Project Unification – Readme
The Cheat Solution for PCSX2
Michael Freitag
Scholar Technology Solutions, LLC.
Version 1.2 BETA
April 27th, 2020
About Project Unification:
Project Unification is a program intended to make using cheats on PCSX2 as easy as possible through a highly user-friendly interface, as well as automating the process of using cheats as much as possible. Project Unification does this by providing a database of games with their respective codes; the user need only select the game and the applicable cheats that they want to use for said game.
Currently, in order to use cheats with PCSX2, the user is likely to have to find cheats in their codebreaker/action replay/etc. form, convert them to PCSX2 PNACH codes, manually create/edit PNACH files, and manually edit those files as needed to disable/enable codes at various times. This is a tedious and non-user friendly method of using cheats, which leads to frustration, failure, and time expenditures for many users.
The purpose of Project Unification is to be a comprehensive cheat solution for PCSX2. The long-term goal of the project is to have a comprehensive database of as many PS2 games and their respective cheats as possible so that users of PCSX2 need only select the cheats they want to use from a simple graphical user interface on an as needed basis. The end goal is to alleviate all of the pain points mentioned above. Users will no longer have to find cheats, convert them, manually create PNACH files, and manually edit them. All of this will be done by Project Unification.
State of the Project:
This subsequent release of Project Unification is in BETA form! This means that the software is likely to have at least some bugs. With that said, most of the current features of Project Unification are in very good working order, however, there are definitely bugs remaining. I spent a great deal of my free time in 2016 getting the initial release into a pretty useable state, and I have spent many hours in 2017 working on it thus far, so, hopefully, it is in overall good condition.
Please keep in mind that I am the sole developer behind this software, which I am developing as one of the projects of my company, Scholar Technology Solutions LLC. I also work full time in a professional job (outside of the IT/software development industry) and am a part time college student. Suffice to say, I am always pressed for time, but my goal is to make continued development of Project Unification a focus.
A stable release build will be forthcoming at some point in the future. Keep in mind that this is a long-term project and is therefore not likely to be completed in the short term.
One of the biggest goals going forward will actually be the development of the cheat database. The database is currently extremely small. However, the software and database is constructed in such a way so as to allow end-users to build off of it on their own. I also strongly invite and encourage users to submit PNACH database files to me for inclusion in a master database that can continue to grow and benefit all users. Please see my frequently asked questions (FAQ) document for more information on both of these subjects.
Needed Software:
In order to use Project Unification, you will need to install the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010. This software is free and requires almost no interaction to install. You should download and install the file called "AccessDatabaseEngine.exe" from here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54920 if you are using the 32-bit version of Project Unification or the "AccessDatabaseEngine_X64.exe" file if you are using the 64-bit version of Project Unification.
(Please note that both versions of Project Unification are the same, and for technical reasons, if one does not work on your system, you will likely need to use the other with the corresponding Access Database Engine.)
You will also need to have the Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.5.2 or higher installed on your computer. Fortunately, if you are running one of the more recent versions of Windows, and have been keeping it up to date, you probably already have this installed.
Project Unification should work on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 so long as the above software is installed.
Instructions for Use:
Using Project Unification is simple! When you first run Project Unification, you will be prompted to make some configuration selections. One of these is the PCSX2 "cheats" directory location. It is very important that you choose the correct location of this directory that PCSX2 is set to use. (For instance, you may have one "cheats" directory in the main PCSX2 directory, but you may also have one in the "Documents" directory under your Windows login. Only one of these is likely actually being used by the emulator.)
You will also need to choose the Project Unification cheat database file location. This file is named "PUcodeDB.accdb" and should located in the Project Unification install directory, which is typically at C:\Program Files (x86)\Project Unification.
You also will have the option of choosing to "Prompt With Save Dialog When Creating PNACH Files". This will give you more control over where your PNACH file is saved, as well as giving you the opportunity to make sure you want to override the current PNACH file for the game you are using the cheats with. (Overriding the file is part of how Project Unification works, and you should typically do this. However, you may have a custom PNACH file that you want to backup first before it is replaced with the Project Unification file. Once the PNACH file is overwritten, you will not be able to recover it.)
After completing the configuration settings, you must CLOSE AND RE-OPEN Project Unification for all the settings to take effect. Project Unification should then be ready for use when you open it again.
You now need only select the game you wish to use cheats with from the drop down list, check the cheats that you want to use, and click "Implement Selected Cheats". You then need only choose "Enable Cheats" from the PCSX2 "System" menu for them to take effect.
If you do not see the game and/or code that you want listed, you can use the Project Unification Cheat Database Tool (built into Project Unification) to add them to the database. Or, (preferably) you can submit your current PNACH files/codes to Project Unification (see the FAQ for more details) so that they can be added to the master database for all users of Project Unification.
Support Project Unification:
One of the best ways you can support Project Unification is to add games to the database and send the entire database file to me to be combined into a master database (see the FAQ for more details). This is so that, hopefully, one day everyone can have a database of codes for all games without having to hunt for them or create them.
Although this program is free, if you like using Project Unification and want to contribute financially, you can also donate using PayPal at https://www.paypal.me/MAFreitag.
Acknowledgements:
Special thanks to all the users who have submitted (or will submit) codes to the project for inclusion in the database, as well as the artists who have made their artwork available for non-commercial use for developers like myself. Thank you to the PCSX2 developers as well for producing an excellent emulator!
For more information, please see the Project Unification frequently asked questions (FAQ).
The Legal Disclaimer (I know, but it is what it is.):
This software is provided by Scholar Technology Solutions, LLC "as is" and "with all faults." Scholar Technology Solutions, LLC makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning the safety, suitability, lack of viruses, inaccuracies, typographical errors, or other harmful components of this software. There are inherent dangers in the use of any software, and you are solely responsible for determining whether this software is compatible with your equipment and other software installed on your equipment. You are also solely responsible for the protection of your equipment and backup of your data, and Scholar Technology Solutions, LLC will not be liable for any damages you may suffer in connection with using, modifying, or distributing this software.
The Cheat Solution for PCSX2