MLB The Show 24: CUSA43942 - ShadPS4 Emulator Compatibility

This article delves into the compatibility of MLB® The Show™ 24 (CUSA43942) with the shadPS4 emulator. We'll examine the current status, observed errors, and provide a detailed overview based on user testing and reported issues. This information is crucial for gamers interested in running PlayStation 4 titles on their PCs using emulation.

Current Status: Boots but Crashes

Currently, MLB® The Show™ 24 is reported to boot on the shadPS4 emulator, specifically version v0.12.5. However, the game crashes before reaching the main menu, rendering it unplayable beyond the initial loading screens. This behavior indicates that while the emulator can initiate the game, it encounters issues during the loading or initialization of game assets and systems. The user who tested the game confirmed that all the necessary steps were taken, including using the latest major release of the emulator (v0.12.5), ensuring the game dump came from a legally owned copy, and verifying that all required PlayStation 4 firmware libraries were correctly placed in the shadPS4 'sys_modules' folder. Additional checks included confirming that the logging type was set to "sync" and that no manual settings were enabled that would alter emulation behavior. Despite these precautions, the game still crashed, highlighting underlying compatibility challenges that need to be addressed in future emulator updates.

To further elaborate, the booting process involves several critical steps. First, the emulator must correctly interpret and load the game's executable files. Second, it needs to initialize the game's environment, which includes setting up memory, loading configuration files, and preparing the graphics and audio subsystems. If any of these steps encounter errors, the game can crash. In the case of MLB® The Show™ 24, the crash occurring before the main menu suggests that the issue arises during the initialization phase, possibly due to discrepancies between the emulator's expected environment and the game's requirements. This could involve problems with graphics rendering, audio processing, or system calls that the emulator has not yet fully implemented or accurately emulated. Addressing these issues will require further analysis of the emulator's logs and potentially reverse engineering parts of the game to understand its specific demands.

Observed Errors

During the attempted run of MLB® The Show™ 24 on the shadPS4 emulator, several errors were logged. These errors provide valuable clues as to why the game crashes before reaching the main menu. Analyzing these errors can help developers pinpoint the specific areas of the emulator that need improvement.

1. sceSystemGestureUpdatePrimitiveTouchRecognizer (STUBBED):

   The error message <Error> system_gesture.cpp:113 sceSystemGestureUpdatePrimitiveTouchRecognizer: (STUBBED) called indicates that the emulator is calling a function related to system gestures, specifically sceSystemGestureUpdatePrimitiveTouchRecognizer, which is currently only a stub. A stubbed function means that the function's placeholder is present in the emulator's code, but its actual implementation is missing. This suggests that the game is attempting to use touch-based input or gesture recognition features, which the emulator does not yet fully support. While MLB® The Show™ 24 is primarily a controller-based game, it may still incorporate touch functionality for certain menu interactions or optional features. The lack of implementation for this function could lead to unexpected behavior or crashes when the game attempts to call it.

   To address this, developers would need to implement the sceSystemGestureUpdatePrimitiveTouchRecognizer function in the emulator. This would involve understanding the expected behavior of this function on the PlayStation 4 and replicating it accurately in the emulator. The implementation could range from a simple placeholder that returns a default value to a more complex solution that accurately simulates touch input. The priority of implementing this function would depend on how frequently it is called by the game and whether its absence directly contributes to the crash. If it is non-essential, a basic stub that prevents the crash might be sufficient as a temporary workaround.

2. sceNpWebApi2CheckTimeout (STUBBED):

   The error message <Error> stubs.cpp:42 CommonStub: Stub: sceNpWebApi2CheckTimeout (nid: 3Tt9zL3tkoc) called, returning zero to 0x80166c603 indicates that the emulator is calling another stubbed function, sceNpWebApi2CheckTimeout, related to network services. This function is likely used to check for timeout issues related to web API calls. The fact that it's stubbed and returns zero suggests that the emulator is not fully implementing the PlayStation 4's network functionalities. In the context of MLB® The Show™ 24, this could relate to online features, such as accessing online game modes, downloading roster updates, or interacting with online services.

   The absence of a full implementation for sceNpWebApi2CheckTimeout might not directly cause the game to crash before reaching the main menu. However, it could lead to issues later on if the game relies heavily on network services. A possible solution could involve implementing a basic version of this function that simulates network availability or provides mock responses. This would allow the game to proceed without encountering fatal errors related to network timeouts. Alternatively, developers could focus on implementing the full functionality of sceNpWebApi2CheckTimeout to accurately simulate the PlayStation 4's network behavior. This would involve understanding the underlying web API calls and implementing the necessary logic to handle timeouts and network errors. The choice between these approaches would depend on the overall goals of the emulator and the importance of network functionality for the game.

Additional Information and Logs

The user also provided screenshots showcasing the game's state before the crash. These screenshots depict the initial loading screens, indicating that the emulator can successfully load the game's resources up to a certain point. The provided log file, shad_log.txt, contains a detailed record of the emulator's operations, including all function calls, memory accesses, and error messages. Analyzing this log file can provide further insights into the cause of the crash and help developers identify the specific code paths that lead to the issue.

The availability of this detailed information underscores the importance of user feedback and bug reporting in the development of emulators. By providing comprehensive reports, users can help developers identify and address compatibility issues more effectively. In this case, the user's report, screenshots, and log file provide a valuable starting point for investigating the crash in MLB® The Show™ 24 and improving the emulator's compatibility with this title.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while MLB® The Show™ 24 (CUSA43942) can boot on the shadPS4 emulator v0.12.5, it currently crashes before reaching the main menu. The logged errors indicate that the emulator is missing implementations for certain system gesture and network-related functions, which may contribute to the crash. Further investigation, using the provided log file and screenshots, is needed to pinpoint the exact cause and implement the necessary fixes. User feedback and detailed reports like this are crucial for enhancing emulator compatibility and ensuring a better gaming experience.

For more information on the shadPS4 emulator and its development, visit the shadPS4 Emulator GitHub Repository.