Darkaiser | Crash Team Racing - PC Port Progress Update #1 @Darkaiser | Uploaded November 2023 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
The PC Port has officially been born. This application is using the same C/C++ code as the PS1 version, compiled natively for Windows, using the wrapper library PsyCross.
Niko pulled two all-nighters in a row to make our PS1 code work on PC, with an easy system we can use to iteratively expand the PC port as we continue rewriting the PS1 code.
Faradise helped rewrite most of the Checkered Flag so that we could display it in this demo.
The PC port so far completes the 3-stage booting system, and the 10-stage loading system. Under the hood, entire level files are loaded and ready to go. We still need to rewrite the Camera, BSP, and RenderBucket systems before we can actually "see" and "play" the levels, but they certainly are loaded into memory without any corruption, which was a huge accomplishment.
After all the gameplay works, Niko plans to replace PsyCross and PS1 Prim/OT system, with modern D3D12 and Vulkan VBO/IBO, as well as replacing CPU GTE matrix math with GPU Vertex Shader matrix math, along with dozens more changes to make the game run faster, as well as simplify the porting process to more systems (PS4/Xbox/Switch, etc).
Main Menu and gameplay coming soon. Stay tuned for more.
The PC Port has officially been born. This application is using the same C/C++ code as the PS1 version, compiled natively for Windows, using the wrapper library PsyCross.
Niko pulled two all-nighters in a row to make our PS1 code work on PC, with an easy system we can use to iteratively expand the PC port as we continue rewriting the PS1 code.
Faradise helped rewrite most of the Checkered Flag so that we could display it in this demo.
The PC port so far completes the 3-stage booting system, and the 10-stage loading system. Under the hood, entire level files are loaded and ready to go. We still need to rewrite the Camera, BSP, and RenderBucket systems before we can actually "see" and "play" the levels, but they certainly are loaded into memory without any corruption, which was a huge accomplishment.
After all the gameplay works, Niko plans to replace PsyCross and PS1 Prim/OT system, with modern D3D12 and Vulkan VBO/IBO, as well as replacing CPU GTE matrix math with GPU Vertex Shader matrix math, along with dozens more changes to make the game run faster, as well as simplify the porting process to more systems (PS4/Xbox/Switch, etc).
Main Menu and gameplay coming soon. Stay tuned for more.
![Crash Team Racing - OnlineCTR Tests [ModSDK v3 Preview] (6/8)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Sc-_M-Snc1M/hqdefault.jpg "Crash Team Racing - OnlineCTR Tests [ModSDK v3 Preview] (6/8)
Download the public beta of ModSDK Version 3.0 here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o4qHbD5SK4iRY9JQgABx3BWsR6JcTIs8/view?usp=sharing
These two simulations are offline tests, representing client functions for what-will-be a new online multiplayer experience. As much as we want to start making new official releases of OnlineCTR, we need to sharpen the axe before chopping the tree.
1. Overhead Names
With brand new GTE and Camera Matrix research from the decompile effort, we can now make names appear over the heads of each driver. At some angles this looks perfect, at some angles it breaks a little. Still being worked on.
2. Driver Data
Position, Rotation, Animation, Lighting, all perfectly working for the first time ever. We still need to work on skidmarks, boost fire, exhaust, and weapons. In the video, position is offset on purpose, for the easy ability to compare.
When these prototypes are fully working, there will indeed be a return to OnlineCTR, and with ModSDKv3, it will work fully cross-region in every version of the game
Full package gets published to Github in July. Stay tuned for more.")
![Crash Team Racing - Select N. Oxide via Character Select Screen! [Preview/WIP]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ViXASbG3CDU/hqdefault.jpg "Crash Team Racing - Select N. Oxide via Character Select Screen! [Preview/WIP]
A huge thanks to Niko for making this possible.
This is a Work-In-Progress mod of Crash Team Racing where Nitros Oxide can be selected in the character selection screen like any other character in the game, without needing to use any type of cheats! Its still incomplete, and his icon position is a placeholder. Currently working in 1P Arcade/Time Trial modes, but still with a lot of crashes and glitches.
Note: It doesnt work in multiplayer mode for now!
The only ROM code edited so far was three instances of 0xf changed to 0x10 in the 230 DLL within BIGFILE, the rest was done by editing RAM. In the end, it’ll all be ROM hack, this is just a preview. And when it’s done, a full documentation of how it works and how to patch will be released.
Download the savestate preview here (ePSXe - PC only):
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/527135227546435586/701919409517756587/SCUS_944.26.000
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/527135227546435586/701919404547637368/SCUS_944.26.000.pic
This savestate is using the 8MB memory patch, so you can play as him in all Arcade tracks. Have fun!")
![Crash Team Racing - Mod Menu [Preview/WIP]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VsMASy2LYTc/hqdefault.jpg "Crash Team Racing - Mod Menu [Preview/WIP]
Another amazing work made by Niko.
The first version of this custom debug menu is ready. This replaces the end-of-menu function for Crystal Challenge. The Crystal Challenge DLL has one function in it, to draw the end-of-race menu. Its the smallest DLL in the game. The mod works by replacing that DLL with the one Niko made.
You can only do it in Crystal Challenges, but hacks stay active after you leave Crystal Challenge.
The next milestone is to make this accessible at any time in any mode.
Download the mod here: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/574619840061374464/722528371237716019/menu.zip
The DLL and instructions for installation are in the zip file. The DLL that Niko built is 100% custom, compiled from source, and not a modification of the original. There is a lot of potential for expanding the menu, it can be programmed to do absolutely anything, not just activating cheat codes.
This was built in 4 hours, and was only tested enough to consistently work the first time you enter the menu. All of this was possible thanks to a big project the CTR community is working on. It will be announced soon.
Known bugs:
- Pausing the game before finishing the Crystal Challenge, and then trying to pause it during the mod menu will mess it up.
- Because this mod menu replaces the end-of-race menu, its impossible to unlock purple CTR tokens with the menu mod.
- Entering twice will cause a soft lock, unless you use a save state. Some minor audio bugs are known, but we do now know of any bugs.")
![Crash Team Racing - Cross-Region Mods [ModSDK v3 Preview] (4/8)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WG-oJ1D8M_Y/hqdefault.jpg "Crash Team Racing - Cross-Region Mods [ModSDK v3 Preview] (4/8)
Download the public beta of ModSDK Version 3.0 here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o4qHbD5SK4iRY9JQgABx3BWsR6JcTIs8/view?usp=sharing
With the brand new ModSDKv3, 90% of our entire mod library, will now run on every version of the game that we support. This includes the Sep3 beta, USA Retail, JPN Kiosk Trial, PAL Retail, and JPN Retail builds.
Most mods will work cross-region with zero effort, it just works like magic. All the mods that are not cross-region are either old mods that we havent fully ported to the new system, or mods that specifically depend on data that is only in one build.
Full package gets published to GitHub in July. Stay tuned for more.")
![Crash Team Racing (Aug 5, 1999 prototype) - Yellow & Blue Gem Cups [PART 10]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WNvKhvRahMU/hqdefault.jpg "Crash Team Racing (Aug 5, 1999 prototype) - Yellow & Blue Gem Cups [PART 10]
The August 5th, 1999 build is a preview version of CTR built a month and a half before the final NTSC build date of September 24th, 1999. This beta version was widely given out among North-american video game magazines to be used in preview articles before the game is released.
A full documentation of the differences can found at: https://tcrf.net/Proto:Crash_Team_Racing/August_5th,_1999_build
Download the game, patched and ready to go: https://hiddenpalace.org/Crash_Team_Racing_(Aug_5,_1999_prototype%29
This build has protection to prevent people from using the disc outside of Naughty Dog, or their reviewers.
Protection level 1:
If the disc does not detect a special memory card dongle, then the game will not boot. It is as simple as if you see a string on the memory card, then boot. If the string is not on the memory card, then freeze. Interestingly, the dongles internal name is E3 dongle Copyright 1999 Naughty Dog, Inc., leading to believe that it was made specifically for E3 demo but later reused in subsequent builds.
Protection level 2:
After the game boots, there are 7 function pointers that are assigned incorrect values, which are incremented by an RNG before being executed. If a controller dongle is inserted, the controller will inject data into the RNG, then the RNG will increment the incorrect function pointers to the correct function addresses. Without the dongle, the incorrect pointers will execute, and crash the game.
In previous videos, we only had one function pointer working correctly, by setting a breakpoint before execution in no$psx emulator, and overriding the value manually. There were several bugs and instabilities.
Niko has spent over a year researching the retail game (94426), so within a few days, he finally was able to find how the entire function pointer system worked, and insert ASM that forces the RNG to return one value, which corrects all 7 function pointers, allowing the game to run.
Niko also fixed one of Naughty Dogs mistakes that was present even with the dongles, that would prevent the game from loading Relic Race on Slide Coliseum and Turbo Track.
In the link below, there are miscellaneous content for this prototype:
- GameShark codes that allow you to instantly beat Adventure Mode 100%, and unlock all rewards.
- A guide for playing the original ISO by making your own memory card dongle, and using GameShark to apply the rest of the fixes.
- We documented exactly how the ISO was patched, to learn how it was done.
Miscellaneous Content:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/sh93l6fmimh3e16/CTR+(1999-08-05+prototype)+-+Misc+Content+(Updated+2021).zip/file
Huge thanks to almarkowbender, gdias/Darkaiser, Gh0stBlade, let-over-lambda, mementomori/madmarsrocks, Niko, and psx-collector for making this release possible.")
