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How do I prevent esc key from closing emulator ? [Closed]


Dreamster

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Hi, I'm using cpsx-r as my psx emulator, and I need to access it's menu while playing to change from disc 1 to disc 2 in some games.
To access the menu, I have to press the esc key.

My problem is that when I press the esc key, it shuts down cpsx-r instead of showing me the menu. However, everything works fine when I don't launch the game through Launchbox, so the problem comes from Launchbox.

I already checked into Tools>Emulators>Edit PCSXR and there is nothing written into the Autohotkey tab.

 

I don't want to be forced to launch CPSXR or other emulators outside of Launchbox anytime I need to change discs.

I don't wan't the esc key to close any of my emulators.

How do I solve this problem ?

Thank you.

Edited by Dreamster
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I don't have any answers that will give you a direct answer to your question, but I believe the issue lies with PCSX-Reloaded and it being launched via a command line (via LB/BB).  When it's launched from the gui the ESC key works, but if you launch it via a command line (as LB/BB does) then ESC closes the emulator.... from what I've read. 

I know it's not a direct answer, but I just wanted to point out that there are much better PSX emulators out there other than PCSX-Reloaded.  It's not a bad emulator, but it's clunky and the plugins are a little outdated (IMO).  You might want to check out either Mednafen, as it has one of the (if not the) best PSX emulators out there at the moment.  There's also a retroarch core (mednafen_psx_hw_libretro.dll) which is also very good (if not as good)... so if you also use Retroarch I would suggest trying that out.  It has alot of good features, and is not very resource intensive as some of the other PSX emulators out there are.

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I'm not sure using another emulator would change anything since I have the same problem with all my other emulators (DeSmuME; Dolphin; KegaFusion; Nestopia; PCSX2; Project64; Snes9x; and Visualboyadvance).
And to my knowledge, pcsxr-pgxp is the only psx emulator using the pgxp plugin, suppressing the usual wobliness of psx games, and my games are reaaally beautiful with this one, so I really don't want to use another emulator.

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The retroarch core, mednafen_psx_hw_libretro.dll also has that option available.  I would assume that the core in Mednafen's emulator would also support that as it should be the same core I would expect.  Another reason I was suggesting using a different emulator, such as Retroarch, is that you can map a different controller/KB option to bring up the menu so you can swap disks as needed, whereas in PCSX-Reloaded it doesn't appear as if you can do that... or at least not that I could see.  But, if you're happy with the performance/visuals you're getting with that emulator then stick with what you like/prefer.   Maybe one of the mods and/or Jason will have a suggestion on how to prevent your emulators from closing when pressing the ESC key.

Edited by CDBlue
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Well, I have a really high en computer, so as long as I can use the pgxp feature I'll just crank up all the video settings to the max, performance is not an issue. So I guess I'll try retroarch, I'm just a little disapointed that I did setup all my emulators for nothing...

But I'm not gonna do it right away, I just don't have the courage right now to do it all over again, so in the meantime if anyone found a solution, it's still welcome.

BTW CDBlue, I'm wondering, are you using retroarch ? Or are you just not having the same problem ? I mean, am I the only one with this issue ?

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Yes, I'm using retroarch with the core I mentioned, and with pgxp enabled. To be honest I don't have any dual disk PSX games at the moment, so I haven't tested it with swapping disk.  But, I have my retroarch set to bring up its menu by pressing my L3/R3 together.  Once in the menu I assume I would have the option to swap disks as needed.  Retroarch does close when pressing the ESC key for me though, as do most of my emulators as well.  I saw other posts on here asking the same thing, and it seems like there's no way to globally disable that in LB/BB.

Another suggestion, not sure if it would work with PCSX-R or not, but while in game if you press alt-enter to bring it out of full screen, would it bring up the menu so that you can then swap disk, then press alt-enter again to put it back in full screen mode?  Just something to try maybe :)

Edited by CDBlue
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Yeah already tried that. It goes to windowed mode, but the menu stays hidden. The only way to display the menu bar is to press esc. For now, my solution is to do a save state when it's asking me to swap discs, turn off the emulator, launch the emulator again without launchbox, swap discs, save state, returning on launchbox, launch disc 2.

It's tedious. But it's the only workaround.

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Seems odd, in that LB by it self doesn't have any command mapping to close the emulator if not using Autohotkey tab or the controller automation (i.e., if emulator isn't setup to action ESC then won't do anything in LB either).  For example when I used CEMU emulator, I added Autohotkey command to close the emulator when hitting ESC since it wouldn't without AHK. 

So since you want the reverse, you can use this command and place it in the Autohotkey tab of the emulator you want to disable ESC actions:

ESC::Return  ; disables ESC key

I tried this with Retroarch which by design of the emulator (both in and out of LB) actions an ESC as a command to exit the emulator. The above AHK command in the Retroarch AHK tab redirects any ESC input and now Retroarch does nothing when hitting the ESC key since the emulator never gets the key press. 

So might be something to try. 

Edited by sundogak
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Thanks @sundogak, but I went with @cdblue's advice and installed Retroarch instead of my other emulators, so I can access retroarch menu with another key instead of esc.

And if found another solution for those who still want to use separate emulators and have the same problem I had, just use PSX2PSP to convert your multiple discs into a single eboot file, then you won't have to swap discs, the emulator will do it for you automatically.

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1 hour ago, Dreamster said:

just use PSX2PSP to convert your multiple discs into a single eboot file, then you won't have to swap discs, the emulator will do it for you automatically.

I have not heard of this! I created m3u files for all my multidisk games, but this seems like a better solution altogether!

No performance hit? What emulators support eboot?

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1 hour ago, fromlostdays said:

I have not heard of this! I created m3u files for all my multidisk games, but this seems like a better solution altogether!

No performance hit? What emulators support eboot?

see the above thread where PSX2PSP was discussed and the PBP format. It is a PS1 only solution since was designed by Sony for running PSX images on PSP.

Edited by sundogak
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  • 5 years later...

I am currently running Blastem from Windows (either 10 or 11, I know it's recently had an update. Please bear with me, I feel like a complete idiot), and I made the mistake of entering fullscreen mode and NOW, when I hit the escape button, instead of taking me to settings, it just shuts completely down. I know its been years since anyone has commented on this thread, I'm just hoping someone still pays enough attention to this thread that they will see this and will hopefully be able to assist me.

Sincerely,

A SAHM who desperately misses 90s nostalgia

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11 hours ago, NostalgicMama84 said:

I am currently running Blastem from Windows (either 10 or 11, I know it's recently had an update. Please bear with me, I feel like a complete idiot), and I made the mistake of entering fullscreen mode and NOW, when I hit the escape button, instead of taking me to settings, it just shuts completely down. I know its been years since anyone has commented on this thread, I'm just hoping someone still pays enough attention to this thread that they will see this and will hopefully be able to assist me.

Sincerely,

A SAHM who desperately misses 90s nostalgia

F11 toggles the fullscreen for that emulator (assuming you didn't change defaults).  ESC is defaulted to exit the program so that is normal behaviour.  You can see this and/or change it in your default.cfg file for the program. 

Edited by sundogak
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