Ace Combat titles needing specific I/O Timing Method to prevent cutscene softlocks

[Abbanon]

This has been a known issue for a long time, and there is an existing workaround, but I noticed there was no existing report for this in particular.
So I'm throwing one up in hopes it will eventually be fixed.

Basically, the I/O Timing Method needs to be set to "Host (Bugs, less lag)" - otherwise both of the Ace Combat titles will softlock with a black screen during any FMV cutscenes.
If you listen closely at this black screen softlock, you can hear a constant loop of the FMV sequence's first split second of audio. Almost like it's trying to play, but loops back to the beginning immediately.
You don't need to restart the game to fix this, because this softlock immediately goes away when the I/O Timing Method is changed to Host, allowing you to watch the cutscene just fine and resume normal gameplay.

[LunaMoo]

It had an issue in #5545 but it was reported fixed.
For sure "host" isn't needed at least on windows as I only use simulate UMD delays for everything and played through those games just fine sometime before pre-ordering AC7.;p

Edit: as far as I tested Fast also works, if the game breaks for you still, it might be due to other hacks/game breaking settings.

[unknownbrackets]

Have the async IO timing changes improved this at all?

-[Unknown]

[Abbanon]

Strange. As of 1.9.3-287-g25726deb4 the issue is fixed for Ace Combat X, but persists for Ace Combat Joint Assault.

An addendum: I've noticed here and there that the issue doesn't happen for everyone. So it's some sort of dependency on system specs/hardware/software.

Debug console shows nothing of this occurrence for either game, but for ACJA it does have some interesting information regarding other things.

When you first launch the game (ACJA), it displays this:

After the splash screens, etc., you reach the "Press Start" screen. Once you press start, it displays this:

Are they perhaps related in any way? Or should this be a separate issue entirely?
ACX doesn't have anything in the logs at all by comparison.

[unknownbrackets]

Those are just logging the game calling some functions in incorrect ways, but it's not clear if they are specifically bugs or not. The same errors may occur when playing on a real PSP.

-[Unknown]

[Blackbird88]

Still happens to me on latest build. I need to use Host timing else the game freezes.

[LunaMoo]

@Blackbird88 did you tried "simulate umd delays"? The problem with "host" is it depends on your hardware as such it's different for everyone, other two choices should not depend on that.

[sum2012]

Using attach old save
the game black screen when FMV/cutscene in stage 13
need to use Host timing

NPJH50263USERID_0000.zip
Hope will find out which commit break;
First known fixed v1.3
v1.4 bad
edit:I need to use old visual studio 2015 to compile

[Blackbird88]

@Blackbird88 did you tried "simulate umd delays"? The problem with "host" is it depends on your hardware as such it's different for everyone, other two choices should not depend on that.

I didn't notice this reply, but yes I did. It didn't work.

[sum2012]

@Blackbird88 Can you share your game save , my game is Ace Combat X2 NOT
Ace Combat titles. (Zip the save, then upload in here )

[Blackbird88]

Unfortunately I finished the game already, so no can do,but it only happened to me in Joint Assault.

[sum2012]

Here is Ace Combat titles save status of cutscene fetlock
, it lock after mission 2 finish,
log similar to Ace Combat X2
PPSSPP_STATE.zip