New Emulator Features....

[abigsmurf]

Can we stop with this pointless post/flame/insult/rebuttle cycle and try to bring this topic back to the issue at hand which does actually bring up some interesting points.

Suppose you're a dev who ports an emulator they've previously done on GP32 or another platform and finds that it runs around full speed with minimal optimisation and because of all the work you did on the previous version, the compatibility it top notch too. What do you do if you want to still be an active dev in the community? You could move on to another emulator but it's likely you'll be competing with a more established emulator for that platform, you could help with someone else's emulator but you don't receive as much credit as a project done by yourself (and there is a certain buzz to programming something all by yourself).

The other option however is you stick with your emulator and try to add new gameplay or technical features to enhance it. You could aim to be the first dev to implement 2 player via wireless SD, you could take that idea further and implement netplay. We're gonna end up with many more platforms with full speed emulation this time around so speculation on additional features that could be implemented isn't something that should be considered Taboo imho.

 

[OMars]

I'm just saying, now that we have a new console to work with, I think we should add extra features(that's why I said I don't want to feel like I'm playing a gp32_console :blink: ). Once the emulation is at a perfect speed, go ahead and add features(you don't have to ).

Remember YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD THESE FEATURES!!!!!!

 

[x68000]

IMO i think that gp32 emulators, for md/genesis, pc engine and nes are fantastic. Still the best on any handheld for me.

So for now, the gp32 is STILL the emu handheld of choice.

 

[Hanz™]

To be honest if we take an example such as DRMD, I would much prefer that compatibility/speed is increased than extra features are added.

 

[x68000]

accurate emulation is the only important factor - being able to play your only music instead of the games own BGM is...... bizzare!

 

[abigsmurf]

accurate emulation is the only important factor - being able to play your only music instead of the games own BGM is...... bizzare!

​

I Dunno hacking Final Fantasy games to use the music from the Black mages instead of the normal BGMs would pwn quite a bit

 

[Ninjia^]

The only thing that I would really like to see is an MP3 player built into the GP2X emulators if possible. Its already been stated that multitasking is'nt likely so this would seem the only other feasible option for playing games while listening mp3s. Theres just something a little uncool about sitting on the bus blaring out the zelda theme tune in my view.... h34r:

Like a lot of people have already stated though, Id rather have a solid working emu rather than loads of extra options and I could always turn the sound off at the end of the day...

 

[iignotus]

The only thing that I would really like to see is an MP3 player built into the GP2X emulators if possible. Its already been stated that multitasking is'nt likely so this would seem the only other feasible option for playing games while listening mp3s. Theres just something a little uncool about sitting on the bus blaring out the zelda theme tune in my view.... h34r:

Like a lot of people have already stated though, Id rather have a solid working emu rather than loads of extra options and I could always turn the sound off at the end of the day...

​

If playing an emulated video game and an mp3 seperately at the same time doesn't work, playing them together at the same time won't work either. There is a huge difference between FM and PCM audio.

 

[Reesy]

As long as the emulator does not use both cpus then I should think it will perfectly possible to run an MP3 player as well as the emulator.

It all depends on how much control we have over the other cpu. The emulator could run on the main cpu and the mp3 player could run on the second cpu. You just kick off the emulator from the menu in the emulator and then carry on playing you game in the emulator ( without the emulated sound of course ).

 

[Goity]

And, say if we had a psx emu(a bit if!), it'd be cool if we could compress fmvs and the like.

 

[Draken]

I Dunno hacking Final Fantasy games to use the music from the Black mages instead of the normal BGMs would pwn quite a bit

​

That would rule. :blink:
But then again, they only have 1 or 2 songs from a few FF games, so you'd have to play the whole cd as a background, and hearing that familiar FF1 battle track during FF6 would be bizarre. :huh:

 

[Ringo]

If we're still allowed to post regarding the initial topic, I would like to have a go

While using my GP32 in the train pretty much every day, I've been thinking that some sort of auto-loading savestate would be a cool feature for several emulators.

The main purpose of this would be:
1: Skipping all those company-logos and intro's many games are plagued by.
2: Similar to above - skipping long loading times.
3: jumping right in were you left in those long strategic games.

I'm thinking something like having a dedicated savestateslot for auto-loading (like savetate "0" or "A" or something). I really dislike the way the autoloading savestates on the X-box work, since they autoload the last used savestate.

If you had a dedicated savestate for autoloading, you could use that for the menu or perhaps the start of level 1 if settings always are the same. Any other savestateslot are for "ordinary" use, and can be loaded when called for.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Hanz™]

If we're still allowed to post regarding the initial topic, I would like to have a go

While using my GP32 in the train pretty much every day, I've been thinking that some sort of auto-loading savestate would be a cool feature for several emulators.

The main purpose of this would be:
1: Skipping all those company-logos and intro's many games are plagued by.
2: Similar to above - skipping long loading times.
3: jumping right in were you left in those long strategic games.

I'm thinking something like having a dedicated savestateslot for auto-loading (like savetate "0" or "A" or something). I really dislike the way the autoloading savestates on the X-box work, since they autoload the last used savestate.

If you had a dedicated savestate for autoloading, you could use that for the menu or perhaps the start of level 1 if settings always are the same. Any other savestateslot are for "ordinary" use, and can be loaded when called for.

Just my thoughts.

​

Thats a very good idea. Reesy, add that to DRMD!

 

[junker]

ringo, what xbox emus are you talking about that autoload the last savestate? as far as i know, every emu on xbox gives you the option for autoload or doesn't use it.

 

[Alpha2]

Hmm it's already pretty easy to jump from the "load rom" to playing your save state in under 5 seconds in DrMD.

 

[Jarska333]

As long as the emulator does not use both cpus then I should think it will perfectly possible to run an MP3 player as well as the emulator.

It all depends on how much control we have over the other cpu. The emulator could run on the main cpu and the mp3 player could run on the second cpu. You just kick off the emulator from the menu in the emulator and then carry on playing you game in the emulator ( without the emulated sound of course ).

​

What I understood, the chip in GP2X has hardware support for all sorts of codecs, presumably MP3 also. Does that mean that MP3's could be played without any input from CPU? I assume it's similar to those simple flash MP3 players... I wonder how those actually work? What does a "new Samsung chipset" contain?

 

[Ringo]

ringo, what xbox emus are you talking about that autoload the last savestate? as far as i know, every emu on xbox gives you the option for autoload or doesn't use it.

​

Well I actually just meant that the autoload function *when applied* would be better if it loaded one particular save-state - instead of just the latest save-state. (my opinion)

Hmm it's already pretty easy to jump from the "load rom" to playing your save state in under 5 seconds in DrMD.

​

It is... but it doesn't make it a BAD idea B)
It's not like I'm demanding anything... just suggesting

DrMD IS pretty much perfect in terms of emulation (the only emulator I use ATM) - and any additonal features added would simply be luxury.
However an autoload-feature like the one I mentioned would do wonders for emulators of C64, Atari ST, Amiga etc. simply because of load-times.