Cannot run SD Snatcher, MSX2 [SOLVED]

Zering · 28 Oct 2020, 11:35

Hi guys,

I'm having issues trying to run a specific game, SD Snatcher for the MSX 2. I have tried both lr-bluemsx and lr-fmsx with no success. I am running a set of original japanese DSK files patched with the latest english translation by Project Melancholia.

lr-bluemsx starts the game, but I get a screen that says 'please insert sound cartridge'. I have tried changing the Cart Mapper Type under options, as it has a specific sdsnatcher option, but it had seemingly very little impact on the issue.

lr-fmsx does not boot the game. Instead, I get a BASIC screen which I have no idea how to operate. Other versions of the game, DSK files pre-patched with the first fan translation from 1993, did not boot in lr-fmsx either, although they did work in lr-bluemsx. However, as that translation is notoriously poor, I do not consider it an alternative.

If anybody could help me either get the game running on lr-bluemsx, or help me get out of the BASIC screen on lr-fmsx, I would be very grateful. The game looks awesome and the original Snatcher kicks all sorts of ass.

Thanks in advance!

Here are my specs :
Pi 4
Official Raspberry Pi 4 power supply
Retropie 4.6.7
Built from pre-made image on Retropie website
Various controllers and a keyboard and mouse
Controller used: depends, most of the time a generic USB SNES gamepad.

File: roms/msx2/SDSNAT1C.dsk
roms/msx2/SDSNAT2.dsk
roms/msx2/SDSNAT3.dsk

Emulator: lr-bluemsx/lr-fmsx

mitu · 28 Oct 2020, 11:43

@Zering said in Cannot run SD Snatcher, MSX2:

lr-openmsx starts the game, but I get a screen that says 'please insert sound cartridge'. I have tried changing the Cart Mapper Type under options, as it has a specific sdsnatcher option, but it had seemingly very little impact on the issue.

There is no lr-openmsx, you probably meant openMSX. Try changing the machine type from the default to 'Boosted_MSX2_EN' and make it default. Make sure you copy the BIOS files needed to $HOME/.openMSX/share/systemroms.

Zering · 28 Oct 2020, 11:44

Sorry, I meant lr-bluemsx, I can't even get openmsx to start, but I'm going to try and see if it can start the game.

mitu · 28 Oct 2020, 11:46

@Zering By default, without any BIOS files, openMSX cannot boot disk games. The OSS BIOS included by default (C-BIOS) can only run cartridge ROMS.

Zering · 28 Oct 2020, 11:49

@mitu I've got system roms, and I've found the right directory. But there's a lot of system roms.

Are any MSX machines recommended over others in this particular instance?

And naturally WinSCP won't let me copy those files over to the appropriate directory.

mitu · 28 Oct 2020, 11:58

@Zering said in Cannot run SD Snatcher, MSX2:

But there's a lot of system roms.

Yes, there were a lot of MSX machines and models :).

Are any MSX machines recommended over others in this particular instance?

openMSX has some made-up machines that should cover all expansions/upgrades presents on a MSX. Use one of 'Boosted...' models.

And naturally WinSCP won't let me copy those files over to the appropriate directory.

Copy them to $HOME/.openMSX/share/systemroms, where you should have write access, not in the emulator's installation folder.

Zering · 28 Oct 2020, 12:01

@mitu I'm copying the files over to that directory, but I get a Permission denied message every time I try. If I try to change the permissions, I get the same error message.

mitu · 28 Oct 2020, 12:18

The $HOME/.openMSX folder should be writable by the pi/installation user. Did you run openmsx with sudo ?

Zering · 28 Oct 2020, 12:21

@mitu No, I'm not even sure how I would use sudo to run an emulator.

Having said that I've just realized I'm in a different directory, and using WinSCP I've got no such directory under home.

How would I copy those files over using sudo?

mitu · 28 Oct 2020, 12:23

@Zering said in Cannot run SD Snatcher, MSX2:

How would I copy those files over using sudo?

You don't need to. The $HOME/.openMSX(hidden) folder is created when you 1st run openMSX, you should have at least $HOME/.openMSX/share. You can create the systemroms folder manually if it doesn't appear under share.

Zering · 28 Oct 2020, 12:32

@mitu Okay! So obviously I didn't have the .openmsx folder because I never actually got to run openmsx ; the only game I tried running through was SD Snatcher which was a .dsk file. So now I've been able to copy some system roms over to that directory.

I'm just a bit confused about the 'boosted' machines you mentionned ; is this an emulator setting or are there actual boosted system roms?

Edit : I have found the necessary system roms and set openmsx to the Boosted MSX2 EN, but it still won't run SD Snatcher. I get booted back to ES.

Edit 2 : Hmmm for some reason it reverted back to the default C-Bios, which would explain my previous edit. However when I try to set the Boosted MSX2 bios, the emulator hangs, forcing me to restart the system.

mitu · 28 Oct 2020, 13:05

@Zering said in Cannot run SD Snatcher, MSX2:

Edit 2 : Hmmm for some reason it reverted back to the default C-Bios, which would explain my previous edit. However when I try to set the Boosted MSX2 bios, the emulator hangs, forcing me to restart the system.

The Boosted_MSX2_EN is the name of the machine - you can choose it from the 'Hardware -> Change Machine'.

Is this how you're changing the machine model ?

Zering · 28 Oct 2020, 13:07

@mitu Yes. And then it hangs.

I know I've got the right system roms because openmsx is actually kind enough to let you know what roms you're missing, should you be missing anything.

It asked me for the following files :

fmpac.rom
phc-70fd_basickun.rom
yrw801.rom

Once I loaded all the roms in the appropriate directory, I was able to select this machine, and I even played some Metal Gear 2.
Now, whenever I try to switch to this machine, the emulator hangs.

Zering · 28 Oct 2020, 20:43

Does anybody else have any ideas? Lr-bluemsx clearly seems like it should be able to emulate the SCC cartridge needed to run my version of SD Snatcher, but it still doesn't work.

Edit: I got the game to work! I had to use a pre patched rom. Still impossible to use the SCC but it's running fine on lr-bluemsx with PSG sound. Thanks @mitu for trying to help.

AdamBeGood · 29 Oct 2020, 07:56

@Zering I'm going to try this today I think, I've wanted to play SD Snatcher for a while.

Folly · 29 Oct 2020, 08:24

@Zering

I have it also working in lr-bluemsx.
(no SSC though)

Tried in core option(use F1), different "cartmappers" to get SCC working. No effect. You have to RESTART !
bluemsx_cartmapper = "Auto"
bluemsx_cartmapper = "scc"
bluemsx_cartmapper = "sccplus"
bluemsx_cartmapper = "snatcher"
bluemsx_cartmapper = "sdsnatcher"

Perhaps we have to see in the logs.

Zering · 29 Oct 2020, 08:28

@Folly I have restarted several times with all those mappers. No effect whatsoever.

It appears there should be an option in the core to manually insert the sound cartridge that simply is not present.

Edit : the PSG soundtrack is pretty bland compared to the SCC by the way.

Folly · 29 Oct 2020, 09:35

@Zering said in Cannot run SD Snatcher, MSX2:

@Folly I have restarted several times with all those mappers. No effect whatsoever.

Indeed, I also had no effect !

Will look into it later on.

Zering · 29 Oct 2020, 09:40

@Folly This is relevant.

It appears the function does exist in bluemsx but I would guess that it hasn't been implemented in the libretro core for RetroPie.

AdamBeGood · 29 Oct 2020, 10:19

@Zering said in Cannot run SD Snatcher, MSX2:

Does anybody else have any ideas? Lr-bluemsx clearly seems like it should be able to emulate the SCC cartridge needed to run my version of SD Snatcher, but it still doesn't work.

Edit: I got the game to work! I had to use a pre patched rom. Still impossible to use the SCC but it's running fine on lr-bluemsx with PSG sound. Thanks @mitu for trying to help.

I get the MSX splash screen and then "Insert Sound Cartridge" also. Was the answer just using a different ROM or was there something else you did to get round that on lr-bluemsx? Thank you.

I am using a pre-patched Project Melancholia ROM.