# ARMORED CORE for Answer: unofficial PC port
A native Windows version of ARMORED CORE for Answer (PS3, USA, BLUS30187). The game's own PS3 code is translated into a real Windows program, built on your PC from your own copy of the game. This project contains no game data, no game code and no keys, and it decrypts nothing.
Not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by FromSoftware, Ubisoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment or any other rights holder. ARMORED CORE is a trademark of its owners.
## Highlights
- Native, not emulated. The whole game runs as a 64-bit Windows program.
- Resolution options. The game draws at your screen's own resolution, in borderless, windowed or fullscreen.
- Render scale from 50% to 200%.
- High frame rates. 30, 60, 120, 144, your monitor's refresh rate or uncapped and the same game speed at every frame rate. Menus and movies stay at 60.
- Full mouse support. By default the mouse works like a precise right stick, with raw input: your AC turns exactly as far as you move it. A camera mode is in PC SETTINGS. The mouse also works in the game's menus, including the ACSIS garage.
- PC SETTINGS inside the game. An entry in the game's own SYSTEM menu, where HDD INSTALL was on the PS3: display, frame rate, mouse, keys and game options, all in game.
## How it works
Static recompilation. A recompiler reads the game's ~4.5 million PowerPC instructions and turns them into C++: about 71.000 functions, with every indirect jump resolved. Your PC's compiler then builds a native 64-bit Windows program.
SPU programs are translated ahead of time too, with an interpreter as a safety net. The RSX command stream becomes Direct3D 11, and the game's shaders become HLSL, drawn at your resolution. Graphics, audio, input, files and saves are reimplemented in C++. a few complex firmware parts run as recompiled code from your own system files, so they behave exactly as on the console: the SPU task system and the movie and audio decoders.
It shares this runtime with the Armored Core 4 port. The two games share an engine family and middleware.
Nothing from the game is in this repository. Everything game-derived is generated on your PC from your own copy. Setup downloads a compiler toolchain (about 250 MB) once and takes a few minutes.
## Install
### What you need
- Your own copy of ARMORED CORE for Answer (US disc, BLUS30187). You need the disc's files, meaning the folder that contains 'PS3_GAME'.
- RPCS3, used once during setup to decrypt a few of your game files.
- The PS3 system software 4.93 file 'PS3UPDAT.PUP' from [Sony's PS3 system software page](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps3/system-software/).
- Optional: the game's update 01.35, the file 'UP0001-BLUS30187_00-AC45000004141906-A0135-V0100-PE.pkg'. Without it, the game uses the disc's own balance data.
- About 4 GB of free disk space and an internet connection.
### Steps
1. Download `ACFA-Port-.zip` from [Releases](https://github.com/SulphurS16/ACFA-Port/releases/latest).
2. Right click the zip, choose **Extract All...**, and pick a folder with enough space, for example 'C:\Games\ACFA-Port'.
3. Open that folder and start 'ACFA-Launcher.exe'.
4. Under **Game folder**, choose the folder that contains 'PS3_GAME'.
5. Optional: under **Game update**, choose the update file. If it is inside the game folder, the launcher fills it in by itself.
6. Click **Prepare files** and choose your 'rpcs3.exe' and 'PS3UPDAT.PUP'. The launcher uses your RPCS3 to decrypt the files the port needs. When RPCS3 asks "Install firmware?", click **Yes**; if you chose the update, click **Install** when it asks about the package. This takes about a minute and doesn't change your RPCS3.
7. Click **Set up**. It downloads the build tools and builds the game. This takes a few minutes and is only needed once.
8. Choose whether you want a desktop shortcut and a Start menu entry.
9. Click **PLAY**.
From now on, you can start the game from the shortcut.
> [!NOTE]
> Already decrypted the files yourself? Skip step 6 and choose their folder under **Decrypted files** instead. **More... > Which files does the port need?** lists them.
>
> Got the update later? Choose it under **Game update**, click **Install update** (your RPCS3 installs it), then **Set up**.
## Update
Unzip the new release into a new folder or over the old one, start its launcher and click **Set up**. It finds your earlier install and rebuilds only what changed; your settings and saves stay. If your game data is in the old release's folder, keep that folder, or choose **Move it beside this launcher**.
## Uninstall
**More... > Remove game data...**, then delete the launcher's folder. Saves and settings stay unless you tick their box; they then go to a backup folder.
## Controls
Controllers work like the PS3 pad and can be connected at any time:
- **PlayStation** (DUALSHOCK 4, DualSense, DualSense Edge; USB or Bluetooth): Options = START; Share / Create or the touchpad click = SELECT. No extra program needed. No vibration yet.
- **Xbox and other XInput controllers:** A = Cross, B = Circle, X = Square, Y = Triangle, LB / RB = L1 / R1, LT / RT = L2 / R2, Menu = START, View = SELECT, stick clicks = L3 / R3.
With several controllers connected, the first one plays (Xbox-style controllers first).
# Mouse and keyboard support
Keyboard and mouse in missions (defaults). The keys keep these actions under every control type (KEY TYPE):
| Action | Keys |
| --- | --- |
| Move | W A S D |
| Turn and look | Mouse |
| Left / right arm weapon | Left / right click |
| Shoulder weapon | E |
| Switch right / left weapon | C / Ctrl |
| Boost (hold to rise) / quick boost / overed boost | Space / Shift / Q |
| Quick turn left / right | Z / X |
| Reset view | V |
| Lock (L3) | Middle click |
| Pause | Tab or Escape |
| SELECT / D-pad | Enter / arrow keys |
| Release the mouse | F1 |
| Fullscreen | F11 or Alt+Enter |
The mouse works like a precise right stick (**MOUSE MODE: STICK**, the default): your AC turns exactly as far as you move it, as fast as it can turn. A fast sideways flick with quick boost does a quick turn. **MOUSE MODE: CAMERA** moves only the camera, freely; the AC turns after it at its own speed, and aims and moves as in the game. Both modes use raw input, with no mouse acceleration.
Not on a key until you choose one in PC SETTINGS: 2-stage quick turn left / right, 2-stage quick boost, quick boost half press and assault armor (needs an overed boost part that has it).
In menus:
- **Mouse:** point and click; right-click goes back; the wheel scrolls; drag sliders. This includes ACSIS (ASSEMBLE, STABILIZER, SHOP, TUNE, DESIGN). The colour editor, the emblem picker, DESIGN's tabs and TUNE's values still use keys.
- **Keys:** arrows or W A S D move, Enter or Space choose, Escape or Backspace go back. This works on the title screen and in mission briefings too.
- **PS3 buttons:** the game shows these. Tab = START, Q / E = L1 / R1.
All keys can be changed in game under **SYSTEM > PC SETTINGS**, which also shows the PS3 button each key presses.
## Settings and saves
- Display mode, resolution, render scale (50–200 %) and frame rate (30, 60, 120, 144, your display's rate or uncapped) are set in the launcher or in game under **SYSTEM > PC SETTINGS**. Game speed is the same at every frame rate.
- The launcher has presets for modest PCs and handhelds under **More...**.
- **ORDER MATCH AI FIXES** (PC SETTINGS > GAME, on by default) corrects slips in some ORDER MATCH opponents' AI scripts. They then fight as their scripts were written, and some are harder than on the PS3. Turn it OFF to play them as on the PS3.
- Settings and saves are in `Saved Games\ARMORED CORE for Answer`. **More...** in the launcher backs up and restores saves. Saves don't work on a PS3.
- PS3 saves work once you have decrypted them. Copy each save folder (named 'BLUS30187...') into the savedata folder above.
- RPCS3 saves should work as they are. Copy the same 'BLUS30187...' folders from RPCS3's savedata folder.
Only saves from the US version (BLUS30187) are found.
## Community
For more ports, questions, discussion and help join the [Discord](https://discord.gg/Z7pbJ2unX).