PCSX2 - mdeguzis/RetroRig GitHub Wiki

• About AntiMicro
• Configuration File Locations
• BIOS Files
• System Requirements
• Default Settings
• Running Games with PCSX2 Under RetroRig
• Troubleshooting
• Known games to have issues with PCSX2

PCSX2 is a free and open-source PlayStation 2 emulator for Windows, Linux and OS X and currently the only known Playstation 2 emulator capable of running commercial games.

PCSX2, like its predecessor project PCSX (a PlayStation emulator), is based on a PSEmu Pro spec plug-in architecture, separating several functions from the core emulator. These are the graphics, audio, input controls, CD/DVD drive, and USB and FireWire (i.LINK) ports. Different plug-ins may produce different results in both compatibility and performance. Additionally, PCSX2 requires a copy of the PS2 BIOS, which is not available for download from the developers, due to the copyright concerns and legal issues associated with it. At present, PCSX2 is not compatible with PlayStation games. PSX games can be played by using GSDX with a PlayStation emulator such as PCSX or ePSXe.

The main bottleneck in PS2 emulation is emulating the multi-processor PS2 on the PC x86 architecture. Although each processor can be emulated well on its own, accurately synchronizing them is very difficult.

Source: Wikipedia

.retrorig/.config/pcsx2
.retrorig/.config/pcsx2/inis

PXSX2 requires a BIOS be placed in the proper location to function properly. In the current version used by RetroRig (SVN, 1.3.0.0), this typically is one file, but I have been told in IRC at times, newer versions may require sets of files or archives. The RetroRig/BIOS/PCSX2 directory is symlinked to the config directory of PCSX2 so you don't have to remember to place them in the typical ~/.retrorig/.config/pcsx2/bios directory, and use the structured ~/RetroRig/BIOS folders.

1. Use the main setup file, retrorig_setup.sh you used to install RetroRig, under RetroRig Settings > BIOS Loader. This function is needed, due to PCSX2's configuration file explicity needing the exact file name specified, in contrast to Mednafen expecting the file based on the ROM you are using.
2. Use the RetroRig Settings menu from the main XBMC window (beta only at the moment). Navigate to Emulator Settings > PCSX2. The emulator will launch, which you can then use to select your BIOS file in it's BIOS/Plugin selector.

BIOS files will not be provided. Please do not ask for them.

Known minimum system requirements encountered during testing include:

• Capable Linux OS¹
• CPU that supports SSE2 (Pentium 4 and up, Athlon64 and up)
• GPU that supports Pixel Shaders 2.0
• 512mb RAM
• (Quite possibly) For Nvidia and AMD Graphics cards: Non-open source drivers²

Recommended

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 3.2ghz or better
• GPU: 8600gt or better
• 1gb RAM

¹ This is subjective, most major distros will be fine, but the most popular distros should suffice.

² One thing I noticed during testing, is PCSX2 seemed to fail to run a game whatsoever when using am Nvidia graphics card, and the nouveau driver. In this sense, until confirmed by other testers and users, the suggestion will remain to use the proprietary drivers with graphics cards.

There are number of tweaks I have made to PCSX2, and they will always be up for debate. Trying to find a good middle ground on hardware support and the game looking good is always a priority.

• Renderer: OpenGL
• Interlacing: Auto
• OpenGL Internal Resolution: Custom Scaling (system resolution)
• Fxaa shader: enabled
• Shade boost: enabled (150, 50, 50)
• Texture Filtering: On
• Alpha Correction (FBA): enabled
• Edge anti-aliasing (AA1): enabled

It was quite an ordeal to find a cohesive solution to making PCSX2 gamepad-friendly and workable under RetroRig. The general process involves

1. Copying the proper ini files as usual
2. Including the utility antimicro (compiled form source) to handle modifier keys
3. Juggling the proper key sequence to properly close PCSX2's main GUI window, due to the --nogui option ever exiting properly form a console launch.

You can review the below example files (PS3 Bluetooth) to see how antimicro is involed:

• RCB's config file
• Antimicro Settings
• Antimicro Controller mapping

A comment in the controller mapping file denotes the SDL name is just for information purposes. Until further notice, this should mean that there is no need to swap out the MAC address. Further evidence of this is noted by when two controllers are connected to AntiMicro, there is no change to the file or two MAC ID's displayed.

AntiMicro will launch in a hidden mode when you launch a PS2 game. When you exit the PS2 game with RCB, Anti Micro performs a ESC + CTRL + Q key sequence wich exits the game (Esc), and then the PCSX2 window (CTRL + Q). This was deemed the most workable and safe solution. The PCSX2 will hover for about 1-2 seconds after exitint the game. I could not find a way to reduce this lag.

There are a number of things to try and get more stable or perfect playback. Due to this emulator just being recently added, scenarios and fixes will show up here over time. Please consider beta testing RetroRig for us to help identify game compatibility.

In testing, games such as Mega Man X Collection and Metal Slug Anthology gave me this issue as well. Try these settings to correct your gridlines:

• While the game is launched in RetroRig, perform Alt+TAB and select PCSX2.
• System > Pause
• Config > Video (GS) > Plugin Settings
• Texture Filtering set to Off

• Metal Slug Anthology - Metal Slug 6 does not work.