Difference between revisions of "Duckstation"

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Emulator
Emulates:	PlayStation
Download:	Stenzek's GitHub page
License:	Free (GNU3)
Developer:	Stenzek

Latest revision as of 23:53, 23 April 2025

DuckStation is a simulator/emulator of the Sony PlayStation(TM) console, focusing on playability, speed, and long-term maintainability. The goal is to be as accurate as possible while maintaining performance suitable for low-end devices. "Hack" options are discouraged; the default configuration should support all playable games, with only some of the enhancements having compatibility issues.
-Extract from Stenzek's DuckStation GitHub page

Limitations

DuckStation is highly compatible with all titles except you may experience issues if you manually select a renderer.

The following is a brief explanation of each renderer:

Automatic: Best option for maximum compatibility. Unless you're experiencing issues running DuckStation, it's recommended to leave it on this setting.
Software: Highly compatible but limits the extra graphical options you can use. Also very taxing on your CPU as your GPU is not in use.
OpenGL: This renderer is good for older systems trying to run the emulator.
Direct3D 11/12: The middle-ground for performance and system compatibility. Windows only.
Vulkan: Offers high performance, especially on newer GPUs, but may be more resource-intensive than OpenGL or Direct3D 11/12.

Expectations

DuckStation supports a variety of virtual peripheral devices including the Konami Justifiers. This mean there is no longer any need to patch the Justifier-only games to work with most emulators that only support the Namco GunCons. DuckStation's supported RawInput feature for mice, after a bug fix by Stenzek, works well for 2 player mode.

Downloads

Pre-requisites

Visual C++ Redistributable 2015-2022: vc_redist.x64.exe

Required

DuckStation: Latest DuckStation Releases
DuckStation Files: DuckStation Files.zip

Optional

Sinden Loader for DuckStation: Sinden Loader for DuckStation.zip
Note: Includes pre-configured Sinden software, Bezels, and AHK scripts.
PSX Covers for DuckStation: xlenore's PSX Covers
Policenauts English Translation and GunCon Patch: Policenauts Patches.zip

Setup Guide

Sinden Configuration

The only buttons that need changing are the Front Left and Front Right buttons on both Sinden lightguns.
Note: It is recommended that you make a separate copy of the Sinden software for DuckStation and you will have to Disable Joystick Device for both Sinden lightguns under the Firmware Upgrade tab.

Button Assignments	Assignment A		Assignment B

	Normal	Offscreen	Normal	Offscreen
Front Left	a	a	c	c
Front Right	b	b	d	d

Installation & Configuration

Note: A PS1 or PS2 "BIOS" ROM image is required to start the emulator and to play games. You can use an image from any hardware version or region, although mismatching game regions and BIOS regions may have compatibility issues. A ROM image is not provided with the emulator for legal reasons, you should dump this from your own console using Caetla or some other means.

Initial Configuration

Download the latest DuckStation from the link provide above.
- Create a folder for the emulator giving it a suitable name. e.g. DuckStation
- Extract the contents of the compressed package to the folder.
- Within the root folder create a text document and name it portable.txt
  Note: Make sure you create this document before running DuckStation otherwise it will create data in your Documents folder. (Creating this document maintains DuckStation and all its files and settings remain within the root folder.)
- Run DuckStation (duckstation-qt-x64-ReleaseLTCG.exe) so it populates files and folders in the root directory then click "Cancel" and "Yes" to exit out of DuckStation.
- Copy the BIOS ROMs you acquired into the newly created bios folder from the root directory.
  Note: If the BIOS ROMs are compressed you will need to extract them first or DuckStation will not detect them.

Setup Wizard

DuckStation Setup Wizard
Welcome to DuckStation!
BIOS Selection
ROMs Directories
Controller Configuration
Graphics Settings
Achievements Login

Run DuckStation again and you should be presented with the "DuckStation Setup Wizard"
- Select your preferred language and theme then click "Next".
- If you correctly sourced your BIOS ROMs you will be able to pick them manually for each region or leave it as "Auto-Detect". Click "Next".
- On the next screen you can click the "Add..." button and navigate to where your PlayStation game ROMs are stored.
- Click "Yes" if it asks you if you wish to search recursively then click "Next" when you're done.
- If you wish to use DuckStation for non-lightgun games and you have controllers you can setup both Port 1 and 2 as "Analog Controller". Then click "Next" when you're done.
  Note: You can use the "Automatic Mapping" feature to bind it to your physical controller.
- The next screen is the graphical settings. It is recommended, if your computer can handle it, to set your Internal Resolution to be suitable with your screen resolution. Then click "Next".
- Here you can enable achievements and login. Click "Next".
- Congratulations! Setup is complete. Click "Finish".
- If an update is available click "Download and Install...".
- When the DuckStation window appears from the menu click "Settings" and then "Interface".
- Within the Updates section of the Interface tab change Update Channel from "latest" to "preview". Then click "Check for Updates..."
- Close DuckStation.

Controller Configuration

Download the DuckStation Files.zip from the link provided above.
- Extract the DuckStation Files.zip package into the emulator root directory.
Load the Sinden software.
Load DuckStation.
- From the DuckStation menu click "Settings" and then "Controller Presets".
- Load the Sinden border and configure the following for each controller preset in Editing Preset:
  Note: Crosshairs are disabled by default. If you wish to enable the crosshair for a lightgun. Click on the lightguns Settings tab and change the Crosshair Image Scale to "100%".
  - Port 1 (Analog) - Port 2 (GunCon)
    - Click on Controller Port 1 and setup the bindings for your controller.
    - Click on Controller Port 2.
      - Click the "Aiming" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire Offscreen" button and pull the pump action on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
  - Port 1 (Analog) - Port 2 (Justifier)
    - Click on Controller Port 1 and setup the bindings for your controller.
    - Click on Controller Port 2.
      - Click the "Aiming" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire Offscreen" button and pull the pump action on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
  - Port 1 (GunCon) - Port 2 (Analog)
    - Click on Controller Port 1.
      - Click the "Aiming" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire Offscreen" button and pull the pump action on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
    - Click on Controller Port 2 and setup the bindings for your controller.
  - Port 1 (GunCon) - Port 2 (GunCon)
    - Click on Controller Port 1.
      - Click the "Aiming" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire Offscreen" button and pull the pump action on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
    - Click on Controller Port 2.
      - Click the "Aiming" button and pull the trigger on the Player 2 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire" button and pull the trigger on the Player 2 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire Offscreen" button and pull the pump action on the Player 2 Sinden lightgun.
  - Port 1 (Justifier) - Port 2 (Analog)
    - Click on Controller Port 1.
      - Click the "Aiming" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire Offscreen" button and pull the pump action on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
    - Click on Controller Port 2 and setup the bindings for your controller.
  - Port 1 (Justifier) - Port 2 (Justifier)
    - Click on Controller Port 1.
      - Click the "Aiming" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire" button and pull the trigger on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire Offscreen" button and pull the pump action on the Player 1 Sinden lightgun.
    - Click on Controller Port 2.
      - Click the "Aiming" button and pull the trigger on the Player 2 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire" button and pull the trigger on the Player 2 Sinden lightgun.
      - Click the "Fire Offscreen" button and pull the pump action on the Player 2 Sinden lightgun.
  - Close the DuckStation Controller Presets window.

DuckStation should now be configured. Continue to the next section if you wish to use AHK scripts to load the Sinden software, ROM, and use a bezel.

Sinden Loader Configuration

Download the Sinden Loader for DuckStation.zip from the link provided above.
- Extract the Sinden Loader for DuckStation.zip package into the emulator root directory.
In the newly created Sinden Loader folder you'll find an AHK script for each recommended ROM.
Edit each AHK and change the ROMPath to reflect where your copy of the ROM is store.

Note: Screen resolution should be set to "1920x1080" and scaling to "100%".

AHK Example Script

Create a new AutoHotkey script and name it after the ROM you want to load. e.g. Point Blank.ahk
Paste the contents below into the new AutoHotkey script.
- Update SindenPath and ROMPath to your designated directories.
- Save and Close.
Run the new AutoHotkey script and it should load your Sinden software followed by DuckStation.

#Requires Autohotkey v2.0
#Warn  ; Enable warnings to assist with detecting common errors.
#SingleInstance force
SendMode("Input")  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir(A_ScriptDir)  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.

SindenPath := "C:\Arcade\Applications\Sinden\Lightgun.exe"
ROMPath := "W:\ROMs\Console ROMs\Sony - PlayStation\Area 51 (USA) (Rev 1).chd"

Run(SindenPath, , , &SindenPID)
WinWait("ahk_pid " SindenPID)

Run(".\duckstation-qt-x64-ReleaseLTCG.exe `"" . ROMPath . "`" -fullscreen", , , &DuckStationPID)
WinWait("ahk_pid " DuckStationPID)

$Esc::
{
    ProcessClose(DuckStationPID)
    ProcessClose(SindenPID)
    ExitApp()
}

Games Table

It is recommended to use the USA version of a ROM, if available. (Except for Resident Evil: Survivor).

Compatible Lightgun Games

Title	Region	Lightgun	Notes
Area 51	USA, Europe, and Japan	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster
Cellophanes	Japan	GunCon
Crypt Killer	USA, and Europe	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster
Die Hard Trilogy	USA, Europe, and Japan	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster	Die Hard 2: Die Harder segment only.
Die Hard Trilogy 2: Viva Las Vegas	USA, and Europe	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster, or Namco GunCon	Arcade Mode: Sharpshooting, and Movie Mode: Sharpshooting segments only.
Elemental Gearbolt	USA	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster, or Namco GunCon
Extreme Ghostbusters: The Ultimate Invasion	Europe	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster, or Namco GunCon	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster not officially supported.
Ghoul Panic (Europe) / Oh! Bakyuuun (Japan)	Europe, and Japan	Namco GunCon
GUNbare! Game Tengoku: The Game Paradise 2	Japan	Namco GunCon
Simple 1500 Series Vol. 24 - The Gun Shooting	Japan	Namco GunCon
Simple 1500 Series Vol. 63 - The Gun Shooting 2	Japan	Namco GunCon
Gunfighter: The Legend of Jesse James	USA, and Europe	Namco GunCon
Guntu Western Front June, 1944	Japan	Namco GunCon
Judge Dredd	USA, and Europe	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster, or Namco GunCon
Lethal Enforcers	Europe	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster
Lethal Enforcers I & II	USA	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster	Includes Lethal Enforcers and Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters
Lethal Enforcers Deluxe Pack	Japan	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster
Maximum Force	USA, and Europe	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster or Namco GunCon
Mighty Hits	Japan	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster
Mighty Hits Special	Europe, and Japan	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster or Namco GunCon
Moorhuhn 2 - Die Jagd Geht Weiter	Germany	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster or Namco GunCon
Moorhen 3 - Chicken Chase	Europe	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster or Namco GunCon
Moorhuhn X	Germany	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster or Namco GunCon
Point Blank (USA/Europe) / GunBullet (Japan)	USA, Europe, and Japan	Namco GunCon
Point Blank 2	USA, and Europe	Namco GunCon
Point Blank 3	USA, and Europe	Namco GunCon
Project: Horned Owl	USA	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster
Puffy's P.S. I Love You	Japan	Namco GunCon
Rescue Shot	Europe	Namco GunCon
Resident Evil: Survivor (USA/Europe) / Biohazard: Gun Survivor (Japan)	USA, Europe, and Japan	Namco GunCon	USA version is a non-lightgun game.
Silent Hill	USA, Europe, and Japan	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster
Star Wars: Rebel Assault II - The Hidden Empire	USA, Europe, and Japan	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster	Ground Combat Sequences: Chapters 2, 11, and 12.
Time Crisis	USA, Europe, and Japan	Namco GunCon
Time Crisis: Project Titan	USA, Europe, and Japan	Namco GunCon

Compatible Mouse Games

Title	Region	Peripheral	Notes
Policenauts	Japan	PlayStation Mouse	English translation and GunCon patches available.
Snatcher	Japan	PlayStation Mouse