59w ago - Today PlayStation 3 developers
opium2k,
Themaister and
Squarepusher2 have made available a PS3 port of SSNES (manual reader shader), which is a multi-system emulator for Linux, Windows, Mac OS X and BSD with roots as a SNES emulator.
To quote: Due to be released within the next day or two is version 0.9.5 of SSNES as well as the initial release of the PS3 and 360 ports. SSNES is a multi-platform, multi-system emulator with ports being worked on for PC, OSX, PS3, 360 and a few more I believe.
As I said, it's a multi-system emulator. Don't let the name fool you, it's not just for SNES games! It currently supports games from systems such as NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, SMS, GG, Genesis & FBA using selectable cores from various emulators to ensure the best compatibility, accuracy and performance for the end user.
To demonstrate the capabilities of SSNES and more specifically maister's manual reader shader I've been working on some implementations for the past couple months to show off just a taste of some of this shader's uses.
IMAGES:
Here are some screenshots showing some of the uses on roms for the systems that SSNES currently supports:
Pages of the manual are changed by the user with a key combination of (enter+Q or W) on PC and (Start+L1 or R1) on PS3.
The biggest limitation of the shader is your imagination. As demonstrated in the videos below, it can be used for things such as maps, guides, instruction manuals, cheats, passwords, etc. Additionally, the dimensions, positions and number of pages are completely customizable. For example, the Mortal Kombat 1 example is only 8 pages while the Chrono Cross one is 136!
VIDEOS:
Forgive the quality of the videos. My computer is pretty old
In Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES) I've used the shader as a map guide
Street Fighter 2 (SNES) as a moves list for each character
Bubble Bobble (NES) as a cheat sheet for all the passwords
Super Mario Bros 3 (NES) as an instruction manual
Bubble Bobble (Gameboy) Another example of displaying just a manual
Chrono Cross (SNES) Using the official Prima strategy guide
More videos:
- Golden Axe Warrior (SMS) with the original instruction manual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSy9RGK_oZI
- Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening (Gameboy Color) with the original instruction manual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr2BL5Ctddc
- Road Rash (Gamegear) with the original instruction manual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSpY7HcLco0
- Streets of Rage 1 (Genesis) with the original instruction manual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeXzEfo6ju0
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA) with the original instruction manual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5yh37wy1jU
- Kirby's Dreamland 3 (SNES) with the original instruction manual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahUzSLgzC0I
- Megaman X1 (SNES) with the original instruction manual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Px_7TuFEyQ
DOWNLOADS:
Due to restrictions on the PS3 I've created two versions for each download. The PC versions are better quality and zipped. The PS3 versions are smaller and in .PKG files I haven't tested them on any other systems but you're welcome to try.
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Maps (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Bubble Bobble Passwords (NES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Chrono Chross Strategy Guide (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Mortal Kombat 1 Moves List (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Street Fighter 2 Turbo Moves List (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
X-Men: Children of the Atom Moves List (FBA) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Bubble Bobble Manual (Gameboy) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Final Fantasy 3 Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Golden Axe Warrior Manual (SMS) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Harvest Moon Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Kirby's Dreamland 3 Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Kirby Superstar Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Manual (Gameboy Color) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Manual (Gameboy Advance) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Megaman 7 Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Megaman X1 Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Megaman X2 Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Megaman X3 Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Mortal Kombat 2 Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Mystical Ninja Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Out of this World Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Road Rash Manual (Gamegear) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Super Mario Bros 3 Manual (NES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Super Mario RPG Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Super Mario World Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Streets of Rage 1 Manual (Genesis) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
Super Gameboy Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
WWF Raw Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse Manual (SNES) -
PS3 Version |
PC Version
INSTRUCTIONS:
PC
- Unzip a reader to the directory of your choosing.
- Open ssnes-phoenix.exe and navigate to Settings>Video
- Next to Shader/Filter Settings click Open
- Next to Cg pixel shader click browse
- Navigate to where you unzipped the shader folder and select name_of_shader.cgp
- Back in the main SSNES Window click the large Start SSNES button
- -ENTER+Q / ENTER+W are used to change pages
PS3
- Place the PKG file on external media such as a flash drive
- Install the PKG on your PS3 from the Install Package Files menu
- Run SSNES and select the rom you want to play
- Open the Menu by pressing L3+R3
- Press Select to access the settings
- Highlight Shader Preset (CGP) and press X
- Navigate to: /dev_hdd0/game/SSNES10000/USRDIR/cores/presets/name_of_shader/
- Select manual_reader.cgp (it will take 5-30 seconds to load)
- Press L3+R3 again to exit the menu and resume playing your game
- -START+L1 / START+R1 are used to change pages
To create your own there are sites available such as Replacementdocs (replacementdocs.com/download.php) and emuparadise (emuparadise.me/magazine-comic-guide-scans/guides) where you can find strategy guides and official manuals. Not to mention the vast database of guides and cheats available at GameFAQs (gamefaqs.com). Feel free to use any of the files I've posted as a base. I can be reached here on Tortuga-Cove (tortuga-cove.com) or on Twitter @opium2k (twitter.com/opium2k) for any questions, problems, etc.
And of course, don't forget to check out the official forum for SSNES: http://forum.themaister.net/
As well as the github page: https://github.com/Themaister/SSNES
P.S. Thanks to Maister and Squarepusher for all the help.
I think is a good game manager
But i miss some options, I well love to have it supporting ps2 and minis also
maby make it as an extra option in the...
I haven't tried this emulator yet but it would be nice if the manual or whatever was able to be flipped with the second controller. In case you're playing with someone and they just feel like reading
Quite right. It is basically just eye candy in the form of optional DLC (much like backup manager themes) in the hopes that others might be able to come up with more imaginative uses for it.
These things such as game genie codes, level passwords, dungeon guides, etc are geared towards more of a niche audience. Personally, the moves lists for games like street fighter 2 are the only ones I'm likely to use myself but I didn't want to create readers of just that type in case it caused people to believe that's all the shader could be used for.
Just to clarify, the PS3 port has not been released yet. Squarepusher is still finalizing optimizations before it's release. My post was mainly geared towards the PC version with the inclusion of the PS3 stuff in anticipation of when it will be released. When the PS3 version has been released and posted somewhere I'll reply with a link and any pertinent information.
Side note: From what I'm told, the initial version of the 360 port will not fully support shaders.