with an inverted cross for the aiming reticule; suchy a cherry on top...