Armored core - no split screen option

matcr

Trying to play Armored Core in split screen, but on start screen, game defaults to versus(link).
Thing is, Armored Core is one of these rare games, that used Playstation Link Cable, and using emulator,
game thinks that link is established, thus making split screen unavailable.
I would give up there, but on recently released PlayStation Classic (in Japanese version),
there is Armored Core, with working split screen. PS Classic is ARM based, and using PCSX Rearmed, so it seems to be possible.

I have tested all 3 Armored Core games on psx, PAL and NTSC versions (USA and Japan), even going as far as
installing retroarch on PC and testing it with all 3 psx cores and bioses, from sph-1001 to scph-102c, thinking
that maybe due to removal of link port in PS One, the game will show split screen option, no luck there.

These series seem to be rather obsure in the west, i have found only one thread similar to mine:
https://www.reddit.com/r/RetroArch/comments/8z4xvs/some_psx_games_cant_play_split_screen/

Setup:
Raspberry Pi 3B+,
Retropie 4.4,
lr-pcsx-rearmed,
bios SCPH-1001,
Dualshock 4 via bluetooth

barbudreadmon

@matcr as far as i can tell from looking at the pcsx-rearmed sources, support for link cable exists but it is not built by default (and perhaps the game is not detecting the cable is not plugged because of that ?), maybe try to build it while adding -DENABLE_SIO1API to the cflags or something ?

Edit : you could also try by uncommenting this line : https://github.com/libretro/pcsx_rearmed/blob/28ea3e2d87c4e239d8853b10c4496f82feb9d982/libpcsxcore/plugins.h#L29

matcr

@barbudreadmon said in Armored core - no split screen option:

SIO1API

Thank you very much for quick response, I will try just that.
If I understand correctly, by enabling link cable support, the game will, in theory detect that there is no link,
and switch to split screen instead?

barbudreadmon

@matcr said in Armored core - no split screen option:

If I understand correctly, by enabling link cable support, the game will, in theory detect that there is no link,
and switch to split screen instead?

That's my theory

matcr

Unfortunately, it didn't work. But I wonder, if support for cable link plugin exists, where is said plugin and how to configure it?
Plugins directory reveals nothing related to SIO1, and in libpcsxcore directory, sio classes are responsible for memory cards.
By searching for SIO1API, I have found thread, where plugin named bladesio1 is mentioned.
Further searching for that, there is iCatButler's fork of pcsxr, where we have plugins bladesio1 and nullsio1.
So far any additional poking with the code has resulted in emulator crashing, but not giving up yet ;)

barbudreadmon

@matcr you might want to open an issue about this on https://github.com/libretro/pcsx_rearmed/issues

matcr

@barbudreadmon Thank you, I will.

matcr

https://github.com/libretro/pcsx_rearmed/issues/209

matcr

Update:
Split screen works on Windows10 with pcsxr - 1.9.93, bladesio1 plugin is present, then disabled. Without it at all, game behaves like on pi. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to include it into complie path for raspberry build.
Here is source for pcsxr with bladesio1 plugin included:
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+sourcefiles/pcsxr/1.9.94-4/pcsxr_1.9.94.orig.tar.xz

barbudreadmon

@matcr you should add this information to the issue you opened, it might help fixing it.

darknior

WOAW incredible if it is possible to play with it one day <3
Like i dream to use this option from many years on all the portable consoles, GB, GBA, GG ... to play games in two player mode on one TV ... but no one never add this to these emulators ... :(
I'm sure it is possible on PI3 to play with two GB at same time, and if you say it is possible for PSX too it is incredible ???

barbudreadmon

@darknior said in Armored core - no split screen option:

I'm sure it is possible on PI3 to play with two GB at same time

lr-tgbdual allows this.

@darknior said in Armored core - no split screen option:

if you say it is possible for PSX too it is incredible ???

You misunderstood the topic, actually the OP want to use the split screen mode on 1 console available for this game.

It is possible for any emulator to do this, the main principle is to run 2 instances of the machine, and emulating the link cable between those 2 instances, however :

most of the time, the emulator will need heavy rewriting to isolate both instances from each other (or the 2 instances would interfere with each other)
that means you emulate the machine twice, so gba or psx with link cable support is a no-go on rpi3 performance-wise.
it needs an accurate documentation on the link cable, which is not something you'll find easily for all systems (actually i looked into this for neogeo pocket some time ago, but couldn't find any documentation)

darknior

Thanks for your answer :)

@barbudreadmon said in Armored core - no split screen option:

It is possible for any emulator to do this, the main principle is to run 2 instances of the machine, and emulating the link cable between those 2 instances, however :

Yes i know this, it's logic :)

most of the time, the emulator will need heavy rewriting to isolate both instances from each other (or the 2 instances would interfere with each other)

Ok yes, it is a hard work :(

that means you emulate the machine twice, so gba or psx with link cable support is a no-go on rpi3 performance-wise.

Yes it's what i think, maybe GB can work fine ... or on Odroid ...

it needs an accurate documentation on the link cable, which is not something you'll find easily for all systems (actually i looked into this for neogeo pocket some time ago, but couldn't find any documentation)

Yes it's always the same problem. Or you must make some reverse engineering, but it is really a hard work :(

MudHoleCreation

Its not hard. You just have to hold R2 at the title screen, and the link word will go away. Making it possible to play split screen. Have 2 controllers setup. Hold R2 with player 1 controller at title screen. Link will disappear. I just did it.