Star Fox gamma issue solved (ie Dark Fox) StarFox 64 Project64 Emulation

[regifang]

Recently I tried out N64 emulation after a long vacation. Eager to try out StarFox 64, I became frustrated as the game appeared too dark--almost pitch black in the Sector Y level (hard path unlocked after accomplishing certain tasks in the first level).

No solution online was found, although I did see other posts about this very issue with no positive resolution. I went through multiple drivers (glide, jabo, gl64, special customs--you name it), but nothing changed, although I did notice Glide64 and its wrapper got rid of some polygon edges separating.

Dumb luck--I fixed the problem! I hope this works for others as well.

I always ran in windowed mode using various Project64 versions. After switching to full screen mode with the Glide64 Final plugin selected (wrapper file placed in emulator directory, default options set), the gamma issue disappeared. Objects were no longer in shadow. Textures and level backgrounds were clear. Switching back to windowed mode made the problem come back.

Even more interestingly, I switched to the Jabo Direct3D8 1.7.057-ver5 graphics plugin in my Project64 2.2 setup, and the problem mostly disappeared as well. I changed no settings at all. I state mostly fixed as the gamma is bright but still wrong. Glide64 with its wrapper give spot on graphics. Using Jabo in both windowed and fullscreen had no issue any longer besides the too bright or wrong gamma being applied; however, I could actually see my enemies!

This windowed-mode gamma issue and its fix may have been known to others; however, no amount of searching emulator forums for posts relating to Star Fox 64 and dark visuals led me to an answer, thus I created this post.

To sum up things:
1. Use Glide64 Final (May 8, 2012) graphics plugin in Project64 and place its wrapper file (glide3x.dll) in the emulator main directory
2. Run Star Fox 64. Once open, switch to full screen.
3. Quit the game
4. Continue using Glide64 in fullscreen or use Jabo's graphics plugin if you desire in window or full screen. Though the gamma is still off, it is brighter and much closer to the correct values.

My system:
Windows 7 64-bit
Nvidia GeForce GTX 650
Using Project64 2.2

If I were to guess, I would suspect my operating system gamma setting are overriding the windowed application' settings (Project64, Mupen, etc.). There probably is a setting that needs to be flipped, though I am not an expert at any of these emulator nor their graphics plugins' source code.

I was really bummed out when I started out using N64 emulators again. I believed that almost twenty years went by and still no one figured out decent emulation--I mean, for Star Fox at least, the game was unplayable in space levels.



Next up on the plate: a 64-bit Adaptoid driver would be great. The Xbox 360 controller is really a pain for C-button access, plus I want accurate rumble.

[dsx_]

the problem is that hardware gfx plugins don't emulate the VI DAC filters (toggle VI DAC filters in hatcat/angrylion's pixel accurate plugin to see the brightness filter effects)

[V1del]

I don't really know why exactly glide64 decides to fuck with the gamma values maybe some archaic vodoo thing but definitely not intended and not specific to star fox.

That said GLideN64 will have this fixed and is going to have the public release in about a week or something.

[the_randomizer]

Originally Posted by V1del

I don't really now why exactly glide64 decides to fuck with the gamma values maybe some archaic vodoo thing but definitely not intended and not specific to star fox.

That said GLideN64 will have this fixed and is going to have the public release in about a week or something.

Yeah, his plugin should be ready for public release very soon and I for one can't wait to use it

[RPGMaster]

Originally Posted by the_randomizer

Yeah, his plugin should be ready for public release very soon and I for one can't wait to use it

It's already out, along with the source. Why are you slow ??

[the_randomizer]

Originally Posted by RPGMaster

It's already out, along with the source. Why are you slow ??

Source? You sure it's not for those who donated only? I didn't see it on his blog.

http://gliden64.blogspot.ru/ His recent entry says, "Time for the PC version release has come. All project supporters with the perk "Early Release" will get a link to the archive with the plugin"

If it's out, where is it? AFAIK, only donors get access to the release build until it's actually public...? Checked Google, checked his blog, no public download unless you donate, so publicly speaking, it's not out yet. Link or it didn't happen XDD Sorry, but if I don't see any public download link, it's not out.

[regifang]

Originally Posted by dsx_

the problem is that hardware gfx plugins don't emulate the VI DAC filters (toggle VI DAC filters in hatcat/angrylion's pixel accurate plugin to see the brightness filter effects)

I tried this but I always get the "Unidentified microcode" error without any way to set this in the graphics plugin options for Project64. The option is greyed out and is set to 0: Automatic.

The point is that the object brightness is correct in full screen mode using the glide driver. The problem before made it look like objects had no default ambient light.

[RPGMaster]

Originally Posted by regifang

I tried this but I always get the "Unidentified microcode" error without any way to set this in the graphics plugin options for Project64. The option is greyed out and is set to 0: Automatic.

You need to disable "Graphics HLE" in the plugin menu, when using the Pixel Accurate plugin.

[regifang]

Originally Posted by RPGMaster

You need to disable "Graphics HLE" in the plugin menu, when using the Pixel Accurate plugin.

I forgot. Thank you. However, after doing this, the latest plugin (mylittle-nocomment v5) outputs video with objects lacking gamma that looks identical to the windowed mode of Glide64. This is both the case when running mylittle-nocomment v5 in windowed as well as full screen.

The only way that I can get accurate graphics is using Glide64 in fullscreen.

[RPGMaster]

Originally Posted by regifang

I forgot. Thank you. However, after doing this, the latest plugin (mylittle-nocomment v5) outputs video with objects lacking gamma that looks identical to the windowed mode of Glide64. This is both the case when running mylittle-nocomment v5 in windowed as well as full screen.

The only way that I can get accurate graphics is using Glide64 in fullscreen.

Np. Make sure "Bypass DAC filters" is disabled in the settings of the graphics plugin (for v5). You'll need a fast computer to run at stable full speed. Too bad explosions still lag ;/.

GlideN64 also emulates the gamma filter, so you can use that.