FINAL BURN ALPHA

By: CaptainCPS-XENGLISH VERSION

OFFICIAL GUIDE

RETRO LOADER

Welcome to the official guide and documentation for FB Alpha Retro Loader!

Before you begin, get comfortable, sit back and chill, because if you like Arcade Games & PlayStation 3, later on you will be having lots of fun!

In here you will find everything you need to know, so you can enjoy playing your favorite arcade games on your PlayStation 3 system. And not just that!, you will even find out how to enter their "Diagnostics" or "Test" menu, so you can change settings such as "can change settings such as "Difficulty", "Free Play Mode", "Enable Blood", "Region Change" and more!

Please, do not throw away this opportunity and take a moment to read this guide. I guarantee that it will make your game experience a lot better!

I - Introduction

This project wouldn't exist if it weren't for all these great people:

- My buddies Treble Winner (Barry), Kev (tmaul) & iq_132 (current official FB Alpha Team <3).- Sturn and JacKc for the preview images @ NeoSource (http://neosource.1emu.net)- Ada Love Lace (for the support and tips regarding PS3 Software Manuals)- The Maister / twin aphex / Squarepusher / Company (Libretro/RetroArch is just amazing)- hellsing9 & GregoryRasputin (for your support and feedback)- - PS3 Scene websites (in no order) such as: PS3HAX / PSX-Scene / Etc, for you support- STLcardsWS - (for your support)- aldostools (your ps3tools for windows are the best)- deank (multiMAN helped me research / debug my application)- fail0verfl0w, GeoHot, etc (for all you have done for the PS3 scene)- Anonymous (for releasing Sony SDKs)

Thanks to anyone else I forgot that in some way contributed to the PS3 scene and as a result I was able to do this homebrew application.a result I was able to do this homebrew application.

II - Credits

FB Alpha Retro Loader comply with licenses from (including libraries used):

Final Burn / FB Alpha / MAME- https://github.com/CaptainCPS/FBAlphaRL/blob/master/libretro/docs/license.txt

Libretro / RetroArch- https://github.com/CaptainCPS/FBAlphaRL/blob/master/retroarch/COPYING

ANYONE, FROM THIS AND ANY EXISTING UNIVERSE USING THIS CODE AND RELEASING ANY KIND OF BUILD ORMODIFICATION, MUST AGREE TO RELEASE THE FULL SOURCE CODE (INCLUDING ANY MODIFICATIONS MADE).MODIFICATION, MUST AGREE TO RELEASE THE FULL SOURCE CODE (INCLUDING ANY MODIFICATIONS MADE).

LICENSE MUST BE PRESENT IN THEIR DOCUMENTATION OR AT LEAST LINKING TO THEM.

AS WE RESPECT ALL THESE OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS, I ONLY ASK OTHER DEVELOPERS TO PLEASE, RESPECT ITAS WELL, IT IS NOT THAT HARD. THANK YOU.

III - License

1) FB Alpha Retro Loader2) Supported Arcade Systems3) The ROM sets / Drivers4) Using FB Alpha Retro Loader 4.1) Main Menu 4.2) FBA Game List 4.3) Options Menu 4.4) Configuring ROM paths 4.5) Changing Input Presets 4.6) Enabling Neo-Geo Universe Bios (Uni-Bios)5) In-Game Features 5.1) Accessing RetroArch’s “In-Game” menu 5.2) How to enter “Diagnostics” or “Test” menu 5.2.1) Setting “Stereo” (HQ) audio in CPS-3 games 5.3) How to enter most “Universe Bios” menus 5.3.1) Uni-Bios Boot Menu (Change Region, System Mode, and more) 5.3.2) Uni-Bios Jukebox SFX / BGM Player 5.3.3) Uni-Bios Cheats Menu6) F.A.Q.(Frequently Asked Questions)

IV - Table of Contents

It is a frontend for RetroArch & Libretro developed from scratch by CaptainCPS-X (from the official FB Alpha Team).

It provides the classic FB Alpha experience on your PlayStation 3 system, including many features to make it easier to manage and play your favorite arcade games. Many of these features are not available while using RetroArch on its own, and the few features can become annoying with time, when you just want to have fun and play.

Here you can compare FB Alpha Retro Loader with Windows Official FB Alpha:

PlayStation 3 Windows

1) FB Alpha Retro Loader

The Official FB Alpha for Windows (http://www.barryharris.me.uk/) has greater and almost perfect compatibility since drivers are originally coded and tested on different processor architecture than the PlayStation 3 system.

However Libretro port (https://github.com/libretro/fba-libretro) has managed to incorporate many additions over the time to make most of the code / drivers compatible with the PlayStation 3 processor of the code / drivers compatible with the PlayStation 3 processor architecture. There are still many presenting emulation problems, but the list keeps going down as the time goes by.

These are the emulated arcade systems:

- Capcom CPS-1- Capcom CPS-2- Capcom CPS-3- Cave- Data East DEC-0, DEC-8 and DECO IC16 based games- Galaxian based hardware- Galaxian based hardware- Irem M62, M63, M72, M90 and M92 hardware- Kaneko 16- Konami- Neo-Geo- Pacman based hardware- PGM- Psikyo 68EC020 and SH-2 based hardware- Psikyo 68EC020 and SH-2 based hardware- Sega System 1, System 16 (and similar), System 18, X-Board and Y-Board- Toaplan 1- Toaplan 2- Taito F2, X, Z and others- Miscellaneous drivers for lots of other hardware

2) Supported Arcade Systems

FB Alpha respects and comply with the official MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) documenting standards, so whenever there is a new release of FB Alpha, it will be in sync with the latest MAME romsets.

Currently in sync with: MAME v0.149 (http://mamedev.org)

3) The ROM sets / Drivers

It is very straight forward to use FB Alpha RL. In the next sections you will learn how to use or configure each one of its features.

4) Using FB Alpha Retro Loader

From here you will have access to most sections, like theFB Alpha Game List, Options menu and will be able to launch various applications of interest like Iris Manager and evenmultiMAN.

Immediately after reaching the Main Screen the FTP module will be activated, so you can start connecting at any point from your PC and transfer from your PC and transfer ROMs, Previews, etc.

Note: There is no indication of FTP being active at this moment, but I've added the PS3 IP Address display at the top, including FB Alpha RL version.

4.1) Main Menu

From here you will be able to Launch a game, View romset / ZIP contents, Re-scan ROM paths, etc.

At the bottom there will be detailed information of each selected game, like for example: Year, Max Players, Resolution, System, Manufacturer, etc.

At the right you will be able to see a In-Game preview image for almost every supported game. You don't have to worry about getting those preview images, preview images, they come bundled with FB Alpha RL, and will eventually cover all missing previews.

By pressing [L1] or [R1] you can toggle the different System Filters (default is Custom Filter) to display only the system(s) you want.

Note: When using for first time, upon reaching this section a ROM scan will be done for the default paths. You can view or edit the default ROM paths on the options menu.

4.2) FB Alpha Game List

In this menu you can customize your personal preferences, if you want to filter some systems only, if you want to specify other ROM directories, enable Alternate Keys for RetroArch's In-Game menu, and much more.

4.3) Options Menu

Again, this will be very straight forward, there are more than eightconfigurable paths that can be changed to your personal preference.To do so, select the path you want to change and press [CROSS] on yourPlayStation 3 controller.

On the next screen you will have the File Browser where you can navigate to where you have your ROMs located and press [START] to confirm the choice. choice.

If you want to cancel and return to Options Menu, just press [SELECT].

If your games are not detected after configuring your ROM paths, don't panic, just make sure they are correct.

Note: As specified before, ROMs must be from MAME v0.149 romsets.older or different romsets will most probably not work, or won't be even detected.

4.4) Configuring ROM paths

Each emulated system for FB Alpha has their own Input Preset .CFGasigned, this feature was added to FB Alpha RL to simplify theprocess when mapping custom game inputs. If you already have different input presets for some systems or some from a previous RetroArch installation, you can use the File Browser to select the desired custom .CFG file. to select the desired custom .CFG file.

First, select a system from the list and press [CROSS] button on your PS3 controller, this will take you to the File Browser.

To confirm the selection on the File Browser, press [START] button on your PS3 controller.

To cancel the .CFG selection just press [SELECT] on your PS3 controllerto return to the Options Menu.

4.5) Changing Input Presets

Enabling the option will load Neo-Geo games with these BIOS instead of the standard ones. You must make sure to have the proper "neogeo.zip" from MAME v0.149 romset.

What's the difference you might ask? Everything!, Uni-Bios allows you to do so many things, for example:

- Choose System Region (USA, JAPAN, EURO)- Choose Console type (ARCADE / CONSOLE)- Enable game cheats for every game! on the fly!- Enable game cheats for every game! on the fly!- SFX / BGM Jukebox- More!

Neo-Geo Universe Bios (Uni-Bios) as described at the official website:

“The UNIVERSE BIOS is for owners of MVS or AES hardware that want an easy way to change country region or between Arcade or Console mode on boot. Also included are other features that are not possible using the standard MVS bios.

The UNIVERSE BIOS is also designed to give easy access to things like inserting coins, test mode and memory The UNIVERSE BIOS is also designed to give easy access to things like inserting coins, test mode and memory card management when using the joystick ports only. Of course the BIOS still allows standard operation too.”

For more information visit its official website:http://unibios.free.fr/screenshots.html

4.6) Enabling Neo-Geo Universe Bios (Uni-Bios)

After launching a game with FB Alpha RL, you have many features you can access, by pressing differentbutton combinations on your PlayStation 3 controller, like for example:

- RetroArch “In-Game menu”-“Diagnostics” or “Test” menu- Neo-Geo “Universe Bios” in-game menus

Keep reading to learn more!

5) In-Game Features

You can always access RetroArch's “In-Game menu” by pressing the following combinations on your PS3 controller:

(Default Combination) (Alternate Keys Combination)

If you configured the Alternate Keys from FB Alpha RL options menu then you can access it by pressing the combination displayed on the second picture, on the right.

From here you can configure video, inputs, audio, load or save state, return to FB Alpha RLFB Alpha RL and more.

5.1) Accessing RetroArch's “In-Game menu”

Almost every arcade game provides a “Diagnostics” or “Test” menu to configure many aspects of the game, including: Difficulty, Region, Test SFX (Sound Effects) & BGM (Background Music), etc.

While In-Game you can access this by pressing the following combination on your PlayStation 3 controller:

(Diagnostic Menu Combination) (Test Menu Combination)

5.2) How to enter “Diagnostics” or “Test” menu

CPS-3 games will always start in “Mono” or “JAMMA” sound mode, if you have a nice sound system this will not be the ideal sound you want to hear. There is a way to change this option by going to the CPS-3 game “Diagnostics” menu.

From there head to “7. CONFIGURATION -> 1. SYSTEM -> 6. SOUND MODE”, then change to “EXTERNAL”. The option will turn red after doing so, that is alright.

To save the changes keep selecting the last option “EXIT” until the game resets itself.

Note: If the game has Japanese text on its “Diagnostics” menu, just follow these pictures, it is the same.

5.2.1) Setting “Stereo” (HQ) audio in CPS-3 games

If you enabled Neo-Geo "Universe Bios" (Uni-Bios) on FB Alpha RL options menu you will have access to its features while "In-Game" by pressing different combination of buttonson your PlayStation 3 controller.

Keep reading to learn more!

5.3) How to enter most “Universe Bios” menus

While booting any Neo-Geo game, Uni-Bios will display a splash screen, while its displayed press the following combination on your PS3 controller quickly before it disappears:

[ A ] + [ B ] + [ C ]

On the PlayStation3 controller, the default buttons are:

If you miss the opportunity on boot, don't worry, just reset the game and try again.

5.3.1) Uni-Bios Boot Menu (Change Region, System Mode, and more)

Previously you learned how to access the Uni-Bios “Boot Menu”, well in that menu you have the Jukebox available where you can listen to your favorite Neo-Geo games music and chill out!

Have fun and Enjoy!

5.3.2) Jukebox SFX / BGM Player

To access the Uni-Bios "Cheat Menu" is easy, just press the following combination at any time while playing a Neo-Geo game. It doesn't have to be on boot screen, so don't rush it xD :

[COIN] + [START]

On the PlayStation 3 controller, the default buttons are:

Uni-Bios has a huge cheat database integrated, so every game will have different things you can activate and have some fun!things you can activate and have some fun!

5.3.3) Cheats Menu

Please, before asking any question or reporting a problem, take a moment to read these. Thank you.

Q - What Custom Firmware (CFW) do I need to have to use FB Alpha RL?A - Latest release has been signed to work on most CFWs, it has been tested on Rebug REX 4.46 (CEX), Rogero CFW 4.46 and MiraLaTijera CFW 4.40 (Core 3.2.0).

Q - Can I just install the "UPD", or I really need the "BASE" and why?A - The “BASE” installation is mandatory, it contains all the files, resources and data required by FB Alpha RL to work, the "UPD" package only contains the program or SELF / BIN files (and maybe other extra update data / resources). If you don't do this, don't come asking me why some feature is not working or if you get any or SELF / BIN files (and maybe other extra update data / resources). If you don't do this, don't come asking me why some feature is not working or if you get any other error.

Q - When I try to launch FB Alpha RL from XMB, it kicks me back, why?A - This is a common problem with homebrews, if this happens to you, post back with detailed information of your PS3 Model and CFW, including if its a CEX or DEX CFW.

Q - When launching a game RetroArch comes up with an error, what happened?A - Probably you have an incorrect romset or in case of Neo-Geo or PGM, you must make sure to have the BIOS placed in the same directory where the ROMs are located. the ROMs are located.

Q - Where can I find the proper ROMs / romsets?A - I cannot help you directly, but Google can, just follow this link and make sure to use MAME romsets.

http://bit.ly/16o3CvB (Google auto-search)

Q - Some games have bad graphics or eventually lock up my console, why?A - This happens because not all game drivers have been ported or updated to work on the PS3 system processor architecture. If you find such games, PM me the specific name and romset, I will be working on a compatibility list sooner or later.

6) F.A.Q - Frequently Asked Questions