• rtstragedy [fae/faer, she/her]@hexbear.net
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    3 months ago
    oops

    Yeah, the retro shop near downtown here is loaded with ps2s last I checked, easy if you have some cash and with FreeDVDBoot and some DVD-Rs (and a couple extra, in case the PS2 doesn’t like the burn or it degrades over time) you can play anything PS2 (Like Gitaroo Man. Play Gitaroo Man. I love rhythm games lmao). I would never be satisfied with emulation (except in rare instances where the TV is already in use) tbh, and the soft PS1 picture would be a dealbreaker for me, so we have a PSX, PS2 slim, and two PS3s (we each had one) lol

    Aside, thoughts on dithering on the PSX? I like preserving the dithering, I have a SCART cable plugged into mine. When Partner was playing Silent Hill 2 I fucking was over the moon, loved the way it looked, but I know this is a very divisive topic, and I bet the devs themselves were not intending for the dithering to be seen. (I struggle with Genesis games since there’s no alpha blending as far as I can tell, but I really like the sharp pixels, so waterfalls in like Ristar or Sonic games are cool to behold, technically, but don’t really have the illusion correctly lol)

    • ashinadash [she/her]@hexbear.net
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      3 months ago
      waow

      They used to be super common at the thrift near me, still show up occasionally. Also SMH SMH, of COURSE I have rewritable DVDs 😤 I made both of my FreeMcBoot cards with my own FreeDVDBoot disc. Rhythm games, yeah I wouldn’t emulate Project Diva on PSP for example… I would have a real PS1 but there isn’t an easy way to load backups. I have an MX4SIO for each PS2 I own lol

      Scart cable ps1 waow-based north american scart… Uh to me I kind of have two approaches to Buttstation games, one is ALL ORIGINAL NO ENHANCEMENTS which I usually use when playing games via Wiistation on a CRT at true 240p. Otherwise I’m not against enhancements, like wobble correction and high res can be cool, I’m not super fussed though. Dithering can stay, it’s fine.

      I struggle with Genesis games

      Okay look, right power-genius you could buy an S-video cable when the mega drive was new, so even back then not everyone was seeing the alpha blended " transparencies". If the devs’ genuine intent was that RF or composite was the best video you’d see them with, those devs are fools, S-video was right there. I have a real model 2 Genesis hooked up via composite downstairs with copies of the Sonic games, too. I just think it’s silly, like “yeah for the full experience pls use the video cable that makes it look like a scruffy video tape”. For that I’d rather use a blaarg filter.

      • rtstragedy [fae/faer, she/her]@hexbear.net
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        3 months ago
        spoiler

        Also SMH SMH, of COURSE I have rewritable DVDs 😤

        sick and based, actually!

        I made both of my FreeMcBoot cards with my own FreeDVDBoot disc.

        wow, I didn’t actually get that far, I just use the patcher on the isos. I haven’t tried anything more than that, I honestly couldn’t find a guide I understood. all the terms seem a little ??? to me, like they’re random letters.

        Rhythm games, yeah I wouldn’t emulate Project Diva on PSP for example…

        I’ve never heard of this (looks it up) OH i should try this. I basically have not encountered Hatsune Miku at all until watching a YT video about the appeal and being like “cool, I should check it out”

        I would have a real PS1 but there isn’t an easy way to load backups.

        Yeah, I lucked out that I went to buy one from the retro game store downtown and they were like “we should warn you, this one has a modchip. We didn’t know until after we bought it.” I don’t think they literally winked, but they should have. It works great, but burning discs is finnicky for the PSX because the laser is really weird. Slowest my burner can go is 16x, and usually one burn will be unreadable.

        I have an MX4SIO for each PS2 I own lol

        Oh, I just looked this up, that looks neat. I should look into this further… Does this work with FreeMcBoot?

        north american scart…

        we use scart for ps1, genesis, snes, saturn, ps2, and dreamcast. they are new cables, people are making them for some reason lol

        ALL ORIGINAL NO ENHANCEMENTS which I usually use when playing games via Wiistation on a CRT at true 240p

        damn, I didn’t know the Wii could emulate PSX, that’s cool, are you using Wii U for it?

        Otherwise I’m not against enhancements, like wobble correction and high res can be cool, I’m not super fussed though. Dithering can stay, it’s fine.

        Yeah, sometimes I watch people play PSX games and the high res and wobble correction is fascinating and easy to watch, but I feel like wobble+dither+240p all together makes for such a vibe I just can’t resist it. Like, it all fits together in my mind so well.

        I get why people upscale N64/PS2 games too, but … most of the time, I want to play it as original, I guess. We occasionally do a OOT randomizer seed (OOTMM is probably too hard for us casuals btw) and we defs load it on the Everdrive, even if that makes the D-pad hard to reach. there’s something magical about it to us.

        That being said, as a tiny enby I definitely played a ton of snes games in zsnes on keyboard, wow the platformers are hard on keyboard lol.

        you could buy an S-video cable when the mega drive was new, so even back then not everyone was seeing the alpha blended " transparencies". If the devs’ genuine intent was that RF or composite was the best video you’d see them with, those devs are fools, S-video was right there.

        yeah, that’s a good point!

        I just think it’s silly, like “yeah for the full experience pls use the video cable that makes it look like a scruffy video tape”. For that I’d rather use a blaarg filter.

        Yeah, I don’t like the composite blur when I’m playing generally, even if it’s like the Genesis. I do like scanlines tho, helps with the harshness of pixels, the retrotink 5x has like a bit of CRT phosphor sim, but it’s basic, nothing as complicated at the shaders and simulations you can get with Retroarch, or various emulators (such as blaarg)

        • ashinadash [she/her]@hexbear.net
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          3 months ago
          gaming

          sick and based

          WHY YES, I have tons of writable media around for if I need it. Never know when you will… PS2 softmodding is a little convoluted at times but I understood it eventually. Some things I wish they would explain better.

          have not encountered Hatsune Miku at all until watching a YT video about the appeal

          Miku is pretty funny, I think as a teen it was a combination of genuinely liking weebslop and gender envy, lmao.

          they were like “we should warn you, this one has a modchip. We didn’t know until after we bought it.”

          Waow, I wish I had a modchipped PS1… all those burned discs though Idk. The PS1 is a 2X disc drive at best so it makes sense you would have issues with 16x, by god you need a slower drive. I have many that go as low as 1X… Discs burn better slower…

          Does this work with FreeMcBoot?

          Absolutely, you just use OpenPS2Loader, OPL. It’s pretty easy to set up, I did it twice. Memcard ports are slightly slower than disc (5.5mb/s vs 3.5mb/s) so some games might load a touch slower but it’s nothing like the stutters you get on USB1.1 for instance.

          they are new cables, people are making them for some reason lol

          Oh no kidding, of course. Was just shocked because scart is a rarity here. I assume you just use the Retrotink with a scart switch? Never seen a TV with scart here…

          I didn’t know the Wii could emulate PSX, that’s cool, are you using Wii U for it?

          Oh I wrote a post about this! You could use a Wii U, and even PCSX-R on Retroarch there, but I use it on an original Wii running component to my CRT. Gotta have true 240p.

          I feel like wobble+dither+240p all together makes for such a vibe I just can’t resist it.

          I gotta say PS1 games do smell pretty good in this way crush look at my stinky polygonal boys…

          Lol for PS2, really? To me PS2 games are so close to modern (widescreen, Pro Logic II multichannel, progressive scan sometimes) that upresing them just makes more sense Idk. I do play them on original hardware a lot but Idk, PS2 enhancements pay dividends compared to N64 where the textures and UI will always be ugly… How does an everdrive makt the dpad hard to reach…?

          as a tiny enby I definitely played a ton of snes games in zsnes on keyboard,

          Waow same!!! niko-wonderous Ah the bad old days… now you can hook the real controllers up to a PC lol

          I do like scanlines tho, helps with the harshness of pixels, the retrotink 5x has like a bit of CRT phosphor sim,

          Yeah I play with scanlines on flat displays too. For phosphor sim I have seen some amazing 4K stuff…

          • rtstragedy [fae/faer, she/her]@hexbear.net
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            3 months ago

            PS2 softmodding is a little convoluted at times but I understood it eventually. Some things I wish they would explain better.

            glad to hear it tbh,

            Miku is pretty funny, I think as a teen it was a combination of genuinely liking weebslop and gender envy, lmao.

            damn that’s cool as heck

            The PS1 is a 2X disc drive at best so it makes sense you would have issues with 16x, by god you need a slower drive. I have many that go as low as 1X… Discs burn better slower…

            ah that makes sense. yeah I gotta get an older one, this one is in an enclosure and has MakeMKV support (so I wouldn’t get rid of it), I don’t have a single case in the house with space for a CD drive tho.

            Absolutely, you just use OpenPS2Loader, OPL. It’s pretty easy to set up, I did it twice. Memcard ports are slightly slower than disc (5.5mb/s vs 3.5mb/s) so some games might load a touch slower but it’s nothing like the stutters you get on USB1.1 for instance.

            Oh yeah when I was looking into this briefly and read about the USB slowness yikes lol. This sounds fun actually, Imma save your post for the next time I feel like making an executive cry.

            ok so this is a disaster for cables, I know… but yes, like you said, I’m using a switch.

            Oh I wrote a post about this!

            oh fuck me, i want to play on that crt so bad. we don’t have a spot for one (not even a place to store it really) so i haven’t looked into getting a CRT for us. damn, what a cool post!! that sounds like a cool setup, i want to see it all working tbh

            You could use a Wii U, and even PCSX-R on Retroarch there, but I use it on an original Wii running component to my CRT. Gotta have true 240p.

            agree, this 65" TV is fine and all, but like you said, CRTs are better OLEDs. well put

            Lol for PS2, really? To me PS2 games are so close to modern (widescreen, Pro Logic II multichannel, progressive scan sometimes) that upresing them just makes more sense Idk. I do play them on original hardware a lot but Idk, PS2 enhancements pay dividends compared to N64 where the textures and UI will always be ugly…

            Oops, typo, I meant PSX here. I haven’t even thought about upscaling PS2 games, that does seem like it could be good. Usually the big thing for me is if the models look sharp and the background blurry I don’t really like that. So games with 2D background like FF7 etc I don’t like upscaled, in 240p everything feels like it fits in the world (you know, fits better in the world, he’s still got toaster hands)

            and yes on N64 too like textures and UI look even worse at higher res to me. sometimes it’s an ok vibe, like if I’m watching someone else play. but if I’m playing I want as close to the original as possible. it’s weird lol i like chunky pixels and nearest-neighbour filtering.

            How does an everdrive makt the dpad hard to reach…?

            In randomizers, usually they add functions to the N64 d-pad, so when using a real N64 controller, you have to reach back with your thumb to do things like equip/unequip hover boots, or transform masks.

            Ah the bad old days… now you can hook the real controllers up to a PC lol

            honestly I did this back in the day too, got waaaay into DDR and had a full-on Stepmania setup with a PS2 pad and an adapter hooked into my PC with like a thousand songs.

            Now my setup is native USB and has 5k, it’s too many.

            Yeah I play with scanlines on flat displays too.

            yeah same, can’t do without tbh, it’s too bright and harsh imo

            For phosphor sim I have seen some amazing 4K stuff…

            I have heard of this! I haven’t really tried it myself.

            • ashinadash [she/her]@hexbear.net
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              3 months ago
              waow

              this one is in an enclosure and has MakeMKV support (so I wouldn’t get rid of it), I don’t have a single case in the house with space for a CD drive tho.

              Huh… got an old laptop laying around? Might try transferring an old laptop DVD drive into an external USB shell, I’ve done that. Also lmao, so many cases no 5.25" bays.

              Oh yeah when I was looking into this briefly and read about the USB slowness yikes lol. This sounds fun actually, Imma save your post for the next time I feel like making an executive cry.

              EXECUTIVES IN SHAMBLES power-genius

              ok so this is a disaster for cables, I know… but yes, like you said, I’m using a switch.

              I always feel so smart when my educated guesses turn up right. Using composite cables as jank rgb/component is really based tbh, uncritical support to this cable disaster.

              oh fuck me, i want to play on that crt so bad.

              Waow thank you :3 Since space is a concern, have you looked into a CRT monitor? Can get a 17" one and vibe. The setup isn’t that exciting to watch, it’s just a Wii hooked into a CRT lol. Wiistation run from Homebrew Launcher…

              Oops, typo, I meant PSX here. I haven’t even thought about upscaling PS2 games, that does seem like it could be good. Usually the big thing for me is if the models look sharp and the background blurry

              Oh I see! Yeah the PS1 prerendered games, I think they’re better at stock settings, or downscaled for better image quality. Resident Evil 1 is doomed forever sadly… but not as badly as N64 games, lol. Sharp pixels gang.

              In randomizers, usually they add functions to the N64 d-pad, so when using a real N64 controller, you have to reach back with your thumb to do things like equip/unequip hover boots, or transform masks.

              yea u need one of those horipads…

              Stepmania setup with a PS2 pad and an adapter hooked into my PC with like a thousand songs.

              Now my setup is native USB and has 5k, it’s too many.

              Based… waow…

              I haven’t really tried it myself.

              Essentially they use each single 4K pixel as one part of the red-blue-green of a CRT shadowmask, it’s rad!

              • rtstragedy [fae/faer, she/her]@hexbear.net
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                3 months ago
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                Huh… got an old laptop laying around? Might try transferring an old laptop DVD drive into an external USB shell, I’ve done that.

                oh!! good idea, we do have one. not sure if it’s DVD-RW but I’ll check it out. gotta get a shell for it then.

                I always feel so smart when my educated guesses turn up right. Using composite cables as jank rgb/component is really based tbh, uncritical support to this cable disaster.

                lmfao i forgot about that, the retrotink has a Y/C port, so it’s shared between the component and composite haha. also the labels are totally wrong now… I need to fix them.

                Waow thank you :3 Since space is a concern, have you looked into a CRT monitor? Can get a 17" one and vibe.

                That’s a good point, still would have to find a spot for it though … hmm… where could I put something like that…

                The setup isn’t that exciting to watch, it’s just a Wii hooked into a CRT lol. Wiistation run from Homebrew Launcher…

                yeah, um you say that but idk what to say, i still think it’s really cool.

                Oh I see! Yeah the PS1 prerendered games, I think they’re better at stock settings, or downscaled for better image quality. Resident Evil 1 is doomed forever sadly… but not as badly as N64 games, lol. Sharp pixels gang.

                totally, but i actually never played original RE1, (watched BF play on the PSX, played the remake myself), wdym?

                u need one of those horipads…

                whoa, that’s a super interesting controller design, haha. maybe once our n64 controlled die we’ll get one

                Essentially they use each single 4K pixel as one part of the red-blue-green of a CRT shadowmask, it’s rad!

                oh yeah, i heard about that, it’s cool af. tbh, though, my tv is not bright enough to really make games pop, I trick the TV into HDR mode with the retrotink (added in some firmware but the tonemapping is super weird) to try to get more brightness out of it, but it’s just not the same … gotta…get a crt…

                • ashinadash [she/her]@hexbear.net
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                  3 months ago
                  spoiler

                  not sure if it’s DVD-RW but I’ll check it out.

                  Most laptops from about 2006 should have RW drives at least :) You can get shells cheap from ebay, ali, whatever.

                  the retrotink has a Y/C port, so it’s shared between the component and composite haha.

                  Oh like sync on composite, I see, I did wonder about the labels too…

                  hmm… where could I put something like that…

                  Wifey’s CRT is set up as a third monitor on an end table, lol.

                  i still think it’s really cool.

                  Waow crush It’s just a dumb lil analog TV, I do have a switchbox for component but y’know. It is basically an average 2006 hifi lol

                  never played original RE1, (watched BF play on the PSX, played the remake myself), wdym?

                  Resident Evil 1 is 320x240 backgrounds forever, the PC versions of Resi 2 and 3 have 1280x960 backgrounds which is cool, but RE1 missed out sadly. Resi gang…

                  maybe once our n64 controlled die we’ll get one

                  Yeah there are a couple “modern” pads, Tribute and Brawler64…

                  I trick the TV into HDR mode with the retrotink (added in some firmware but the tonemapping is super weird) to try to get more brightness

                  Cool trick though!!

                  • rtstragedy [fae/faer, she/her]@hexbear.net
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                    3 months ago
                    spoiler

                    Okay so at your advice, I took apart Partner’s old laptop… look at this!!! You were right! Thank you!

                    Just need an enclosure.

                    Oh like sync on composite, I see, I did wonder about the labels too…

                    yeah it’s gone through a few iterations as I insisted on buying more scart cables lol

                    Wifey’s CRT is set up as a third monitor on an end table, lol.

                    lea-think

                    Resident Evil 1 is 320x240 backgrounds forever, the PC versions of Resi 2 and 3 have 1280x960 backgrounds which is cool, but RE1 missed out sadly. Resi gang…

                    ah i see

                    Tribute and Brawler64…

                    wow I really like the shape of the brawler64 actually, that’s cool af

            • ShinkanTrainOP
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              3 months ago

              CABLE MESS GANG. Just spent a week trying to sort the shitshow behind the TV

    • ShinkanTrainOP
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      3 months ago

      I find that, for PS1, S-Video on a CRT is sharp enough for my tastes but not so sharp that it starts looking unnatural. Genesis/MD I definitely go composite. Saturn I go back and forth.

      • rtstragedy [fae/faer, she/her]@hexbear.net
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        3 months ago

        Yeah, it’s kind of a personal thing, isn’t it? I can appreciate the composite output, and sometimes Pixel Perfect is too clean (esp. for text), but when I play an actual console I like it to be pixel perfect. When I actually do emulate, I try to muddy it up a bit with CRT/NTSC filters (although this depends heavily on the game). Maybe I just like bending the hardware against its will, lol.

        I like seeing everything in new and different lights, so if it were easier with my current setup to switch between composite and SCART, I would, but my retrotink is out of ports lol

        I only use S-Video for the n64 because I don’t have HDMI modded, and it is kind of a mess visually vs. emulator for obvious reasons (the famous smear filter, and I don’t have the Gameshark or whatever to disable it)