If The Simpsons Game fails on a PC, first identify whether you are emulating the PS2 version in PCSX2 or the PS3 version in RPCS3. The fixes differ: PCSX2 has documented controller and Windows troubleshooting steps, while the game-specific RPCS3 evidence is a single 2022 user report. The evidence here does not establish a native Windows release, so the steps below focus on those two emulators.
First identify your emulator and the failure point
Before changing settings, note which emulator and console edition you are using. A PCSX2 gamefix will not apply to RPCS3, and an observation from one RPCS3 setup is not a general PCSX2 fix.
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- Record the emulator build, operating system, game region or revision, graphics backend, controller model, and whether it is wired or wireless.
- Pinpoint when the problem occurs: after the intro, when starting a new game, at a controller prompt, when opening settings, or during play.
- Note whether it began after changing an emulator setting, updating the emulator, or installing or updating a controller or graphics driver.
PCSX2: black screen after the intro
If the screen goes black after the intro when you start a new game, a PCSX2 wiki search result names the “Delay VIF1 stalls” gamefix. The wiki page itself could not be opened for verification, so treat this as a troubleshooting lead rather than a confirmed fix for every game revision or current PCSX2 build. The result is associated with The Simpsons Game page on the PCSX2 wiki.
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- Change only that setting, then retry the same point in the game.
- If there is no improvement, restore the original setting before trying other changes.
If the problem persists, check whether other games also show graphics or startup problems. For diagnosis, PCSX2 recommends enabling file logging, reproducing the failure, and preserving emulog.txt. Do not restart PCSX2 after reproducing the problem before saving the log, because useful information may be lost. For a visible graphics fault, PCSX2’s issue guide also explains how to save a GS dump: PCSX2 issue reporting guide.
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PCSX2: controller not detected or buttons are wrong
Start in PCSX2’s controller settings and make sure the player-one device is assigned to Controller Port 1. PCSX2’s controller documentation describes SDL as the normal starting point, with other input sources for specific problems.
- SDL: Try this first for ordinary controller setup.
- SDL Raw Input and manual mapping: If buttons are unresponsive or mapped incorrectly—particularly when the device reports an inaccurate button layout—enable SDL Raw Input and clear and remap the controls. Automatic mapping may not work correctly with such devices.
- XInput: If an XInput-compatible controller fails through SDL, try XInput as a backup.
- DInput: Reserve this for devices that do not work with SDL or XInput; PCSX2 describes it as less reliable.
Controller buttons trigger hotkeys or desktop actions
If button presses open emulator menus, trigger keyboard shortcuts, or affect other applications, test with Steam fully exited. Alternatively, disable or change Steam controller support and test again. PCSX2 documents a conflict path involving Steam Input keyboard mappings and emulator hotkeys: PCSX2 known issues.
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PCSX2 crashes only when a particular controller is attached
PCSX2 documents crashes associated with a problematic third-party controller driver using EZFRD64.dll under C:WindowsUSB_Vibration. Check whether that specific file and driver are present before acting. PCSX2’s documented remedy is to remove or uninstall the affected driver; doing so may stop the device from working, so do not delete files or uninstall drivers unless the condition is confirmed. See PCSX2 known issues.
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PCSX2: crashes on Windows
Match the remedy to the crash pattern. PCSX2 documents these Windows-specific causes; none is proof by itself that it explains a particular crash. See PCSX2 known issues.
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- Crash when opening settings or an error at launch: Check for outdated graphics drivers. Update drivers for all GPUs in the system, including an integrated GPU in a laptop.
- Crash while adding a game directory or opening settings: Windows shell or interface modification software may be involved. PCSX2 names OldNewExplorer as one example.
- Crash with the OpenCL, OpenGL, and Vulkan Compatibility Pack installed: PCSX2 says this pack can cause crashes in PCSX2 and other Vulkan applications. If it is installed, its documentation advises uninstalling the pack and rebooting.
For other crash patterns, preserve the emulator log and report the specific failure rather than making unrelated system changes. The PCSX2 issue reporting guide explains the relevant log and graphics-dump information: PCSX2 issue reporting guide.
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A report opened in the RPCS3 issue tracker on December 28, 2022 describes a PS3-version setup in which the game accepted Start, then asked the player to reconnect the controller. The reporter said disconnecting and reconnecting the controller cleared the prompt. The same report says the game crashed after continuing at a 1080p default resolution but worked at 720p. These are observations from one user’s configuration, not a general compatibility guarantee or confirmed fix: RPCS3 issue #13184.
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- If RPCS3 shows the reconnect prompt after accepting Start, disconnect and reconnect the controller, then see whether the prompt clears.
- If the game crashes while continuing at 1080p, test 720p as a diagnostic comparison.
- Record whether either change affects the same failure point; do not assume that either result applies to other builds, game revisions, or setups.
Which troubleshooting path applies?
| Question | PCSX2 / PS2 | RPCS3 / PS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Game-specific symptom evidence | A PCSX2 wiki search result names “Delay VIF1 stalls” for a black screen after the intro; current applicability could not be verified. PCSX2 wiki | One report opened December 28, 2022 describes a reconnect prompt and a crash at 1080p that reportedly did not occur at 720p. RPCS3 issue #13184 |
| Controller guidance | PCXS2 documents SDL, SDL Raw Input and manual mapping, XInput fallback, and DInput as a last resort; it also documents Steam Input conflicts and an EZFRD64.dll driver issue. Controller documentation · Known issues | The cited user reports that reconnecting the controller cleared that prompt; it does not establish a general controller setup procedure. RPCS3 issue #13184 |
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