Difference between revisions of "Gens/GS"

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'''Gens/GS''' is a version of Gens for Linux maintained by [[GerbilSoft]]. The main goal of Gens/GS is to clean up the source code and combine features from various forks of Gens. Additionally, a future version of Gens/GS will combine the Windows code into the same codebase, so one codebase can be used to compile on both operating systems.
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| bobscreen=GensGS.png
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| system=[[Sega Mega Drive]], [[Mega-CD]], [[32X]]
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| os=Windows, Linux
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| developer=Stéphane Dallongeville (Gens); David "GerbilSoft" Korth
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| language=Assembly, C++
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| date=2009-11-22{{ref|http://www.dusers.drexel.edu/gitweb/gitweb.cgi/~korth/gens.git/commit/909e81d9a85fa378faba42d3a6bd121fdfe7c5e3}}
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| version=r7
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}}
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'''Gens/GS''' is a [[Sega Mega Drive]] emulator derived from [[Gens]] and maintained by [[GerbilSoft]]. It is based upon the Gens version 2.15.2 Linux source code. Project goals include clean source code, combined features from various forks of Gens, and improved platform portability.
  
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==Releases==
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Development of the emulator was continued in [[Gens/GS II]].
  
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===Milestone 3===
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==Features==
 +
Gens/GS has a number of bug fixes and low-level code changes, as well as the following updates:
 +
* Accurate colour scaling so that white has the RGB value $FFFFFF. Older emulators usually displayed white as $E0E0E0.
 +
* VDP options for disabling layers and locking palettes.
 +
* ''Sonic'' game memory value viewer ported from [[sGens]].
 +
* Renderers ported from [[Gens Re-Recording]] and [[Gens Plus!]].
  
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Milestone 3 introduces the following new features:
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==Other versions==
 +
[[Gens/GS II]] is a partial rewrite of Gens/GS written by GerbilSoft. Gens/GS II improves the basic framework of the emulator, which will allow for the addition of many new features.
  
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* Completely rewritten video rendering subsystem. The new video rendering subsystem abstracts the differences between plain SDL and SDL+OpenGL and presents a standard interface to the rest of Gens. This will make it easier to add in DirectDraw support later on.
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A parody version of the emulator, [[Gens/GS S2HD Edition]], was released to mock the high overhead and bad effects of modern-day emulation compilations and poor-quality "HD" remakes.
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* The configuration file handler has been rewritten such that it no longer fails to read or write certain configuration entries. Additionally, section names and key names are now case-insensitive.
 
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* The OpenGL renderer now supports 15-bit and 32-bit color modes.
 
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* Improved Fast Blur function, written in C, that supports 15, 16, and 32-bit color modes. The old Fast Blur function is still used for 15 and 16-bit color if x86 asm is enabled via --enable-x86-asm in the ./configure script.
 
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* 7z archives can now be used via an external 7z binary. You must have p7zip installed in order to use this feature.
 
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* SegaCD LED code has been updated to work correctly in all color modes.
 
  
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Milestone 3 fixes the following bugs:
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==Downloads==
 +
{{Multidownload
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| file1=Gens-gs-r7.tar.gz
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| filename1=Gens/GS Release 7 (Source Code)
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| file2=Gens_2.16.7_i386.deb
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| filename2=Gens/GS Release 7 (Ubuntu 8.04+, i386)
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| file3=Gens-gs-r7-win32-pkg1.7z
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| filename3=Gens/GS Release 7 (Win32, i386; Packaging Update 1)
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| file4=Gens-gs-r7-i486-4_SBo.tgz
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| filename4=Gens/GS Release 7 (Slackware 13.0, i486)
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| file5=Gens_2.16.8-r7orig_amd64.deb
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| filename5=Gens/GS Release 7 (Ubuntu 18.04)
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}}
  
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* The built-in debugger now properly updates the screen in 32-bit color.
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===Ubuntu 18.04 Install Instructions===
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* Horizontal positioning for 256x224 video modes in 32-bit color was off by 32 pixels.
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These packages are 32 bit, but modern Ubuntu is 64-bit. You can setup i386 architecture and install pretty easily, however:
  
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Milestone 3 has the following low-level code changes:
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    $ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
 +
    $ sudo apt-get update
 +
    $ sudo apt-get install <this package>.deb
  
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* Standard controller I/O functionality has been ported to C. Additionally, controller button presses are now stored in bitfields rather than reserving an entire 32-bit int per button. Unfortunately, I could not figure out how to port over the TeamPlayer code correctly, so that remains in x86 asm for now, with compatibility wrappers with regards to the button format.
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===Old versions===
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* Compression handlers have been rewritten using C++ classes.
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* {{file|GensGS old versions.7z|Versions r7 pre1, r7 pre2, r7 pre3, r7 pre4, r7 pre5 (Windows, Linux and source code).}}
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* C++ code has been introduced into the Gens/GS codebase. With this change, all header files have been updated to include "#ifdef __cplusplus" barriers, so older C-only code will link correctly.
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** Version m6 is missing.
  
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===Milestone 2.2===
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==External links==
 +
===Git Repository===
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* [http://www.dusers.drexel.edu/gitweb/gitweb.cgi?p=~korth/gens.git;a=summary Gens/GS Git Repository]
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* [http://www.dusers.drexel.edu/gitweb/gitweb.cgi?p=~korth/gens-gs-ii.git;a=summary Gens/GS II Git Repository]
  
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Milestone 2.2 fixes the following bugs:
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===Forum threads===
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* [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1225491 Ubuntu Forums thread (r7_pre2)]
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* {{LinkRetro|topic=16887|title=Sonic Retro thread (r7_pre2)}}
  
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* Fixed several bugs with savestate support, including matching struct alignment with Gens/Rerecording (Win32) and incorrectly reading x86 memory pointers for the emulated Z80 CPU. Please note that savestates from previous versions of Gens/GS will not work correctly on m2.2; however, you can load the savestates in another emulator, such as the original Gens, and resave it in the older format. The older format savestate will then work on Gens/GS.
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* [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=959074 Ubuntu Forums thread (m5-m6)]
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* CD-ROM drive support is now conditional via the ./configure script.
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* [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=948708 Ubuntu Forums thread (m4.2)]
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* 32-bit color now works for 32X games.
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* {{LinkRetro|topic=11813|title=Sonic Retro thread (m6 and earlier)}}
  
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===Milestone 2.1===
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==References==
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<references/>
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Milestone 2.1 fixes the following bugs:
 
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* 32X VDP rendering was accidentally broken completely in m2. It's fixed now, at least for 15-bit and 16-bit color. 32-bit color mode still needs to be fixed.
 
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* The window title for 32X games was always set to "32X (PAL)", even if the game is NTSC. This is fixed.
 
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===Milestone 2===
 
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Milestone 2 introduces the following new features:
 
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* PNG screenshot support via libpng. This was apparently a wishlist item for Gens for the past several years, but no one bothered to add it.
 
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* Screenshots now save the unfiltered image at the correct resolution. For example, Sonic CD special stages now save as a 256x224 image.
 
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* Rewrite of the way compressed files are handled. Compressed files are now handled using a generic COMPRESS_Handler interface. Currently, only GZip and Zip files are supported (the same as before), but it's now much easier and simpler to add new formats.
 
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* The new compression handler detects compressed files by checking the file's header instead of relying on the file's extension. This may help in cases where a file is misnamed.
 
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* Multi-file Zip support. If a Zip file containing multiple files is  selected, Gens will prompt you to select which file to open. The UI for selecting a file is currently not polished, but it will be improved later on.
 
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* Rewrite of the way renderers are handled. The new rendering system uses the same rendering code, but has a much simpler calling interface.
 
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* Initial 32-bit color support, ported from Gens Rerecording. Most of the 32-bit color renderers haven't been ported from Gens Rerecording yet, so only three are available in 32-bit: Normal, Double, and Scale2x. 15-bit or 16-bit color is necessary for the others. To change color modes, select Graphics, Bits Per Pixel, and the appropriate color mode.
 
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* Conditional compilation support for OpenGL, PNG, and x86 asm renderers. If PNG support is not enabled, screenshots will be taken in BMP format.
 
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* Border color emulation. The border color is set to color 0 of palette 0 from the MD's VDP.
 
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Milestone 2 fixes the following bugs:
 
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* Fixed a bug where the 32X VDP overlay disappeared when Gens was paused via the Escape key. The overlay reappeared when Gens was unpaused, though.
 
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Known bugs in Milestone 2:
 
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* 32X does not work properly in 32-bit color. The MD VDP shows up correctly, but the 32X VDP's colors are all wrong. For now, switch to 15-bit or 16-bit color by selecting Graphics, Bits Per Pixel, and either 15 or 16.
 
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===Milestone 1===
 
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Milestone 1 introduces the following new features:
 
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* Massive code cleanup throughout the entire Gens codebase. Many functions with duplicated code have been consolidated so that the duplicated code is now shared between the functions. Also, several large files have been split into smaller files. For instance, gens.c has been split into gens.c, g_md.c, g_mcd.c, g_32x.c, and g_palette.c.
 
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* Introduction of OS-independent functions, which will allow for the integration of the Win32 version of Gens later on, so that one codebase can be used to build a Gens executable for either operating system.
 
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* Gens v7 savestate format, ported from Gens Rerecording. This adds, among other things, proper Sega CD savestate support.
 
−
* Fixed the built-in debugger, which was broken due to changes in the way text was written to the emulated screen.
 
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* Added enhanced Sega CD GFX debugging from Gens Rerecording.
 
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* VDP/GFX debugging now outlines the selected palette.
 
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* Initial attempt to consoldidate global variables into structs. This will make it easier to figure out where everything is located.
 
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* Complete rewrite of the GTK+ UI. Among other things, the new UI has much improved synchronization, so when a menu item is checked, it actually means that item is enabled.
 
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* Rewrite of the byteswapping functions so that they describe what is being swapped (e.g. be16_to_cpu_array()).
 
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* Extra spaces in game names in ROM headers are removed when the game name is displayed on Gens' title bar.
 
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* Fixed tons of compiler warnings.
 
−
 
 
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==Download==
 
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{{Download|version=2.15.2/GS-m2.2|file=Gens-2.15.2-gs-m2.2.rar|filesize=604 KB}}
 
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===Prior Versions===
 
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[[Media:Gens-2.15.2-gs-m2.1.rar|Gens/GS Milestone 2.1]] (607 KB, released 2008/08/29)<br />
 
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[[Media:Gens-2.15.2-gs-m2.rar|Gens/GS Milestone 2]] (605 KB, released 2008/08/29)<br />
 
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[[Media:Gens-2.15.2-gs-m1.rar|Gens/GS Milestone 1]] (446 KB, released 2008/08/26)
 
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[[Category:Mega Drive Emulators]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:53, 24 December 2018

Video game console emulator

GensGS.png
Gens/GS
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Mega-CD, 32X
OS: Windows, Linux
Developer: Stéphane Dallongeville (Gens); David "GerbilSoft" Korth
Programmed in: Assembly, C++
Last release date: (14 years ago)
Last version: r7

Gens/GS is a Sega Mega Drive emulator derived from Gens and maintained by GerbilSoft. It is based upon the Gens version 2.15.2 Linux source code. Project goals include clean source code, combined features from various forks of Gens, and improved platform portability.

Development of the emulator was continued in Gens/GS II.

Features

Gens/GS has a number of bug fixes and low-level code changes, as well as the following updates:

  • Accurate colour scaling so that white has the RGB value $FFFFFF. Older emulators usually displayed white as $E0E0E0.
  • VDP options for disabling layers and locking palettes.
  • Sonic game memory value viewer ported from sGens.
  • Renderers ported from Gens Re-Recording and Gens Plus!.

Other versions

Gens/GS II is a partial rewrite of Gens/GS written by GerbilSoft. Gens/GS II improves the basic framework of the emulator, which will allow for the addition of many new features.

A parody version of the emulator, Gens/GS S2HD Edition, was released to mock the high overhead and bad effects of modern-day emulation compilations and poor-quality "HD" remakes.

Downloads

Download.svg

Download Gens/GS
Multiple downloads available

Ubuntu 18.04 Install Instructions

These packages are 32 bit, but modern Ubuntu is 64-bit. You can setup i386 architecture and install pretty easily, however: 

   $ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
   $ sudo apt-get update
   $ sudo apt-get install <this package>.deb

Old versions

External links

Git Repository

Forum threads

References

  1. ↑ http://www.dusers.drexel.edu/gitweb/gitweb.cgi/~korth/gens.git/commit/909e81d9a85fa378faba42d3a6bd121fdfe7c5e3
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Gens/GS&oldid=470730"