Nintendo 64: in Hardware and Emulation

[N64man]

Some time ago I made possible to capture Nintendo 64 games from hardware(i. e. real console).

This gives possible to make a investigation and comparison with Nintendo 64 emulators.

I allocate some aspects for choosing emulators for tests:
- PC Windows versions only. (currently)
- Latest versions. (if it possible)
- Glide64 using. (and allegedly 2 most accurate video plugins)

In this way I select next emulators:
1964 1.2 [16.01.2012]
NICE64 2.1.0 [21.04.2012]
NICE64 2.1.1 [03.05.2012]
1964 r146 [01.09.2012]
Project 64 2.0 [01.04.2013]
MESS 0.152 (24.12.2013)
Project64 2.1 [09.02.2014]
MESS 0.158 (28.01.2015)

Also I select video plugins for tests:
Optimised Project64 2.1 (Glide64 'Final' Date: May 8 2012)
Shunyuan's SoftGraphic HLE 1.3.0
Shunyuan's SoftGraphic HLE 1.4.0
Shunyuan's SoftGraphic HLE 1.5.0
HatCat's Pixel-Accurate N64 Software Video (use version 5 aka mylittle-nocomment5.7z)(sorry for possible mistake)

All videos and screenshots avaliable by link below: (since is more 10000 signs which PJ64 forum engine allows)
http://pastebin.com/1Smdg3P5

Personal conclusions:
No emulator, which emulates Nintendo 64 fully and 100% accurate.
But:
1. Glide64 is optimal variant currently.
2. Potential for further improvements:
a) Glide64, SoftGraphic and HatCat's Pixel-Accurate plugin is most perspective video plugins.
b) Glide64 must have separate rendering for 2D and 3D(for normal text, UI and other non-3D elements). (something like in Doom source ports: Zandronum for example)
c) SoftGraphic and HatCat's Pixel-Accurate plugin must exclude MAME/MESS Nintendo 64 code or re-write him, because he also dont emulate video part(as minimum) on all 100% accurate and fully.
d) Azimer's HLE Audio and Shunyuan's HLE Audio is most perspective audio plugins. I cant say someting special, except emulation accuracy improve further.
e) Cant understand fully RSP plugins function(s), but emulation accuracy improve further too.
3. GlideN64 probably can improve video emulation of Nintendo 64 to the next level.

Future plans:
- Hardware Let's Plays.
- GlideN64 testing(when released or will have access).
- Additional screenshots.
- New emulators tests. (versions too)

Additional information
Nintendo 64 hardware captures was done with:
- AVerMedia DVD EZMaker 7
- Official Nintendo S-Video cable.
- VirtualDub 1.10.4, Build 35491/release (Sun Oct 27 15:59:07 2013)

Youtube videos (grouped):
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...Wyr4A8rarODmSD (Hardware)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...mmPuvogki9C0M9 (Hardware Tests)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...AmWRk2M8NCcSzJ (Emulation)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...3lMYi-fhIM_MZ6 (Super Mario 64 Hardware Let's Play)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...A3OJYGi262Tm8P (Mace: The Dark Age Hardware Let's Play)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...tvCchwse98auGO (GoldenEye 007 Hardware Let's Play)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...jzy4tDkL80JIXl (Mario Kart 64 Hardware Let's Play)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...jXpp9jutoUH1WB (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Hardware Let's Play)

[Tasoulis]

Thanks for the info.


One question though, are you willing to change the "lets play" plans and make them "Long Play" instead? Meaning gameplay of the whole game with no commentary? N64 has a lack of those.

[N64man]

are you willing to change the "lets play" plans and make them "Long Play" instead?

I dont care about terms in this current situation. But you right, my let's plays wiil be as longplays - only game without commentary(which I dont like very much too).

Minor update - added MESS 0.159 emulation test videos. Currently avaliable in youtube(see "Emulation" playlist).
Screenshots and list on pastebin will updated later.

[Tasoulis]

Damn.... MESS emulation for N64 has progressed. Last time i used it it couldn't even play Mario 64 properly.

Also, what are the specs of the PC you are using?

[N64man]

what are the specs of the PC you are using?

Common specs:
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Service Pack 1
QuadCore Intel Core i7-2600S, 2900 MHz (29 x 100)| Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2600S CPU @ 2.80GHz
Asus P8Z77-M Pro (1 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR3 DIMM, Audio, Video, Gigabit LAN)
Intel Panther Point Z77, Intel Sandy Bridge
DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM
DIMM1: Corsair XMS3 CMX8GX3M1A1333C9 8 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (9-9-9-24 @ 666 MHz) (7-7-7-20 @ 533 MHz) (6-6-6-17 @ 457 MHz)
BIOS AMI (02/16/2012)
nVIDIA GeForce GTX 680
NEC MultiSync EA274WMi (Digital) [27" LCD] (3X100424NB)

[N64man]

Added links to youtube hardware let's plays. Currently available:
Super Mario 64
Mace: The Dark Age

Upd: added more hardware let's plays:
GoldenEye 007
Mario Kart 64
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

[N64man]

Backup of the first post(dont know what happen):

Some time ago I made possible to capture Nintendo 64 games from hardware(i. e. real console).

This gives possible to make a investigation and comparison with Nintendo 64 emulators.

I allocate some aspects for choosing emulators for tests:
- PC Windows versions only. (currently)
- Latest versions. (if it possible)
- Glide64 using. (and allegedly 2 most accurate video plugins)

In this way I select next emulators:
1964 1.2 [16.01.2012]
NICE64 2.1.0 [21.04.2012]
NICE64 2.1.1 [03.05.2012]
1964 r146 [01.09.2012]
Project 64 2.0 [01.04.2013]
MESS 0.152 (24.12.2013)
Project64 2.1 [09.02.2014]
MESS 0.158 (28.01.2015)

Also I select video plugins for tests:
Optimised Project64 2.1 (Glide64 'Final' Date: May 8 2012)
Shunyuan's SoftGraphic HLE 1.3.0
Shunyuan's SoftGraphic HLE 1.4.0
Shunyuan's SoftGraphic HLE 1.5.0
HatCat's Pixel-Accurate N64 Software Video (use version 5 aka mylittle-nocomment5.7z)(sorry for possible mistake)

All videos and screenshots avaliable by link below: (since is more 10000 signs which PJ64 forum engine allows)
http://pastebin.com/1Smdg3P5

Personal conclusions:
No emulator, which emulates Nintendo 64 fully and 100% accurate.
But:
1. Glide64 is optimal variant currently.
2. Potential for further improvements:
a) Glide64, SoftGraphic and HatCat's Pixel-Accurate plugin is most perspective video plugins.
b) Glide64 must have separate rendering for 2D and 3D(for normal text, UI and other non-3D elements). (something like in Doom source ports: Zandronum for example)
c) SoftGraphic and HatCat's Pixel-Accurate plugin must exclude MAME/MESS Nintendo 64 code or re-write him, because he also dont emulate video part(as minimum) on all 100% accurate and fully.
d) Azimer's HLE Audio and Shunyuan's HLE Audio is most perspective audio plugins. I cant say someting special, except emulation accuracy improve further.
e) Cant understand fully RSP plugins function(s), but emulation accuracy improve further too.
3. GlideN64 probably can improve video emulation of Nintendo 64 to the next level.

Future plans:
- Hardware Let's Plays.
- GlideN64 testing(when released or will have access).
- Additional screenshots.
- New emulators tests. (versions too)

Additional information
Nintendo 64 hardware captures was done with:
- AVerMedia DVD EZMaker 7
- Official Nintendo S-Video cable.
- VirtualDub 1.10.4, Build 35491/release (Sun Oct 27 15:59:07 2013)

Youtube videos (grouped):
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...Wyr4A8rarODmSD (Hardware)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...mmPuvogki9C0M9 (Hardware Tests)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...AmWRk2M8NCcSzJ (Emulation)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...3lMYi-fhIM_MZ6 (Super Mario 64 hardware let's play)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...A3OJYGi262Tm8P (Mace: The Dark Age hardware let's play)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...tvCchwse98auGO (GoldenEye 007 hardware let's play)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...jzy4tDkL80JIXl (Mario Kart 64 hardware let's play)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...jXpp9jutoUH1WB (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time hardware let's play)

[N64man]

Try to contact with Sergey Lipskiy through indiegogo.com, but failed - received error "translation missing: en.you_can_only_send_messages_to_people_that_youre _connected_to_through_a_project".

Could be possible find out in PM how to contact with them or inform him about this thread?

[Tasoulis]

Maybe you could post a message in this blog?

http://gliden64.blogspot.ru/search?u...&max-results=3

[N64man]

Off-topic:
First post removed and its strange.

Maybe you could post a message in this blog?

I'll try it.