Pseudo Saturn Kai official thread

[bobrocks95]

Super Tempo works fine for me with the default CWX loader. If you're using one of those all-in-one cartridges then your first port of call is to add shielding in order to fix compatibility issues caused by electromagnetic interference: PPCenter :: Pseudo Saturn Kai Compatibility List

Thanks for confirming it works. I've got the older gray Action Replay 4-in-1, so no switch on top and no save compatibility after flashing Psuedo Saturn Kai to it, which I think means I don't have to do anything to it.

Going to assume a bad burn or bad rip, I'll do some testing with Nero DiscSpeed which seems to be working alright now, and burn another. My Saturn disc drive's laser was replaced with a new one from Aliexpress that seems to be working fine on all official discs.

EDIT: Retroarch on PC, loading off the same disc, locks up for a second at the same spot on the intro and then plays the music starting at the wrong spot, so just a bad burn
Maybe you can still get fancy Taiyo Yuden discs... (checked and you can btw)

 

[bobrocks95]

Sorry to double-post but I figured a bump would make this much more visible.

paul_met's Akumajou Dracula X Extended patch appears to only work correctly with the CWX Loader. The Game ID might be the same so it may not be able to be detected automatically, but maybe the hack can be added to the compatibility list if it's corroborated (and if hacks warrant going on there at all).

I tried two different versions of Pseudo Saturn Kai Lite on my gray Action Replay 4-in-1, with different results:
1) 6.408- JHL Loader- crash when starting game as Richter, stuck on first loading screen
- CWX Loader- not tested
2) 6.483- JHL Loader- crash when entering save room, screen goes black and music keeps playing, until it eventually starts stuttering the last second over and over. Disc drive does not sound like it's struggling in any way.
- CWX Loader- Appears fine so far, tested up through the first boss with several save room loads.

Disc source was a redump verified rip and burn is good from objective quality testing. Works fine on emulator loading from the disc (as opposed to the locking up I got with the previous game I was discussing).

At the very least maybe this can help further improve the JHL Loader!

EDIT: Fishy behavior on CWX Loader as I continue too. Maybe it really comes down to the 4MB functionality of the Action Replay carts being really spotty.

 

[privateye]

Pseudo Saturn Kai development blog (2022/11/09) - Cosmetic improvements in Pseudo Saturn Kai and Save Data Manager, and Satiator Menu Kai in progress.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/pimp-my-pseudo-74436299

 

[UHATEIT]

• Cheats for the EUR/JPN versions of Keio Flying Squadron 2 are fixed in the latest beta, so please look forward to the next public release of Pseudo Saturn Kai 🙂
• I am aware that cheats are not working with Die Hard Arcade USA. I intend to test the EUR and JPN versions when I have time.
• I'll also look into Gex and Darius Gaiden when I can.

Thanks for the report, I'll look into this soon.


As @cafe-alpha said, sometimes cheat codes only work correctly with a certain regional version or game revision. For example, Fighting Vipers JPN has two separate cheat sets for v1.010 and v1.013 of the game. I also remember that tuning cheats for Virtual-On was quite troublesome because the codes had to be re-shuffled between the EUR/KOR, JPN, and USA cheat sets.

@privateye @cafe-alpha hey there checking back on this one from back in 2020. Im still using the same version of PSK V6.324 when the initial cheat codes were added and had mentioned various games that just dont work as far as codes when selected. I see there is a newer version of PSK and I havent downloaded or flashed it. But i was wondering if there were any cheat updates or fixes in the newest version. As all I've seen had been about ODE Fenrir and SD card functions. I'm still using a modded action replay with burned discs so am hoping there are changes to some of the nonworking cheat codes from that version.

If I download and flash to the newest PSK version is there fixes on some of the cheat codes I mentioned or ability for me to mod or change them? I noticed another game that failed to work with any of the cheat codes despite being on the master list the game is "Loaded" and you can select cheat codes but none work in the game

 

[privateye]

I see there is a newer version of PSK and I havent downloaded or flashed it. But i was wondering if there were any cheat updates or fixes in the newest version.

A few codes were added/fixed/removed in v6.483 but a lot more changes are coming in the next version. Well, I say a lot but that's still small in comparison to the total number of codes in Pseudo Saturn Kai. In any case, if you would like to play Panzer Dragoon in widescreen, have unlimited credits in Stellar Assault SS (useful for the upcoming English fan translation), and more besides, then please look forward to it 🙂

If I download and flash to the newest PSK version is there fixes on some of the cheat codes I mentioned or ability for me to mod or change them?

Custom codes feature was introduced in v6.408; it allows you to save 16 codes (shared between all games) to internal memory, and lucky Gamer's Cartridge owners can save an additional 16 codes per-game. This video demonstrates how it works:

(Ignore the Fenrir stuff, the process is the same with burned discs)

I noticed another game that failed to work with any of the cheat codes despite being on the master list the game is "Loaded" and you can select cheat codes but none work in the game

Thanks for the report, I'll look into it soon.

 

[UHATEIT]

Thank you @privateye I'll download the latest version of PSK and flash it. I had been worried it was mainly just Fenrir things added and didn't want to risk bricking my Saturn trying to update my PSK if it wouldn't help me on codes. Hopefully now Die Hard Arcade will work and some of the others I posted way back in my 2020 post. I'll keep looking towards the next revision along the way!

 

[privateye]

@UHATEIT For Loaded, use the custom codes feature to change the first line of the master code:

OLD: F6000914 230B NEW: F6000914 C30B

Once the game is loaded (no pun intended ^^) press the reset button to activate the codes. Just be aware that a) codes are only compatible with the USA version of Loaded, and b) you have to press the reset button every time you want to refill your ammo, lives etc.

I tried all common master codes in order to keep cheats activated at all times, but no dice. Next version of Pseudo Saturn Kai will have this fix as well as a note to indicate that usage of reset button is required.

 

[bishopcruz]

Quick question, I ended up buying a 3 way switch 4 in 1 with PSK on it from either ebay or Ali express a few years back and was looking to update the software on it, is that doable? Most updating vids or walkthroughs I have seen use an action replay, which I do not have.

 

[privateye]

Quick question, I ended up buying a 3 way switch 4 in 1 with PSK on it from either ebay or Ali express a few years back and was looking to update the software on it, is that doable? Most updating vids or walkthroughs I have seen use an action replay, which I do not have.

Yes those are upgradable too; just download and extract the latest Pseudo Saturn Kai archive, burn Save Data Manager (tools -> pskai_sdm.iso) to CD-R or run it on your ODE of choice, and follow along from here to flash Pseudo Saturn Kai Lite v6.483.



If you have trouble booting into Save Data Manager then please try the standalone flasher (lite -> pskai_flasher_lite.iso).

 

[UHATEIT]

@UHATEIT For Loaded, use the custom codes feature to change the first line of the master code:

OLD: F6000914 230B NEW: F6000914 C30B

Once the game is loaded (no pun intended ^^) press the reset button to activate the codes. Just be aware that a) codes are only compatible with the USA version of Loaded, and b) you have to press the reset button every time you want to refill your ammo, lives etc.

I tried all common master codes in order to keep cheats activated at all times, but no dice. Next version of Pseudo Saturn Kai will have this fix as well as a note to indicate that usage of reset button is required.

Awesome thank you! I was sort of confused at first but got it. I had to go activate all codes so they would populate in the Z edit menu, then changed the one figure and then it worked after hitting B to back out then save. And you're right, have to hit RESET on the console anytime you want to activate it, kind of odd. But it was literally only off by 1 digit, so maybe the next revision will have that new code change edited. I think the same thing happened with Die Hard Arcade the US version, the master code was off by 1 digit and just needs a change for the codes to work for lives, health, etc.

 

[beserkker2010]

Hello, does version matter when it comes to playing burned games like dragon force 2? Me and my brother both got identical looking copies of a pseudo saturn kai cartridge, however mine is version 6.437 and his is version 6.274. mine doesn't play dragon force 2, dragon force 1, panzer dragoon saga etc. while his plays them just fine.

i'm looking to get another pseudo cartridge since my current one doesn't play some of the games but i don't want to get stuck with another that doesn't play them all. i thought the only thing to stay way from was red cartridges and action replay flashed cartridges. i found another one i can get that lists the version 6.483 but i wanted to ask here to make sure it was the versions fault.

 

[Ponut]

Rather than buy an updated cartridge, you can just update it like has been posted earlier here.

 

[beserkker2010]

Rather than buy an updated cartridge, you can just update it like has been posted earlier here.

that doesn't really answer the question though, there is no point in updating if the version isn't the problem. i just can't tell if its the cartridges fault or the version. plus i don't want to lose all my save data trying to update myself. i've seen enough warning's saying if you don't know what you are doing you can brick your cart.

so really the question is, can the version 6.437 be the reason those games don't play?

 

[cafe-alpha]

Dragon Force II not working with some cartridges from ebay or aliexpress is a known issue :

PPCenter :: Pseudo Saturn Kai Compatibility List

Basically, this is caused by the messy PCB routing of the cartridge. Pseudo Saturn Kai itself and your Saturn are unlikely to be at the root of the problem.

 

[gourdcaptain]

With Pseudo Saturn Kai v6.483 on my Fenrir 20-pin model (firmware 2022/05/25, the latest for the original 20-pin model) in my VA1 Saturn Model 1, KAZe pinball games crash on launch in PSKai unless I set them to use the CWX loader manually. With the JHL loader, "Last Gladiators - Digital Pinball" (the US and the later v9.7 Japanese rerelease) both crash completely at Stage 3a when booting with the message "cd_read_sector", the starfield stops moving, and no input works other than power cycling the console.With "Digial Pinball - Necronomicon", the screen instead stops on "Stage 1: Please Insert Disc" and A+B+C+Start works to reset the system. This may have to do with the truly absurd number of CD audio tracks each of these games have.

This isn't really an issue for me since I can just set the loader and work around it, but thought you would want to know.

EDIT: None of these issues occur with the default Fenrir firmware loader.

EDIT 2: This does not appear to be a 100% reliable solution. I'll post with a better one if I can reliably nail down a way to keep these booting in PS Kai.

 

[privateye]

@gourdcaptain : After loading these games with A/C/Start, hold X+Y+Z for about five seconds to pause the progress bar in Pseudo Saturn Kai and then release. Do the games load successfully with this delay?

 

[gourdcaptain]

@gourdcaptain : After loading these games with A/C/Start, hold X+Y+Z for about five seconds to pause the progress bar in Pseudo Saturn Kai and then release. Do the games load successfully with this delay?

This works for all of three the games involved. Should have remembered that from the last time we had to troubleshoot Fenrir issues, thanks! 🙂

 

[privateye]

This works for all of three the games involved. Should have remembered that from the last time we had to troubleshoot Fenrir issues, thanks! 🙂

Great! In a recent beta build, loading delay on Fenrir was increased to five seconds to fix similar issues in Tomb Raider and a few other games, so the next public version will do this by default. In the mean time, if you load these games with the Z button, let it sit on the Select Loader menu for a few seconds, and then select a loader, it should have the same effect as the X+Y+Z trick.

 

[gourdcaptain]

Great! In a recent beta build, loading delay on Fenrir was increased to five seconds to fix similar issues in Tomb Raider and a few other games, so the next public version will do this by default. In the mean time, if you load these games with the Z button, let it sit on the Select Loader menu for a few seconds, and then select a loader, it should have the same effect as the X+Y+Z trick.

As part of testing it, I cleared the custom loader settings in PS Kai, so the loader is completely irrelevant to this issue. Will use X+Y+Z for the time being.

 

[privateye]

As part of testing it, I cleared the custom loader settings in PS Kai, so the loader is completely irrelevant to this issue. Will use X+Y+Z for the time being.

I wasn't referring to CWX/JHL or custom loader settings, this is what I meant:

1. Load the game with Z button.
2. In the Select Loader menu, do nothing for about three seconds. This delays game loading like the X+Y+Z trick.
3. Select a loader.