SSNES (manual reader shader)

[opium2k]

Due to be released within the next day or two is version 0.9.5 of SSNES as well as the initial release of the PS3 and 360 ports. SSNES is a multi-platform, multi-system emulator with ports being worked on for PC, OSX, PS3, 360 and a few more I believe.
As I said, it's a multi-system emulator. Don't let the name fool you, it's not just for SNES games! It currently supports games from systems such as NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, SMS, GG, Genesis & FBA using selectable cores from various emulators to ensure the best compatibility, accuracy and performance for the end user.

To demonstrate the capabilities of SSNES and more specifically maister's manual reader shader I've been working on some implementations for the past couple months to show off just a taste of some of this shader's uses.


IMAGES:
Here are some screenshots showing some of the uses on roms for the systems that SSNES currently supports:



Pages of the manual are changed by the user with a key combination of (enter+Q or W) on PC and (Start+L1 or R1) on PS3.
The biggest limitation of the shader is your imagination. As demonstrated in the videos below, it can be used for things such as maps, guides, instruction manuals, cheats, passwords, etc.
Additionally, the dimensions, positions and number of pages are completely customizable. For example, the Mortal Kombat 1 example is only 8 pages while the Chrono Trigger one is 136!


VIDEOS:
Forgive the quality of the videos. My computer is pretty old

In Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES) I've used the shader as a map guide


Street Fighter 2 (SNES) as a moves list for each character


Bubble Bobble (NES) as a cheat sheet for all the passwords


Super Mario Bros 3 (NES) as an instruction manual


Bubble Bobble (Gameboy) Another example of displaying just a manual


Chrono Cross (SNES) Using the official Prima strategy guide


More videos:
Golden Axe Warrior (SMS) with the original instruction manual
Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening (Gameboy Color) with the original instruction manual
Road Rash (Gamegear) with the original instruction manual
Streets of Rage 1 (Genesis) with the original instruction manual
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA) with the original instruction manual
Kirby's Dreamland 3 (SNES) with the original instruction manual
Megaman X1 (SNES) with the original instruction manual


DOWNLOADS:
Due to restrictions on the PS3 I've created two versions for each download.
The PC versions are better quality and zipped.
The PS3 versions are smaller and in .PKG files
I haven't tested them on any other systems but you're welcome to try

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Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Maps (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
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Bubble Bobble Passwords (NES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
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Chrono Trigger Strategy Guide (SNES) -PS3 Version | PC Version
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Mortal Kombat 1 Moves List (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Street Fighter 2 Turbo Moves List (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
X-Men: Children of the Atom Moves List (FBA) - PS3 Version | PC Version
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Bubble Bobble Manual (Gameboy) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Final Fantasy 3 Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Golden Axe Warrior Manual (SMS) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Harvest Moon Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Kirby's Dreamland 3 Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Kirby Superstar Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Manual (Gameboy Color) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Manual (Gameboy Advance) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Megaman 7 Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Megaman X1 Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Megaman X2 Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Megaman X3 Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Mortal Kombat 2 Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Mystical Ninja Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Out of this World Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Road Rash Manual (Gamegear) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Super Mario Bros 3 Manual (NES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Super Mario RPG Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Super Mario World Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Streets of Rage 1 Manual (Genesis) - PS3 Version | PC Version
Super Gameboy Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
WWF Raw Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse Manual (SNES) - PS3 Version | PC Version
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INSTRUCTIONS:

PC
Unzip a reader to the directory of your choosing.
Open ssnes-phoenix.exe and navigate to Settings>Video
Next to Shader/Filter Settings click Open
Next to Cg pixel shader click browse
Navigate to where you unzipped the shader folder and select name_of_shader.cgp
Back in the main SSNES Window click the large Start SSNES button
-ENTER+Q / ENTER+W are used to change pages

PS3
Place the PKG file on external media such as a flash drive
Install the PKG on your PS3 from the Install Package Files menu
Run SSNES and select the rom you want to play
Open the Menu by pressing L3+R3
Press Select to access the settings
Highlight Shader Preset (CGP) and press X
Navigate to: /dev_hdd0/game/SSNES10000/USRDIR/cores/presets/name_of_shader/
Select manual_reader.cgp (it will take 5-30 seconds to load)
Press L3+R3 again to exit the menu and resume playing your game
-START+L1 / START+R1 are used to change pages



To create your own there are sites available such as Replacementdocs and emuparadise where you can find strategy guides and official manuals. Not to mention the vast database of guides and cheats available at GameFAQs. Feel free to use any of the files I've posted as a base. I can be reached here on Tortuga-Cove or on Twitter @opium2k for any questions, problems, etc.

And of course, don't forget to check out the official forum for SSNES: http://forum.themaister.net/
As well as the github page: https://github.com/Themaister/SSNES

P.S. Thanks to Maister and Squarepusher for all the help

[opium2k]

I haven't been able to finish my set of full themes/skins and borders (like the ones I made for the 'Next' emulators) due to time constraints.
They're about 75% done and I need to talk to Maister and/or Squarepusher regarding something before I finish them.
So I'll post them at a later point in time, when all of them are done

[opium2k]

Note: SSNES PS3/360 has not been released yet. Rather than wait I'm posting this now for the benefit of those using the PC version and unofficial compiled copies of the PS3 version.

Now for the second half of my SSNES dlc project: themes and borders. Anyone familiar with the ones I made for Squarepusher's previous PS3 emulators will be probably recognize some of these but for those who aren't, here's a rundown. The borders are loaded slightly differently in SSNES than they were in past PS3 emulators.

The PS3 versions come in a PKG file and contain a new icon, xmb image, menu background and border(s) for when playing a game. The themes can be used with or without the borders.
The PC versions are just borders and are zipped.
Here are some images from the PS3 version of the SS-zelda and SS-sf2 themes:



Also included are manual-reader versions of each border that can be used in place of the images that come standard with the manual-readers.
Shown below is SS-tachyon's border followed by the manual-reader border used with the zelda-reader:



Here's a video to show a few more:

Note: Any framerate drops are not a reflection of SSNES' performance,
merely my computer showing how crappy it is at recording video.


DOWNLOADS:
SS-2k - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-arch - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-basic - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-DSOT - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-hypnotic - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-louise - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-luminous - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-metal - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-network - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-next - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-saturation - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-sf2 - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-shine - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-space - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-spiffy - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-tachyon - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-the line 1 - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-the line 2 - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-wood - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-zelda - PS3 Version | PC Version
SS-ztitus - PS3 Version | PC Version

INSTRUCTIONS:
PC
1. Unzip a reader to the directory of your choosing.
2. Open ssnes-phoenix.exe and navigate to Settings>Video
3. Next to Shader/Filter Settings click Open
4. Then to Cg pixel shader click browse
5. Navigate to where you unzipped the shader's folder and select name_of_shader.cgp
6. Back in the main SSNES Window click the large Start SSNES button

Note: Some of the zips contain multiple borders. To use a different one, rename it to border.png and overwrite the default one
Note2: To use one of the manual-reader-border.png files, copy it to the folder of manual reader you wish to use it with, overwrite the default one and then load that manual reader using the instructions above.


PS3
To Install The Theme:
1. Place the PKG file on external media such as a flash drive
2. Install the PKG on your PS3 from the Install Package Files menu

To use a border shader:
1. Run SSNES and select the rom you want to play
2. Open the Menu by pressing L3+R3
3. Press Select to access the settings
4. Highlight Shader Preset (CGP) and press X
5. Navigate to: /dev_hdd0/game/SSNES10000/USRDIR/cores/presets/name_of_shader/
6. Select border.cgp (give it a moment to load)
7. Press L3+R3 again to exit the menu and resume playing your game

Note: Some themes contain multiple borders. To use a different one, rename it to border.png and overwrite the default one using an ftp client or a file manager such as multiMAN.
Note2: To use one of the manual-reader-border.png files, copy it to the folder of the manual reader you wish to use it with and overwrite the default one using an ftp client or a file manager such as multiMAN. Then load that manual reader using the instructions above.

[condorstrike]

This is all really cool stuff, thanks for sharing Opium.