diff --git a/docs/guides/import.md b/docs/guides/import.md index bf1063e5..c9c7dcf0 100644 --- a/docs/guides/import.md +++ b/docs/guides/import.md @@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ open the [Systems menu], choose "Load ROM File ..." to open a [filesystem browser], choose the ROM file of the game you want to play, -and it will be imported into the library and start playing. +and it will be imported into the library +and (if possible) start playing. **Note:** If you want to import many games, @@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ run icarus directly. See [icarus] documentation for details. To play a game for a particular console from your library, -open the Systems menu, +open the [Systems menu], then choose the appropriate console menu item. A filesystem browser will appear listing all the games in the library @@ -67,10 +68,10 @@ higan requires a copy of the co-processor firmware as well as the actual game data. Unfortunately, like games themselves, -co-processor firmware cannot legally be distributed, -so you'll need to obtain -copies of the relevant firmware data -yourself. +most co-processor firmware cannot legally be distributed, +so you'll need to +obtain copies of the relevant firmware data +for yourself. To import a game that requires co-processor firmware, the easiest approach is to drop the firmware files into @@ -80,11 +81,11 @@ The directory should be beside the icarus executable, or it can be `%LOCALAPPDATA%\icarus\firmware` (on Windows) or `~/.local/share/icarus/firmware/` (on Linux). -When icarus imports a game that requires firmware -it tries to guess which firmware that game needs, -but it does not always guess correctly. +If the easy approach doesn't work for a particular game, +it may be because icarus has incorrectly guessed +which firmware that game needs. To ensure icarus uses specific firmware with a specific game, -you must first combine the game data and the firmware into a single file. +you must combine the game data and the firmware into a single file. For example, let's say you want to import *Super Bases Loaded 2* for the Super Famicom, which is stored in the file `sbl2.sfc` @@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ cat dsp1.program.rom dsp1.data.rom >> sbl2.sfc **Note:** For co-processor chips with multiple firmware files, -you must put the "program" file before the "data" file. +always put the "program" file before the "data" file. Wikipedia [lists which Super Famicom games use which co-processors][wpec], although not all co-processors require separate firmware. @@ -236,29 +237,25 @@ but fixes some bugs. Note that icarus' heuristics cannot distinguish between a game that uses the DSP1 and one that uses the DSP1B, -so if it cannot find your game in its manifest database, +so if it cannot find your game in its database, it will assume it uses DSP1B. Many games work just as well with either variant, but *Pilotwings* requires the DSP1 firmware, while *Ballz 3D* requires the DSP1B. -If you try to import a game -using the "Import ROM Files ..." option -in [the Library menu](../interface/higan.md#the-library-menu) -(or using icarus directly) -but it does not include the correct firmware data, +If you try to import a game with icarus, +but it cannot find the required firmware files, a window will appear saying "Import completed, but with 1 errors. View log?" -(or however many games were lacking the correct firmware). +(or however many games were lacking firmware). If you press "Yes", a new window will appear listing the games that couldn't be imported, and what problem was detected: -> [sbl2.sfc] ROM image is missing DSP1 firmware data +> [sbl2.sfc] ROM image is missing data: dsp1.program.rom; dsp1.data.rom If you try to import a game -using the "Load ROM File ..." option -in [the Library menu](../interface/higan.md#the-library-menu) +using the "Load ROM File ..." option in the [Systems menu] but it does not include the correct firmware data, nothing will happen, and higan will just sit there @@ -328,8 +325,7 @@ Rename the file and it should work beautifully. Playing a game that has a slot for a memory pak is just like playing a regular game, but after you have selected which game you want to play -higan will open another -[filesystem browser](../interface/common.md#the-filesystem-browser) +higan will open another [filesystem browser] to let you pick which previously-imported memory pak you want to insert into the game. If you press "Cancel" at this point, @@ -363,7 +359,7 @@ see [the BS-X Project](https://bsxproj.superfamicom.org/). Sufami Turbo games ------------------ -The [Sufami Turbo][wpst] +The [Sufami Turbo] was a special cartridge released for the Super Famicom in Japan. The Sufami Turbo on its own does nothing, @@ -399,8 +395,7 @@ Rename the file and it should work beautifully. To play a Sufami Turbo game, load the Sufami Turbo cartridge like any other game. -higan will open another -[filesystem browser](../interface/common.md#the-filesystem-browser) +higan will open another [filesystem browser] to let you pick which previously-imported mini-cartridge you want to insert into slot A. If you press "Cancel" at this point, @@ -416,7 +411,12 @@ to let you choose a mini-cartridge for slot B. If you press "Cancel" at this point, the Sufami Turbo cartridge will boot without anything in slot B. -[wpst]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufami_Turbo +If you play Sufami Turbo games regularly, +you may want to add the Sufami Turbo base cartridge +to the [Systems menu] +so you don't have to tell higan where it is every time. + +[Sufami Turbo]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufami_Turbo Super Game Boy games -------------------- @@ -475,13 +475,17 @@ is just like [importing a regular game](#regular-games). To play a Game Boy game in Super Game Boy mode, load the Super Game Boy cartridge like any other game. -higan will open another -[filesystem browser](../interface/common.md#the-filesystem-browser) +higan will open another [filesystem browser] to let you pick which previously-imported Game Boy game you want to insert into the Super Game Boy. If you press "Cancel" at this point, higan will crash, so don't do that. +If you regularly play Game Boy games +through the Super Game Boy, +you may want to add it to the [Systems menu] +so you don't have to tell higan where it is every time. + **Note:** Only games for the original, black-and-white Game Boy can be used with the Super Game Boy. @@ -510,7 +514,7 @@ such as CD-quality music and full-motion video. Although the MSU-1 was invented for higan, it is now supported by other Super Famicom emulators too. -The [SD2SNES][sd2snes] programmable cartridge +The [SD2SNES] programmable cartridge even allows you to play MSU-1 games on a real console. There are a number of homebrew games that make use of the MSU-1, @@ -548,7 +552,7 @@ To import an MSU-1 game: 1. If you have a single, large file with the `.msu1` extension, - that is a pack for use with [Mercurial Magic][mermag], + that is a pack for use with [Mercurial Magic], which can automatically set up a game folder in the correct format. Go read Mercurial Magic's documentation @@ -564,12 +568,11 @@ To import an MSU-1 game: there will probably be a patch file whose name ends in `.ips` or `.bps`. Get a copy of the correct version of the commercial game, - apply the patch with a tool like [Flips][flips], + apply the patch with a tool like [Flips], then import the patched file. - If there's "hardware" and "emulator" versions of the patch, see "One thing to be aware of..." above. - 3. Find the game folder in - [the game library](../concepts/game-library.md) + 3. Find the game folder in the [game library] that icarus created when it imported the game. 4. Copy the MSU-1 data file into the game folder. - This should be named `msu1.rom` @@ -601,17 +604,17 @@ Once the game folder is set up, playing an MSU-1 game is just like [a regular game](#regular-games). -[sd2snes]: https://sd2snes.de/ -[flips]: http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/1040/ +[SD2SNES]: https://sd2snes.de/ +[Flips]: http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/1040/ [msu1vol]: http://blog.qwertymodo.com/2017/07/the-msu-1-volume-fiasco-explained.html -[mermag]: https://github.com/hex-usr/Mercurial-Magic/ +[Mercurial Magic]: https://github.com/hex-usr/Mercurial-Magic/ Patched games ------------- The console emulation community has a long and vibrant history of game modding, -or [ROM hacking][rhdn], +or [ROM hacking], including fan-translations, new levels for existing games, and more. @@ -620,7 +623,7 @@ would be copyright infringement, the changes are typically distributed as "patches", a file containing a list of modifications to make, that can be automatically applied by a "patcher" tool -like [Flips][flips]. +like [Flips]. higan does not support soft-patching, so if you want to play a patched game in higan, @@ -630,7 +633,7 @@ creating a new, patched copy of the game. Then you can import and play the patched game just like [a regular game](#regular-games). -[rhdn]: http://www.romhacking.net/ +[ROM hacking]: http://www.romhacking.net/ Game Boy Advance games ---------------------- @@ -731,7 +734,10 @@ collect all the files mentioned above, then: create a `PowerFest '94.sfc` folder (the `.sfc` extension is important, but you can choose a different base name if you want). - 3. Copy the various ROM files into the `PowerFest '94.sfc` folder. + 3. Copy `program.rom` and the `slot-*.rom` files + into the `PowerFest '94.sfc` folder. + 4. Copy the `dsp1.*.rom` files into the `PowerFest '94.sfc` folder, + but rename them to `upd7725.*.rom`. To play *PowerFest '94*, open the Library menu,