Is it actually REQUIRED to play retro games with some scanline or crt filter/on a crt tv?

[jul]

Should I use the blarrg's crt filters in emulators that have them such as snes9x?

Retroarch has all the guns

 

[Xdqwerty]

Retroarch has all the guns

Retroarch sucks

 

[Yankee]

Retroarch sucks

I used to not like it too but once I got used to using it and researched the good Cores, it's very convenient.

 

[jul]

Retroarch sucks

Except it doesn't, that's why batocera features it as a core component with EmulationStation as frontend. And pretty much every single handheld such as anbernic and such come shipped with it, except the lame ones... The alternative being standalone emulators, "opendingux" style, or worse, an android style of crap. Each individual emulator with its own internal UI and shortcuts and formats and rendering options, configs... You get anything but a unified interface in the end, and THAT sucks, especially on handhelds or any multi emulator dedicated system.

I won't mention MAME as alternative, because it's quite heavy and focuses on emulation accuracy at the expense of performances. MAME sucks ? Not exactly, no...

Issues with Retroarch start at sixth gen consoles and above, but for the rest sorry it's perfectly fine.

 

[Xdqwerty]

that's why batocera features it as a core component with EmulationStation as frontend.

I don't wanna use batocera since that would imply replacing my PC's whole OS

 

[jul]

I don't wanna use batocera since that would imply replacing my PC's whole OS

You don't even have to replace your whole OS, it works on a bootable USB too.

 

[Xdqwerty]

You don't even have to replace your whole OS, it works on a bootable USB too.

Dont wanna waste a USB

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

Seems you just want attention at this point...

For people really interested and somewhat allergic to Retroarch, install ShaderGlass. It has a pack of reshade shaders imported from Retroarch and a UI to tweak them.

 

[Xdqwerty]

Seems you just want attention at this point...

For people really interested and somewhat allergic to Retroarch, install ShaderGlass. It has a pack of reshade shaders imported from Retroarch and a UI to tweak them.

Wont work on Windows 8.1 (which I don't wanna stop using either)

 

[jul]

Wont work on Windows 8.1 (which I don't wanna stop using either)

Well, that's not a great idea.

Support for Windows 8.1 is discontinued, but the software will continue to function. However, after January 10, 2023, your computer running Windows 8.1 will no longer receive security updates. In addition, Microsoft customer service will no longer be available to provide Windows 8.1 technical support.

Battlefield 1942 + DesertCombat mod works great on batocera, maybe you should switch to Linux.

 

[Xdqwerty]

Battlefield 1942 + DesertCombat mod works great on batocera, maybe you should switch to Linux.

I don't wanna be scolded for changing stuff on my PC since my family uses it too

 

[jul]

I don't wanna be scolded for changing stuff on my PC since my family uses it too

I understand, that's a difficult situation, especially when it's a shift toward an entirely different system with relatives that are mostly clueless when it comes to anything computing and would be completely lost without the pair of old ass programs they rely on to do the only things they do with a computer.


But here's the thing; your family is at risk with that computer. It's bordering on Russian roulette to do anything important with it.

I mean we're talking about a system that won't receive any further security updates/patches, ever, even for critical security flaws... Which implies that sensitive transactions are a big no-no with it, with credit cards typically but not only, pretty much everything done with it is at risk, such as mails, accounts credentials everywhere... Even if it's exclusively used for entertainment purpose, just the fact that it's connected to the network is enough to render it as an attack vector/spying device on the whole home, that's what it means to have an outdated OS, the system is open to cyberattacks.

It doesn't mean it will happen, it means it can, big time.

 

[Matricks]

Would look 10x better with a filter that recreates the screens the game was designed for. Look at those awful, blocky raw pixels and then look at this lovely scene. Notice the smooth gradient of the early morning New York skyline, how the lights from the buildings actually look like they're glowing, and how the shapes in the water blend so well.

View attachment 55426

It's not REQUIRED to use Shaders...but you should because it takes five seconds to apply the Preset (the one I'm using here is CRt Easy-Mode) and you deserve it.

On tiny 640x480res screen Bilinear Filtering is the best.

crt easy shader:

Video Bilinear Filter:

Raw:

 

[PurpleShoes]

Don't use those awful filters. Get a ruler and a sharpie, and draw them directly on your TV!

 

[Matricks]

Its ugly to emulate the steady screendoor raster.
On real CRT TV phosfor bloom and 15khz screen rastering with 50/60hz screenflickeeing from far distance, will blend covering the screendoor IRL as smooth grading pic.
So BIlinear Filtering is the Best emulated crt update.

CRT easy shader:

Bilinear Filter:

Raw:

 

[Xdqwerty]

@Matricks well most of my screens arent that small and thus bilinear filters look hard on the eyes

 

[jul]

I use "SHARP-BILINEAR-SIMPLE.GLSP" on my RG ARC-D it performs well on all systems regardless of the aspect ration/stretching. It feels like there's no shader while games are actually stretched in a uneven way, it eliminates the problem with "dirty half pixels" distortion, it evens everything without getting blurry. Graphics remain sharp and clean.

"VHS.GLSP" is quite good and fast also, but that's an entirely different story, but it's great

It renders the game as a VHS video, it really feels like you're watching a video on VHS

Problem with pretty much everything scanlines/aperture grid on retro handhelds of such low resolution, is that shaders are made to work on bigger screens, they often require a minimum resolution that is above 640x480, so as a result lines are half crushed/irregular, some appear, some don't, and it's dirty

 

[Denmdm]

How is this thread still active lol the answer is no

 

[LightningmanEXE]

How is this thread still active lol the answer is no

because some people like it and it's worth discussing the nuance?

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

Wont work on Windows 8.1 (which I don't wanna stop using either)

I'm pretty sure that at least Reshade and the CRT pack works on Win8.1, but you just never bothered to install it.

 

[Xdqwerty]

Here is a couple of screenshots of crt filters on Android emulators, might post examples of desktop emus when I have the chance

Post automatically merged: Apr 7, 2025

I'm pretty sure that at least Reshade and the CRT pack works on Win8.1, but you just never bothered to install it.

The faq says it wont

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

Here is a couple of screenshots of crt filters on Android emulators, might post examples of desktop emus when I have the chance
View attachment 55544
View attachment 55545

Post automatically merged: Apr 7, 2025

The faq says it wont

Those are not set properly. Wrong input resolution for the shader. Scanlines are meant to go *in between* the pixels.

Also :

"ReShade supports all of Direct3D 9, Direct3D 10, Direct3D 11, Direct3D 12, OpenGL and Vulkan.
A computer with Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, 10 or 11 and .NET Framework 4.8 installed is required."

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

I guarantee that it does not matter, it’s just being extra for style points

 

[Azuris]

I also want to throw in this Image.
Left is without Filter, the middle has a Filter and the right is a Picture i took from my CRT (i hadn't the Remote to stretch it correctly^^)
It is interesting that the Sky changes its Color into blue with the Filter and on a real CRT.
It is not my favourite Filter, i just wanted to see wich one fits the CRT the most.

Shader Glass also got a new Version:

ShaderGlass by mausimus

Retro shaders on top of any Windows app

mausimus.itch.io

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

People only started complaining about Saturn's inability to do proper transparency, compared to PSX, *after* they stopped using their CRT TVs.

Both PSX and Saturn used dithering heavily and relied on pixels bleeding horizontally, from CRTs.