Genesis Plus GX v1.7.4

1.6.0
[Core/Sound]
---------------
* added YM2413 emulation in Master System compatibility mode.
* fixed SN76489 noise boost initialization.
* minor YM2612 core optimizations.

[Core/VDP]
---------------
* added accurate emulation of SG-1000, Master System (315-5124, 315-5246) & Game Gear VDP.
* added support for all TMS9918 rendering modes.
* improved Mega Drive VDP timings accuracy in Master System Compatibility mode.
* fixed color palette initialization.
* fixed shifted sprites rendering in Mode 4.
* modified pixel rendering support (pixel depth is now forced at compilation time).

[Core/CPU]
---------------
* optimized 68k core (rewrote 68k interrupt handling, removed multiple CPU types support & unused code) for 5~8% speed improvment

[Core/IO]
---------------
* added accurate emulation of Master System (315-5216, 315-5237, 315-5297) & Game Gear I/O controllers.
* added Terebi Oekaki tablet emulation.
* improved Mouse emulation (fixes mouse support in Cannon Fodder).
* improved Justifier emulation (fixes gun support in Lethal Enforcers 2).
* improved 6-Buttons control pad emulation (fixes Duke Nukem 3D)
* modified lightgun emulation to use common key inputs for all devices.
* 2-buttons controller is now picked by default for Master System games.

[Core/MD]
---------------
* added copy-protection hardware emulation for some new dumped games (Tiny Toon Adventures 3, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers & The Battle of Red Cliffs).
* added Game Toshokan in EEPROM database (verified on real cartridge).
* fixed Micro Machines 2 - Turbo Tournament EEPROM size (verified on real cartridge).
* modified SRAM banswitch hardware emulation to be more compatible with some hacks.

[Core/MS]
---------------
* added Cyborg Z to Korean mapper database.

[Core/GG]
---------------
* added 93C46 EEPROM emulation (Majors Pro Baseball, World Series Baseball & World Series Baseball 95).

[Core/General]
---------------
* added support for .mdx ROM format.
* added Game Gear & SG-1000 ROM support.
* added accurate emulation of SG-1000, Master System (I, II) & Game Gear hardware models for 100% compatibility.
* updated to new Genesis Plus license (see https://cgfm2.emuviews.com/)
* various code cleanup.

[Gamecube/Wii]
---------------
* IMPORTANT: cheats, screenshots & save files are now stored in console-specific directories (ex: /snaps/md, /cheats/ms, /saves/gg, ...)
* added 8-bit Action Replay & Game Genie codes support (for Master System & Game Gear games).
* improved audio/video synchronization for PAL games in 50Hz TV modes (now use VSYNC like NTSC games in 60hz modes).
* improved gun cursor positioning accuracy.
* improved horizontal scaling & screenshots rendering in H32 mode.
* fixed a bug with ROM file extension handling that would affect cheats, snapshots, sram & savestate files.
* removed ARAM/injected ROM support (unused).
* removed WPAD_ and PAD_ update from VSYNC callback.
* increased GCC inlining limits for some speed improvment.
* compiled with devkitPPC r24 & libogc 1.8.7.

1.5.0
[Core/VDP]
---------------
* added support for Master System compatibility mode (Z80 ports access mode), incl. Mode 5 rendering.
* added Mode 4 rendering for both Genesis & Master System modes.
* added alternate BG planes rendering functions (should be faster on PPC architectures).

[Core/IO]
---------------
* added support for Master System compatibility mode (Z80 ports access mode).
* added Master System peripherals emulation (Control Pad, Paddle, Sports Pad & Light Phaser).
* added XE-1AP (analog controller) emulation.
* added Activator emulation.

[Core/Extra]
---------------
* added support for all known Master System cartridge mappers.
* added copy-protection hardware emulation for a few MD unlicensed games: fixes 777 Casino (crash when talking to bunny girls).
(NB: most of those unlicensed games seem to have been already patched by ROM dumpers, main purpose is documenting them)
* added support for Top Shooter arcade board controller. (A=Shoot, B=Bet, C/RIGHT=Coins, START=Start, hold UP on startup to enter service mode)
* improved King of Fighters 98 mapper emulation (registers address decoding is now 100% accurate)
* fixed Game Genie when several codes affect same ROM address.
* fixed EEPROM types for Brian Lara Cricket & NBA Jam TE (verified on real cartridges)

[Core/General]
---------------
* added Master System compatibility mode emulation (automatically enabled when loading ROM file with .sms extension).
* improved savestate stability & compatibility (support for old 1.4.x savestates is preserved)
* various code cleanup & comments.

[Gamecube/Wii]
---------------
* fixed cheat codes handling when several codes affect same ROM address.
* improved input controller detection on menu exit.
* improved key remapping dialog box to match emulated device
* changed Menu key for Gamecube controller to allow MODE button mapping
* fixed DVD not being unmounted on swap (memory leak)

[Wii only]
---------------
* added USB mouse support for Sega Mouse emulation
* compiled with latest libogc: improves USB compatibility & fixes stability issues with Wiimotes.



(04/12/2010)
Core/VDP

* improved VBLANK flag accuracy, as observed on real hardware.
* improved DMA operations accuracy, writes are now performed on a scanline basis: fixes Gaiares (flickering title screen).
* improved DMA Fill timing accuracy.
* fixed DMA with bad code values: fixes Williams Arcade Classics (corrupted gfx after soft reset).
* fixed horizontal resolution changes during HBLANK: fixes Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (2nd stage).
* fixed Vertical Counter in interlace mode 1, as observed on real hardware.
* fixed horizontal border width, as observed on real hardware.
* various code improvments & optimizations.

Core/Extra

* improved savestate format: added DMA, SVP, cartridge mapping & internal registers state informations
* improved unlicensed ROM mappers emulation
* added Chinese Fighters III mapper support
* added Top Fighter mapper support
* fixed Barver Battle Saga mapper support
* fixed cartridge hardware soft-reset (Game Genie, SVP, ...)
* fixed Game Genie registers byte reads

Gamecube/Wii

* added message box when inputs config uses disconnected controllers.
* added message box when settings are reseted to default on startup.
* fixed default inputs configuration.
* fixed memory leak in Cheat Menu causing spurious resets.
* added an option to enable/disable automatic cheat activation
* increased max number of cheat codes
* optimized cheat codes requiring RAM patching.
* improved default horizontal scaling to better match output from a real Mega Drive

Gamecube specific

* fixed inverted keys in cheat menu.
* fixed audio input frequency, now use exact audio hardware samplerate, as measured on my Game Cube (~48044 Hz),

1.4.0 (01/11/2010)
[edit] Core/Sound

* completely rewrote sound processing/mixing: sound chips are now clocked with exact output framerate

to ensure 100% smooth video & audio playback, with no lag or skipping, while rendering an accurate number of samples per frame and keeping PSG & FM chips in sync.

* improved PSG & FM chips synchronization with CPU execution (fixed point precision).
* improved YM2612 core general accuracy (SSG-EG, CSM mode,...) (based upon Nemesis recent tests on real hardware)
* improved YM2612 LFO emulation accuracy: fixes "Spider-Man & Venom : Separation Anxiety" (intro)
* fixed YM2612 bug with Timer B: fixes "Langrisser Hikari II"/"Der Langrisser II" (Sega logo)
* fixed YM2612 context saving/loading.
* fixed YM2612 state on reset.
* removed outdated & less accurate Gens YM2612 core
* added configurable YM2612 DAC resolution emulation.
* added configurable & faster FIR resampler (thanks to Blargg & AamirM), removed libsamplerate support.
* added configurable Low-Pass filtering
* added configurable 3-Band Equalizer (thanks to Neil C).
* added an option to boost SN76489 Noise Channel.
* adjusted SN76489 cut-off frequency.
* implemented Blargg's blip buffer in SN76489 core (all channels are now lineary interpolated)

[edit] Core/VDP

* added support for CRAM writes during horizontal blanking (Striker, Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel,...)
* added support for 2-Cell vertical scrolling in Interlaced 2 mode
* added support for some undocumented mode register bits
* added proper emulation of HV Counter latch: fixes Sunset Riders intro
* added pixel-accurate emulation of mid-line display on/off (Nigel Mansell World Championship PAL, Ren & Stimpy's Invention PAL,...)
* improved 2-cell vscroll emulation accuracy, as verified on real hardware (Gynoug, Cutie Suzuki no Ringside Angel, Formula One, Kawasaki Superbike Challenge)
* improved FIFO timings accuracy: fixes Sol Deace intro
* improved sprite masking accuracy (thanks to Nemesis for his test program)
* improved sprites processing accuracy: fixes (un)masked sprites in Mickey Mania (3D level), Sonic 2 (VS mode).
* improved HBLANK flag timing accuracy: fixes Mega Turrican (Sky level)
* improved horizontal blanking & HINT/VINT occurence timing accuracy, as measured on real hardware.
* improved HCounter accuracy in 40-cell mode, as measured on real hardware.
* improved color accuracy in VDP highlight mode to match results observed on real hardware

[edit] Core/CPU

* updated Z80 core to last version (fixes interrupt Mode 0 timing and some BIT instructions).
* fixed some Z80 instructions timing.
* fixed state of Z80 registers on reset (sound issues with Defender & Defender 2 in Williams Arcade Classics)
* improved Z80 interrupt accuracy
* improved 68k accuracy (initial Reset timing + auto-vectored interrupts handling).
* improved 68k timing accuracy for DIVU/DVIS (thanks to Jorge Cwik) & MULU/MULS instructions.
* implemented 68k undocumented flags behavior for DIVU/DIVS instructions (Bloodshot / Battle Frenzy)
* improved Z80 & 68k cpu execution/synchronization accuracy by using Master Clock as common reference (now run exactly 3420 M-Cycles per line).
* modified Z80 & 68k cores to directly use external cycle count instead of intermediate counters.

[edit] Core/Extra

* added Game Genie hardware emulation.
* added Action Replay & Pro Action Replay hardware emulation (only preliminary Pro Action Replay 2 support).
* added Sonic & Knuckles "Lock-On" support.
* added Cartridge "Hot Swap" feature.
* added missing EEPROM support in more games.
* added VDP lock-out emulation (TMSS).
* improved emulation of copy-protection hardware found in some unlicensed cartridges (Mulan, Pocket Monsters II).
* fixed Realtec mapper emulation: fixes missing sound in Balloon Boy / Funny World.
* fixed lightgun auto-detection: fixes default cursor position in Lethal Enforcers II.
* enabled simultaneous use of multitap & J-CART (Super Skidmarks 6-player mode)
* lots of code cleanup, bugfixes & optimization.


[edit] Gamecube/Wii

* implemented custom FONT engine (uses internal IPL font & GX hardware rendering).
* implemented custom GUI engine (uses GX hardware rendering & multithreading)
* implemented advanced menu interface (IR pointing, game snapshots, cheats & saves manager, visual & sound effects, BGM support, etc).
* improved audio/video synchronization to ensure 100% smooth video & audio playback.
* improved soft-reset button support, now works more like real Mega Drive / Genesis (model 1) reset button.
* improved lightgun cursors layout.
* added automatic ROM loading feature (last played game launches immediately when starting the emulator)
* added PAR codes and .pat files support
* fixed lot of stability issues and potential memory leaks.

[edit] Wii specific

* added Video Hardware "Gamma" control
* added Video Hardware "Trap Filter" control
* improved Mouse emulation through Wii remote
* compiled with devkitPPC r22 & libOGC 1.8.5 (includes SDHC & USB2 support through IOS58, removes DVDX support)