NestopiaX 1.0

[nes6502]

NestopiaX 1.0

 

This is a port of Nestopia 1.40 to the Xbox. It features very high

compatibility (support for 213 mappers), Lightgun emulation (via the

Xbox controller), 4Score adapter support, and much more. Nestopia is the

gold standard for NES emulation. All games run fullspeed with zero

frameskip (including all FDS games, games using any of the software

filters (except HQ2X), and games running in high definition). The source

code is included.

 

The port features:

 

-Resolutions:

480i

480p

720p

1080i

 

-Software Filters:

None

Scale2X

Scale3X

HQ2X

Scanlines

Super Eagle

2XSAI

Super 2XSAI

AdvancedMAME

Simple2X

SuperScale

SuperScale75 (SuperScale with Scanlines)

NTSC (Simulate Composite)

NTSC (Simulate S-Video)

NTSC (Simulate RGB)

NTSC (Custom)

 

The first three NTSC filters are presets that simulate a NES connected

with Composite, S-Video, and RGB cables. All of the values that create

the NTSC screen are set to defaults. However, the user can control

these values and create their own NTSC version.

 

The following values can be changed. The values that each of the

presets uses is in parentheses.

 

1) Resolution (Composite = 0, S-Video = 20, RGB = 70)

2) Sharpness (Composite = 0, S-Video = 20, RGB = 20)

3) Color Bleed (Composite = 0, S-Video = 0, RGB = -100)

4) Artifacts (Composite = 0, S-Video = -100, RGB = -100)

5) Fringing (Composite = 0, S-Video = -100, RGB = -100)

 

For example, if a user wanted to use a sharper version of the

"NTSC (Simulate S-Video)" filter they would set Software Filter to

"NTSC (Custom)" and then set each of the values to what the

"NTSC (Simulate S-Video)" filter used.

 

Resolution = 20

Sharpness = 20

Color Bleed = 0

Artifacts = -100

Fringing = -100

 

Then they could increase the Resolution or the Sharpness value until

it looked how they wanted it.

 

-Hardware Filters:

Point

Bilinear

Trilinear

Anisotropic

Quincunx

Gaussian Cubic

 

-Flicker Filter. The value can be set from 0 (sharp) to 5 (blurry)

 

-Soften. The value can be set to Enabled (blurry) or Disabled (sharp)

 

-10x11 Pixel ratio for 480i/p users

 

-VSync can be enabled or disabled.

 

-The screen can be dimmed when resizing.

 

-Default screen adjustment. This is a global setting that is used the

first time a game is started. Any additional adjustments to the screen

from the Emulation menu are saved to a separate game specific ini.

Users should set the screen up for their TV before playing any games.

The yellow portion of the image represents the 8 top and bottom rows of

pixels. These rows were not usually visible on TVs and developers often

wrote garbage graphics there. If you do not wish to see this, then

resize the image so that the blue color is visible. If you wish to see

all of the screen (garbage and all) then resize the image so that the

yellow and blue are visible. However, each game saves it's own ini file,

so you can set this image as the default and then modify the screen on

a per-game basis if needed.

 

-FPS display can be enabled or disabled. All games run at 60 FPS unless

using the HQ2X filter. However, some games run at 60 FPS even with this

filter.

 

-You can set the type of auto generated palette (colors) Nestopia

uses: RGB or YUV.

 

-You can specify an external palette file if you do not like the colors

Nestopia generates for a specific game. Put .pal files in the palette

directory. A custom palette must be selected and Color type must be set

to Custom.

 

-The GUI sound effects can be disabled or enabled.

 

-The volume for the GUI background music can be adjusted.

 

-Simulated Surround Sound can be enabled or disabled. This should

only be enabled if the Xbox is connected to a surround sound

system.

 

-The emulated volume can be adjusted in the Sound menu or by using the

right analog stick during emulation.

 

-Rewind sound can be disabled.

 

-Command line launching. Parameter one must be the full path to the

emulator. Parameter two is the name of the ROM without the path. This

must be a zip file name. The emulator assumes the ROM is at the

location of the ROM path specified in the Path.ini.

 

UnleashX example:

 

This line was added to the Config.xml file:

 

<Item Action="G:\Games\Emulation\NestopiaX\default.xbe"

Arg1="Super Mario Bros. (W) (!).zip">Super Mario Bros</Item>

 

-All buttons can be configured.

 

-Turbo settings for all buttons.

 

-The turbo speed can be adjusted. The higher the number, the slower the

turbo. Some games will not work with certain turbo speed settings. This

will need to be changed for some games.

 

-Support for 4 emulated gamepads

 

-Lightgun emulation. Set Controller one to Gamepad and Controller two to

Lightgun. The on screen crosshair is controlled with Xbox controller

one. The Lightgun trigger is controlled from the Gamepad 1 NES A button

setting. Lightgun emulation is not compatible with the NTSC filter.

 

-The speed of the Lightgun cursor can be adjusted.

 

-The color of the Lightgun cursor can be changed. For example, a black

cursor cannot always be seen in some games because the background color

is black.

 

-The Lightgun cursor can be enabled or disabled. This is only needed for

one game that I know of: Nintendo World Championship. This game requires

that controller one is set to Gamepad and controller two is set to

Lightgun. Otherwise, it won't start. However, the game does not use a

Lightgun so there is no need to see a Lightgun cursor on the screen.

Set the Lightgun cursor to disabled to fix this.

 

-Fast forward can be mapped to any button.

 

-Real time rewind can be mapped to any button.

 

-VS Coin 1 and Coin 2 can be mapped to any button

 

-Alternate ways to display the in game emulation menu. This will be

useful for players who use controllers without a right analog stick.

 

The choices are:

 

Right Analog Click

Left Trigger + Right Trigger

Back + Start

Left Trigger + Back

Right Trigger + Back

 

-The GUI and NES Player one can be controlled from any of the four XBOX

controller ports. Set DefaultController to 0, 1, 2, or 3 to control the

GUI and NES Player one from XBOX controller 1, 2, 3, or 4. This can only

be changed by editing the D:\ini\NestopiaX.ini file.

 

-Nearly everything in the GUI can be configured.

 

-Support for all the Xbox partitions and DVD drive. The Drive letters

are (C, E, F, G, X, Y, Z, and R for the DVD-ROM). DVD discs must be

created from XISOs. Otherwise the ROMs will not be found.

 

-All Option settings from the Main Menu serve as the global settings.

These settings are used if a game has never been started. When a game

has started, changing the settings apply only to that game. For example,

if you know that you want to map Rewind to the XBOX Black button, then

instead of having to change the default setting for each game, change

the global value. Then every game will use that value from the start.

 

-Automatic boxart screenshot support. If a screenshot is a boxart image,

then the GUI will display it correctly.

 

-Dual preview support. If a video and image are found, then both are

displayed simultaneously.

 

-Option to disable the video preview audio

 

-Each game supports eight screenshots

 

-Screenshots can by cycled by pressing left or right on the right analog

stick.

 

-Press the Start button to view a game's images in the image viewer

Press left and right on the D-Pad to cycle to the next or previous

image. Use the left and right analog sticks to move or zoom the

image.

 

-Analog scrolling is supported via the left and right analog triggers.

 

-Pressing left or right on the D-Pad will skip to the next/previous

letter of the alphabet.

 

-Favorites support. Select a game and press the White button to add it

to the favorites list. While viewing the Favorites list, press the

White button to delete the favorite.

 

-Pressing the Y button will jump to the top of the game list

 

-Three skins are included. One for 480i/p, 720p, and 1080i. Users should

choose an HD skin if they want to run Nestopia in HD.

 

-DVD support. ROMs can be read off a DVD created from an XISO. Set the

ROM path to R:

 

-Basic ROM name display support. For example:

"Super Mario Bros 2 (PROG0) (U) (!).zip" will be displayed as

"Super Mario Bros. 2"

 

-FDS game support. Put the FDS BIOS in the bios directory. It must be

named "disksys.rom". It must NOT be zipped.

 

-The FDS disk side can be set or flipped.

 

-IPS and UPS patching. Put the patch in the patches folder. The patch

must be named exactly the same as the ROM name. Zelda.zip should have

a Zelda.ups or Zelda.ips patch.

 

-SRAM and FDS saving support.

 

-Save State support. Each game supports 10 save states. A preview is

generated for each save state.

 

-The game can be hard reset. This is equivalent to pressing the Power

button the NES console had twice: Once to turn it off, and once to

turn it back on simulating a reset.

 

-The game can be soft reset. This is equivalent to pushing the reset

button that a NES console had.

 

-The sprite limit can be disabled. This will reduce graphics flicker.

It may cause emulation issues if games depended on the sprite limit.

However, it will make most game look better since the graphics are not

flickering.

 

-The region can be changed. The choices are Auto, NTSC, and PAL. If

Nestopia cannot determine what the region should be, then it will use

NTSC. Some games that were developed for NTSC consoles, and later

released in PAL markets, were not adjusted to run at the original

speed. That is why the PAL version of some games will have slow sound.

This can be fixed by setting the region to NTSC. Some games depend on

specific timing. For example, Mr. Gimmick is a PAL game that will have

corrupt graphics if the region is set to NTSC. If a game does not start,

then the first thing to do is to try changing the region.

 

-Screenshot support. Screenshots are filtered. For example, If a user

is using the Scale3X filter, then any screenshots taken will have the

Scale3X filter applied. Filtered screenshots will slow down the ROM

browser so it is recommended to disable software filtering if taking

screenshots.

 

-Built in cheat database with over 8000 cheats. These are text files

that the user can modify to add more cheats.

 

-Built in game Synopsis. This contains information such as tips and

tricks, codes, reviews, or general information about the game.

 

-Image viewer. This can be used to view maps, instruction manuals, or

strategy guides for a game.

 

-Game guide viewer. This can used to view FAQs or Walkthroughs for a

game. These can be found at www.gamefaqs.com.

 

-Up to eight screenshots per game are supported. The screenshot save slot

can be set to any of the eight slots. It does not auto increment the save

slot. Be careful not to erase a nice box art image, cartridge image,

etc... by selecting the wrong save slot.

 

-Movie playback support.

 

-Added option to reset all config files to default values.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Notes:

 

-ROMs must be zipped. Otherwise they will not be recognized.

 

-Here is an easy way to get a lot of high quality artwork for

Nestopia:

 

1) Download the RessurectionXtras screenshot pack.

 

2) Create a folder on your computer to convert the art

(i.e. C:\NestopiaScreenshots)

 

3) Create a folder called "Art" and a folder called "Convert" in that

folder.

 

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert

 

4) Create folders named 1 - 4 in the C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert

folder.

 

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\1

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\2

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\3

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\4

 

5) Extract the art to C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art

There will be:

 

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art\3D World Runner\0001.png

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art\3D World Runner\0002.png

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art\3D World Runner\0003.png

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art\3D World Runner\0004.png

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art\720\0001.png

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art\720\0002.png

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art\720\0003.png

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art\720\0004.png

etc...

 

6) Copy the Convert.bat file to the C:\NestopiaScreenshots folder.

The folders should look like this:

 

C:\NestopiaScreenshots (The Convert.bat file goes here)

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Art (All the Artwork goes here)

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\1

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\2

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\3

C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\4

 

Double click the Convert.bat file.

 

That will rename most of the artwork to match GoodNES 3.14

 

It will copy the Box Art images to C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\1

It will copy the Title images to C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\2

It will copy the Screenshot images to C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\3

It will copy the Cartridge images to C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\4

 

You now have high quality box art, title, screenshot, and cartridge

images for about 800 games sorted and matching GoodNES 3.14. This method

will still work if you do not like GoodNES names for your ROMs.

NestopiaX can delete all the GoodNES information from the filename and

only display the name of the game (i.e. "Super Mario Bros 2" instead of

"Super Mario Bros 2 (PROG0) (U) (!)"). Your games will match

the artwork, but display with the basic names.

 

To use these images:

 

1) Rename your ROMs with GoodNES 3.14 so that they match the art just

converted. You MUST use GoodNES 3.14.

 

2) Use whatever tool you prefer to make sure your ROM names are XBOX

compliant (i.e. less than 43 characters, no illegal characters, etc...)

 

3) Use the same tool and settings to make sure the artwork is XBOX

compliant (i.e. less than 43 characters, no illegal characters, etc...)

 

4) Copy the ROMs to the roms folder

 

5) Copy the images in C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\1 to the

Artwork\Shots 1 folder.

 

6) Copy the images in C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\2 to the

Artwork\Shots 2 folder.

 

7) Copy the images in C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\3 to the

Artwork\Shots 3 folder.

 

8 - Copy the images in C:\NestopiaScreenshots\Convert\4 to the

Artwork\Shots 4 folder.

 

The images can be cycled from the GUI with the right analog stick.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Installation:

 

1) Extract the archive.

2) Copy to your XBOX.

3) Now you're playing with power.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Thanks:

 

-The Nestopia author (Martin Freij), Linux (R. Belmont) and Mac porters.

I used the ports as reference or used the code directly.

 

-madmab and RessurectionX (and anyone else) for the synopsis.txt file.

 

-RessurectionX and anyone else involved for the artwork.

 

-Some websites (which I forgot) where I got the sample images.

 

-Mighty Mo for the cheat pack.

 

-The author of the palettes

 

-Anyone I forgot.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Why another NES emulator for the XBOX?

Nestopia is the best NES emulator ever created. It is the closest thing

to a real NES anyone can get. I always wanted to know how it would run

on the XBOX, so I ported it. I also ported it because there are some

games that do not work correctly on other XBOX emulators. Every user

should have two NES emulators on their XBOX: the latest mednafen_nes

(which is being constantly improved by madmab), and NestopiaX. Virtually

any game you would want to play will be covered by one of these two.

 

What are some examples of things Nestopia emulates that don't work

correctly on other Xbox emulators?

I am sure there are more, but I am aware of Micro Machines, Paperboy 2,

Final Fantasy 7, High Hopes (this demo really shows off what Nestopia

can do)

 

Can you send me a link to the emulator?

No

 

I added games to the roms folder but nothing shows up.

Are the ROMs zipped? Did you edit the Path.ini to change the ROM path?

If so, does that path exist?

 

I am trying to run games from a DVD but Nestopia doesn't see the games?

Did you create an XISO of the ROMs folder before burning the DVD? Does

the Path.ini point to R: (R: represents the DVD drive)?

 

When I select a game the Xbox freezes. This happens no matter what game

I select.

You may not have a complete installation.

 

Some games don't work or Nestopia freezes.

Is the game verified a good dump by GoodNES 3.14? Does it work on the PC

version of Nestopia? If not, it won't work on the port. Is the ROM

zipped with some strange ZIP protocol? Re-zipping the game might fix the

problem. Try changing the region and restarting the game.

 

I changed the region of a game but the old region was still used.

You must exit and restart the game for a region change.

 

I got a message that said "Nestopia encountered a problem". What does

that mean?

It means NestopiaX crashed. It could be a bug in Nestopia, a bug in

the new XBOX code, or something related to the game.

 

Nestopia is supposed to be very accurate but some games have glitches

(like Megaman 3 or Super Mario Bros. 3).

Those "glitches" happen on a real NES. Nestopia is emulating the game

correctly. Generally, if you think the game is emulated incorrectly, it

is more likely your memory is incorrect or you are used to years of

emulating the NES with less accurate emulators.

 

There are garbage graphics at the top, bottom, left, or right parts of

the screen. Why?

That's what a real NES did. However, you never saw it because most TVs

had overscan that hid this portion of the screen. Developers knew that

and they often didn't care if garbage was drawn there because no one

would ever see it. If you don't want to see this, then resize the screen

so it is not visible.

 

How do I get or know that I have "correct" colors. Does NestopiaX use

the color palette the NES used?

The NES didn't use a color palette. The colors were generated on the

fly. Every TV is different. The reality is, the colors you saw on one

game on your TV may not look exactly like the way someone else saw it on

their TV. The generated colors (Auto - YUV) Nestopia creates are about

as good as it gets in my opinion. However, if you want to use a custom

palette for one game or all games you can do so. Several palettes are

included. Some (like FBX2) are very close to what a real NES would

generate and some (like Gameboy Colors) are just for fun. If you have

your own favorite palette, then add it to the palettes directory.

 

How do I use a custom palette?

Set the Video option "Colors:" to Custom AND specify a Custom Palette.

Palettes must be in the palettes directory and be in binary form. How

can you tell if the palette is in binary? Open it in Notepad. If you can

read it, then it is not in binary.

 

What is the NTSC filter?

It is an excellent software filter that will simulate what the game

would have looked like on an old TV (color bleeding, distortion, dot

crawl, etc...). The Color setting should be set to Auto - YUV.

 

Which software filter should I use?

It depends on how you want the graphics to look. If you want a more

original look, choose No Filter, NTSC (Simulate Composite), Scanlines,

or Simple2X. If you want a more modern look (i.e. what the game might

look like if it were released today) choose Scale2X, Scale3X,

SuperScale, etc...

 

Does Nestopia support Samba shares, real Xbox Lightguns, or online play?

No.

 

Will there be any updates to this port?

No. This is the only version.

 

Will you port <insert the name of your favorite program> to the XBOX?

No. My days of XBOX development are over. It has been a lot of fun but I

don't have the time anymore. Thanks to all the people who supported my

work over the years.

[destronger]

sweet!!

[The-Ice-Man]

Excellent work. I use Nestopia on the PC, a welcome addition to the Xbox emulator library.

 

My days of XBOX development are over. It has been a lot of fun but I don't have the time anymore. Thanks to all the people who supported my work over the years.

The nail in the coffin. We knew already, but it's still a shame.

[Bigby]

Wow, that was quick!

 

Thanks

[(XBOX)]

presents...yay thanks Nes DL now...

[silkworm]

Wicked

 

thanks nes

[Cospefogo]

Great News, NES6502!

 

Just a question... When you mean the ROMS must be ZIPPED you mean .ZIP, right?

.7z will *not* work, correct?

 

(My GoodNES 3.1 is all 7z zipped...)

 

Cospefogo.

[anis]

thanks

[PhilExile]

Wow, awesome! Its even a snow day here, perfect!

[fumanchu]

thanks for another new addition to the emulator scene nes.

[PhilExile]

Hey Nes,

 

Tried out Nestopia and its awesome! Thanks again.

 

I was wondering if there was a way to input a precise pixel height and width? I want to use 512 x 448 because I run my Xbox through a scan converter to force 240p. If anything is off slightly, it creates a weird distortion.

 

I don't mind editing INIs if that's the only way to do it. Just want to be pointed in the right direction.

 

Again, great emu, fantastic job!

 

All the best,

Phil