How to list POPStarter games and launch them with OPL

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BEFORE GETTING STARTED:

• Follow the instructions for POPStarter to set up your games either using USB or Internal HDD. 
  
• At this moment, we cannot yet store the VCDs on SMB (shared folder). 
  -- UPDATE -- Now you can!  See Tutorial Click Here
• Update to OPL_r824_DB_all (or newer).  -- Click Here to get the latest version.
  

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Quick FAQS:

1. Can OPL now launch POPStarter VCDs directly?
   No. You still require to set up POPStarter following the instructions for either loading them from USB drive connected to your PS2 or using an Internal HDD using the PHAT model.
   
   
2. Can I now store the VCDs and POPStarter Files on my shared folder (SMB)?
   No.  You still are required to store the VCDs and POPStarter files on your USB drive connected to you PS2 or on your Internal HDD for your PHAT model.  The only file that you can keep on your SMB shared folder is the POPSTARTER.ELF that points to the VCDs.  More about this is explained below.  Also starting with OPL_r833_DB, you can also store and edit the conf_pops.cfg file on the root of your devices (i.e. USB, HDD, and SMB).
   -- Yes.  Click Here to see Tutorial.
   
   
3. I want to learn how to list APPS on OPL, does this tutorial help me.
   Yes, but it's best that you follow this other tutorial for that.  Click Here.
   
   
4. I'd like to exit POPStarter and return to OPL, how can I do that?
   Click Here and follow that tutorial.
   

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UPDATE:

We recently made it possible for OPL to have it's own dedicated page for POPStarter games under a new page called:


These new changes were applied starting with OPL_r842_DB -- so make sure you update and keep your OPL up-to-date.   If you wish to learn what else we added to OPL to support the POPStarter page, please read this update: Click Here

As well as be able to keep the conf_elm.cfg file on either the root OPL folder of USB, HDD, and SMB.  So it makes it easier to edit that file to add more games to the list.  OPL will load it.  Just make sure that if you want this file to be run by SMB, then remove it from MC, USB, and HDD.

Plus a recent fix, you can also store the POPStarter ELF files on your shared folder.  The other required files for POPStarter and the VCDs still need to be stored on your USB device or Internal HDD connected to your PS2.  DO NOT store your VCDs on your SMB folder--they will not work.

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STEP 1:
In your Memory Card where you keep OPL configuration files, find a file named: conf_elm.cfg -- if you don't have that file, go ahead and create it with NOTEPAD. 

In this file you will list all your PSX games for POPStarter 13 WIP (see below for additional instructions).
 
TIP 1: You don't need to alphabetize them, since OPL will sort them out for you automatically. 
TIP 2: If you want to keep this file on your MC directory, you can edit this file via FTP: -- see this guide on how to connect to FTP with your PS2: Click Here.

Starting with OPL_r842_DB, -- Click Here to get the latest version -- you can also keep this file on the root of your OPL folder in USB, HDD, and also SMB. Makes it easier to edit this file whenever you want to add more games to the list. (see screenshot below):



Below is just an example what to place in that file -- please keep note on the structure that I use to point to the ELF files for the PSX games:

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STEP 2:

1. edit the conf_elm.cfg with Notepad or Notepad++ -- this file can be found in your OPL directory in your memory card.

2. add each game to your list (one game per line) (see example below). -- no need to alphabetize them in this list, since OPL will do it automatically for you. -- but if you later have hundreds listed and what to sort them, Click Here to see this tutorial by iamjen023

conf_elm.cfg

Load from USB:
Ace Combat 2=mass0:/XX.Ace Combat 2 (USA).ELF
Bomberman=mass0:/XX.Bomberman (PAL).ELF
Ace Combat 3=mass0:/XX.Ace Combat 3 (USA).ELF

Load from SMB:
Ace Combat 2=smb:/POPS/SB.Ace Combat 2 (USA).ELF
Bomberman=smb:/POPS/SB.Bomberman (PAL).ELF
Ace Combat 3=smb:/POPS/SB.Ace Combat 3 (USA).ELF
Load from HDD:
Ace Combat 2=pfs0:/APPS/Ace Combat 2 (USA).ELF
Bomberman=pfs0:/APPS/Bomberman (PAL).ELF
Ace Combat 3=pfs0:/APPS/Ace Combat 3 (USA).ELF
*with all POPStarter ELFs placed into hdd0:/+OPL/APPS/ (mandatory)


3. Save your file.

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Step 3:

1. Now launch OPL (anything above OPL_r842_DB).
   
2. Make sure you got menu enabled in OPL Settings. OPL SETTINGS > ELF Launch Menu display page: "AUTO".
   
3. Save your OPL settings.
   
4. Now return to OPL game list.  press DPAD right or left to reach the POPStarter menu.
   
5. You should see your PSX games listed in there.  Select any game and launch it.
   

ATTN SMB Users:
You still need to keep the VCDs on the USB connected to your PS2 or an internal HDD on your PS2.  There is no way (as of now) to make the ELF load a VCD from a shared folder on your PC. -- we are hoping someday we can make that happen. -- UPDATE: -- Click Here to see Tutorial

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Game Covers:

With OPL, you can also create your Game ART for the PSX games.  Just put them in your local ART folder (SMB, or USB, or I-HDD).

Currently, we haven't fixed it so OPL Manager can assist you create the artwork, but we are working on it.

Make sure to rename properly the covers for your PSX ELF files:

For USB users:
Example:
For the game: XX.AC2.ELF
Rename the cover to: XX.AC2.ELF_COV.jpg

UPDATE for SMB users:
If you are storing your VCDs on SMB (Network)

You need to rename the artwork using the new prefix:

Example:
For the game: SB.AC2.ELF
Rename the cover to: SB.AC2.ELF_COV.jpg

Try using the following dimensions for your game covers: 140x200 (w x h pixels) and use the JPG format--much smaller size.

Here is my own cover for the above game:



You can also load BG, ICO, SCR, and COV2 arts as well. Below are the examples for their file names for the above game:


XX.AC2.ELF_BG.jpg
XX.AC2.ELF_SCR.jpg
XX.AC2.ELF_SCR2.jpg
XX.AC2.ELF_ICO.png
XX.AC2.ELF_COV2.jpg

OR

SB.AC2.ELF_BG.jpg
SB.AC2.ELF_SCR.jpg
SB.AC2.ELF_SCR2.jpg
SB.AC2.ELF_ICO.png
SB.AC2.ELF_COV2.jpg


If you don't like having long (vertical) game covers, then we recommend you use the size: 140x140.  Also check out @shaolinassassin's workaround found below (see Reply #1):

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INFO page:

Also starting with OPL_r842_DB, we fixed it so the APPS menu and POPStarter Menu support the INFO page data. 

Keep in mind that you need to install a custom theme in order to see the INFO page in OPL.  You also gotta make sure your custom theme supports INFO Page.  And also enable INFO page under OPL settings.



If you wish to learn what else we added to OPL to support the POPStarter page, please read this update: Click Here

Now you can create the ELF's CFG file this way (using the file name for the above game:)

XX.AC2.ELF.cfg

OR

SB.AC2.ELF.cfg

Currently, we haven't fixed it so OPL Manager can assist you create the artwork, but we are working on it.   But for those that can't wait, and want to do it old-school, then here are the steps.

1. use Notepad to create the cfg file -- make sure it doesn't have the .txt extension.  Make sure the only extension is .cfg and not .cfg.txt.
2. you can store this file in your CFG folder inside the OPL folder directory (i.e. USB, HDD, or SMB).
   
3. here is an example of the data you can put inside that file.

Title=Ace Combat 2
Players=players/1
Vmode=vmode/ntsc
Aspect=aspect/s
Scan=scan/480i
Genre=Flight Simulator
Release=August 15, 1997
Developer=Namco
Cheat=Yes
Rating=rating/5
Parental=esrb/teen
Description=An action packed flight action/simulator game that allows a player to take control of some of the most powerful military jets in the world. One of them is the F-14, but Stealth Bombers are sure to please as well.
Device=device/1
Size=554
Notes=SLUS-00404

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If you wish to learn what else we added to OPL to support the ELF Launcher Menu page, please read this update: Click Here