FIX94
Super Monkey Ball 2 Save loading freeze (both real+virtual memcard)
The setup: NTSC-J Wii (European sysmenu enables RGB output) RGB Scart cable>CRT TV The video signal is proper RGB-60 and it works with anything Wii and GC (tested all my wii games and about 10 or so GC games, all (USA/Japan), all look great and save, except for SMB2 (USA) with Nintendont.
The issue: The game runs and looks great in RGB-60, except if you load a save (let it create a new save, then load that save) it freezes the game, doesn't matter if it's a real or virtual memory card, freezes every time it tries to load a save. This is also a known issue that one of the contributors just closed without resolving, stating "just use the PAL release", ignoring fan level packs and people wanting to play the proper (USA) release. https://github.com/FIX94/Nintendont/issues/904
It can load with composite NTSC (my CRT decodes NTSC), but that's a massive hit to image quality. Also works with a modern TV (480p YPbPr). But yeah at that point I'd rather be emulating, playing on a CRT TV is the goal.
For reference, my main setup with the original Gamecube it's outputting RGB-60 Scart, no problem loading in SMB2 (USA) or any other game. I got this Wii setup going with the intent of finally being able to play SMB2 the same way I do with my GC, but with the performance boost of the Wii for the more demanding hacks.
Wii CRT users across Europe (and US users with RGB modded ones) who wants to play SMB2 (USA) in RGB are out of luck.
Wii CRT users across Europe (and US users with RGB modded ones) who wants to play SMB2 (USA) in RGB are out of luck.
What about this workaround? https://github.com/pyorot/wii-swiss-booter
Right that does work there, but the issue is that wii-swiss is still in GC mode. The whole SMB2 level making community revolves around the Wii's additional processing power that Nintendont provides. A lot of SMB2 levelhacks end up being very laggy on the GC sadly.
My other option is using NTSC composite, that works for me as my CRT is able to decode NTSC color, it's what most people playing on CRT TV's in the US do. But composite image quality is very poor compared to RGB, and US CRT TV RGB mods have been getting a lot more popular in recent times. The game totally should be able to load saves in RGB60, just like it's able to on the GameCube or Wii-Swiss. This is a Nintendont issue, if it wasn't for the loading a save freeze the game looks and plays perfectly in all other aspects.
(Just to clarify, Nintendont video setting calls it PAL60 whether you use actual PAL60 (RCA composite) or RGB60 with (RGB Scart))
Sure, we can also play on a modern TV, but then you miss out on the motion clarity that the CRT provides, that and not being able to play this game with my preferred retro setup.
Still being reminded of this issue preventing me from trying to play Super Monkey Ball Deluxe-hack. Though I assumed it was just too niche to be explored for a fix due how quickly the issue got dismissed - so I'm glad to know there's still a bit more demand now.
@carnage702
Anyways, I think this should be looked upon to at least allow more support for PAL-users - it seems like Europeans or other PAL-region players are kind of ignored overall when it comes to issues stemming from PAL60-based issues through dismissal of "just use PAL-version", despite how NTSC-centric the hacking communities are around for the GCN-games.
I'm not ignoring it, I'm not knowledge enough to fix this and there are no other nintendont devs so don't expect a fixe unless you find it yourself, you got to use alternatives.
