Texture flickering on PCSX2

A

Alonzo86

Non-League
14 November 2022
Hello, i have a problem with PCSX2.
All Pro Evolution Soccer/Winning Eleven games have a graphical bug on any renderer (except Software): flickering textures (kit elements, players, hairstyles, stadium elements etc.). These issue were present in ALL versions of the PCSX2, including the latest.
In software rendering, everything is displayed correctly so it's a rendering error.

P.S. Changing the PCSX2's settings doesn't help, I checked ABSOLUTELY ALL combinations of settings including native resolution, hacks etc. I managed to hack the LOD in this games with hexediting, but even ultra high LOD values didn't help. I also tried texture replacement - the problem persists.
Can you please help me?

Screenshot_20250107_041449_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
@BillyKong
Thank you for your answer. It's a shame that my favourite game is affected by this problem and that it persists after several years. Is the problem the same with other emulators like aethersx2 etc.?
Then I'll probably have to try to get the pc version running again and get the stuttering on windows 10 under control, which has already cost me a lot of time without any real success 🙆‍♂️
 
Alonzo86 said:
@BillyKong
Thank you for your answer. It's a shame that my favourite game is affected by this problem and that it persists after several years. Is the problem the same with other emulators like aethersx2 etc.?
Then I'll probably have to try to get the pc version running again and get the stuttering on windows 10 under control, which has already cost me a lot of time without any real success 🙆‍♂️
Click to expand...
You can try aethersx2, I personally haven't tried it but maybe it performs better in regards to the graphical issues you mentioned.
 
I play on Aethersx2 (on an emulation ARM based console) and there's no flickering or graphical bugs. I hated to play with those bugs, even prefers to play on native PS2 resolution with an upscaler and lots of blinking when they present the stadiums on most recents versions (in fact, even if polygons disappearing is on practically every version, the stadium and nets blinking/or super aliased is only since PES4.
Before that, Konami used a view with a fog system and it was looking better. Perhaps too demanding if they wanted to add more details stuffs so they removed it since WE8 so PES4.

About PCSX2, i searched a way to get rid of that issue like you did @Alonzo86 and found a reddit thread where someone complained the same regarding PES, he talked directly with PCSX2 programmers.
They said they won't resolve it, they're not interested and it's not a priority.
From what i read on some emulation and retrogaming forum about those programmers, is that they often almost said "GTFO" when you mention a bug, they take it badly... Seems they're more the kind to follow their own path and don't care about some bugs their community relate etc.
Perhaps it's only one of them, but they aren't pretty sympathetic. But the answers about PES on reddit give me the tone : the guy said he will never ever try to correct that bug, not interested to do it etc. We all know it's a free software and there's no Windows or Linux alternative : only ARM based stuff.
But even free you can't "repudiate" your fanbase... Well, i hope there will be an alternative more consistent one day on Windows at least.

Also, i don't know myself but just reporting what i've read : from others programmers perspective as i found on thread talking about PCSX2, they said it's programmed like a big ball of melted thread, while Aether got a best basis and it's programmed on a more logic way. I'm only reporting what i've read, i don't really care as long as it works nicely.... But it doesn't, so.

There's also the Xbox series other emulator, it's like their as PCSX2 (only basis) but with another way to reproduce PS2 games.
I noticed some blinking/flickering/small hair part disappearing but not as much as in PCSX2 : i would say it's acceptable and less polygons disappears, it's not like if all players became completely bald, no, just some polygons disappears time to time.
It's a common issue on PES emulation while you're upping the resolution, only AetherSX2 don't have that issue, i'm not a specialist i don't know why it's not even an issue on that emulator. It's the same guys who did PPSSPP if i remember well... Very fast and good program.
 
Yes very true that some of these devs and their attitude. It's just awful. The main dev of PCSX2 now is the same guy behind the Duckstation PS1 emulator so I have some hope he will eventually get round to fixing it as he is pretty amazing. But some of the other contributors are just idiots.

Strange that Aethersx2 works fine. I know that its for ARM based systems mainly, but if one dev could just take a look at their solution and try to apply it to PCSX2 I'm sure it would be fixed relatively quickly. I saw that RetroArch have made some major progress with their own PS2 emulator fork - LRPS2, specifically the renderer so I may test it out on there and see if its fixed.

I had in fact written a bug report on both their official forums and Github page a year or so ago but nothing has happened as of yet.
 
That issue is not often when the cam is close, but whatever Vulkan or dx12 or opgl, when you're playing, players get baldy for no reason with PCSX2.
More on some version than others (PES 2, also think that PES5 got less textures disappearing. PES 2014 have some hair reflect on every emulator as the hair texture preset have a lighting effect a bit shiny, but there's less flickering/texture disappearing.

It's especially annoying over the head of the player. I was hoping like you @BillyKong for a fix, but the 2.0 got the same ol'flicky. It's been too long since that issue is adressed (again and again) i don't have hope anymore in them.
What i can see in a close future is an AetherSX2 windows version, it's more probable.

Didn't tried (or see running) the Retroarch emulator version, i wasn't interested as i through it was the PCSX2 core but i'm pretty curious now
:THINK:

I will soon install Batocera as for Windows on an USB key to try it, then launch my PC with that key. You got better performance if you run it directly from the bios and chose the Batocera support to boot 1st.
 
I remember that the pre-Qt version (1.6.0) didn't have the issue as many as the current Nightly/stable 2.x.x version. However the downside is that you can't use Vulkan renderer.
 
NeoRetro said:
I play on Aethersx2 (on an emulation ARM based console) and there's no flickering or graphical bugs. I hated to play with those bugs, even prefers to play on native PS2 resolution with an upscaler and lots of blinking when they present the stadiums on most recents versions (in fact, even if polygons disappearing is on practically every version, the stadium and nets blinking/or super aliased is only since PES4.
Before that, Konami used a view with a fog system and it was looking better. Perhaps too demanding if they wanted to add more details stuffs so they removed it since WE8 so PES4.

About PCSX2, i searched a way to get rid of that issue like you did @Alonzo86 and found a reddit thread where someone complained the same regarding PES, he talked directly with PCSX2 programmers.
They said they won't resolve it, they're not interested and it's not a priority.
From what i read on some emulation and retrogaming forum about those programmers, is that they often almost said "GTFO" when you mention a bug, they take it badly... Seems they're more the kind to follow their own path and don't care about some bugs their community relate etc.
Perhaps it's only one of them, but they aren't pretty sympathetic. But the answers about PES on reddit give me the tone : the guy said he will never ever try to correct that bug, not interested to do it etc. We all know it's a free software and there's no Windows or Linux alternative : only ARM based stuff.
But even free you can't "repudiate" your fanbase... Well, i hope there will be an alternative more consistent one day on Windows at least.

Also, i don't know myself but just reporting what i've read : from others programmers perspective as i found on thread talking about PCSX2, they said it's programmed like a big ball of melted thread, while Aether got a best basis and it's programmed on a more logic way. I'm only reporting what i've read, i don't really care as long as it works nicely.... But it doesn't, so.
Click to expand...

There's always another side of story. Pcsx2 has been developed for more than 2 decades. And i also read it somewhere back then these devs got hundreds & possibly thousand of email asking to fix bugs & add features everyday ! Could you imagine that ! So their reaction somehow "understandable". Some of these dev's reaction are rude for sure but let's remember some of those who reported bugs also asking for asinine requests for a free software. Just 2 years ago Aethersx2 devs forced to stop its development cause got death threats from many android users.
 
Yes there's always another side of the story, and borderline people but when you're in the case (i was, in the past for X editing stuffs) you have to sort through child who want all at once and serious people relating and showing real bugs on vids or pictures. If you don't know how to handle it, don't communicate or search a bug report to improve your tool... Or you keep silent and don't start to communicate with people at all, no forum or stuff like that.

About the PES issues the guy showed pictures, was pretty polite and he was trow to in the trash like an old sock.
There was at least 15 PES/WE games and it's probably the most played game and the most modded above every single PS2 games with GTA, on their emulator. So it's important to take some things demonstrated with proof and noisy kids blubbering about one small wall who get a bit of aliasing on X basic game. The guy from PCSX2 said a definitive no, without any small explanation.
Being always rude and disrepectful for no reason is not the way to get a good reputation and is doing the same as guys complaining for very small things, and doing the same for every people isn't very smart. Or you don't start to take reports if you found it boring, or you take it all and took most important demonstrated bug reports and try to fix it.

Now about death threats, it's unforgivable and i don't understand why they received it (as it's a pretty good emulator), now it's unfortunately the same for everyone being a bit famous on all social medias. I suppose it's the same for Adam Bhatti, guys from PCSX2 or Dolphin or Snes9X, or every actor and singer in the world. Whatever you're doing free stuffs (first for yourself and then you're sharing to people after : it's 95% the case, simply human nature and i'm also on that percentage)
Nothing really happen to those guys except some hacking, the more you have people following the more you will got the "chance" to get crazy ones who will send you awful stuffs. Also patch and option file makers.
Personnaly i protected my identity while i started to do some of those stuffs and listenned to every serious reports while not answering to dumb or asking the impossible like if it was taking 15 minutes to do it like for example creating Greek league or shit like that, when you have to cover a full database and got tons of work + being alone to do it.

About AetherSX2 i suppose it became a open source as i see some new probably unofficial version coming again. Made by guys who don't share their names. Just to talk about something else, there's some hope that a good programmer take the basis and convert the emulation system on another OS. But it will take more time.
 
baygonstroberi said:
I remember that the pre-Qt version (1.6.0) didn't have the issue as many as the current Nightly/stable 2.x.x version. However the downside is that you can't use Vulkan renderer.
Click to expand...

It's always been the case on every version and both have baldy players : that's why i buy a PS2 and some material to get the best picture possible. The 1.7.0 version wasn't even out while i did it.
Now i use my PS2 for editing and for 2D games like SNK and all compilations of that kind : it's the best render i got on my tv , as the tool i brough give a better 2D rendering even in 1x resolution, only my PC can do better with MAME Plus but i prefers to play on my living room.
For all 3D i use one Aliexpress Super Console X5 probably on the top 3 of most powerful Android based support. for emulation.
 
It's just unfortunate situation from both sides. Like i get that when someone who truly honest want to report a feedback hoping to get fix or see improvement from a tool but got thrown like trash. Such a sad sad situation. Good thing there's few alternative now unlike few years ago, lol.
 
Yes, it's just sad. Except forums i never passed through the ton of hate and dumb people post on social media. I even left Facebook and don't go to X-Twitter anymore as it's toxic even if i suscribed to positive stuffs.
Youtube is a bit different, it's more humoristic post than real hate (it's certain that their system of moderation is the best option / as the "before posting" the system is checking if the text is valid / above all social media)
 
NeoRetro said:
I play on Aethersx2 (on an emulation ARM based console) and there's no flickering or graphical bugs. I hated to play with those bugs, even prefers to play on native PS2 resolution with an upscaler and lots of blinking when they present the stadiums on most recents versions (in fact, even if polygons disappearing is on practically every version, the stadium and nets blinking/or super aliased is only since PES4.
Before that, Konami used a view with a fog system and it was looking better. Perhaps too demanding if they wanted to add more details stuffs so they removed it since WE8 so PES4.

About PCSX2, i searched a way to get rid of that issue like you did @Alonzo86 and found a reddit thread where someone complained the same regarding PES, he talked directly with PCSX2 programmers.
They said they won't resolve it, they're not interested and it's not a priority.
From what i read on some emulation and retrogaming forum about those programmers, is that they often almost said "GTFO" when you mention a bug, they take it badly... Seems they're more the kind to follow their own path and don't care about some bugs their community relate etc.
Perhaps it's only one of them, but they aren't pretty sympathetic. But the answers about PES on reddit give me the tone : the guy said he will never ever try to correct that bug, not interested to do it etc. We all know it's a free software and there's no Windows or Linux alternative : only ARM based stuff.
But even free you can't "repudiate" your fanbase... Well, i hope there will be an alternative more consistent one day on Windows at least.

Also, i don't know myself but just reporting what i've read : from others programmers perspective as i found on thread talking about PCSX2, they said it's programmed like a big ball of melted thread, while Aether got a best basis and it's programmed on a more logic way. I'm only reporting what i've read, i don't really care as long as it works nicely.... But it doesn't, so.

There's also the Xbox series other emulator, it's like their as PCSX2 (only basis) but with another way to reproduce PS2 games.
I noticed some blinking/flickering/small hair part disappearing but not as much as in PCSX2 : i would say it's acceptable and less polygons disappears, it's not like if all players became completely bald, no, just some polygons disappears time to time.
It's a common issue on PES emulation while you're upping the resolution, only AetherSX2 don't have that issue, i'm not a specialist i don't know why it's not even an issue on that emulator. It's the same guys who did PPSSPP if i remember well... Very fast and good prprogram.
Click to expand...
Are you sure the flickering is gone on Aethersx2 ? I just tried it on pc and the flickering is still there
 
fmicablues7 said:
Are you sure the flickering is gone on Aethersx2 ? I just tried it on pc and the flickering is still there
Click to expand...
The one i got is not running under Android for phone emulated from Bluestack.
Well the one i got on full hd there's nothing, i checked closely.... But i got once a bad trip : there was some flickering issue, not as big as PCSX2 but enough to get annoyed... I tried some configuration, there was something enabled which caused that weird problem.

Now when i launch any version post 2008 it looks like PES 5 on PC with higher resolution. I don't know but the PC version seems to have more solid players body a bit larger as an optic effect. I got the same.

Ah yes i found something interesting with that emulator, there was a widescreen i don't know option : first i enable to try Burnout Revenge as you can play in 16/9....
Then i played on PES 5 or 2008 i don't remember and got a surprise when i launched the game it was automatically on 16/9 showing the rest of the pitch (not players looking flat and streched). No .pnach file needed. And the game wasn't patched just an O.F. on it.

PS: i'm using Kinhank Super Console X5, and i got no clue if there's an Android phone version (i don't think) and you can trust me : that was my biggest fear when i brought that emulation console. No others bugs on PES, and it seems there's always a way to correct some issues.
But some games runs pretty bad as they're hard to emulated like Ridge Racer 5, i keep my PS2 for it and for the upscaling super smooth filter for 2D games.

No i brough a mini PC gamer so for bigger console or Arcade games i will use them directly from Windows, as i'm only interested about Xbox 360 (i own a jailbreak PS3)
 
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I tried many settings, but the same problem with the flickering in aethersx2... what are your settings, are you really sure there is no flickering ?
 
fmicablues7 said:
I tried many settings, but the same problem with the flickering in aethersx2... what are your settings, are you really sure there is no flickering ?
Click to expand...
At least not polygons disappearing on heads/hair making all the players baldy. For that, i'm 100% sure not having problems, also checked about kits polygons and nothing weird happened.
Now i didn't checked every part of every stuffs from the goal, turf, stadium etc. but players doesn't seems to have big problems like on PCSX2.

I have no idea if the Aethersx2 i own on my ARM base console is the same as on phone.
Did you used it on PC you used Bluestack + Aether no? Because there's no other way to run that emulator on Windows naturally.
There's no indications about the touchscreen controller or whatever.

I tried : PES5, PES2008, JLWE2007, WE8I and PES 2014 and JLWE2008... But i'm certain that i remember having that problem too once, but only after changing some things related to textures. At first, with X3 resolution it was OK.
Then and i changed what was too me the biggest setting probability (again about some textures setting related, it was quickly and fortunately corrected).

I'll send you all the settings tomorrow afternoon, i will change the language to english so you may probably understand better. I hope and cross fingers that it will help you.

Today i got a pretty big journey and tomorrow someone come home in the morning to 2 PM for helping to rebuild the house of my father (he get a big handicap in 2 years, we have to set his house related to make his life a bit easier PS: sorry for the My Life O.T. lol)
 
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@fmicablues7 :
I can't do it today but mostly Tuesday or Wednesday, my friend come tomorrow too and i'll get to tired. Also i got another plan so you can see by yourselve if there's something wrong :
It will take a bit more time but for the best : so if i'm only giving my config or if and you still got the issue, it's probably the support where you play on. Android ARM base is the best for playing AetherSX2 : so i will capture vids on my TV, never do that before then probably register it on Youtube.


Just for info I'm using 2.5x with filters or 3X with less filters depending the game (if it's a hard modded game made for playing with emulator, i got slowdowns) and i tried the famous MSAA : i don't see the difference at all if i enhance it x16 or nothing. Same as SSAA option : the higher the resolution is the lesser you need anti-aliasing that's a fact. Only using the basic FXAA filter (a bit sad that you can add more post processing shaders/filters to get a better 2D, i don't talk about 2xbr texture option like on PCSX2. But even with more option, if runs PES with things i got hard to digest, i prefers to play on my PS2 with an upscaler or a CRT :TTTH:(i'm searching for a good Trinitron but prices are way too high)

But i use it only for editing like for example some created faces i did on PES5 to recopy on WE2008 then i change hairstyle based on the season.
Will try different version with different graphical engine, and capture my settings at the end, i think it will be clearer like that and i will see if what you mean by "flickering" is related to something else than hair and all ;)

Ah yes for PES 2014 for that one i'm sure there no polygons flickering : there's a lighting effect on over their head that make it shinning. I checked on close camera and turned around the players, it's the same from long cam, middle, and very close on replay. Optical effect, enhanced by the emulator resolution and/or lighting reproduction (you don't see that light so bright on 1x resolution it's the same look as on a real PS2)

Q:/ Does somoene have installed an emulation OS with Retroarch and the famous new PS2 emulator "LRPS2" for PC? Of course you have to choose in your bios to boot on the USB key or External HDD for it to run at his full potential ;).
It may be the solution for everyone if that version runs PES properly, as PCSX2 don't want to change anything and you need a 250-300 euros ARM Emulation console ARM based to run Aether, not working on Intel processors i think.
 
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fmicablues7 said:
Bad news guys, LRPS2 has the same flickering as PCSX2.... I didnt try all settings but it seems the flickering is still there
Click to expand...
I through i would have much time but i don't : i will plug my console and check on 2 or 3 PES with different graphics engine (not the first new core engine they built on WE7 for all the games)

Sorry for being late. I will record a vid capture later as it takes time to do it for the proof as i'm pretty busy this week and it takes time for recording, removing and then uploading... It's like a tornado in my home everyday lol.
I will check very closely, but when you talk about flickering, it's about the polygons disappearing to be sure? Especially on their head? So i can give you a proper answer before sending a proof.
 
Here's my report @fmicablues7

-In comparison to PCSX2 it's day and night, now, there's a small bit of textures flickering but not on every hairstyle and rarely over the head of the players : for example i shooted a FK with Henry and his head while he was breathing made appears a line behind his head. I switched to Pires and... Absolutely Nothing.
I tried on PES 5, and on PES 2008 (didn't already made WE7 series copy)
and it's looking more like something "blinking" as some aliasing than flickering. Let's say that the issue is in comparison corrected to 90%

-It's practically, while you're playing, not something you will notice and that may bother you when you're playing a match with wide or normal cam : if a polygon flicker, it's so small than from normal or long distance : you can't see nothing.
And i'm someone very on details about issues, i checked very closer to see that there was some small but not annoying flickers. I didn't noticed until you asked me, so i watched practically in front on my 4K TV.
To be bothered by that, probably your level of tolerance is very high.

-I think it cames from the PS2 game itself, when you duplicate or X3 the resolution, some stuff like this could happen. From what i remember even on PES 5 PC (running bad on every PC i owned if you don't have D3D override) got also some geometry textures issues too. But there's tool to correct it like D3D override.

Now, my config is quite simple on the graphism part, i didn't touched that much all the parameters as in "advanced" there's too much options, too much combination.
What i changed is, sorry but i tried to make it in english without success but i will try to translate "Bilinear Scaling" > Smooth (no change), now in Advanced setting, i put "Anti-blur" on, there's also an option to "replace textures barrer" i believe it depends to your own gfx card and the same for "replacing geometric shaders" too. I tried both in the same time and there wasn't practically any noticeable flickering at all when i was playing, it looks more like a tiny aliasing on one or two players hair.

I'm on Vulkan (same result as OPGL i tried) with 2.5 native with filter or 2.75 native, 3x without any shaders (modded games asking a bit more power, so there's could be slowdown) and i like to put a shader TV.

My conclusion is with the ARM console i brought as even with a bug very annoying on all emulator, is reduced to the maximum, so it seems pretty hard to remove completely but they managed to reduce it to the maximum, probably they were fan of PES/WE. Personnaly it doesn't bother me at all to be honest, before you i said there was no flickering on Aether as i through it was a bit of aliasing :).

So yes but it's 100 times better than running with players becoming bald for no reason (and they're multiple).
I will share a vid but when you're occuped to play the game, i prefers to play with that big resolution and that little thing than On a PS2 with the nets and the crowd when you start a game blinking like a Disco-ball.

BUT if i owned a good Trinitron (not a PVM, it's too long i got no place for it), i wanted a YUV compatible but i've read that the difference is only related to colors so i don't care that much, and there's many pictures options for reducing that super blinkin'aliasing and get a better image overall.
I tried on a good but basic TV, not a big brand at all, and i preferred my PS2 on LCD with an upscaler and the Mclassic anti-aliasing filters even if it doesn't make miracles for what i mentionned about PES, All 2D games as i love fighting games have zero aliasing : some looks like a modern remake.
 
That sounds great. LRPRS2 with the new renderer plus CRT Blur Busters Motion Smoothing shader will make this the best way to play the old games.
 
NeoRetro said:
I through i would have much time but i don't : i will plug my console and check on 2 or 3 PES with different graphics engine (not the first new core engine they built on WE7 for all the games)

Sorry for being late. I will record a vid capture later as it takes time to do it for the proof as i'm pretty busy this week and it takes time for recording, removing and then uploading... It's like a tornado in my home everyday lol.
I will check very closely, but when you talk about flickering, it's about the polygons disappearing to be sure? Especially on their head? So i can give you a proper answer before sending a proof.
Click to expand...
Yeah, i'm getting exactly the same flickering as on pcsx2 on the players hairstyles and kit numbers... i would be curious to see a video of your game.

Btw, i tried on my androidphone so it should be exactly the same setup as yours. But same flickering...
 
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