Split second lens flare visible through walls

[71knight]

Game or games this happens in

Split / second

What area of the game

Port bridge racetrack.

What happens

When driving under the building, the sun is visible through the roof.

What should happen

The sun shouldn't be visible through the roof.

GE frame capture

No response

Platform

Android 11

Mobile phone model or graphics card

OnePlus 7t with adreno 640.

PPSSPP version affected

Ver 1.13.1-130

Last working version

Software renderer works correctly!

Graphics backend (3D API)

Vulkan

Checklist

• [X] Test in the latest git build in case it's already fixed.
• [X] Search for other reports of the same issue.
• [X] Try resetting settings or older versions and include if the issue is related.
• [X] Try changing graphics settings to determine if one causes the glitch (especially speed hacks or enhancements/replacements.)
• [X] Include logs or screenshots of issue.

[ghost]

I can also reproduce this on my redmi note 9 mali gpu using ppsspp v1.13.1-153

[Panderner]

@Gamemulatorer that correct background is not right

This how it looks like on PS3:

[Panderner]

How about on real psp?

The HD version does not work for real PSP consoles Only works for PS3 and This emulator. Real PSP only works for Vanilla version of this game.

[Panderner]

Here's a screenshot for vanilla MHP3rd using software renderer

[hrydgard]

Wasn't this issue about Split/Second? If MHP3rd has issues, make a new issue and move the images please :)

[ghost]

ppsspp v1.13.1-216 ULUS10513.ppdmp.zip

[ghost]

Here's a screenshot for vanilla MHP3rd using software renderer

It's ok now Panderner 👍 Thanks for reply/feedback!

[unknownbrackets]

ppsspp v1.13.1-216 ULUS10513.ppdmp.zip

For me, software and Vulkan look somewhat similar, like this:

I'm not sure if that's correct, but it's the same for both. If you take a frame dump while using software rendering, does it not happen (using that dump) even in hardware? That would be interesting.

-[Unknown]

[71knight]

I believe this problem is solved by using hardware readbacks, at least in aethersx2 emulator it is. When I disable hardware readbacks in aethersx2, the sun shines through every solid object. When I enable hardware readbacks, the sun is occluded by solid objects passing in front of it. I guess PPSSPP doesn't have that feature implemented yet?

[ghost]

This issue already exist since v1.13.0 PPSSPP GOLD v1.13.1 (bought on playstore)

[hrydgard]

Yeah, I haven't confirmed exactly how the game determines whether the sun should be visible or not, but the most likely is that it's using the CPU to read the depth or color buffer. This will work in the software renderer, but not in the hardware renderer without forcing on some kind of readbacks.

Some detailed investigation is needed, and it's for sure not a new issue.

[ghost]

Oh.. I discover that [bluetoalpha] is the cause of this issue 🤔

[BlueToAlpha] ULUS10513 = False

[hrydgard]

Unfortunately that'll break the HUD :/

Does the sun effect work at all without it?

[71knight]

I just wanted to add an observation that I made. When the sun is at normal brightness intensity, it doesn't shine through solid objects. But when the sun increases its intensity and cast a lens flare, then the sun will shine through solid objects such as a building or roof. Also strangely, when you move the camera left or right to put the sun out of the scene and then back into the scene, sometimes the effect works correctly all of a sudden. Best seen on the docks stage just past the big carnival cruise boat that's stationary. Hopefully this information will help. Thank you for all the hard work the team put into this awesome emulator.

[ghost]

Unfortunately that'll break the HUD :/

Yeah forget to say that 😅

Does the sun effect work at all without it?

No, need BlueToAlpha enable to make the sun flares effect to work. Maybe this issue is related to this now https://github.com/hrydgard/ppsspp/issues/11100

[ghost]

ppsspp v1.13.1-216 ULUS10513.ppdmp.zip

For me, software and Vulkan look somewhat similar, like this:

I'm not sure if that's correct, but it's the same for both. If you take a frame dump while using software rendering, does it not happen (using that dump) even in hardware? That would be interesting.

-[Unknown]

Loading the ge dump both hardware and software this issue can still reproduce. But loading the game normally and use software rendering the graphics is correct.

Opengl show some graphics warning that I experience recently on my android 5 phone.

[hrydgard]

I'm gonna fix that shader compilation error, thanks!

So yeah, bluetoalpha fixed so that the sun flare is visible, but it does not resolve the issue that it's shining through. I wouldn't say then that bluetoalpha "broke" it, rather that there is an additional separate issue to fix.

Multiple games have problems with occluded lens flares, they're usually done by some hacky readback tricks since there's no good "official" way to do them on the PSP. Sometime in the near future I'm gonna go through these and see what the games are actually doing (I only know for sure what Burnout Dominator is doing, I have a suspicion about Wipeout), and what we can do to make it work without slowing things down too much.

[ghost]

I also notice that minimizing ppsspp had this weird issue on Split/Second.

Suns Flares Disable (Disable Slower Effects ON)

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/37603562/183535045-3c465319-9d5b-48e6-ab6f-ac2e56c1cea2.mp4

Sun Flares Enable

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/37603562/183535087-7ee9c6f3-c9b3-42bc-bb9f-a3143ff76d4a.mp4

[hrydgard]

That is a bit weird that an old screenshot shows up, but doesn't seem to hinder playability luckily.