Difference between revisions of "Genesis Plus"

	Genesis Plus GX
General
Author(s)	EkeEke
Type	Console emulator
Version	1.7.5 RC1
Links
	Download
	Website
	Source
	Downloadable via the Homebrew Browser
Peripherals

Revision as of 20:53, 13 December 2016

Genesis Plus GX is a Sega / Mega CD, Genesis / Megadrive, Master System, Game Gear and SG-1000 emulator. This is a port of Charles MacDonald's Genesis Plus to the Wii, with a lot of improvements.

Information

See included README.pdf

Installation

SD Card

The SD card should be formatted to FAT (FAT16 or FAT32). If not found, the emulator automatically creates a directory named “/genplus” at the root of your SD card, as well as subdirectories required by the emulator to store miscellaneous files (cheat, save & screenshot files).

By default, the emulator will look for files in the sd:/genplus/roms directory but you can place them anywhere you want, the menu keeping trace of the last accessed directory for each device.

USB Drive

The USB drive should have at least one partition formatted to FAT (FAT16 or FAT32), other file systems (NTFS, EXT2, etc) are not supported. If no SD card is inserted when the emulator starts, it automatically creates a directory named “/genplus” at the root of your USB drive partition, as well as subdirectories required by the emulator to store miscellaneous files (cheat, save & screenshot files).

By default, the emulator will look for files in the usb:/genplus/roms directory but you can place them anywhere you want, the menu keeping trace of the last accessed directory for each device and for each file types.

To use an USB2 drive, you must have IOS58 installed (it should be automatically installed with System Menu 4.3 update). You should also load the emulator through the Homebrew Channel, using the provided meta.xml file and make sure Homebrew Channel is using IOS58 as default IOS. If not, you might need to reinstall Homebrew Channel after having installed IOS58.

DVD

The DVD should be formatted using ISO9660/Joliet (refer to the user manual of your DVD Burning software for more details).

By default, the emulator will look for files at the root of your DVD but you can place them anywhere you want, the menu keeping trace of the last accessed directory for each device and for each file types.

To use DVD on a non-chipped Wii, you should load the emulator through the Homebrew Channel and use the provided meta.xml file, in order to allow full access to the DVD drive.

Mega CD emulation

1) Original BIOS ROM files are required (one for each region): unzip & rename them to bios_CD_U.bin, bios_CD_E.bin, bios_CD_J.bin in /genplus/bios/ directory

2) When using ISO image files, WAV or OGG files should be provided as AUDIO track files. You can either load a CUE file pointing to a specific ISO file and containing all the needed information about AUDIO tracks files or directly load the ISO file. In the latter case, the emulator will first look for a .CUE file with the same base name, then if no CUE file is found, it will automatically look for .WAV or .OGG files respecting one of the following naming format (“XXX” being the .ISO filename, NN being the track number and “yyy” being either .wav or .ogg extension): “XXXNN.yyy”, “XXX NN.yyy”, “XXX-NN.yyy”, “XXX - NN.yyy” or “XXX_NN.yyy”. Please note that other compressed audio files (such as .mp3, .mpc, .wma, etc) are NOT supported and audio tracks should be using 16-bit stereo 44100Hz format.

3) When using BIN images files, audio tracks are generally stored within the image file. A CUE file is therefore required with all the needed information about audio tracks location. You can either load the CUE file pointing to the specific BIN file or directly load the .BIN file. In the latter case, the emulator will automatically look for a CUE file with the same base name as the BIN file.

Controls

Menu Controls

		+		Action
or /	/	/ or	/ or	Move
	or	or		Previous menu
	or	or		Select

File selector menu

		+		Action
/ or	/	/ or	/ or	Display the selected entry's full filename
/ or	/	/ or	/ or	Select previous/next file
/	/	/	/	Down/Up one full page
				Quit the file selection menu
	or	or		Up one directory
	or	or		Load the selected file or enter selected directory

Game Controls (default)

The control can be changed in "Emulator Options/Controls Options" menu except directional buttons & Menu key.

You can do a soft reset by pressing the .

To play game with Menacer or Justifiers lightgun you have to configure a controller in Port A and Port B for lightgun (2 supported). to shoot and to aim.

	+		Action
or	or	or	Genesis Dpad
			START
			A
			B
			C
			X
			Y
			Z
			Mode
+ or or or			Emulator Menu

Media

v1.4.0

Change Log

Please see included HISTORY.txt for full changelog

Genesis Plus GX 1.7.5 (xx/xx/xxxx) (Eke-Eke)

[Core/General]

added optional dynamic allocation of cartridge/CD hardware buffer (for platforms with BSS size limitation)
improved frame emulation timing, now starts with vertical blanking to reduce input lag by one more frame

 (!!!warning: this breaks compatibility with previous savestates!!!)

various code cleanup

[Core/CD]

added CD-AUDIO & CD+G support
added optional support for external VORBIS library
improved CDC emulation (fixes random freezes during Jeopardy & ESPN Sunday Night NFL intro)
improved emulation of mirrored memory areas
improved savestate format
improved Sub-CPU synchronization with Main-CPU (fixes "Soul Star")
improved Main-CPU & Sub-CPU idle loop detection (fixes "Super League CD")
disabled 68k and Z80 access to PRG-RAM when SUB-CPU is running (fixes USA version of Dungeon Explorer )
disabled CD hardware reset on Soft-Reset (verified on real hardware)
fixed DATA track minimal length (fixes BIOS refusing to boot small homebrew demos)
fixed CDD "no disc" status code (fixes boot sequence loading time when no disc is loaded)
fixed OGG file seeking when using with CUE file
fixed PRG-RAM access from MAIN-CPU side on system reset
fixed state loading bug when SUB-CPU interrupt is pending
fixed incorrect masking of Level 3 (GFX) interrupts (spurious freeze during Japanese BIOS intro)
fixed H-INT vector handling when using Mode 1
fixed access to "write-only" communication flags (verified on real hardware by Notaz)
fixed pending level 1 interrupts when GFX interrupt is disabled (fixes random freezes out of "Batman Returns" option menu)
fixed CDD seek command again (Final Fight CD freeze with model 2 BIOS)
optimized Sub-CPU / Main-CPU synchronization

[Core/MD]

added support for some new unlicensed games with copy protection (Thunderbolt II, Tom Clown, Chaoji Puke / Super Poker)
added support for Everdrive extended SSF mapper
improved console region auto-detection for a few PAL-only games (The Smurfs Travel the World & Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits)
fixed Game Genie / Pro Action Replay lock-on support when Mega CD hardware is enabled
fixed SRAM support in Triple Play 96 & Triple Play - Gold Edition
fixed automatic CD loading with .md ROM files
fixed ROM padding for Sonic & Knuckles
fixed SRAM detection for games where it is mapped to work RAM ("Feng Kuang Tao Hua Yuan" crash)
fixed 1.7.4 regression with games using SRAM bank-switching

[Core/MS]

added support for new SMS Power dump Jang Pung II (KR)
added support for Hi-Com X-in-1 mapper (thanks to Bock from SMS Power)
improved console hardware auto-detection
improved emulation accuracy of SG-1000 & Mark-III hardware
improved emulation accuracy of Japanese Master System I/O chip (315-5297)
fixed Boot ROM loading when switching system hardware

[Core/GG]

added optional LCD ghosting software filter
fixed mirrored access to I/O control register (G-LOC Air Battle)

[Core/SG]

added support for SG-1000 II clone hardware (2KB RAM + integrated VDP/PSG chip 315-5066)
fixed SG-1000 internal RAM size (1KB instead of 2KB)
restored SG-1000 Pause button support

[Core/CPU]

fixed Z80 SP register initialization on power-on for Master System & Game Gear

(Ace of Aces, Shadow Dancer, Ecco the Dolphin, Evander Holyfield Real Deal Boxing)

[Core/IO]

added Sega Graphic Board support (thanks to SMS Power)
added Master Tap emulation (multi-player support in Boom homebrew)
added gamepad type auto-detection
added support for XE-1AP analog controller on both ports
improved HVC latch behavior for gun emulation (fixes "Gunfight - 3 in 1" randomization when using Justifier)
fixed TeamPlayer emulation (fixes multitap detection in Gauntlet 4)

[Core/VDP]

implemented proper FIFO ring-buffer & unused bits behavior on CRAM/VSRAM reads (verified on real hardware by Nemesis)
improved accuracy of DMA Copy/Fill & added support for CRAM/VSRAM Fill (verified on real hardware by Nemesis)
improved V28/V30 mode switching during active display (verified on real hardware)
improved Mode 5 sprites parsing accuracy (verified on real hardware)
improved Mode 5 sprites rendering timings (fixes "Overdrive" demo)
improved FIFO timings accuracy (fixes "Overdrive" Demo)
improved H-Counter accuracy in H32 mode
improved accuracy of Master System color palette brightness range (verified against real hardware)
fixed misaligned buffer writes in Mode 4 when -DALIGN_LONG option is used
fixed alpha channel for 15-bit (RGB555) and 32-bit (RGB888) color support
fixed register #10 state on VDP¨reset (fixes GG Terminator 2: Judgment Day)
fixed Mode 1 rendering (TMS99xx "text" mode)
fixed Game Gear display rendering regression when left/right borders were disabled
fixed 68k cycles delay on invalid VRAM writes (fixes "Microcosm" intro loop)
optimized tile caching

[Gamecube/Wii]

added configurable BIOS & Lock-on ROM files
added configurable NTSC filter
added configurable FPS display & toggleable fast-forward key combo

 (HOME + MINUS with Wii controllers or R TRIGGER + START with Gamecube controller)

added 50hz progressive mode (576p) support for emulation
reduced SRAM files size
improved A/V Sync: when VSYNC is enabled, audio resampler output rate is now adjusted (+/-0,1 %)

 to always keep audio & video synchronized and input lag is reduced by one frame.

improved GX video rendering (fixes screen tearing when VSYNC is disabled)
improved ROM browser scrolling speed and added support for Classic Controller +/- buttons for page scrolling
improved Cheats Menu
fixed bug with PICO pointer
fixed lightgun crosshair & CD leds positionning when using NTSC filter
fixed low-pass filter menu setting
various code cleanup & optimizations

[Gamecube]

improved progressive mode switch request on startup when component cable is detected
disabled simultaneous multiple .ogg files opening (fixes crashes caused to RAM size limitation)
fixed broken DVD support

[Wii]

added support for Wii U Pro Controller
added Wiimote pointer calibration in Menu settings
added configurable Wiimote timeout
added game auto-load support through DOL args (compatible with "Wiiflow" plugin arguments)
fixed support for 3rd-party classic controllers with invalid calibration settings

[GCW0]

added GCW Zero port by Shin-NiL & David Knight (based on SDL port)

[libretro]

added optional bootrom support for Master System, Game Gear & Mega Drive / Genesis
added support for all emulated devices (except Activator)
added support for in-game resolution changes through RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SET_SYSTEM_AV_INFO
added support for .mdx ROM files
added missing core settings (system hardware, region, lock-on, multitap, master system FM,...)
fixed incorrect SRAM file saving
fixed framebuffer size for PAL interlaced mode
fixed viewport width when NTSC Filter is enabled with Mega Drive or Mega CD games using H-32 mode
code cleanup

Genesis Plus GX 1.7.4 (21/06/2013) (Eke-Eke)

[Core/SCD]

fixed access to read-only registers on Main-CPU side ("Batman Returns" platform level freeze)
fixed & improved emulation of PRG-RAM write protection register ("Lunar Eternal Blue" japanese version freeze)
improved SUB & MAIN-CPU synchronization ("Dracula Unleashed" freeze when using US Model 2 BIOS)
improved CPU polling detection
improved CDD emulation & added CD drive access time for SEEK command ("Panic!/Switch" intro missing scene)
added missing reinitialization of MAIN-CPU PRG-RAM bank on reset
added .OGG audio tracks support through LIBTREMOR

[Core/Sound]

fixed YM2612 configurable DAC depth emulation
improved Low-Pass filter
added optional "MONO" output mode