Paper Mario (PAL) Randomly Freezing if left idle

[philippjeindlmandl]

Firmware Version: V2.18.0

Menu Revision: V0.0.1.2023-12-23T00:55:08Z.ALPHA

Describe the bug
Ive been playing Paper Mario (PAL) for a bit and randomly the game just freezes after being left idle.
It doesnt crash and trigger the crash handler, it just stops moving intierly, with just the BGM continuing.

The Roms SHA-1: 2111D39265A317414D359E35A7D971C4DFA5F9E1
The Roms MD5 : A9BE6A493A680642D840F859A65816CA
The Roms CRC32: 85B3AB37

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Load the PAL Rom and load a Save
2. Do not touch the controller afterwards
3. Wait untill it freezes (Doesnt always happen)

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.

Expected behavior
No Freezes when left idle

Possible solution
Not obligatory, but suggest a fix/reason for the bug.

[Polprzewodnikowy]

Hi, finally got time to test this issue myself and I couldn't reproduce it. I've got a couple of requests to help me narrow this problem:

• Please update the firmware to v2.18.1 - it has some changes regarding FlashRAM saves. Previous firmwares didn't write save properly, especially in the Paper Mario 64.
• Please upload your save file. I've tried my own save about 1 hour in the game and it didn't freeze.
• Specify if your N64 has expansion pak installed.
• Make sure no other game was loaded from the N64FlashcartMenu before running Paper Mario 64 since flipping the power switch on. N64 to this day is a mysterious beast and some other game could put it in state where next loaded game shows some issues. I've experienced this myself by loading Diddy Kong Racing, pressing reset button then loading F-Zero X (this issue is fixed now). If some other game was run before Paper Mario 64 then please specify this game.
• Please specify the average amount of time between last controller input and freeze. I'm not sure how long I should wait to see the freeze.

Thanks!

[Polprzewodnikowy]

One more thing - this could be a hardware issue in the SC64 with the SDRAM chip. I will develop an extensive memory test in the sc64deployer app soon so if firmware update didn't help then SDRAM test should be the next troubleshooting step.

[philippjeindlmandl]

Thank you for taking your time to test this for me.

As for updating the Summercart, i genuently dont know how to do it (im inexpirienced, sorry).

Link to the save file on google drive, as github wont let me directly upload it.
Keep in mind, this is for the PAL version.

My N64 does have an Expansion Pack installed.

This could be it, because i used to load a game (Only Up 64, a Mario 64 romhack) sometimes before playing.

It was usualy 5-10 minutes but i havent been able to replicate it consistantly since last time, which was in shyguys toybox. it usualy happend when idle, though not imidiantly after loading a save file (since it rozze on the opening cutscene once, when luigi read a ltter to mario)

[mariomadproductions]

As for updating the Summercart, i genuently dont know how to do it (im inexpirienced, sorry).

see the first two headings here https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/SummerCart64/blob/main/docs/00_quick_startup_guide.md

[Polprzewodnikowy]

@philippjeindlmandl Sorry for very late response but can you run this test ROM on your SC64? sc64test.zip

It will test if N64 and SC64 can communicate properly, and most importantly it has very thorough memory test. If any error shows up and test stops, please report this error here.