Difference between revisions of "GEMS"

From Sega Retro
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| system=[[Mega Drive]], [[Sega 32X]]
 
| system=[[Mega Drive]], [[Sega 32X]]
 
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{{stub}}'''GEMS''' ('''G'''enesis '''E'''ditor for '''M'''usic and '''S'''ound effects) is a sound driver used in [http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Mega_Drive/Genesis_Sound_Engine_List 186 documented games] for the [[Sega Mega Drive]], including ''[[Sonic Spinball]]''. It was developed by Jonathan Miller (drivers and firmware), Burt Sloane (programming), Chris Grigg and Mark Miller (concept and design) of [[Recreational Brainware]] by [[Sega]]'s request, and mainly used by western developers.
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{{stub}}'''GEMS''' ('''G'''enesis '''E'''ditor for '''M'''usic and '''S'''ound effects) is a sound driver for the [[Sega Mega Drive]]. It was developed by Jonathan Miller (drivers and firmware), Burt Sloane (programming), Chris Grigg and Mark Miller (concept and design) of [[Recreational Brainware]] by [[Sega of America]]'s request, and mainly used by western developers.
  
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The software integrates a programming language that can be built into the composition file and is context-sensitive to gameplay events within the game itself.This is acomplished by setting aside shared memory space that will allow the sound driver to comunicate with the game and vice-versa.Using this technique, the music can change to reflect conditions within the game.For instance, it can be used to track the number of enemies onscreen and change pitch or tempo when a certain threshold is reached or it can be timed to play when certain effects, such as flashes of light, are used.
+
The software integrates a programming language that can be built into the composition file and is context-sensitive to gameplay events within the game itself. This is acomplished by setting aside shared memory space that will allow the sound driver to comunicate with the game and vice-versa. Using this technique, the music can change to reflect conditions within the game. For instance, it can be used to track the number of enemies onscreen and change pitch or tempo when a certain threshold is reached or it can be timed to play when certain effects, such as flashes of light, are used.
 
[[File:GEMS Graphical User Interface (alt).png|thumb|right]]
 
[[File:GEMS Graphical User Interface (alt).png|thumb|right]]
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While in games using other drivers, such [[Alien Soldier]] or [[Shinobi 3]] basic behaviour such as playback speed is controlled by a single variable (which can be easly manipulated by an action replay or hex editor), GEMS has to change the data of the whole music track stored on the ROM for the same effect. This can be easily noticed by comparing data in partially PAL optimized games, such as [[Cool Spot]].
+
While in games using other drivers, such ''[[Alien Soldier]]'' or ''[[Shinobi III]]'' basic behaviour such as playback speed is controlled by a single variable (which can be easly manipulated by an action replay or hex editor), GEMS has to change the data of the whole music track stored on the ROM for the same effect. This can be easily noticed by comparing data in partially PAL optimized games, such as ''[[Cool Spot]]''.
 
   
 
   
 
==List of games that use GEMS==
 
==List of games that use GEMS==
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===A===
 
===A===
 
*''[[AAAHH!!! Real Monsters]]''
 
*''[[AAAHH!!! Real Monsters]]''
−
*''[[Action 52]]''
 
 
*''[[The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends]]''
 
*''[[The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends]]''
 
*''[[Aero the Acro-Bat]]''
 
*''[[Aero the Acro-Bat]]''
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*''[[College Football's National Championship II]]''
 
*''[[College Football's National Championship II]]''
 
*''[[College Slam]]''
 
*''[[College Slam]]''
−
*''[[Comix Zone]]''
 
 
*''[[Cool Spot]]''
 
*''[[Cool Spot]]''
 
*''[[Crystal's Pony Tale]]''
 
*''[[Crystal's Pony Tale]]''
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===K===
 
===K===
 
*''[[Kawasaki Superbike Challenge]]''
 
*''[[Kawasaki Superbike Challenge]]''
−
*''[[Kid Chameleon]]'' (Chameleon Kid)
 
−
*''[[Krusty's Fun House|Krusty's Super Fun House]]''
 
  
 
===M===
 
===M===
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*''[[Marsupilami]]''
 
*''[[Marsupilami]]''
 
*''[[Menacer 6-Game Cartridge]]''
 
*''[[Menacer 6-Game Cartridge]]''
−
*''[[Mick & Mack as the Global Gladiators]]''
 
 
*''[[Mickey's Ultimate Challenge]]''
 
*''[[Mickey's Ultimate Challenge]]''
 
*''[[Monopoly (Mega Drive)|Monopoly]]''
 
*''[[Monopoly (Mega Drive)|Monopoly]]''
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*''[[NBA Action '95 Starring David Robinson]]''
 
*''[[NBA Action '95 Starring David Robinson]]''
 
*''[[NBA Jam]]''
 
*''[[NBA Jam]]''
−
*''[[NBA Jam Tournament Edition]]''
 
 
*''[[NBA Hang Time]]''
 
*''[[NBA Hang Time]]''
 
*''[[NCAA Football]]''
 
*''[[NCAA Football]]''
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*''[[NFL Football '94]]''
 
*''[[NFL Football '94]]''
 
*''[[NFL 98]]''
 
*''[[NFL 98]]''
−
*''[[NFL Quarterback Club]]''
 
 
*''[[NFL Quarterback Club '96]]''
 
*''[[NFL Quarterback Club '96]]''
 
*''[[Nightmare Circus]]''
 
*''[[Nightmare Circus]]''
 
*''[[Normy's Beach Babe-O-Rama]]''
 
*''[[Normy's Beach Babe-O-Rama]]''
−
 
−
===O===
 
−
*''[[The Ooze]]''
 
  
 
===P===
 
===P===
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*''[[The Pirates of Dark Water]]''
 
*''[[The Pirates of Dark Water]]''
 
*''[[Pirates! Gold]]''
 
*''[[Pirates! Gold]]''
−
*''[[Pocahontas]]''
 
 
*''[[Power Monger]]''
 
*''[[Power Monger]]''
 
*''[[Premier Manager 97]]''
 
*''[[Premier Manager 97]]''
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*''[[Sega Channel]]''
 
*''[[Sega Channel]]''
 
*''[[Shadowrun (Mega Drive)|Shadowrun]]''
 
*''[[Shadowrun (Mega Drive)|Shadowrun]]''
−
*''[[Shanghai II: Dragon's Eye]]''
 
 
*''[[Shaq-Fu]]''
 
*''[[Shaq-Fu]]''
 
*''[[The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare]]''
 
*''[[The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare]]''
 
*''[[The Smurfs]]''
 
*''[[The Smurfs]]''
−
*''[[Sonic Spinball]]''
 
 
*''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]''
 
*''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]''
 
*''[[Spirou]]''
 
*''[[Spirou]]''
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*''[[TNN Bass Tournament of Champions]]''
 
*''[[TNN Bass Tournament of Champions]]''
 
*''[[TNN Outdoors Bass Tournament '96]]''
 
*''[[TNN Outdoors Bass Tournament '96]]''
−
*''[[ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron]]''
 
 
*''[[Toxic Crusaders]]''
 
*''[[Toxic Crusaders]]''
 
*''[[Toy Story]]''
 
*''[[Toy Story]]''
 
*''[[Toys]]''
 
*''[[Toys]]''
 
*''[[Troy Aikman NFL Football]]''
 
*''[[Troy Aikman NFL Football]]''
−
 
−
===U===
 
−
*''[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]]''
 
  
 
===V===
 
===V===
−
*''[[Vectorman]]''
 
 
*''[[Vectorman 2]]''
 
*''[[Vectorman 2]]''
 
*''[[Virtual Bart]]''
 
*''[[Virtual Bart]]''
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*''[[Warlock]]''
 
*''[[Warlock]]''
 
*''[[Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars]]''
 
*''[[Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars]]''
−
 
 
*''[[Wild Snake]]'' (beta)
 
*''[[Wild Snake]]'' (beta)
 
*''[[World Series Baseball (Mega Drive)|World Series Baseball]]''
 
*''[[World Series Baseball (Mega Drive)|World Series Baseball]]''
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*''[[World Series Baseball '96]]''
 
*''[[World Series Baseball '96]]''
 
*''[[World Series Baseball 98 (Mega Drive)|World Series Baseball 98]]''
 
*''[[World Series Baseball 98 (Mega Drive)|World Series Baseball 98]]''
−
*''[[WWF RAW]]''
 
 
*''[[WWF Royal Rumble (Acclaim)|WWF Royal Rumble]]''
 
*''[[WWF Royal Rumble (Acclaim)|WWF Royal Rumble]]''
 
*''[[WWF Super Wrestlemania]]''
 
*''[[WWF Super Wrestlemania]]''
−
*''[[WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game]]''
 
  
 
===X===
 
===X===
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*''[[Zero Tolerance]]''
 
*''[[Zero Tolerance]]''
 
*''[[Zombies Ate My Neighbors]]''
 
*''[[Zombies Ate My Neighbors]]''
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}}
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|cols=3}}
  
 
===[[32X]]===
 
===[[32X]]===

Revision as of 15:55, 24 January 2019

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GEMS Graphical User Interface.png

GEMS
System(s): Mega Drive, Sega 32X
Developer:

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

GEMS (Genesis Editor for Music and Sound effects) is a sound driver for the Sega Mega Drive. It was developed by Jonathan Miller (drivers and firmware), Burt Sloane (programming), Chris Grigg and Mark Miller (concept and design) of Recreational Brainware by Sega of America's request, and mainly used by western developers.

The software integrates a programming language that can be built into the composition file and is context-sensitive to gameplay events within the game itself. This is acomplished by setting aside shared memory space that will allow the sound driver to comunicate with the game and vice-versa. Using this technique, the music can change to reflect conditions within the game. For instance, it can be used to track the number of enemies onscreen and change pitch or tempo when a certain threshold is reached or it can be timed to play when certain effects, such as flashes of light, are used.

GEMS Graphical User Interface (alt).png

While in games using other drivers, such Alien Soldier or Shinobi III basic behaviour such as playback speed is controlled by a single variable (which can be easly manipulated by an action replay or hex editor), GEMS has to change the data of the whole music track stored on the ROM for the same effect. This can be easily noticed by comparing data in partially PAL optimized games, such as Cool Spot.

List of games that use GEMS

Mega Drive

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

M

N

P

R

S

T

V

W

X

Y

Z

32X

Development kit

On September 24, 2007, drx released the official GEMS development kit.

Download.svg Download GEMS Development Kit
File: GEMS.zip (324 kB) (info)

References

Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=GEMS&oldid=478415"