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PrimeHack is a fork of Dolphin (Gamecube and Wii Emulator), intended to modernize the Metroid Prime Trilogy.

Website: https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-fork-primehack-fps-controls-and-more-for-metroid-prime

Github: https://github.com/shiiion/metroid-prime-source-mod/releases/

PrimeHack Wiki: https://github.com/shiiion/dolphin/wiki

PrimeHack FAQ: https://github.com/shiiion/dolphin/wiki/Frequently-Asked-Questions

PrimeHack Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started with PrimeHack

  2. PrimeHack Tips and Tricks

Getting Started with PrimeHack

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PrimeHack is a fairly straight-forward emulator to set up. Place your Metroid Prime Trilogy ROM in Emulation/roms/primehack. No additional setup is required. Read the Configuration section to learn more about PrimeHack and its folder locations. Note: Controller configurations are not set up for the Metroid Prime games on the Gamecube.

To launch your ROMs in game mode, use Steam ROM Manager and use one of the following parsers to play the Metroid Prime Trilogy:

  • EmulationStation-DE
  • PrimeHack
  • Emulators

PrimeHack Configuration

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  • Type of Emulator: Flatpak
  • Config Location: /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack
  • ROM Location: Emulation/roms/primehacks
  • Saves:
  • Symlink: Emulation/saves/primehack/Wii
  • Target: /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack/data/dolphin-emu/Wii
  • Save States:
  • Symlink: Emulation/saves/primehack/Savestates
  • Target: /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack/data/dolphin-emu/StateSaves/
  • PrimeHack does not require any additional BIOS files to run

Note:

  • ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders
  • Only Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii)'s controls are configured. The Gamecube versions do not have controls configured at this time

Works With

  • Steam ROM Manager
  • EmulationStation-DE

PrimeHack Folder Locations

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These file locations apply regardless of where you chose to install EmuDeck (to your internal SSD, to your SD Card, or elsewhere). Some emulator configuration files will be located on the internal SSD as listed below.

$HOME refers to your home folder. If you are on a Steam Deck, this folder will be named /home/deck (you will likely not see deck in the file path when navigating using the file manager).

Paths beginning with Emulation/.. correspond to your EmuDeck install location. If you installed on an SD Card, your path may be /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/roms/... If you installed on your internal SSD, your path may be /home/deck/Emulation/roms/..

Note: Folders with a . (.var, .local, .config, etc.) at the beginning are hidden by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders.

$HOME/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack

io.github.shiiion.primehack/
├── cache
│   ├── dolphin-emu
│   │   └── GameCovers
│   ├── fontconfig
│   ├── mesa_shader_cache
│   └── tmp
├── config
│   └── dolphin-emu
│       ├── GraphicMods
│       └── Profiles
│           └── Wiimote
└── data
    └── dolphin-emu
        ├── Dump
        │   ├── Audio
        │   ├── DSP
        │   ├── Frames
        │   ├── Objects
        │   ├── SSL
        │   └── Textures
        ├── GameSettings
        ├── GC
        │   ├── EUR
        │   ├── JAP
        │   └── USA
        ├── Load
        │   ├── GraphicMods
        │   ├── Riivolution
        │   ├── Textures
        │   │   └── R3M
        │   │       ├── 0EXTRA - Steam Deck Button Prompts
        │   │       │   ├── Common
        │   │       │   ├── MP1
        │   │       │   ├── MP2
        │   │       │   └── MP3
        │   │       └── 0EXTRA - Wiimote Warning Replacement
        │   └── WiiSDSync
        ├── Logs
        │   └── Mail
        ├── Maps
        ├── ResourcePacks
        ├── ScreenShots
        ├── Shaders
        │   └── Anaglyph
        ├── StateSaves
        ├── Styles
        ├── Themes
        └── Wii
            ├── import
            ├── meta
            ├── shared1
            ├── shared2
            │   └── sys
            ├── sys
            ├── ticket
            ├── title
            ├── tmp
            └── wfs

How to Update PrimeHack

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How to Update PrimeHack

  • Update through Discover (Shopping bag icon)
  • Through the Update your Emulators & Tools section on the Manage Emulators page in the EmuDeck application

How to Launch PrimeHack in Desktop Mode

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How to Launch PrimeHack in Desktop Mode

  • Launch Dolphin Emulator (Metroid Prime Icon) from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)
  • Icon:
  • Launch the script from Emulation/tools/launchers, primehack.sh
  • Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it via the Emulators parser in Steam ROM Manager

PrimeHack File Formats

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  • .ciso
  • .dol
  • .elf
  • .gcm
  • .gcz
  • .iso
  • .nkit
  • .iso
  • .rvz
  • .wad
  • .wia
  • .wbfs

PrimeHack Controls

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Controls PrimeHack
Jump, Spring Ball A
Grapple, Boost Ball B
Morph Y
Missile, Super Bomb X
Lock On, Grapple L2
Shoot, Interact R2
Cycle Beams DPad Up/Down
Cycle Visors DPad Left/Right

IMPORTANT:

  • EmuDeck includes a texture pack that matches Metroid Prime's button prompts to the buttons in the above chart.
  • The Steam Input profile for PrimeHack is: Gamepad with Joystick Trackpad. Community Layouts conflict with EmuDeck's pre-configured controls.
  • Only Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii)'s controls are configured. The Gamecube versions do not have controls configured at this time.

PrimeHack Hotkeys

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Important Note: PrimeHack does not have a way of opening the menu if you are launching the game directly. It is recommended that you change any settings in the PrimeHack UI itself before launching a game.

Hotkey PrimeHack
Menu N/A
Exit Select + Start
Pause/Unpause Select + A
Fast Forward (Hold) Select + R2
Save State Select + R1
Load State Select + L1
Next Save Slot Start + R1
Previous Save Slot Start + L1
Toggle Aspect Ratio Start + DPAD Right
Increase IR Start + DPAD Up
Decrease IR Start + DPAD Down
Graphics Toggle Start + L3

Note:

PrimeHack Tips and Tricks

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How to Optimize Performance (Power Tools)

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Visit Power Tools to learn how to optimize performance using Power Tools.

How to Optimize Storage (Compression Tool)

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To optimize storage, you can use the EmuDeck Compression Tool in the Tools & Stuff menu within EmuDeck.

The EmuDeck Compression Tool will compress your Metroid Prime Trilogy ROM from ISO to RVZ.

After running the EmuDeck Compression Tool, re-run Steam ROM Manager to update your ROM shortcuts to the newly compressed ROM.

Visual Reference:

How to Install Custom Textures

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Here's how to install custom textures for PrimeHack:

  1. Open the PrimeHack emulator, click Graphics in the top right (or Options > Graphic Settings), click Advanced, make sure Load Custom Textures and Prefetch Custom Textures are checked.
  2. Open /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack/data/dolphin-emu/Load/Textures
    • ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders.
    • If the Load and Textures folder do not exist, create them.
    • Visual Reference:
  3. In the Textures folder from Step 2, create a folder named R3M.
  4. Put your texture files directly into this folder.
  5. Your texture pack should now be installed.
    • If the game crashes with custom textures, it is likely too demanding for the Steam Deck. You can turn off Prefetch Custom Textures as a workaround, but performance will still take a hit.

How to Configure PrimeHack to work with EmulationStation-DE

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You need to move your Metroid Prime Trilogy ROM to Emulation/roms/wii and choose an alternative emulator for the ROM in EmulationStation-DE.

For further instructions, refer to: How to Select a Different Emulator on a Per Game Basis.

How to Roll Back PrimeHack to an Older Version

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  1. In Desktop Mode, open Konsole
  2. To see a list of prior versions of the emulator, type:
    • flatpak remote-info --log flathub io.github.shiiion.primehack
    • Each version will have a long accompanying alphanumeric string (the “commit” code). Copy the string for the version you want to downgrade to.
  3. To downgrade to the version you want:
    • flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here io.github.shiiion.primehack
    • Replace put_commit_code_here with the actual code you located in Step 2.
    • If this line does not work, you may need to type:
      • sudo flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here io.github.shiiion.primehack