Difference between revisions of "Gens/GS"

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(→‎Milestone 2: Known bug: 32X VDP doesn't work right in 32-bit color.)
 
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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 2===
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==Features==
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Gens/GS has a number of bug fixes and low-level code changes, as well as the following updates:
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* Accurate colour scaling so that white has the RGB value $FFFFFF. Older emulators usually displayed white as $E0E0E0.
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* VDP options for disabling layers and locking palettes.
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* ''Sonic'' game memory value viewer ported from [[sGens]].
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* Renderers ported from [[Gens Re-Recording]] and [[Gens Plus!]].
  
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Milestone 2 introduces the following new features:
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==Other versions==
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[[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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* 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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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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* 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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Milestone 2 fixes the following bugs:
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==Downloads==
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{{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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* 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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===Ubuntu 18.04 Install Instructions===
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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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Known bugs in Milestone 2:
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    $ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
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    $ sudo apt-get update
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    $ sudo apt-get install <this package>.deb
  
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* 32X does not work properly in 32-bit color. The MD VDP shows up correctly, but the 32X'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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===Old versions===
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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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** Version m6 is missing.
  
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===Milestone 1===
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==External links==
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===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 1 introduces the following new features:
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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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* 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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* [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=959074 Ubuntu Forums thread (m5-m6)]
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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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* [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=948708 Ubuntu Forums thread (m4.2)]
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* Gens v7 savestate format, ported from Gens Rerecording. This adds, among other things, proper Sega CD savestate support.
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* {{LinkRetro|topic=11813|title=Sonic Retro thread (m6 and earlier)}}
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* 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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* Fixed tons of compiler warnings.
 
  
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==Download==
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==References==
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{{Download|version=2.15.2/GS-m2|file=Gens-2.15.2-gs-m2.7z|filesize=576 KB}}
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<references/>
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===Prior Versions===
 
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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 14:53, 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: (15 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"