Random Gaming Thoughts

[CRTGAMER]

Okay, great, now I have a 50hz PAL PS2 game that's not gonna run on my USA PS2 nor be compatible with my NTSC CRT TV. So I make an ISO of Everblue's CD. I use a special software tool to patch the ISO's video header to support the NTSC refresh rate, with a Y offset of -48 to compensate for screen re-centering. But now I'm stuck with a CD image that's not compatible with Free McBoot. So I had to convert the CD image into a DVD image, not a simple task, considering I had to completely reconstruct the file layouts and sector mapping, etc. But, I did it, and the CD ISO became a DVD ISO. Next, I had to patch the DVD ISO to support Free McBoot. And lastly burn the image to a DVD.

I like to consider myself tech-savvy, but ALL THAT just to get a PAL PS2 game to run on a US console?!

Why is that so difficult when all I had to do to get the PAL Shenmue II running on my US Dreamcast was use a boot disc? I didn't have to adjust for any TV refresh rate.

I have a boot disc that will convert an original PAL Shemue game to run on NTSC Dreamcast and NTSC TV using an SVideo hookup. My HD CRT does not have a VGA port, but I can run games on my VGA CRT including functioning light gun. Unlike the PS2 conversion disc, the screen is perfect with none of the image cropped off the screen. For the PS2 PAL games a conversion and adjustment of the Y position and creating a new image or disc the best method. Placing the image on disc confirms a good archive copy since it is tested during the install to PS2 hard drive or loaded directly.

Interesting on that CD image not working with Free McBoot. I thought CD images transfered to the PC via crossover ethernet cable should work. I'll stick with HDAdvance/HDLoader which can install DVD, CD and Imports with a flip top, no mod chip needed. Though its older, the pressed disc works for me by simply turning in the PS2.

[Exhuminator]

I have a boot disc that will convert an original PAL Shemue game to run on NTSC Dreamcast and NTSC TV using an SVideo hookup.

Interesting. If it's exclusive to that game, I have to venture a guess it's using a custom wrapper to do it.

Interesting on that CD image not working with Free McBoot. I thought CD images transfered to the PC via crossover ethernet cable should work.

I am using Free McBoot to boot a disc that has been burned from an ISO that was ESR patched. Since ESR requires a UDF descriptor, it has to be DVD.

I'll stick with HDAdvance/HDLoader which can install DVD, CD and Imports with a flip top, no mod chip needed.

A great solution yes, but I am using a Slim PS2 with no internal hard drive. I supposed I could set up a NAS to work with it, but 'eh.

The good news is, I put an hour and a half into Everblue last night, so all the crazy modding stuff worked just fine. So far Everblue has been worth the trouble. I especially enjoy playing lesser known games, and as I don't personally know anyone who's ever played Everblue it's uncharted waters ahoy.

[PartridgeSenpai]

I'd be totally down for just a VR huge-screen television on the moon though. That'd be sick. I'd imagine the Oculus or the Vive would do something like that first though.

There are already multiple ways to do virtual theater or screen type things. Or things like vorpX that are more game specific and can try to do VR-ish stuff.

Fidelity is a small issue there - you can get the feeling of watching in a theater, but not the on-screen clarity (even if it's high res enough to not look blocky, there's still the screen door effect).

Still, personal theater stuff seems pretty simple to do, with even Cardboard having apps for it. So there'd be little technical reason for PSVR not to have it.

I wasn't doubting that the PSVR could do it, I'm just worried they'll only let you do it with Playstation stuff. I had no idea Google Cardboard could do that though. That little box is soooo cool.

[Ziggy]

Grrrrr

Something is wrong with my AV setup, and it might be my Framemeister or receiver. That just happens to be the two most expensive parts of my setup!

I got the urge to play some SNES, so I turn on everything but the TV has no signal. The XRGB shows the output link, the AVR is on the right input and I checked all the settings. Nothing. The only quick check that wasn't a pain in the ass was to swap HDMI inputs on the AVR, in case the input that the XRGB uses went dead. So I switched it to a known working input, but still nothing. So is the XRGB dead?

I didn't have the motivation to diagnose it, I just wanted to play some SNES. So I figured I'll load up higan and use my Super Smart Joy to play some SNES (my desktop is connected to my AVR as a second monitor). So I load up Super Mario All Stars and notice two huge problems. One, for some reason, the emulation is really choppy (might be the framerate). And two, I can't believe I never noticed the horrible input lag from the Super Smart Joy!

I'm not much for emulation, I mostly use it just to test things out and whatnot. So this was really the first time I wanted to sit down and play something as if it was the real thing. I guess that's why I never noticed these issues.

I downloaded the latest version of higan. The Accuracy profile, which is what I've always used, doesn't run good at all. It runs slooooow. I have a Core i7 920 (2.66Ghz). From what I understand, the emulation can't utilize the multiple cores and pretty much relies on the high clock speed of a single core. So I wasn't in the mood to investigate things, I just wanted to play. Frustrated, I used the balanced profile, which ran at speed but it still seemed like there was a framerate issue (or screen tearing? IDK). On top of that, the Super Smart Joy is useless. I used 240p Test Suite to measure the lag and compare it to my Logitech F310. I forget how many frames behind the Smart Joy was compared to the Logitech, but it was significant.

So back to my AV setup... I'm thinking on the weekend I'll test the XRGB out more. I figure I can grab and extra HDMI cable and bypass the AVR without too much trouble. That should show me if it's the XRGB or the AVR.

But over the weekend, I was listening to some 5.1 music and noticed another problem. My surround left and right channels were being wacky. I noticed surround L was on, but R was out. So I started playing with the speaker wires thinking maybe there was a lose connection. Nope, everything was sound. I pulled out my AVR (it's in a shelf in my TV stand) and magically the R channel started working again, but the L channel dropped out. So, I went into the setting in my AVR that puts out a constant static on each channel (so you can calibrate) to see what was going on better. At one point, the R channel was on but then slowly dropped out, as if I was turning the volume down!

Dammit! That points to a problem with the AVR! Volume doesn't slowly drop out like that if there's a wire problem or bad connections. It'll crackle, cut in and out suddenly, but not slowly roll off to nothing. I had a thought. My AVR is tucked in a shelf in my TV stand. There's less then an inch of clearance over the top of the unit, and I know the AVR throws off a lot of heat, so I don't know if I baked the AVR and that's why I'm having problems. I'm thinking maybe when I pulled the AVR out of the shelf, it cooled down, and that's why the surround R channel came back on. But I guess that still doesn't explain why they were cutting in and out like they were.

I've long thought about drilling out a hole in the back of the TV stand and mounting an exhaust fan so I wouldn't have any heat issues. Problem is, I'd have to disconnect everything to do that (which is a nightmare!) which is why I've never gotten around to it. Also, I'm thinking, to diagnose my problems I'm gonna have to start pulling things apart, which turns the already mess of cables into a bigger, more tangled mess. So I'm thinking, maybe I'll just take everything apart and get a new AVR.

I have an Onkyo 5.1 right now, I was looking at an Onkyo 7.2 that's only $400. It has two more HDMI inputs than mine (one is in the front so kinda useless, but I'm fresh out of HDMI inputs), it has two HDMI outputs (which would be useful for a capture card), it converts composite and component to HDMI (which mine does not), and it has a phono input which is totally bitchin (I have to use a separate pre-amp right now which is kind of annoying). It's got a bunch of other bells and whistles that I wouldn't really use, like WiFi. And I checked to confirm that I could use it as a 5.1 system (I don't have room for rear speakers). Also, it has a rear 5v 1A USB port, which I could use for a fan (it would come on and off with the unit). So I don't know, I'm thinking about taking the plunge.

All that still doesn't really explain if there's a problem with the XRGB though, I'll still have to treat that as it's own problem. Hopefully BOTH things aren't the problem. I'd bite the bullet and get a new AVR if need be, but I don't feel like getting a new XRGB (nor could I really afford to if I have to get a new AVR). Also, I'm wondering how long it'll be before Micomsoft puts out a successor to the Framemeister anyway.

Sorry for the wall of text, I just had to vent a little. Pain in the ass all this stuff is. I was trying to figure out a way to fit one of my CRTs upstairs, but I just don't have the room. And, oh yeah, I can't game on my CRT right now because of an issue in my basement (where my man cave is) that I don't have the time to resolve right now or any time soon.

PS, I posted this in the Random Gaming Thoughts thread because it's why I couldn't game over this last weekend!

edit: I had a thought. I don't know if something like this exists, but I was thinking of putting my CRT on my TV stand where my HDTV is. Then, I get some sort of VESA mount for the HDTV that I can pull down over the CRT, or pull up to expose the CRT. Ever seen those chalk boards that work like that? That's what I mean. I've never seen a TV mount that worked that way though...

[BoneSnapDeez]

Turns out this PC-FX RPG I've been eyeing is actually one of the sequels to Kendo Rage! I love finding weird little connections like that.

Too bad the game is expensive as shit. Ain't that always the case.

[Forlorn Drifter]

I'm thinking of picking up Crusader Kings II for a deep something or other to keep on my PC for something I can play when I'm away from home, and won't be on a small screen. Not that I have an issue with handhelds, its just that in cases like now, where I'm at my parents house, I need something that won't strain my eyes too much, which has started to happen with handhelds in the last 6 years or so.

But, I was considering getting the Game of Thrones mod. On the other hand, I know nothing about Game of Thrones, which leads me to wondering if I should get the books, or try the show...

And, back full circle, is Crusader Kings II yay or nay? I wanted to get something Dwarf Fortressy deep, but a little easier controlled.

[KalessinDB]

edit: I had a thought. I don't know if something like this exists, but I was thinking of putting my CRT on my TV stand where my HDTV is. Then, I get some sort of VESA mount for the HDTV that I can pull down over the CRT, or pull up to expose the CRT. Ever seen those chalk boards that work like that? That's what I mean. I've never seen a TV mount that worked that way though...

I've seen mounts on 9gag that are like... flip-down to game in bed... but that's monitor-sized. I dunno if you could find one to hold a decent sized tv.

Could probably jerry-rig something though.

[PartridgeSenpai]

I'm thinking of picking up Crusader Kings II for a deep something or other to keep on my PC for something I can play when I'm away from home, and won't be on a small screen. Not that I have an issue with handhelds, its just that in cases like now, where I'm at my parents house, I need something that won't strain my eyes too much, which has started to happen with handhelds in the last 6 years or so.

But, I was considering getting the Game of Thrones mod. On the other hand, I know nothing about Game of Thrones, which leads me to wondering if I should get the books, or try the show...

And, back full circle, is Crusader Kings II yay or nay? I wanted to get something Dwarf Fortressy deep, but a little easier controlled.

I love CKII, and would personally highly recommend it. The only warnings I'd give are that you should be prepared to flounder a little bit in not knowing what you're doing, especially if you're not going to watch like an instructional video of how to play. The internal systems of the game can be very confusing, and I'll be the first one to say that Paradox is not good at making tutorials that really teach you how to play the game.

The other warning would be one of hardware. Make sure your laptop is powerful enough to run it, because CKII ran unplayablely slow on my old laptop. Granted my old laptop was like a midrange 4 years before that, so I didn't really expect it to run well.

If you want something a little safer on the hardware side, Civ 5 in its Direct X9 mode runs great on most machines. It's what I'd play at school when I really wanted my strategy fix. It's also pretty deep (especially with the expansions) and does a much better job of telling you how to play.

Personally, I like Civ 5 more, having about twice as many hours in that compared to CKII, but to each their own

[Ziggy]

edit: I had a thought. I don't know if something like this exists, but I was thinking of putting my CRT on my TV stand where my HDTV is. Then, I get some sort of VESA mount for the HDTV that I can pull down over the CRT, or pull up to expose the CRT. Ever seen those chalk boards that work like that? That's what I mean. I've never seen a TV mount that worked that way though...

I've seen mounts on 9gag that are like... flip-down to game in bed... but that's monitor-sized. I dunno if you could find one to hold a decent sized tv.

Could probably jerry-rig something though.

I was thinking that too, building something myself. It probably wouldn't be the nicest looking thing in the world though.

[fastbilly1]

I have a projector screen that does that. You could do it with a long necked 3 way table mount, but it would have to be reinforced. Then your LCD could flip up over the CRT, like a hat.

Unless your CRT is in a cabinet, then you could build something with a sheet of plywood, cabinet pulls and a vesa mount.