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190.62

Ahh well it sounds like you might be having some fun in the coming weeks then.

I would like to assist in bug reporting, I have a PS2 (actually a slim and a big one) I use for playing and I don't expect "working games" until v1.0; I just want to assist in reporting bugs for this project...
I was going over the rules for posting in the first post of this thread and I noticed the following: "Make sure it is not the spikey polygon syndrome"
What is the spikey polygon syndrome? (it would be useful to have a link in the same post to a description of it).
Or rather... how do I make SURE that the bug I am going to report is not SPS? I have searched the forums for it and found an example, and, well, I gotta go with "maybe".

Also, just to be sure, the rules saying it needs to also be tested in zeroGS and in software mode are specifically for finding PCSX2 bugs, but this thread is specific to the GSdx plugin and as such goes by its own rules as outlined at the top? or should I also include all the info as posted in the sticky thread, as well as other plug in tests, and testing with no speed hacks?

Spikey polygon syndrom (SPS) is an VU bug (usually) and as the name suggests its a bug where polygons go ... out of form ... well they spike all over the screen messung up the grafics of the game.

Not gabes fault

ok... I think i figured it out... there is an option in "advanced" that allows you to select full emulation for EE and Extra+preserve sign for VU... and wow does it look better with those on (it is also REALLY slow).

Anyways, I got a bug report.

Game: God of war
There is this black polygonal circle around a shining light... also the spray of misty waves from the side of the boat fly across the screen as black polygons.
PCsx2 rev 1674
GSdx rev 1650
System spec in signature.

SSE4.1 version, DX10 Hardware mode, native resolution box checked, allow 8-bit textures checked, aspect 4:3
Advanced options: EE clamp mode changed to full, rest is default. VU mode changed to Extra + Preserve sign, rest is default. Played up to bug from very begining with those options!

Speed hacks: Played up to bug with INTC sync hack, enable IOP 2x cycle rate, and idle loop fast forward. All other hacks off. After reaching bugged location, hit esc, disabled all speed hacks, hit file>run CD/DVD and observed bug still exists.

Game: Okami
There are black triangles in anything made out of "gray rock". Typically mountains and... well, gray rocks. The black areas might relocate as you move, if you get close enough they disappear (or rather, proper textures appear) and the rock appears more 3D (the currently visible gray parts are also too "flat"... I think, hard to tell).

PCsx2 rev 1674
GSdx rev 1650
System spec in signature.

SSE4.1 version, DX10 Hardware mode, native resolution box checked, allow 8-bit textures checked, aspect 4:3
Advanced options: EE clamp mode changed to full, rest is default. VU mode changed to Extra + Preserve sign, rest is default. Played up to bug from very begining with those options!

Speed hacks: none.

EDIT: Rested with nvidia 190.68, no change.
Added a cleared example using a rock "column" with and without the bug (matter of distance from column)

EDIT2: enabling microVU (at rama's recommendation) has resolved those artifacts.
Should I make a bug report of this issue elsewhere? if so, where specifically?

Blackclaw, I understood it is not his fault. I was just not aware of any way to TELL visually if I am seeing an SPS or another bug. I have since figured out (correct me if I am wrong), that setting EE to full and VU to extra+ should eliminate SPS at the cost of extreme slowdowns... which is ok since I am looking for bugs, not trying to play the game...

Your god of war issue is a GSdx hardware rendering problem, but it's hard to fix from what I understand. You should be able to fix it using software rendering.
The Okami issue looks like a VU or VIF problem, nothing to do with GSdx. Try using microVU and see if it helps.

About "SPS":
Well, this term was founded when it was common for the VU recompiler to produce garbage.
Although it's possible for other components to produce these SPS too, the term is mostly used
to say that the vurec messed up.

Thank you rama. Testing with microVU in okami solved that specific issue. Should I report it as a bug elsewhere?

Unrelated (apparently) bug:
Game: Okami
There is a floating black rectangle in a specific spot (cutting into the bamboo near the cliff end). MicroVU fixed the black tirangles in gray rocks, but this appears to be a different issue with different characteristics. Getting close to it has no effect on it, but spinning the camera does (I think it is because it is a 2d object apparently). This appeared with or without microVU enabled.

PCsx2 rev 1674
GSdx rev 1650
System spec in signature.

SSE4.1 version, DX10 Hardware mode, native resolution box checked, allow 8-bit textures checked, aspect 4:3
Advanced options: EE clamp mode changed to full, rest is default. VU mode changed to Extra + Preserve sign, rest is default. Played up to bug from very begining with those options!
EDIT: rested with advanced options in default, same thing

Speed hacks: none.
Audio disabled

Can't get the plugin to start at all. Giving me the msvcr100.dll is missing error. However I did install the file linked in the first post, I tried installing the x64 version, when that didn't work I tried the x86 version, and that didnt work. I tried restarting and it still wouldn't work. They are installed correctly, because when I reran the installer after the reboot it gave me the option to uninstall or repair, rather than install again. Anyone got any ideas?