iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 20/09/2026

After sitting on my desk in pieces for almost a year now, I finally buttoned up my Python 1 again to go back on the shelf. Anything I need from here out can be done over software, feels good to hit this point. I somehow missed a single screw, which will forever haunt me until my death.

Messy python 1 arcade hardware sitting comfy on a piece of plywood

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 17/09/2026

Thanks everyone, just hit 100 stars on PCSX2-Reliquary! When I first made it was was pretty positive it would only be for myself Glad to see so many people enjoying it!

PCSX2 Reliquary about page showing 100 stars

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 15/09/2026

SPC970 Based MechaCon LIBeration testing is going well. Initially only V2 compatible, but now we have first V3 dump!! Still harsh on hardware, so careful dumping continues. Progress so far going well! Will share full write-up on how we got here soon!

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 13/09/2026

After 4 years of effort, I'm happy to announce that one of the final secrets of the PS2 has been broken wide open! It's been a long process of decapping, optical dumping, and now at last a software solution. Thank you @libby.bsky.social for finding the exploit from our dirty optical dumps!

Dump date from the SPC970 based mechacon firmware

Photo of the SPC970 based mechacon from a COH-H31000

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 08/09/2026

Lookout world! PCSX2-Reliquary's upcoming cue file support means a new music player is on the scene! You just need your music ripped as a .cue/.bin and to dump your ps2 bios, but then you'll be able to play your sweet sweet tunes. Please pay no attention to the cpu or gpu load graphs, irrelevant

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 08/09/2026

In your life there will be multiple milestones you will reach where you will need to build a Billy bookshelf. And every time, the way you attach the back panel will change. Seems to be the most promising yet!

Billy bookshelf showing a sliding back panel insert with expanding plastic rivets

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 24/08/2026

Did the whole ‘touch grass’ thing today. Was nice

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 17/08/2026

I've been using computers for almost 30 years and only now has this been explained to me in a way that I'll remember it

person leaning backwards indicating a backslash

person leaning forwards indicating a forward slash

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 14/08/2026

Who wants pcsx2 with WASAPI exclusive mode and audio latency down from ~60ms to 11ms? Freq’s want that, you can have it too github.com/DiscoStarsla...

Image of the final screen in frequency for the ps2

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 09/08/2026

Stuntman has always been a fantastic game, but it got little play time on my ps2 because the load times dragged it out. Being able to fast forward the loading screens at 8x speed certainly makes this a lot more fun!

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 08/08/2026

In-case you were wondering, yes, the recompiler is fast enough to run on a steam deck. Here’s Stuntman at full speed with accurate soft-float recompiler enabled on EE and VU0, rendered with parallel-gs

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 08/08/2026

There was some fun bugs on the road to get here

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 18/07/2026

I didn’t know you could recycle those

A microfiber cloth with the words “made of recycled pet” on it. Pet meaning Polyethylene terephthalate, the plastic

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 07/07/2026

Also one of the few N64 games that got a direct port to the PS2

PS2 Box art for WinBack: Covert Operations

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 15/06/2026

Hello Pop'n on the konami python!

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 04/06/2026

If anyone is curious how a DDR game could ever possibly work through a dvd player, the answer is: it doesn't

Photo of the game box describing that the mats provided do nothing and the game just pretends you're doing well.

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 04/06/2026

Finally with proper mechacon emulation and accurate dumps I can play the most important DDR game on pcsx2

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 02/06/2026

One fun part of running real hardware dumps in emulation is having data transfer properly. Seems this machine was only in operation for a year or so before either someone reset it or it was decommissioned. Judging by the shop name and area, it likely came from this arcade that no longer exists.

Bookkeeping data showing power on time and play count

Game options screen showing shop region and name

Decommissioned arcade in Ehime Prefecture Japan where this board likely came from.

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 30/05/2026

With my python 1 emulator launching soon, I need to test new titles to improve it. As part of that, we need cleaner dumps than what is indexed today. So here's a new P1 dumping tool for real hardware. Just need a sd2psx and usb drive I call it "Snake Charmer" Reach out if interested in testing!

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 23/05/2026

And now we have pop’n 9 arcade running ⚪️🟡🟢🔵🔴🔵🟢🟡⚪️ Inputs will take me awhile to figure out 😅

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 22/05/2026

And now the last security check is bypassed. Python 1 is now fully playable on pcsx2! * * hacky fork that only works for this game, still lots to do before public release

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 22/05/2026

SUCCESS, WORLD FIRST KONAMI PYTHON 1 GAME RUNNING ATTRACT MODE! 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 Trips up some security when starting a game, but I'm so happy I got it to this point

Winning Eleven 2003 arcade game title screen

Winning Eleven 2003 arcade game attract mode

Winning Eleven 2003 arcade game service menu

Winning Eleven 2003 arcade game security error

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 22/05/2026

More and more devices getting stubbed out and now I'm stuck on a "I'm connected!" screen 🫠 The game is very picky about the device state, so far I've had to stub the following all under one firewire cable: HDD CD Drive CF Card card reader BBSRAM 2 DALLAS dongles JVS control ethernet

Loading screen showing that it has connected to the server

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 21/05/2026

Finally!!! This is the first time any Konami Python 1 arcade title has ever been emulated! This is technically "in game", however PCSX2 hard crashes after this step so still lots of work ahead. Nice to see some progress after entering the FireWire torment nexus

Winning eleven arcade 2003 running setup

Game running and succeeding memorycard verification

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 20/05/2026

This is for all the Konami Python 1 fans out there (there are dozens of us)

Konami Python 1 booting through firewire IO board

Konami Python 1 booting through firewire IO board and complaining my JVS is bad

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 10/05/2026

Actually if you delete them from here then nobody can see it

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 13/04/2026

I'm just realizing this now, but Microsoft put AI, Tabs, a login portal, a 'search with bing' action and text formatting on notepad before a REDO BUTTON? I also like how the primary reason I used notepad (clearing formatting) is now behind a menu option with no hotkey

Edit menu for notepad clearly showing undo and 20 other actions but no redo action

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 09/02/2026

Could IKEA please make up their mind on what size imperial bit I would need for a 5mm diameter?

Diagram showing that you need a 5mm drill bit. Offers 1/4” as an imperial alternative

Diagram showing that you need a 5mm drill bit. Offers 3/16” as an imperial alternative

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 07/02/2026

Finally have a workshop of my own instead of sharing the laundry room. I’m so excited. Say hello to my new 3d printing nook

3D printer sitting in a little alcove all cute like and ready to do stuff

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 28/01/2026

I’m not sure who’s responsible for putting laptop firmware updates inside KDE’s Discover app, but bravo. I can’t imagine how much effort it would have taken to have this functional and stable and “Just Work” ™️ Was a little worried about running Linux on a dual gfx laptop but been smooth sailing 👏

Dell firmware update screen updating the bios. Impressively this all happened by itself without any configuration on my part.

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 12/01/2026

Don’t worry boss. I sistered the neighbouring joist with some structural drywall.

A ceiling joist with a giant rectangular hole in it. The joist behind it has a mysterious rectangle of drywall nailed to it

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 29/12/2025

I remember being blown away when smash bros melee launched and Mario’s pants had obvious denim texturing. Today it looks so jarring

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 05/12/2025

A recent Windows 11 update removed by desktop background to display the rotating Microsoft™ approved photos. I've been too lazy to fix it, but it recently gave me this image while I was working in WSL Maybe this is a sign to fully jump over...

A penguin looking directly at the camera with a disappointed expression

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 04/12/2025

Given the current price of ram, maybe we should all get into artisan hand-weaved core-memory again

Photo of weaved core memory where small wires are weaved through round ferromagnets to allow storing and reading of bits

CC BY-SA 3.0 Konstantin Lanzet

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 27/11/2025

How was working with FreeCAD? I’ve never had anything die from ESD personally, but if you wanted to be extra safe: avoid the ESD safe PLA, too expensive. MG Chemicals sell an acrylic based ESD spray coat for $30/can

Photo of ESD safe PLA on 3dprinting Canada for $150

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 20/11/2025

If you see this, post your getaway vehicle! (Nice try, coppers!)

Oscar Mayer all beef frankmobile. A car that looks like a hotdog

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 18/11/2025

I spent 96 hours of compiling to get this quirky boy

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 17/11/2025

I ordered a FireWire architecture book which for some reason is out of print now so had to settle with a used copy from Amazon. Apparently whoever keyed this into the database simply titled the book as "Book" so now I have these omninous messages in my inbox.

Email notification stating
"Happening soon: Book from Amazon"

Email notification stating amazon shipped "Book" in quotes with a sinister undertone

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 16/11/2025

*evil villain laugh* 🫷👁️👁️🫸

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 11/11/2025

96 straight hours of compiling later, I finally have a modern kernel on this thing with a usable OS 9 dualboot with Linux, and oh boy is it magical The full dump log of this system booting is a treasure trove of data that will help me emulate this platform inside PCSX2, I finally have all the pieces

Neofetch screen from gentoo showing modern linux running on my system

Grub boot finally booting off the hdd and behaving

Kernel build on a PPC 750 is not a fun experience. 96 hours of build

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 11/11/2025

So what can I do? In my search of modern distros that still support PPC I stumbled upon a beast that I haven't touched in decades, Gentoo. Gentoo has the promise of binpkg now, it can be customized to be extremely lightweight, and officially supports PPC as an architecture.

Gentoo PPC handbook with an install guide

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 11/11/2025

Perplexingly, OSX doesn't think this, and I could get OSX and Debian dual booting just fine. Firebug does run on OS X, however my poor 350MHz G3 is not happy with the overhead from OS X and firebug drops packets and can't keep up.

Screenshot from OSX showing both OS9 and OSX drives visible on the "uninitialized" drive

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 11/11/2025

So, lets try a older release, the last officially supported PPC release of Debian 8 'Jessie' from 2015. That install CD boots with yaboot and wow! It boots! And wow, it installs! So we're all done, right?

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 11/11/2025

Ok, got a hdd that plays nice, linux time? No. Back in the day, yaboot was used as the first stage loader for "New World" mac's. Yaboot isn't maintained anymore, so grub added OF support. No good, and trust me I have a stack of coasters to show for it, I could not get grub to boot off the cd

One of the many coasters I've produced in this adventure sitting in the drive tray of my mac

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DiscoStarslayer @disco.camp · 11/11/2025

I have the very first B&W G3, and it has "character". The IDE controller on it is temperamental and likes to corrupt data. The ROM is running the very first Open Firmware release from apple, 3.1.1. This OF refuses to boot off anything except for the primary device on the IDE bus.

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