Guides

From applying Korean patches to converting disc images — written around the parts that actually trip people up.

How to Apply a Translation Patch — IPS, PPF, BPS and xdelta Explained What separates the patch formats, how to apply one in your browser, and how to track down the cause when it fails. About 4 min read Running PS1 Games on a PSP — Building an EBOOT.PBP Converting BIN/CUE disc images into a PSP EBOOT.PBP, handling multi-disc games, artwork specifications, and how to pick a compression level. About 4 min read Disc Image Formats — ISO, BIN/CUE, CSO, ZSO and CHD, and When to Use Each How the image formats you run into with retro games differ, and which one to reach for in a given situation. About 4 min read BIN/CUE to CHD — Compressed Conversion for Emulators How to fold scattered track files into one and shrink them at the same time, how to pick a compression level, and which emulators support CHD. About 3 min read Finding the Cause with the File Inspector How to look inside a file and narrow down the cause when an EBOOT will not launch or a patch is rejected. About 3 min read Editing Powkiddy Game Lists — XML, RetroArch and EmulationStation How to rename games, put them in order, and attach thumbnails on a Chinese handheld console. About 4 min read Building Beat Saber Playlists — Editing .bplist Files How to group custom songs into a playlist, attach a cover image, and fill in the song details. About 3 min read Picking the Right ROM for a Patch — Regions, Revisions and Dump Names When a patch is rejected it is almost always the wrong ROM revision. How to read the tags in a filename, and how to confirm your file is the one the patch targets. About 4 min read Getting Started with MSX Games — MSX1 vs MSX2, SCC and Emulator Setup Why the same MSX game can look and sound different, what separates the hardware generations and sound chips, and what to set up in an emulator. About 3 min read

Where to start

If this is new to you, begin with How to Apply a Translation Patch. Why there are several patch formats, and what gets applied to what, is the groundwork for everything else.

When you are unsure what the files in front of you actually are, Disc Image Formats is the map — why ISO and BIN/CUE are separate things, and when CSO, ZSO or CHD is the right answer.

Once you know the destination, go to the article for it: Running PS1 Games on a PSP for moving PS1 games to a PSP, BIN/CUE to CHD for tidying files up for an emulator.

When something refuses to work, read Finding the Cause with the File Inspector. Most failures give themselves away the moment you look inside the file.

For handheld consoles and Beat Saber there are Editing Powkiddy Game Lists and Building Beat Saber Playlists.

Everything described in these articles can be done straight away in the tools — nothing to install, no account needed.