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  • FB Alpha RL (Retro Loader) v1.00 (CFW 3.40/4.XX)

    A developer here at PSX-Scene by the name of CaptainCPS-X (I am sure most of you have heard of his excellent work by now, such as the recents GamePKG and RetroArch Mod releases), has shared with us his latest creation, FB Alpha RL (Retro Loader) v1.00 (CFW 3.40/4.XX). Learn more information about this emulator for the PS3 in the official release statement below, and be sure to read it all!




    Hiyas everyone, today I come with something that I've been working for the last few days, please read the documentation before using it, I know that some people don't usually like to read, but please take a minute to read and see what FB Alpha RL offers.

    Note: I verified the problems with emulation of CPS-1, and it seems it is only happening on libretro port, not on the Windows official release of FB Alpha. I tried to see if I could find the issue, but I couldn't identify it.








    Information:

    As a dev from the official FB Alpha Team, FB Alpha RL was made with a objective in mind, to keep the original experience from the official FB Alpha (for Windows OS) on the PS3 system.

    Even when I don't know how to implement a fancy GUI for the PS3 system with textures and all the complicated stuff, I managed to use my previous application core (gamePKG core) to create this nice frontend for RetroArch's FB Alpha core.

    I know that RetroArch is already a frontend, but I like to keep things simple and straight to the point.

    Please, read the technical info for more details.

    Technical Info:

    Signed for CFW 3.40 / 4.XX (should work for everyone). Tested @ 1080p resolution via HDMI.

    FB Alpha RL uses a custom "burn_drivers.h" header file that was generated by modifying the official windows version of FB Alpha with a routine to generate such file on launch.

    The header have a big structure with all the information for all supported drivers in FB Alpha v0.2.97.28. Information such as:
    • Romset Name (Ex. kof2002)
    • Parent ROM (Ex. sf2)
    • Year
    • Manufacturer (Ex. Capcom)
    • System (Ex. Neo Geo)
    • Max players
    • Game Screen Resolution
    • Game Screen Aspect Ratio

    Future release will have a custom generated header with all the ROM information as well, so the application will be able to verify every romset with precise CRC32 checks (as in the official FB Alpha for Windows).

    FB Alpha RL will scan the following directories for ZIP files:

    Specific directories:
    • /dev_hdd0/game/ROMS00000/USRDIR
    • /dev_hdd0/game/ROMS00000/USRDIR/fba
    • /dev_hdd0/game/SSNE10000/USRDIR/cores/roms

    Generic directories:
    • /dev_*/roms
    • /dev_*/roms/fba

    Devices scanned are:
    • dev_hdd0 (PS3 Internal HDD)
    • dev_usb000 (External USB)
    • dev_usb001 (External USB)
    • dev_usb002 (External USB)
    • dev_usb003 (External USB)
    • dev_cf (Compact Flash)
    • dev_sd (SD Card)
    • dev_ms (Memory Stick)

    NOTE: You don't need the official RetroArch installed, this already has my own modified build incorporated into FB Alpha RL installation directory. So you can safely install the official RetroArch and it won't interfere.

    Usage:
    • Use UP and DOWN to select Games.
    • Press (X) to Load the selected Game.
    • Press (O) to Quit and return to XMB.
    • Press [SELECT] to Load "RetroArch" (FB Alpha Core).

    Features:
    • Auto configure screen Aspect Ratio on game load.
    • Quick ROM(s) scanning in extensive path locations.
    • Romset validation against FB Alpha v0.2.97.28 drivers library.
    • Checking for duplicate ROM(s).
    • Detailed info about listed ROM(s).
    • Full game name display for easier navigation.
    • Direct loading of ROM(s).
    • Simple GUI & nice application logos(LMAO xD).

    WIP / Coming on future releases:
    • Set System Input preset on Game Load (Ex. NeoGeo.cfg / Shooters.cfg / etc).
    • Simple Input Mapping feature.
    • Display Extended ROM information by pressing (/\).

    Changelog:

    1.00 (January 30, 2013)
    • Initial Release

    Thanks to:
    • My buddies Treble Winner (Barry) / Kev / IQ_132 from the original FB Alpha Team <3.
    • PS3 Scene websites (in no order) such as: PS3HAX / PSX-Scene / PS3Crunch / Etc, for you support
    • TheMaister / Twinaphex / Squarepusher / Company - Libretro/RetroArch is just amazing.
    • pete_uk - for your unofficial RetroArch builds.
    • STLcardsWS - for your support
    • aldostools - your ps3tools for windows are the best =)
    • deank - multiMAN helped me research / debug my application
    • fail0verfl0w, GeoHot, etc - for all you have done for the PS3 scene
    • Annonymous - for releasing Sony SDKs

    Thanks to anyone else I forgot that in some way contributed to the PS3 scene and as a result I was able to do this homebrew application.

    Downloads:

    [mediafire] FB_Alpha_RL_1.00_[20130130].pkg [~ 8.5 MB]
    [zippyshare] FB_Alpha_RL_1.00_[20130130].pkg [~ 8.5 MB]
    [mega] FB_Alpha_RL_1.00_[20130130].pkg [~ 8.5 MB]

    Source Code:

    FB Alpha RL - https://github.com/CaptainCPS/FBAlphaRL
    RetroArch (Modded for FB Alpha RL) - https://github.com/CaptainCPS/RetroArch (ATM is just a fork of official RetroArch, but tonight I will commit my changes, so they are easier to track down )
    FB Alpha v0.2.97.28 (Modded to generate "burn_drivers.h")(Windows) - (coming soon, Im organizing it)

    SeeYa!






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    Article created by tthousand
    tthousand and STLcardsWS like this.
    This article was originally published in forum thread: [Release] FB Alpha RL (Retro Loader) v1.00 (CFW 3.40/4.XX) started by CaptainCPS-X View original post
    Comments 18 Comments
    1. JOshISPoser's Avatar
      JOshISPoser -
      cool stuff man. good job
    1. indirect76's Avatar
      indirect76 -
      Always great to see emulation news. Thanks!
    1. tthousand's Avatar
      tthousand -
      Thanks for this @CaptainCPS-X! Cannot wait to try it out!
    1. STLcardsWS's Avatar
      STLcardsWS -
      Awesome work @Captain CPS-X.

      The emulation scene is heating up.

      Could there be more to come?
    1. JOshISPoser's Avatar
      JOshISPoser -
      i will cream my pants if you're hinting at n64 at even 20% speed without sound soon...
    1. STLcardsWS's Avatar
      STLcardsWS -
      Quote Originally Posted by JOshISPoser View Post
      i will cream my pants if you're hinting at n64 at even 20% speed without sound soon...
      No, I wish. we have to wait for a dynarec.

      You wont hear anything about n64 until you hear dynarec
      then there is work to be done after that.
      A n64 PowerPC build to port after that. (so still a ways off)
    1. Griff's Avatar
      Griff -
      What's a dynarec exactly?
    1. brshooterz's Avatar
      brshooterz -
      can you please make a list of what systems it can emulate? thanks
    1. JOshISPoser's Avatar
      JOshISPoser -
      i'm pretty sure it's cps1/2 and neogeo mvs. just google fb alpha and it'll tell you.
    1. STLcardsWS's Avatar
      STLcardsWS -
      Quote Originally Posted by brshooterz View Post
      can you please make a list of what systems it can emulate? thanks
      Capcom CPS-1, 2 & 3
      Neo-Geo MVS
      Sega System 16 A & B
      Sega System 18
      Sega X-Board & Y-Board
      CAVE
      Tatio
      Konami
      Psikyo 68EC020 Based Hardware
      PGM
      Toaplan

      a site like system16.com will show the games that run on each system.

      i'm pretty sure it's cps1/2 and neogeo mvs. just google fb alpha and it'll tell you.
      Just visit the emu section here at PSX-Scene or visit the links in my Sig. (i need to update a few things, but there is no bad info)

      What's a dynarec exactly?
      In simple terms.
      Something needed that has been missing since 3.41 in CFWs.
      It is needed for higher emulation (ie. 3D emulation & higher memory emulation)
    1. JOshISPoser's Avatar
      JOshISPoser -
      can a dynarec be universal?

      i mean, if someone develops one for n64, can it be used for psx? iirc, psx is a lot easier emulated and so bilinear filtering added to it would just make it the bee's knees.
    1. Hakuoro's Avatar
      Hakuoro -
      Is it like RetroArch?
    1. Smoker1's Avatar
      Smoker1 -
      There is something I was wondering on:
      Will you allow this to run Rom Hacks at all?
      I came across a UO CPS2PSP (u1) Emulator that apparently came out within a cpl yrs ago. The only problem with it is, I dont think they finished it quite yet or even tested the Roms they say should run correctly (even the correct Roms). For Example;
      HSF2- Should work on a normal Release, but for some reason, gives a Black Screen that shuts down the PSP (Same with SFA2). But oddly enough, SFZ2(Boss Hack) works fine.
      There is the issue of some Roms that make a Cache File in Zip Format (SFA). When the Emu goes to load this file, it says that the Cache was made using a older CPS2 Converter (Official Release V22) when it should be updated to the newer Converter (u1 V23). Dont think they ensured this was working correctly either.
      Neo-Hacks 2013 = The Best Hacks Of Arcade
      - Site is in Spanish. Contains mainly Boss Hacks. Have one CPS1 Rom (SF2) which is just a Color Hack.
    1. STLcardsWS's Avatar
      STLcardsWS -
      Is it like RetroArch?
      Its a modified version of RetroArch. with some additions. More coming soon CaptainCPS-X is working on ver 1.01.

      ------
      @Smoker1 FBA uses the latest MAME romsets. So some roms you may be using may not work due to that reason.

      sometime earlier romsets will still work but some titles they will not. So it best to have the latest mame romsets.If this is the issue i am not sure but it something to look in to
    1. Smoker1's Avatar
      Smoker1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by STLcardsWS View Post
      Its a modified version of RetroArch. with some additions. More coming soon CaptainCPS-X is working on ver 1.01.

      ------
      @Smoker1 FBA uses the latest MAME romsets. So some roms you may be using may not work due to that reason.

      sometime earlier romsets will still work but some titles they will not. So it best to have the latest mame romsets.If this is the issue i am not sure but it something to look in to
      OK. Well I was testing around and found that SFZ and SFZ2 work when renaming the Hack to match the name of the Rom. But some of the Hacks need more to make them work. SSF2T Hack where you need to press MP+Start to work, you actually need to rename a Rom file in the Zip in order to make it work. Sucks I can not get in touch with the person who made the Hacks/CPS2 Emu
    1. JOshISPoser's Avatar
      JOshISPoser -
      weird spam we've been getting. should we report it or do you guys notice it quickly?
    1. STLcardsWS's Avatar
      STLcardsWS -
      Quote Originally Posted by JOshISPoser View Post
      weird spam we've been getting. should we report it or do you guys notice it quickly?
      Yea always report these.
      Post removed and user banned.
    1. iriquois's Avatar
      iriquois -
      is this better than FBANEXT?.....is it an upgrade or what?