Gens (Emulator)
Encyclopedia
Gens is a free
Sega Genesis emulator. It runs on Windows
systems (using DirectX
), on Linux
(using SDL
) and on Microsoft's Xbox
. A port to the Sega Dreamcast, known as Gens4All, is currently in development. Development of Gens began in 1999. , the current version (2.14) advertises full compatibility with 92% of all Genesis games and is considered to be one of the most compatible Genesis emulators available, although its Yamaha YM2612
emulation is far from perfect .
Retro Gamer
called Gens "perhaps the best Mega Drive emulator available".
Gens/GS
is David Korth's fork of Gens, initially based on Gens for Linux v2.15.5. Much like Gens, Gens/GS is a free
Sega Genesis emulator. It currently runs on Windows
and Linux
, and ports to Mac OS X
and Haiku
are in development.
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...
Sega Genesis emulator. It runs on 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...
systems (using DirectX
DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
), on 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...
(using SDL
Simple DirectMedia Layer
Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform, free and open source multimedia library written in C that presents a simple interface to various platforms' graphics, sound, and input devices....
) and on Microsoft's Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. A port to the Sega Dreamcast, known as Gens4All, is currently in development. Development of Gens began in 1999. , the current version (2.14) advertises full compatibility with 92% of all Genesis games and is considered to be one of the most compatible Genesis emulators available, although its Yamaha YM2612
Yamaha YM2612
thumb|right|Yamaha YM2612The YM2612, aka OPN2, is a six-channel sound chip developed by Yamaha. It belongs to Yamaha's OPN family of FM synthesis chips used in several game and computer systems. Developed as a stripped-down version of the YM2608, it lacks its larger sibling's ADPCM channel,...
emulation is far from perfect .
Retro Gamer
Retro Gamer
Retro Gamer is a British magazine, published worldwide, covering retro video games. It was the first commercial magazine to be devoted entirely to the subject. Although launched as a quarterly publication, Retro Gamers soon became a monthly...
called Gens "perhaps the best Mega Drive emulator available".
Gens/GS
Gens/GS
Gens/GS is David Korth's fork of Gens, initially based on Gens for Linux v2.15.5. The main goal of Gens/GS is to clean up the source code and combine features from various forks of Gens, as well as improving portability to other platforms. Much like Gens, Gens/GS is a free Sega Genesis emulator...
is David Korth's fork of Gens, initially based on Gens for Linux v2.15.5. Much like Gens, Gens/GS is a free
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...
Sega Genesis emulator. It currently runs on 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...
and 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...
, and ports to 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 Haiku
Haiku (operating system)
Haiku is a free and open source operating system compatible with BeOS. Its development began in 2001, and the operating system became self-hosting in 2008, with the first alpha release in September 2009, the second in May 2010 and the third in June 2011....
are in development.
Features
Gens has features such as:- saving console state (without relying on in-game save ability)
- recording what buttons are pressed and slowing the gameplay down so it is used in making of tool-assisted speedruns
- support for Game GenieGame GenieThe Game Genie is a series of cheat systems designed by Codemasters and sold by Camerica and Galoob for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Mega Drive/Genesis, and Sega Game Gear that modifies game data, allowing the player to cheat, manipulate various...
cheats - support for Netplay using the KailleraKailleraKaillera is middleware designed to aid networked multiplayer play for emulators. The word "Kaillera" is the verlan of the French word racaille which is used in reference to "bad people".-History:...
client. (only in Windows version) - support for Sega CD and Sega 32XSega 32XThe Sega 32X, codenamed Project Mars, is an add-on for the Mega Drive/Genesis video game console by Sega. Its aim was to increase the lifespan of the aging Mega Drive/Genesis system, which was facing stiff competition from the SNES...
games if provided with the respective BIOSBIOSIn IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
images, which are not provided with the emulator - numerous sound/video enhancements:
- Vertical Synchronization to avoid tearing on fast-moving games such as Sonic the HedgehogSonic the Hedgehog seriesSonic the Hedgehog is the best selling video game series released by Sega starring and named after its mascot character, Sonic the Hedgehog...
- supports 2xSaI (Kreed) graphics filtering to make older games appear crisper than on the original console
- multiple audio sampling rates (11025, 22050 and 44100), stereophonic soundStereophonic soundThe term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
capability, high-quality YM2612 emulation, and WAVWAVWaveform Audio File Format , is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs...
and GYMGYMGYM is a sound format for the Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis.The name stands for Genesis YM2612, since the file contains the data stream sent to the Yamaha YM2612 sound chip in the console. The data is logged to a file through the use of emulators running a ROM image.The GYM format first appeared on...
sound dumps - screen save capability and brightnessBrightnessBrightness is an attribute of visual perception in which a source appears to be radiating or reflecting light. In other words, brightness is the perception elicited by the luminance of a visual target...
/contrastContrast (vision)Contrast is the difference in visual properties that makes an object distinguishable from other objects and the background. In visual perception of the real world, contrast is determined by the difference in the color and brightness of the object and other objects within the same field of view...
adjust
- Vertical Synchronization to avoid tearing on fast-moving games such as Sonic the Hedgehog