Bsnes
Encyclopedia
bsnes is a free
SNES
emulator for Linux
, Mac OS X
, and Windows
which aims to emulate the original SNES hardware as accurately as possible. As such, bsnes is a low-level emulator
.
and Mac OS X
. The emulator has always been open source and is currently under GPLv3 licensure. It is still being actively developed.
bsnes was the first emulator to feature SPC7110 emulation, cycle-accurate SPC700
emulation, cycle-accurate SuperFX emulation, and Super Game Boy
emulation.
bsnes can also experimentally emulate the NES
, Game Boy
, and Game Boy Color
.
Japanese game magazine GameLabo recommended bsnes for "those seeking a realistic playing experience" in 2009.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
emulator for Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
which aims to emulate the original SNES hardware as accurately as possible. As such, bsnes is a low-level emulator
High-level emulation
High-level emulation is an approach for construction of emulators, especially for video game consoles, which attempts to simulate the response of the system rather than accurately recreating its internal design....
.
Background
Development of bsnes began on October 14, 2004 and the first version was released in May 2005 for Windows. Since then, it has been ported to LinuxLinux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
. The emulator has always been open source and is currently under GPLv3 licensure. It is still being actively developed.
bsnes was the first emulator to feature SPC7110 emulation, cycle-accurate SPC700
Sony SPC 700
Sony SPC 700 is an integrated 8-bit CPU core manufactured by Sony with an instruction set similar to that of the MOS Technology 6502 ....
emulation, cycle-accurate SuperFX emulation, and Super Game Boy
Super Game Boy
The is a 16-bit adapter cartridge for Nintendo's Super Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as the Super Famicom in Japan. The Super Game Boy allows game cartridges designed for use on the Game Boy to be played on a TV display using the SNES/Super Famicom controllers. When it was released in...
emulation.
bsnes can also experimentally emulate the NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
, and Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
.
Reception
British Internet magazine WebUser recommended bsnes for "some fun old-school gaming" in 2008.Japanese game magazine GameLabo recommended bsnes for "those seeking a realistic playing experience" in 2009.
External links
- Official discussion forum
- bsnes downloads at Google Code
- Richard Bannister's MacOS port
- Accuracy takes power: one man's 3GHz quest to build a perfect SNES emulator, Ars TechnicaArs TechnicaArs Technica is a technology news and information website created by Ken Fisher and Jon Stokes in 1998. It publishes news, reviews and guides on issues such as computer hardware and software, science, technology policy, and video games. Ars Technica is known for its features, long articles that go...
article on bsnes