JPCSP tutorial

JPCSP guide. This is for how to get JPCSP working under Windows environments, I can't help you if you use Linux or OSX.

---What do I need?---
Official requirements are:

Minimum
Windows 32bit or 64bit / Linux 32bit or 64bit / Mac OSX
CPU: Pentium 4 and up
GPU: Any graphic card supporting OpenGL 2.0 and up
1GB RAM

Recommended
Windows Vista / Windows 7
CPU: Dual core @ 2.5 GHz
GPU: Always install the latest drivers
2GB RAM or more

Better results with better specs obviously.

---How to start?---
1) Get JPCSP: http://buildbot.orphis.net/jpcsp/
I recommend the 32-bit version EVEN if your system is 64-bit. 64-bit doesn't offer many advantages (I don't think it has any) and is more of a pain to set up.
2) Update your Java: http://www.java.com
3) Update your drivers (graphics card especially)
4) Get SonicStage: http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/60444
SonicStage contains the proprietary codecs used by Sony on audio and video files on PSP. You'll need this to view FMV scenes and get music/voices working in your games. Don't worry, it's not spyware, adware nor does it interfere with your system.

---Setting up JPCSP---
Alright, if you've gotten everything do the following:
1) Update Java and drivers.
2) Install SonicStage. After it's done, restart your computer.
3) Extract your JPCSP archive and run using start-windows-x86.bat

Congrats now you are running the emulator. Now under the Options menu, open Configuration (or press F12).

Under the Media tab, check the following options:
[x] Use Media Engine (enables videos)
[x] Decode audio files with SonicStage (enables music, voices and certain sounds)
[x] Use debug fonts (allows certain games to display text)

Now you can successfully run games!

---I get some Prometheus Loader error. How to fix?---
Arrr matey. You have downloaded a game illegally! You should fix your moral codes instead!

...or not.

JPCSP team doesn't support piracy (no emulator dev team does) so they included piracy checks on games. However it is very easy to circumvent. I'll teach you now how to unpatch a game.

1) Get UMDGen: http://psp.dashhacks.com/downloads/umdgen-v400
2) Open your game ISO.
3) Go into the SYSDIR folder and follow the instructions to the letter:
* Rename "EBOOT.BIN" into "dontdetectthis" (any name should work, you should remove the file extension and the file should not be named EBOOT)
* Rename "EBOOT.OLD" into "EBOOT.BIN"
4) Save the image as an ISO or CSO. Either works, consider CSO if you want to save disk space.

Why is this? When you first open your patched ISO: EBOOT.OLD is the original file and EBOOT.BIN is the cracked file. By switching them around you have successfully unpatched the game.

"Can't I just delete EBOOT.BIN and rename EBOOT.OLD?" you may be asking. Yes, you can. However some games (Ys Seven for example) use file integrity checks. If you erase a file you'll be facing a black screen or an endless "Now Loading" screen. Renaming is a better choice, takes little effort and no more than five minutes.

---Will X game work?---
Probably not. The best way to know is trying yourself. If you don't feel like it, ask around Emulation Generals or check the JPCSP forums: http://www.emunewz.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=51

Be aware, not all threads in the JPCSP forums are up-to-date so you're better off trying out the game yourself. You can also check there optimal configurations.

---How can I improve the graphics? Is there a way to make the screen bigger?---
Depends on the game actually. Most games do not support upscaling.

What works with all games is 2x window size (Options -> Video -> Resize -> 2x), it'll look pixelated and you'll get jaggies but it's the only way to have a bigger screen.
3x window size and fullscreen are broken.

Some games (Persona 3 Portable, DJMAX) support "HD" graphics and 3x window size by enabling the option "Enable saving GE screen to Texture instead of Memory" under the Video tab in Configuration. It borks graphics in other games though (causes flickering and does not create HD graphics). Sometimes it works the other way around and you can fix a game's graphics by enabling this setting.

Comparison shots showing how 3x breaks video and how it's fixed with GE to Texture:
http://i.imgur.com/BxKCy.jpg

---How do I improve performance?---
Very easy.

Close your web browser and other applications.
Disable Aero or other fancy Windows effects. Classic Windows skin works best.
Disable "improvements" through your graphics card (Use Performance config in NVIDIA Control Panel for example)

---How do I transfer saves? Can I use a save from my PSP?---
All savefiles are kept in the "ms0" folder, you copy that from one JPCSP revision to the other to keep savefiles.

You can use saves from your PSP simply by dropping them into the "..\ms0\PSP\SAVEDATA\" folder.

However in order to make them usable you have to enable "Handle SAVEDATA in crypto mode" under the Crypto tab in Configuration.

Disable it when using savefiles created with JPCSP and enable it when using savefiles created by your PSP. Unfortunately it doesn't work the other way around, you can't transfer JPCSP saves into your PSP.

---How do I use a controller with it?---
Options->Controls (F11).

Choose your controller above and map the inputs.

---Final Words---
PSP emulation is still early. Do not complain if something doesn't work or if the emulator crashes on you or if it works really slow. JPCSP is the only PSP emulator that works if you want to play PSP on your PC then you'll have to cope with its issues.