Projects / DGen/SDL

DGen/SDL

DGen/SDL is an emulator for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive systems. The latest version supports save states, interlace mode, Game Genie, Linux joystick support, compressed ROM images, and other nice features.

Tags	Emulators
Licenses	BSD Original
Operating Systems	BeOS POSIX BSD FreeBSD Linux
Implementation	C++ C

Website

All announcements

Last announcement

DGen/SDL is back 25 Oct 2011

The last announcement was made about 10 years ago, so I think it's time to dust off this page.

I'm the new maintainer, and I've been working on ...

Release tags

All releases

Recent releases

1.29

30 Jan 2012 00:18

Release Notes: This release reduces CPU usage, fixes OpenGL regressions from version 1.28, improves memory handling routines (this allows more games to run), includes hqx filters, improves fonts handling, and adds miscellaneous bugfixes.

1.28

18 Nov 2011 18:34

Release Notes: This release adds emulation improvements (YM2612, SN76496, CZ80), a new optional dependency on libarchive to manage compressed ROMs, saved files compatible with the Gens v5 format, console regions which can be set with a commandline option, and OpenGL, sound buffer management, and various other enhancements/bugfixes.

1.27

25 Oct 2011 21:09

Release Notes: Since 1.26: Z80 emulation with CZ80, Game Genie codes can now be entered interactively. There are various bugfixes.

1.23

02 Jul 2001 18:34

Release Notes: The ability to toggle fullscreen mode from within the emulator has been added, and various bugs have been fixed.

1.22

22 Feb 2001 04:35

Release Notes: This release includes OpenGL rendering support, a fix for some sound timing bugs on FreeBSD and very fast Linux machines, a fix for the SDL joystick code, and a couple of fixes for problems with save RAM in Shadowrun and Shining Force.

All comments

Recent comments

02 Jul 2001 18:10

joegroff

Problem with NASM in RedHat 7.x
It appears that the NASM that comes prepackaged
with RedHat 7.x (and possibly other gcc
2.96-based distributions) is broken. Also, compiling
NASM from source under RedHat 7.x using gcc 2.96
seems to produce a broken NASM. DGen compiled
with such a NASM will segfault on start up. Until I
can figure out exactly what's going on, use the rpm
from 6.2.

Any information from other developers about
success or defeat building nasm with gcc 2.96 (or
3.0, now that it's out) is appreciated.

26 Feb 2001 21:07

juhtolv

All your base are belong to us
Best feature in this emulator is, that it can run Sega Genesis-version of that game called "Zero Wing". All your base are belong to us.

24 Jun 1999 18:42

phillipk.h

Christopher Columbus Wasn't the First Either... :)
Anyone interested in other alternative projects related to emulating a Sega Genesis/MegaDrive on Un*x based workstations may want to look at these links:

Generator
X-MESS

DGen/SDL isn't actually the first Linux Genesis emulator, but it is the first to have almost flawless sound, and interlace mode. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

24 Jun 1999 13:53

phillipk.h

The First REAL Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Emulator for Linux/X11
I am glad to be a part of the DGen/SDL project, the first REAL Sega Genesis/MegaDrive emulator for Linux/X11. I hope that others enjoy using it as much as I enjoy working on it with Joe and Dave.

Features

Multiple 68000 CPU cores available. StarScream, Musashi...
YM2612, SN76496, and Z80 sound chip emulators. Currently supports 2 different Z80 cores (ZZ80 and MZ80)...
Uses SDL portable graphics library...
Linux joystick support. Uses new joystick drivers like those in recent kernels, support Gravis Gamepad Pro, Flightsticks, etc...
Interlaced video support for split screen modes in Sonic 2 and 3... Exclusive! No other emulator to date is capable of this...
Assembly language used for optimization in many places, using NASM...
Game Genie patches...
Gzipped ROM support. Loads .SMD and .BIN formats...
Savestate support. Save games that don't have battery backup RAM. 10 selectable slots...
Resource configuration file support, don't need nasty commandlines...
Crap TV filters, renders different effects, expandable...
On-screen-display, similar to Snes9X...
Under development, so more is underway... =)

Based on original code by Dave, original author of DGen (DirectX/DOS.) Visit the homepage for more information, full source code, binaries, and help on compiling, etc. Re-live those old Sega games, and do it in style with DGen/SDL!