Issue with MSX games

a1o1imous · 24 November 2021 16:59

Hello. I have issue running MSX/MSX2 games. I downloaded both fmsx and bluemsx cores, copied all the biosi, all the necessary folders to /system. Every directory is properly linked. I tried changing bluemsx_msxtype to MSX2+, tried enabling and disabling everything in cfg that was recommended across the internet, tried different paths to roms in case it was my OS language. I tried literally everything. And nothing works. fmsx gives a black screen and bluemsx fails to load content. I checked other console cores like for NES games and they work fine.

I’m honestly at my wit’s end.

Neofuuma · 24 November 2021 19:39

Can you create and post a logfile?

a1o1imous · 25 November 2021 07:09

[INFO] RetroArch 1.9.13 (Git 02898a4)
[INFO] === Build =======================================
[INFO] CPU Model Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460  CPU @ 3.20GHz
[INFO] Capabilities:  MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4 SSE4.2 AES AVX AVX2
[INFO] Built: Nov 13 2021
[INFO] Version: 1.9.13
[INFO] Git: 02898a4
[INFO] =================================================
[INFO] [Input]: Found input driver: "dinput".
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: RGB565.
[INFO] Version of libretro API: 1
[INFO] Compiled against API: 1
[INFO] [Audio]: Set audio input rate to: 48000.00 Hz.
[INFO] [Video]: Video @ 960x720
[INFO] [GL]: Found GL context: wgl
[INFO] [GL]: Detecting screen resolution 1440x900.
[INFO] [WGL] extensions: WGL_EXT_depth_float WGL_ARB_buffer_region WGL_ARB_extensions_string WGL_ARB_make_current_read WGL_ARB_pixel_format WGL_ARB_pbuffer WGL_EXT_extensions_string WGL_EXT_swap_control WGL_EXT_swap_control_tear WGL_ARB_multisample WGL_ARB_pixel[INFO] [WGL]: Adaptive VSync supported.
[INFO] [GL]: Vendor: Intel, Renderer: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600.
[INFO] [GL]: Version: 4.3.0 - Build 10.18.14.4170.
[INFO] [GL]: Using resolution 960x720
[INFO] [GL]: Default shader backend found: glsl.
[INFO] [Shader driver]: Using GLSL shader backend.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Checking GLSL shader support ...
[WARN] [GL]: Stock GLSL shaders will be used.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GL]: Using 4 textures.
[INFO] [GL]: Loaded 1 program(s).
[INFO] [GL]: Using GL_RGB565 for texture uploads.
[INFO] [XInput]: Found XInput v1.3.
[INFO] [Joypad]: Found joypad driver: "dinput".
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Video]: Found display server: win32
[INFO] [XAudio2]: Requesting 64 ms latency, using 64 ms latency.
[INFO] [Display]: Found display driver: "gl".
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[INFO] [SRAM]: SRAM will not be saved.
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_history.lpl].
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_music_history.lpl].
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_video_history.lpl].
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_image_history.lpl].
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading favorites file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_favorites.lpl].
[INFO] [CONTENT LOAD]: Updating firmware status for: C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\cores\bluemsx_libretro.dll on C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\system
[INFO] [CORE]: Using content: C:\Users\Desktop\Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp)\Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp).dsk.
[INFO] [Core]: Content ran for a total of: 00 hours, 00 minutes, 00 seconds.
[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core..
[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core symbols..
[INFO] [Video]: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Requires to run for at least 4096 frames.
[INFO] RetroArch 1.9.13 (Git 02898a4)
[INFO] === Build =======================================
[INFO] CPU Model Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460  CPU @ 3.20GHz
[INFO] Capabilities:  MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4 SSE4.2 AES AVX AVX2
[INFO] Built: Nov 13 2021
[INFO] Version: 1.9.13
[INFO] Git: 02898a4
[INFO] =================================================
[INFO] [Input]: Found input driver: "dinput".
[INFO] [Core]: Loading dynamic libretro core from: "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\cores\bluemsx_libretro.dll"
[INFO] [Overrides]: No core-specific overrides found at "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\config\blueMSX\blueMSX.cfg".
[INFO] [Overrides]: No content-dir-specific overrides found at "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\config\blueMSX\Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp).cfg".
[INFO] [Overrides]: No game-specific overrides found at "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\config\blueMSX\Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp).cfg".
[INFO] [Environ]: GET_CORE_OPTIONS_VERSION.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_VARIABLES.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_CONTROLLER_INFO.
[INFO] [Remaps]: Remap directory: "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\config\remaps".
[INFO] [Overrides]: Redirecting save file to "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\saves\Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp).srm".
[INFO] [Overrides]: Redirecting save state to "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\states\Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp).state".
[INFO] [Environ]: GET_LOG_INTERFACE.
[INFO] [CONTENT LOAD]: Content loading skipped. Implementation will load it on its own.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: RGB565.
[INFO] [Environ]: SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\system".
[INFO] [Environ]: GET_SAVE_DIRECTORY.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_DISK_CONTROL_INTERFACE.
[ERROR] [CONTENT LOAD]: Failed to load content
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: RGB565.
[INFO] Version of libretro API: 1
[INFO] Compiled against API: 1
[INFO] [Audio]: Set audio input rate to: 48000.00 Hz.
[INFO] [Video]: Video @ 960x720
[INFO] [GL]: Found GL context: wgl
[INFO] [GL]: Detecting screen resolution 1440x900.
[INFO] [WGL] extensions: WGL_EXT_depth_float WGL_ARB_buffer_region WGL_ARB_extensions_string WGL_ARB_make_current_read WGL_ARB_pixel_format WGL_ARB_pbuffer WGL_EXT_extensions_string WGL_EXT_swap_control WGL_EXT_swap_control_tear WGL_ARB_multisample WGL_ARB_pixel[INFO] [WGL]: Adaptive VSync supported.
[INFO] [GL]: Vendor: Intel, Renderer: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600.
[INFO] [GL]: Version: 4.3.0 - Build 10.18.14.4170.
[INFO] [GL]: Using resolution 960x720
[INFO] [GL]: Default shader backend found: glsl.
[INFO] [Shader driver]: Using GLSL shader backend.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Checking GLSL shader support ...
[WARN] [GL]: Stock GLSL shaders will be used.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GL]: Using 4 textures.
[INFO] [GL]: Loaded 1 program(s).
[INFO] [GL]: Using GL_RGB565 for texture uploads.
[INFO] [Joypad]: Found joypad driver: "dinput".
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Video]: Found display server: win32
[INFO] [XAudio2]: Requesting 64 ms latency, using 64 ms latency.
[INFO] [Display]: Found display driver: "gl".
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[ERROR] [Font]: Failed to create rendering backend: freetype.
[INFO] [Font]: Using font rendering backend: stb.
[INFO] [SRAM]: SRAM will not be saved.
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_history.lpl].
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_music_history.lpl].
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_video_history.lpl].
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_image_history.lpl].
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading favorites file: [C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\content_favorites.lpl].
[INFO] [Config]: Saved new config to "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\retroarch.cfg".
[INFO] [Core]: Content ran for a total of: 00 hours, 00 minutes, 00 seconds.
[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core..
[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core symbols..
[INFO] [Core Options]: Saved core options file to "C:\Users\Desktop\RetroArch em\RetroArch-Win64\retroarch-core-options.cfg"
[INFO] [Video]: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Requires to run for at least 4096 frames.
[INFO] [Video]: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Requires to run for at least 4096 frames.

Neofuuma · 26 November 2021 13:53

@a1o1imous I had some time this morning to try both cores running Dig Dug (Japan) for MSX1. fMSX indeed just sits there at a black screen, but blueMSX made it through the boot and into the game.

I’ll try some more this afternoon, but that’s my start point.

a1o1imous · 26 November 2021 16:25

Thank you for your time. I tried Dig Dug as well in case there’s some discrepancy between different games but the result was the same.

Duimon · 26 November 2021 22:39

I’ll do some testing also. At one point I had MSX running fairly well. Maybe something has changed. My first thought would be to try a bios from a different source.

Neofuuma · 27 November 2021 05:27

@a1o1imous Ok found the game you were trying - Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp)\Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp) - I do have it running in blueMSX (git cfc1df4). Still nothing through fMSX.

Just making sure, as you said you have all the bios files copied - do you have the “Databases” and “Machines” directories that are needed from a full standalone blueMSX emulator installation in the \system directory of Retroarch?

a1o1imous · 27 November 2021 06:33

Any suggestions?

Naturally. I even re-linked the directory manually; still nothing.

Duimon · 27 November 2021 06:57

None yet. I’ll get you know if I have any luck. I have family here for the next couple of days so my time on the PC is limited.

Duimon · 27 November 2021 14:44

I tried the “Silviana (1989)(Pack In Video)(jp)” in both cores and it ran without issues OTB.

In the case of BlueMSX I just used the folders from the current upstream.

For the second, since it works for me, I still recommend trying BIOS from an alternate source. In my experience corrupt BIOS is usually the culprit in RA.

(Or misc config issues from left-over configs. Although in this case I am using an active install, you could try installing RA from scratch.)

a1o1imous · 27 November 2021 16:21

Okay, some progress here, I was able to get RA to run the cores at least. However I still can’t play the game, it only gets me to the blue MSX screen.

Duimon · 27 November 2021 17:51

For fMSX you need to change the MSX video mode to PAL to get past the black screen.

a1o1imous · 27 November 2021 20:37

Okay so I was able to get bluemsx to run the game. Thank god for that.

However, I still have an issue with this whole situation. I can’t get RA to run the game in fullscreen properly. If ‘windowed fullscreen’ is enabled the fullscreen always switches to the smallest default window image size. If ‘windowed fullscreen’ is disabled the fullscreen never works properly with the custom width/height. So far the best option seems to be to just run the game in windowed mode which allows easy automatic scaling with correct aspect ratio. I wish RA automatically fit the image to the appropriate fullscreen like Mesen, snes9x or Kega.

Hari-82 · 27 November 2021 20:59

Hi, just tried Silviana and it works for me with blueMSX and also with fMSX (switching from MSX2+ to MSX). Both of them in full screen with no issues, I’m on windows 10.

a1o1imous · 27 November 2021 22:18

Can you post a screenshot of how the game looks in fulscreen for you. And also your video and scaling settings?

Hari-82 · 27 November 2021 22:49

fMSX - no shaders - scaling core provided, no integer scaling

BlueMSX - with HSM + Duimon’s bezel preset (scaling: full, no integer scaling)

a1o1imous · 27 November 2021 23:10

Ah see, full screen no integer screws up the pixels. But with integer it doesn’t upscale higher than the windowed resolution.

Hari-82 · 27 November 2021 23:21

that is not about full-screen or windowed but if you use integer scaling or not. the size (better yet, how much of the screen you can fill) of the integer scaled image depends on the resolution of your screen.

a1o1imous · 27 November 2021 23:23

It is about integer because I hit overscale and now it’s perfect in full screen.

Hari-82 · 27 November 2021 23:29

yes, you can use overscale or manually set 5x on both axis, luckily with msx there is some unused space so you can still see the whole playing area.

this is integer scaled x5 on my 1080 monitor