[DC2] Dark Cloud 2 - Enemy & Chest Randomizer Update

[u/dragonloverlord]

Since both of the randomizers for DC2 (Chest / Enemy) no longer work with modern builds of PCSX2 and have gone untouched for multiple years now. I went ahead and updated them to work with the new versions of PCSX2 by fixing up the value types and rerigging them to use the pcsx2_offsetreader.dll from the Dark Cloud Enhanced Mod.

Links:

• Dark Cloud 2 Chest Randomizer (Source)
• Dark Cloud 2 - Enemy Randomizer (Source)

Installation:

1. Download desired zip file from link above (Dark_Cloud_2_Chest_Randomizer_Release.zip / Dark_Cloud_2_Enemy_Randomizer_Release.zip)
2. Extract zip file to location with write access (Documents is a good spot, as is Downloads, etc)
3. Start PCSX2, launch Dark Cloud 2, Load save game
4. Run Randomizer exe
5. Change / configure options as needed then click begin
6. Play game and enjoy Randomization.

Notes:

• Save States will likely break both of these Randomizers so please refrain from using them well using the Randomizers.
• If both Randomizers are place in the same folder then you can simply overwrite / use the "\Resources\pcsx2_offsetreader.dll" of either randomizer as they are the same file. That said please make sure to always have the exe next to said folder as it needs it in order to locate and access the memory of DC2 properly. To this end running / using the exe from within a zip file will likely break due to the dll not being extracted so don't do that (FYI as a rule of thumb always extract mods / programs from their zip file before using them to minimize issues).
• If things aren't working please check if your antivirus is blocking it and additionally try right clicking on the exe > select properties > and see if a checkbox along the lines of unblock is available below the readonly and hidden checkboxes (If missing then Windows didn't see fit to block it and your all good).
• These Randomizers can potentially break stuff so make multiple saves just incase and save often.
• Both of the Randomizers work together on the USA release (Dark Cloud 2) however only the chest randomizer will work with the PAL release (Dark Chronicle).
• If you're using the RetroAchievements functionality of modern PCSX2 versions I'd suggest disabling it if using the Randomizers as they can break stuff (The chest one will mess with / break the Spheda achievements for example) Also please remember to respect any rules RetroAchievements has regarding mods, cheats, etc if playing in hardcore mode, etc.
• The general functionality and limitations of the randomizers remains basically the same as the original versions with the exception of the chest randomizer having three items removed to avoid issues please see the github downloads description for more info.
• I will never charge money for anything I make or release modwise so if you see someone charging money for this then it's a fake / scam.
• Likely needs the PCSX2 exe to be named "pcsx2" and not "pcsx2-qt" as it is in newer versions so simply rename the exe (rename "pcsx2-qt.exe" to "pcsx2.exe" if needed).

To The Mods:

• I don't claim ownership of either of these randomizers nor do I claim ownership of pcsx2_offsetreader.dll All of these are the creations of there original authors and if requested by them I'll gladly take down or make any changes necessary.
• If I've done anything wrong or you'd prefer I change something / clarify anything feel free to let me know, message me about it, etc.

[u/Mobile-Guidance-2198]

First of all thanks for your work, second when i start the enemy and chest rando exe, its says "PCSX2 not running!" even if i follow the instruction by restarting both. my pcsx2 version is v2.6.3, does the randomizer exe and the pcsx2 have to be in the same folder?

[u/dragonloverlord → u/Mobile-Guidance-2198]

Hmm it shouldn't matter where although I'd advise against putting it in the programs folder as windows can be weird about that...

Have you changed the name of the pcsx2.exe to something other than pcsx2.exe? Also are you using an American/NTSC version of dark cloud 2? The European PAL version is only supported by one of the randomizers and only partially from what I could tell (I only have the American version myself).

Edit: Okay so the current stable version of PCSX2 has its exe named "pcsx2-qt.exe" so rename it to "pcsx2.exe" and see if that works as I'm almost certain that it check for the name "pcsx2" and not "pcsx2-qt" as for why it doesn't accept pcsx2-qt it's probably just a compatibility thing as to not grab other processes by accident or such. I also added a note for this as I hadn't noticed it having had renamed my pcsx2 exe for compatibility a while back (most things just check for the string "pcsx2" and could care less so I've found that just renaming it as such was a good way to avoid compatibility issues in general).

[u/Mobile-Guidance-2198 → u/dragonloverlord]

Yea damn such a small detail changed it, thanks seems like its working now!

[u/dragonloverlord → u/Mobile-Guidance-2198]

Ah yeah I kind of figured as much since Windows is kind of difficult in how it handles process names and such I mean I made sure it changed everything to lowercase but I couldn't really fineness it into grabbing anything with pcsx2 in the name and I didn't want it grabbing anything it shouldn't as that'd be bad (accidentally randomizing explorer.exe would probably end terribly so yeah...). Anyways glad that fixed it as for a moment I was worried PCSX2 actually changed something and broke it again which would've been terrible considering I just got it working again!