Blogged by buffi

This post isn’t about programming for once. I also tend to spend a lot of time in front of my PS3 and just found out something that is quite cool and seems to have been overlooked.

Echochrome has been out in the Japanese and Hong Kong store for a little while now, and apparently it supports level sharing! And not just that, but it uses your PSN friends list as well (you can also send levels to people who aren’t your friends). There is also a feature for “uploading to a public server” but I couldn’t get that to work. Anyways, I really like this step towards community driven content, and I hope more games will use it. Here are some pictures:

The “Factory” for custom levels:

A test level I made just to try it out:

The send-dialog box:

Ingame friends list:

Sending…:

Transmission completed!:

Unfortunately Echochrome is scheduled for May outside of Asia, which is weird as hell considering that the version from the Hong Kong store is completely in English. There doesn’t seem to be any limitations for purchasing it for users outside of Hong Kong (I’m located in Europe) so there really doesn’t exist any reason to wait. Get a HK-account and download it now

buffi Gaming, Gaming Software

This guide assumes a basic knowledge about linux. Writing a step by step guide for complete beginners would take forever, and at the current state there is no reason for someone who aren’t a linux user (geek) to install this yet. I predict that eventually there will be distributions for PS3 bundled with media frontends but until then this is not for the mainstream audience. I take no responsibilities for what you do with your PS3. Don’t do this if you don’t know what you are doing (although it should be safe).

Some guy named cka at somethingawfuls forum hinted that someone should try compiling MMS (http://mms.sunsite.dk/) for PS3 since it seems kind of nice.
I gave it a shot and it worked just fine, so I might give a few hints on how to do this if you are interested.

Picture of it running (never mind the Swedish, it will use your own locales)

I did this using debian on my PS3 so my guide will cover how to do this in debian, but it should work just fine on any distribution, however you will of course not be able to use the same packaging tool (apt-get) as debian-users.

Step 1: Install debian on your PS3.
This might need it’s own guide… I used the debian live cd/installer from http://www.keshi.org/moin/moin.cgi/PS3/Debian/Live . I’m extremely pleased with this and concider it much better than YDL or FC5 for PS3 use. Try to follow the instructions (use the expert install) and it should be ok.

Step 2: Install ps3utils
Download ps3utils on your ps3 Available here.
As root do

dpkg -i ps3pf-utils_1.0.9-1_powerpc.deb

Step 3: Setup correct resolution
Most of the stuff here needs root access so open a terminal and su to root.
Create a file called “ps3video” in /etc/init.d/
Write the following text to it

#!/bin/bash
ps3videomode -v 3

Replace the “3″ argument in ps3videomode with your tv’s resolution as quoted from here

DO NOT ADD THE LINES BELOW TO THE ps3video FILE. They are just for you to find out which number to use.

Video mode ID:
  0:automode
  YUV 60Hz  1:480i  2:480p  3:720p  4:1080i  5:1080p
  YUV 50Hz  6:576i  7:576p  8:720p  9:1080i 10:1080p
  RGB 60Hz 33:480i 34:480p 35:720p 36:1080i 37:1080p
  RGB 50Hz 38:576i 39:576p 40:720p 41:1080i 42:1080p
  VESA     11:WXGA 12:SXGA 13:WUXGA

  full screen mode: 

ps3videomode -v 4 configures your PS3 for 60Hz 1080i and so on. I have a 720p 60Hz tv so I use ps3videomode -v 3.

Then make your ps3video script executable by doing

chmod +x /etc/init.d/ps3video

Finally make this script run at start up

ln -s /etc/init.d/ps3video /etc/rc2.d/S09ps3video

Step 4: Setup audio
Open /etc/modules
Add “snd_ps3pf” at a new line at the bottom of the file
Restart your PS3

Step 5: Install dependencies for MMS
First install pygame. You don’t really need this but is also sets up all of SDL correctly and will make it possible for you to use my script for showing the resolutions to pick later.

As root:

apt-get update
apt-get install python-pygame

Then install the dependencies as descripted in the mms help wiki.

apt-get install libimlib2-dev libsdl1.2-dev autoconf bazaar build-essential libxine-dev mplayer-nogui
apt-get install w32codecs libtag1-dev libsqlite0-dev libpcre3-dev liblircclient-dev libtool gettext

To compile you also need the xorg development package.

apt-get install xorg-dev

Step 6: Install MMS
Make a folder to hold the source files, change directory to it and do

baz register-archive http://mms.sunsite.dk/archives/2005-mmsv2
baz get anders@gnulinux.dk--2005-mmsv2/mmsv2--mainline--1.0.8

cd into the newly created directory and then do

./configure
make
make install

If no errors occur then it should have been installed correctly!

Step 7: Configure MMS
Open up /etc/mms/config and change some stuff in it

1. Make sure that outdev under “Output devices” is set to “sdl”
2. Set audio_dir to your folder containing music
3. Set mov_dir to your folder containing videos
4. Set mplayeropts to “-fs -zoom -sws 0 -ao oss”
(This stands for fullscreen, zoom, no software scaling, OSS audio)
5. Set v_res and h_res to your full screen resolution. For ps3videomode -v 3 this is

v_res = 1124
h_res = 644

If you are unsure about what resolutions are supported you can download a small script I wrote to find out (pygame required).

wget buffis.com/ps3/resolutions.py
python resolutions.py

6. Make sure that fullscreen is set to “true”
(if you want full screen)

Step 8: Run MMS
Write “mms” in a terminal. Hopefully it should start.
Read how to use the application at the mms-wiki.
http://mms.kicks-ass.org/wiki/index.php/MMS_Basics

And now you are done!
The possibility of me forgetting something to write in this guide is rather high as I’m simply trying to backtrack my actions from earlier today. If anyone run into issues drop a comment and I’ll reply as fast as I can!

buffi Gaming, Gaming Software, Programming & scripting

Got my PS3 today. Decided to try and compile pygame for Yellow Dog Linux since well… it should work. It did

Compiling all of the dependencies and the pygame made it possible for me to run stuff at decent speed. Its not exactly fast, but absolutely fast enough to develop graphical user interfaces and small games.
Since python is such a high level language you are of course limited to a single SPE, which isn’t very nice, but well… it works
UPDATE: I wrote this line before actually reading anything about the functionality of the CELL. I obviously mean that you are limited to the PPE, and can’t access any SPE.

If people want me to I can write a guide for compiling pygame for PS3, but it’s pretty much the same as compiling it for any other platform… Simply install all dependencies for SDL, then SDL and SDL_mixer, SDL_image and so on and top it all of with pygame.

buffi Gaming, Programming & scripting, Python

So you wanna be like all the other cool dudes and have a Sanwa modded Hori Real Arcade Pro?
Nowadays everyone and their mother has a Sanwa-modded stick, but I still couldn’t find any decent guide for how to actually do it, even though it is really simple if you have any experience in the field of not being a moron.

However, if you are an American or simply just want to doublecheck that you are doing everything right, a guide would be nice so here it is.

When the stick is already open, why not also put in an octagonal gate and a new balltop? This is even easier so it shouldnt really require a guide but here it is anyways.

Step 1. Buy parts (duh)

Get the following (for each stick to mod):
8 sanwabuttons (standard size)
1 octagonal gate (optional)
1 cool new balltop (optional) (I used the mesh-thingies)

You can get these parts in Japan or on the interweb.

Step 2. Get tools

You need:
A “normalsized” starshaped screwdriver
A bolt-remover-thingie
A flat headed screwdriver (optional, but makes things easier)

If you don’t know where to get tools you shouldn’t be doing this.

Step 3. Unscrew the bottom screws

Flip the HRAP upside down and locate the 8 screws at the bottom. Unscrew all of them and remove the bottom plating. It might stick a little so you can use the flat headed screwdriver to make this easier.
You will now see a big hunk of plastic.

Step 4. Locate and unscrew bolts at the bottom

There are 6 bolts located under the screws that you can see at the top of the stick. Remove these. Remove the screws also.

Step 5. Remove cover

Turn the stick back so that it is standing correctly and you will notice that the top plate is loose. It is however still connected by wires to the PCB so just lift it up and flip it upsidedown so that you have easy access to the components.

Step 6. Remove quick connects and add new buttons

Remove the quick connects from one of the buttons by plying it of with the flat screwdriver. Remove the button from the mounting plate and snap in a new Sanwa(TM) one in its place. Then refit the quick connects on the new button.
Repeat this until all buttons are in place.

Step 7 (Optional for balltop). Change balltop

Locate the middle of the bottom of the joystick and insert your flat headed screwdriver in the flat headed screwdriver shaped area. Then hold it in position as you unscrew the balltop from the other side of the mounting plate. Then refit your new balltop and tighten it with the screwdriver.

Step 8 (Optional for octagate). Change gate

Locate the piece of plastic at the bottom of the joystick that has a squareshaped hole in it. You will se that it is fitted on there by four “levers”. Remove these piece by pulling the levers inward to get it unstuck. Then simple insert the new octagate in its place.

Step 9. Put it back together

Do steps 3-5 again but backwards.

Step 10. Enjoy!

Finally you can get the fast responses that you need in final fantasy X. Start flaming forums about how cool your stick are right away!

buffi Gaming Hardware

IMPORTANT!: Hori released two version of the HRAP1. Only the first one of them has the seimitsu mounting plate. Mounting a LS3201 in a “new version” HRAP1 is a lot trickier

Nowadays everyone seem to think the Sanwa is the only way to fly. Something that isn’t all that common knowledge apparently is that a lot of japanese arcade fighter cabinets uses Seimitsu joysticks instead though.

What is the difference between these sticks then you might ask?

Sanwa sticks needs to be moved a lot more to hit the microswitches which registers presses in directions, which of course doesn’t need to be a bad thing in fighters. If you prefer it that way then thats fine by me, however if you only prefer sanwa because of the fact that “everyone else is doing it” then I don’t like you

Something that is pretty common knowledge however is that japanese shooter cabinets usually use Seimitsu sticks. In my honest opinion Swimitsu sticks and Sanwa sticks can’t even be compared when playing shooters. Sanwa sticks are way to lose and I can’t get any feeling of control when using them for these kind of games. In other games like puzzlegames or fighters however it’s pretty even for me. Ilike both Sanwa and Seimitsu but I’m leaning more towards Seimitsu right now.

Anyways… one of the most common models of Seimitsu being used nowadays is the LS-32. The original LS-32 uses solder-on microswitches for its connection which isn’t a bad thing (soldered connections usually are better than pinconnector connections). However in this mod we are going to use the newer LS-32-01 which uses a 5pin header. The reason for this is that the stock Hori Real Arcade pro uses a Sanwa JLF-TP-8Y-SK which also use this header. This means that we can completely avoid soldering anything. There seem to be a few difference about the mounting of the sticks though, but it’s easily solvable.

Anyways, here goes…

Step 1: Buy parts

Parts needed:
1 LS-32-01

Step 2: Get tools

Tools needed:
Star shaped screwdriver or Electric Screw Fastener
Flat header screwdriver
Bolt remover thingie
Knife

Step 3. Unscrew the bottom screws

Flip the HRAP upside down and locate the 8 screws at the bottom. Unscrew all of them and remove the bottom plating. It might stick a little so you can use the flat headed screwdriver to make this easier. You will now see a big hunk of plastic.

Step 4. Locate and unscrew bolts at the bottom

There are 6 bolts located under the screws that you can see at the top of the stick. Remove these. Remove the screws also.

Step 5. Remove cover

Turn the stick back so that it is standing correctly and you will notice that the top plate is loose. It is however still connected by wires to the PCB so just lift it up and flip it upsidedown so that you have easy access to the joystick.

Step 6. Remove the balltop

Locate the middle of the bottom of the joystick and insert your flat headed screwdriver in the flat headed screwdriver shaped area. Then hold it in position as you unscrew the balltop from the other side of the mounting plate. There is also 2 plastic pieces for the joystick on the balltop. Remove these aswell.

Step 7. Remove connector

For some reason Hori decided to use a glue gun to prevent us from changing sticks. Locate the white 5-ping connector connecting the sticks with the cables from it. You will see that it is glued on. Use the knife to scrape away enough glue so that you can safely unplug the connector and the unplug it.

Step 8. Remove old joystick

The joystick is fastened with 4 screws. Remove these and then put away the old stick. You can probably sell it on ebay or something later.

Step 9. Insert Seimitsu joystick

Here is the part that can be a bit tricky. You will notice that if you try to fit the stick the same way that the Sanwa was facing with the connector in the same direction it wont fit. If you however flip it 90 degrece then it fits like a charm. Rotate the stick so that the 5pin connector is facing down on the stick (away from the autofire hole that is) and then screw it in with 1 screw each on the left and right side (yup, that will be enough)

This means that you cant simple plug in the old connector as it will be mapped wrong. The solution for this is in the next step.

Step 10. Rotate the controller PCB
Under the stick you will see a few things. First a blue plastic restrictor. Under that one a smaller blue restrictor and under that one a metal plate securing a printed circuit board containing the switches for the stick. You need to remove the restrictors, unscrew this plate and rotate the PCB so the 5pin connector socket is facing the same way that the sanwa-sticks connector was facing. Then simply plug in the connector and everything should work.

Unfortunately I can’t find my pictures of this, but it is rather straight forward.

Step 11. Test it

Put the flat plastic protector back on the top of the stick and then screw on the balltop of your choice. The plastic stick shaft protector from the sanwa won’t fit a seimitsu so just put that one aside.

Now everything should be mounted so flip the component plate back to its regular position and plug it into your ps2 to check that you made step 10 correctly. If for an example pushing up on the stick results in the ps2 registering right then just switch those cables and so on, but hopefully it should be fint. Doublechecking is always good anyways.

Step 12. Put it back together

Do step 3-5 but backwards.

Step 13. Enjoy!

Shooters might actually be playable with a stick now

buffi Gaming Hardware