Dolphin-MPN Troubleshooting
This guide covers common issues you might encounter while setting up or playing Mario Party 4-8 netplay with Dolphin-MPN.Connection Issues
Can’t connect to traversal lobby
Problem: Dolphin stalls when trying to join someone’s traversal lobby. Solution:- You may only be able to connect to lobbies hosted over Direct Connect
- Either have the player unable to connect host the traversal lobby themselves
- Or have the host forward a port and host over Direct Connect
- If you need help forwarding a port, try following this guide
Direct Connect vs Traversal Server
When to use Direct Connect:- When the traversal server is down
- For players who have trouble with the traversal server at all times
- May be the only way to play for some users
Game Issues
Black screen during emulation
Problem: The game shows up as a black screen when starting netplay. Solution:- The black screen is caused by players not starting emulation at the same time
- Ensure that no one in the lobby is running the game before the host starts netplay
Board went black during Mario Party
Problem: The board went black while playing Mario Party. Solution:- In-game, quit out of the party and try again
- If you’ve been saving every turn, no progress will be lost
Frame 0 desync
Problem: Someone desynced on frame 0. Solution:- A frame 0 desync means there’s a checksum mismatch
- All players should have the same game version
- Verify your game files match the required checksums
Performance Issues
Reducing netplay lag
Solutions:- Increase buffer settings
- Close any other programs using internet (web browsers, Skype, etc.)
- Make sure no one on the same network is using the internet (family, roommates)
- Seek out players from nearby regions
- Ensure it’s actually netplay lag by having each player test FPS locally
- Buffer refers to the amount of frames of input delay
- The larger it is, the more smoothly the game will run (provided all players can run the game fine offline)
- You can set it mid-game
- Always set it to the lowest value that gives you a smooth framerate to reduce unnecessary input delay
Graphics performance
Problem: The game’s graphics are bad or performance is poor. Solution:- The resolution and anti-aliasing can be changed without issue
- However, it’s not recommended as emulation will require more resources
- If you want to edit these options, load a splitscreen Mini-Game such as MP6’s Circuit Maximus offline and confirm the game speed does not decrease
Save File Issues
Corrupted save files
Problem: Save file is corrupted. Solution:- Try formatting the data
- Or redownload the saves from the Dolphin-MPN package
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I already have Dolphin, do I need to download it again?
A: Ideally yes, this guide provides a version of the emulator geared specifically for netplay, but as long as the host is using our build, any modern Dolphin build should be able to connect.Q: How do I use the GameCube Mic accessory over netplay?
A: Mic compatibility is currently not possible over netplay.Q: How do I play Mario Party 7’s Deluxe Cruise mode over netplay?
A: 8-player netplay is currently not possible over netplay.Q: Multiple people on same computer?
A: It’s possible for multiple people to play from the same computer as long as the controllers they’re using are plugged in and the host allows them use of multiple ports.Q: Hosting for 4 other people?
A: It’s possible to host a room for 4 other people as long as the host disables their controller in Dolphin.Getting More Help
If you’re still having issues:- Check our Discord server for community support
- Visit our GitHub repository for updates and bug reports
- Make sure you’re using the latest version of the emulator
- Verify your game files match the required checksums