DC problems help wanted

[RikuKaizo]

okay. . . im not exactly a genius when it comes to computers, but i know my way around them. Im new to emulation, but im getting to know it. I wanted to relive some old DC games, and I just went through Demul and Chankast before settling on NullDC. Im getting a little closer each time. Demul wouldnt even startup for me, and Chankast started but had glitched audio and video. With NullDC i finally got the games to load properly, but it was short-lived. Ive read all the forums and followed and learned all about BIOS, Xpadder, and plugins, and ive reloaded the BIOS and the emulator itself when i got stuck so where im at right now: NullDC loads to the date and time screen for every game, but before that the games were being difficult with my controller, such as not recognizing the start button or scrolling unendingly. I hadnt gotten past any title screens. Im on Windows Vista - which, so far, ive seen no one explicitly say i cannot use yet - and using a sixaxis ps3 controller - ive downloaded an emulation program to use it on my pc and it works great on my snes emulator - and everytime i start up NullDC now, there is feedback behind the sound that goes with the dreamcast symbol. Oh and im not so familiar with the rules to this site, so if i say anything against the rules, please inform me. Any tips that can be given i would be thankful. Ive just about had it with this. . .

[hookonsonic2]

What version of nullDC are you using?

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[RikuKaizo]

Should be v1.6 file reads as nullDC_100b1_6. Also there is a file named nullDC_100b1_6_mmu. Not sure what that one is

[hookonsonic2]

Although the version number may seem confusing, v1.4.0 r136 is the newest official build. v1.6 is and old beta that's several years old. I'd suggest using something new and more compatible first. You can download it here:
http://code.google.com/p/nulldc/down...DC_104_r136.7z

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[RikuKaizo]

ok i downloaded from the link, and it shows the same symptoms as the older version. My speakers feedback at the dreamcast symbol and it loads to the system date/time screen

[hookonsonic2]

Well, if it's going right to that screen, then you must not have a game loaded. Are you hitting the "no disk" option when you load a game? That will bring you right to the DreamCast main menu. If you have an actual game file (which I hope you got legally), then you just load that in and click OK.

If you're having audio problems, try adjusting the audio buffer. Go to Options > Aica > Config, and set the audio buffer to 2048.

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AMD Phenom II X4 810 @ 2.6Ghz, 8GB DDR3 RAM, NVidia GTS 450, 750GB HD, DVD +- RW w/ Lightscribe, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

[RikuKaizo]

Thanks for the audio buffer tip that worked. Im trying to run cdi images for Evolution 1 and 2, and Soul Reaver which should be on the compatibility list. I have the original dreamcast discs for those games and a friend of my brother's converted the disc data into cdi images I guess. I couldn't really ask him questions because my brothers no longer in touch with the guy. When I hit 'start' and choose a file, it goes to the date/time screen and I cannot set the date or time

[hookonsonic2]

Have you tried configuring the controller settings? I'm no expert when it come to controllers since I use the keyboard (noob). You'll have to try and mess around with different plugins. Go to the plugin select option, then try and select the Controller [XInput] one. Then go to Options > Maple > Port A > Config (or whatever it may say), and try and set it up there. If that doesn't work (or doesn't exist because I don't know what I'm doing), then go back to the plugin screen and select NullDC Controller, then go to Maple and Config and set up the keys. The keyboard may have to be your only controller until a better controller guy can tell you what to do.

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AMD Phenom II X4 810 @ 2.6Ghz, 8GB DDR3 RAM, NVidia GTS 450, 750GB HD, DVD +- RW w/ Lightscribe, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

[RikuKaizo]

Thanks for all your help so far! Ok i messed around with the controller settings and got that working so i could get past the date/time input screen, and the games are responding to the controls correctly now. Everything is working now, but there are minor audio/video glitches that arent hurting anything, but theyre very annoying. The last big problem now is i cant save my games. Should i have some form of memory card emulation also?

[RikuKaizo]

Never mind on that one. I figured out the memory card problem. As far as the games specifically: I still have minor audio problems with Soul Reaver, which might have to do with the CP pass or something because I tried toggling those settings and the audio started getting better, now I can comprehend the dialogue, but its still lagged. Evolution has no verbal dialogue to worry about, and the audio isnt bad, but there are flickering frames and color distortion here and there. Last is Evolution 2, which seems to read as an audio cd rather than a game. I read about others having that problem, is it possible to salvage that file by converting that cdi into another type of file? I have Daemon tools installed.

[hookonsonic2]

If you're ever having speed problems, try adjusting the options under Options > PowerVR. The options should be labeled according to their performance/accuracy abilities.

As for Evolution 2, my only suggestion would be to check and make sure that you have the proper region selected. Other than that, I can't help you there. I suppose turning that into a .cdi and running from that file may help.

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AMD Phenom II X4 810 @ 2.6Ghz, 8GB DDR3 RAM, NVidia GTS 450, 750GB HD, DVD +- RW w/ Lightscribe, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

[RikuKaizo]

I messed around with the PowerVR settings while in each game and found a different combination for Evolution and Soul Reaver that makes them run a bit smoother. Evolution has some minor visual glitches still that dont really affect the gameplay so I can deal with that. Soul Reaver runs very smoothly visual wise but CP pass and acceleration mode glitch it, but when I disable those the game has difficulty getting up to 50 FPS which is where it runs the best. And as far as Evolution 2, I was reading another thread on this page by Shadow Lady and one thread on 1emulation.com that both spoke about using Fastboot with games that cant selfboot. I followed those instructions pretty closely, using Binhack nd the end result should be a file named 'image.cdi' which should contain all the same data as the game, but that file wont create.

[RikuKaizo]

this is rather confusing. Well, I got Soul Reaver working well enough. thatll entertain me for a while. Worse case scenario I just find the gamecube version of the evoultions online for a few bucks. Thanks for all your help, Hookonsonic2!

[hookonsonic2]

I'm happy to have helped.

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AMD Phenom II X4 810 @ 2.6Ghz, 8GB DDR3 RAM, NVidia GTS 450, 750GB HD, DVD +- RW w/ Lightscribe, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

[undertaker4life]

Hi i am new to this and needin help with the dreamcast emulator on proper configuration i have nulldc 1.0.4 from emuparadise and i download most my stuff from there and zophar. anyways i want to know the best settings best plugins, etc. I havent messed with any settings yet but would like to use a controller. i have a ps3 controller that can be used on my pc with the ps3 cord that i use for nes, snes, sega, and ps1 emulators. How do i go about usin my controller on nulldc? I went to options>maple>port A>config keys for player 1. then a little message on the bottom of the control config reads "If you want to use joysticks try joy2key utility. Now i havent tried to just plug my ps3 control in and hit the buttons and see if it responds to it yet. I just would like some feedback before i go messing with anything.

[undertaker4life]

Also is there anywhere i can find information for compatibility lists because I would really like to play NBA 2K and maybe a few other games if there are any good racing or shotters or fighters.

[hookonsonic2]

Sadly, I can't help you with controllers. I don't own any, so I have no idea what to do about them. Luckily, some other members of the forum know how to use them.

As for finding the best settings, all you have to do is go to Options > PowerVR, and then just check each option. The options are labeled according to their compatibility and speed. If you're finding that a game runs slowly, just switch to the faster options.

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AMD Phenom II X4 810 @ 2.6Ghz, 8GB DDR3 RAM, NVidia GTS 450, 750GB HD, DVD +- RW w/ Lightscribe, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

[brea29aya]

I don't own a controller too. Lost it years ago, LOL. I just want to know what plugins to use for the controller? I'm using winhook keyboard but I can't find where to configure it. Am I missing something here?

[KrossX]

The Keyboard plugin emulates... a Dreamcast Keyboard, by mere chance. ¬_¬

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[brea29aya]

Oh, okay... Damn. Wanna play Code Veronica again. T_T