PS3 LaunchPad (Unofficial addon for webMAN MOD) v0.17

[DeViL303]

I'm not using Launchpad, so I would be editing the webman mod mygames.xml to see if they can invoke the launch argument in the same way for .self files as they can for .bin files.

I see. Then that type entry wont work for you. The "psgm" command cant be used via the normal XMB xml format unfortunately. I wish it would.

 

[occassionallyaduck]

I see. It has to be within the "What's New" container app then to be able to call the psgm package manager function?

What about the Package Manager itself? I know XMBP+ uses the Package Manager and mods it. Is it able to call the psgm function?

While I'm disappointed, digging through the PS3 Dev Wiki to try and parse all this has been fascinating.

 

[DeViL303]

I see. It has to be within the "What's New" container app then to be able to call the psgm package manager function?

Yes the "Whats New" is different and allows these commands, Well at least nobody has discovered how to call those URI call from a normal xml so far. If you are looking into this it might be worth also looking into the PS vita URI commands and how they can be called, that is how I initially found the psgm play command, then some googling of that led me to a Sony PS3 xml that used it too.

For example here hykem mentions:

Hm, I wasn't aware this was new, I thought it was known already. Anyway, you can also do this through Vitasploit if you're on 3.18 or under.
Just call "run sceCallSupportUri("psgm:play?titleid=XXXXXX")". The "play" command has higher privileges than the "open" one, that's why it works.

I wonder can a similar method be used on the PS3 or does it have an equivalent of this? I wouldn't know.

What about the Package Manager itself? I know XMBP+ uses the Package Manager and mods it. Is it able to call the psgm function?

The Package manager is just made up of normal XMB xml entries the same as the mygames.xml basically, so I don't think there is anything there that can help with this.

 

[occassionallyaduck]

Thanks for the informative reply. I actually have an exploited Vita as well and have been delving into that a good bit as well. I'll make note of any functions that come up in the dev discussions that might be applicable to the XMB on PS3 as well.

(Still very sad there is no XMB on Vita. The Livearea design is okay but...)

 

[DeViL303]

Actually there is not a web command to launch a self from webMAN. I have tried a few VSH apis but for some reason I couldn't get them launch a self.

The scanning of roms or the creation of the XML is the easy part. The difficult part is to start RetroArch with the selected rom.

I have been thinking of different workarounds. One option could be create a "rom launcher" using the same method used by IRISMAN.
When a ROM is "mounted", webMAN could copy a "parameter file" to the folder of the "rom launcher" indicating selected rom. Then the "rom launcher" could be auto-started simulating clicks with the explore_plugin. The rom launcher would read the "parameter file" and start RetroArch.

Well this is the concept... the biggest problem is to get the time and motivation to do it


EDIT:
You can try this POC with:
http://aldostools.org/temp/test/webMAN_MOD_1.45.03_Updater.pkg

It requires to have installed also this:
http://aldostools.org/temp/test/UP0001-PKGLAUNCH_00-0000000000000000.pkg

Just testing WMM 1.45.03 , here is what I have done so far, put some SNES smc Roms in the dev_hdd0/ROMS folder, installed FULL version of 1.45.03, installed the above pkg launcher. and I installed Retroarch 1.0.2 . enabled the ROM scan in WMM setup, it finds my ROMs ok, I can "mount" them, the disc icon comes up and it auto boots it, but then I get kicked back to the XMB..So I must be doing something wrong. Its very close though.

 

[occassionallyaduck]

Just testing WMM 1.45.03 , here is what I have done so far, put some SNES smc Roms in the dev_hdd0/ROMS folder, installed FULL version of 1.45.03, installed the above pkg launcher. and I installed Retroarch 1.0.2 . enabled the ROM scan in WMM setup, it finds my ROMs ok, I can "mount" them, the disc icon comes up and it auto boots it, but then I get kicked back to the XMB..So I must be doing something wrong. Its very close though.

Can you try again with the latest Retroarch 1.3.6 build from the libretro forums? The name of the Snes Emu self was changed from Snes9x_Next to Snes9x_2010. So it may be that you need to be using the current build.

edit: Link to most current PS3 build https://libretro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6541&p=49601&viewfull=1#post49601

Will try myself when I get home.

 

[DeViL303]

I tried the 1.3 CEX build of Retroarch before I tried 1.0.2 and it was the same.

 

[aldostools]

I tried the 1.3 CEX build of Retroarch before I tried 1.0.2 and it was the same.

I tested with roms of SNES, NES, Genesis, Doom, PCE and they started fine on my system after have mounted them through .03.

I only had a black screen with SNES running the old emulator. It lauched fine with the 2010 included in the latest RetroArch.

I don't think it makes a difference, but I had auto-play enabled and I let it start it (without press any button after launch the rom).

Try with a different rom in .zip format, store it /dev_hdd0/ROMS/SNES (or /dev_usb00x)

**************

BTW, this test release has another new feature: convert any /net folder to .ISO on PS3.
(The conversion is done by ps3netsrv. So, do not ask for ISO conversion of local folders).

To do it, use one of the following commands:
/copy.ps3/net0/copy.ps3/net0/***PS3***/GAMES/folder&to=/dev_hdd0/PS3ISO/name.isoGAMES/folder&to=/dev_hdd0/PS3ISO/name.iso

or

/copy.ps3/net0/***DVD***/anyfolder&to=/dev_hdd0/DVDISO/anyname.iso

It might take a few minutes to create the ISO, depending of the bandwidth of the local network and the size of the folder. Also be sure that there is enough free space in the destination device where the ISO will be created; the function does not validate the free space before start.

These commands could work also with previous builds, but in this test release I fixed the default name when the parameter &to= is omitted.

 

[DeViL303]

Nice! Its working. Cool feature!

I put my ROMs inside a SNES folder, that sorted my problem. (dev_hdd0/ROMS/SNES/). Works with or without being inside a zip now.

If possible, I suppose it shouldn't scan the root of the folder ROMs if that isn't compatible with Retroarch. Also I wonder could it copy the name of the ROM (and system type maybe?) to the title of the disc on the the XMB when its mounted? (I mean so the disc doesn't say "PKG launcher" after exiting the game)

 

[occassionallyaduck]

Excellent! Incredible work. The PKG Launcher worked fine for launching the ROMs from "mount", and it was surprisingly fast!

Loads fine from hdd0, does not load from usb001 for me yet.
Sometimes PKG Launcher is only mounted to app_home and not the disc icon as well.
Folder icon spins (cause of missing icon I assume) and roms show as discs.
PKG Launch also works from the XMB icon fine once files are "mounted" and the path set.

Amazingly well done!
I'm really surprised because I expected the launching of the core via a shim (PKGLAUNCHER) to add some significant time to the startup, but it's actually near instant. This is incredibly convenient!

If you are using this, since the individual Retroarch cores look for their path when loaded from the main "retroarch.cfg" config file, if there isn't one they will create it, along with all folders, in whatever their working directory is. So placing a .cfg file into PKGLAUNCH's PS3_GAME/USRDIR folder with hardcoded paths to the Retroarch install folder will make the cores load with assets and shaders properly, instead of black squares.

 

[DeViL303]

I agree, this is a major feature addition IMO. Nice work @aldostools.

Some things that could also be done to expand on this if you have time/motivation, Im sure you have thought of some of them or better:

• Separating ROMs by system type
• Making it so the pkg launcher icon changes when a game is loaded.
• Making it so the title of the pkg launcher changes to say the name of the rom.
• Same with disc title.
• Or getting rid of the XMB icon for the pkg launcher icon altogether maybe, so the item can only be accessed via the disc icon when a ROM is mounted?

 

[Phil]

For some reason my refresh launchpad and webman setup icons at the top have vanished. where are they stored just to check can't seem to find them

 

[DeViL303]

For some reason my refresh launchpad and webman setup icons at the top have vanished. where are they stored just to check can't seem to find them

They are in the dev_hdd0/game/XMBMANPLS/USRDIR/IMAGES folder.

 

[occassionallyaduck]

Made folder Icon for the ROMS folder, should serve as a stand in for now.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Z4l5OoT8IfMVkwNzlTeFM2Uk0/view?usp=sharing

Edit: updated with slightly smaller font so it fits better.

 

[occassionallyaduck]

I agree, this is a major feature addition IMO. Nice work @aldostools.

Some things that could also be done to expand on this if you have time/motivation, Im sure you have thought of some of them or better:

• Separating ROMs by system type
• Making it so the pkg launcher icon changes when a game is loaded.
• Making it so the title of the pkg launcher changes to say the name of the rom.
• Same with disc title.
• Or getting rid of the XMB icon for the pkg launcher icon altogether maybe, so the item can only be accessed via the disc icon when a ROM is mounted?

Adding to this:

• Hide empty categories

Would be nice if possible. So it could only list the categories for which content was detected. Would simplify the list a lot for consoles, and for ROMs especially by cutting down on the dozens of unused systems if they get categories.

This is seriously fantastic though, I'm really blown away be how well this works. Hopefully the final version doesn't have to be limited to hdd only, but this seriously has me hyped. This is nearly everything running directly from webman, which is phenomenal.

 

[Phil]

They are in the dev_hdd0/game/XMBMANPLS/USRDIR/IMAGES folder.

Sorry to be a pain but for some reason when a last played game is there them 3 icons at underneath are blank do you know what could be causing this it's doing my nut in lol

 

[DeViL303]

Sorry to be a pain but for some reason when a last played game is there them 3 icons at underneath are blank do you know what could be causing this it's doing my nut in lol

You mean the Unmount, setup and refresh icons are disappearing when there is a last played game there? If so that sounds like an issue with too many items maybe...not sure, I havnt seen that before. For testing can you move some games out of your scanned folders and do a rescan and see if it changes anything having less games in there.

 

[occassionallyaduck]

N64 Color: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Z4l5OoT8IfZl9yeVJXN2l1MzA/view?usp=sharing

N64 BW Trans: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Z4l5OoT8IfOE8wUk4zN3p2cHc/view?usp=sharing

Figured I'd mock one up for a console logo quickly. Tried just writing them in text, but it feels kinda out of place. Doesn't work as nicely as the Playstation series of icons to force them all into the same fonts. The trade off is that their logos being scaled down *really* small means they get a little fuzzy. Still readable I think though. I personally think it looks nice either way, and it would be under a subfolder so if it's color it won't be too jarring, but the general icon theme has been monotone, the BW would match.

 

[aldostools]

Adding to this:

• Hide empty categories

Would be nice if possible. So it could only list the categories for which content was detected. Would simplify the list a lot for consoles, and for ROMs especially by cutting down on the dozens of unused systems if they get categories.

The feature is not intended to list all the games of your ROMS collection. Indeed, it's sharing the segment of memory dedicated for PSPISO, which normally is small unless you select the new memory profile: MAX PSP+

I'm not sure if I can implement subfolders for ROMS without impact the speed of scanning or the memory usage.
For the moment it will have all the roms for all the systems inside ROMS. The system is listed in the small label that shows the folder.

In the future I could change the scanning algorithm to list the roms from a separated XML linked to mygames.xml.

Hopefully the final version doesn't have to be limited to hdd only, but this seriously has me hyped.

The roms are scanned in the /ROMS folder of /dev_hdd0 and selected /dev_usb devices

The idea of a new icon for the ROMS folder is nice, but I would prefer one with this image inside the folder:

(If you have the image of folder alone, I can create the image that I'm looking for)

 

[occassionallyaduck]

That makes sense. For the time being I'm very happy with how it's working already. If subfolders are going to heavily impact scanning, then holding off until some day when there's time to put it into a separate scan and it's own XML might indeed be the wiser option. As it is, it takes a few moments longer to run a scan, however it is a worthwhile trade off to me to have it all integrated.

The only real bug I experience is PKG Launcher mounting to the BD Drive somewhat irregularly at the moment, and ROMs on usb001 are detected, but will not boot under any condition. However when PKG Launcher is successfully mounted (both to app_home and the BD drive) it will launch any game from hdd0 without any issues.

For appearances, is there any potential to have cover art instead of disc images without too much effort, in the same way as normal backups? Either in the same Multiman covers folder, or ideally in a separate folder. Retroarch already stores cover art archives in system based subfolders in:
thumbnails\Nintendo - Super Nintendo Entertainment System\Named_Boxarts and thumbnails\Nintendo - Super Nintendo Entertainment System\Named_Snaps and thumbnails\Nintendo - Super Nintendo Entertainment System\Named_Titles

The Snapshots and Titlescreens are well suited to icons due to square dimensions, while the boxart may be distorted due to it's rectangular shape. There are a *lot* of images in these archives normally but the files will be an *exact* match to the filename of the ROM, so it should function similar to the multiman covers, just longer paths.

Here's a blank version of the folder icon I remade from the others as a template. It's not perfect though, mainly just clone brush to fill the gaps.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Z4l5OoT8IfaVdoZDRJU3hENVk/view?usp=sharing

Here's a cutout version of the invader, again it can be a simple placeholder for now till you have time to tweak it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Z4l5OoT8IfUnNEd2xhWm9uN00/view?usp=sharing

Thanks so much for this, this is an incredible addition to the features of webman.