3DO emulators

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3DO Interactive Multiplayer
3DO-FZ1-Console-Set.png
Panasonic FZ-1 R·E·A·L 3DO Interactive Multiplayer
Developer 3DO
Type Home video game console
Generation Fifth generation
Release date 1993
Discontinued 1996
Introductory price US$699.99 (equivalent to $1476.24 in 2024)
Successor M2 / Tarantula
Emulated
For emulators that run on the 3DO, see Emulators on 3DO.

The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer is a 32-bit, fifth-generation home video game console released by The 3DO Company on October 4, 1993. It has an ARM60 RISC CPU clocked @ 12.5 MHz, with two accelerated video co-processors, "Madam" and "Clio", clocked @ 25 MHz.

The system was discontinued in late 1996, as it proved uncompetitive in the fifth-generation market.

Emulators

Name Platform(s) Latest version Hardware features
and accessories
Enhancements License Active Recommended
PC / x86
Opera Windows
Linux macOS FreeBSD [N 1]
libretro core ~ Non-commercial[1]
Phoenix Windows Linux macOS 2.8.JAG ? Proprietary ~
4DO Windows 1.3.2.4 ? Non-commercial[1] ~
MAME Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git artifacts[N 2]
0.272
libretro core[N 3]
~ GPLv2
BSD-3-Clause
*
3d'oh Linux SVN ? GPLv2 (Copyleft)
FreeDO Windows macOS 1.9 beta ? Non-commercial[1]
Mobile / ARM
Opera Android iOS libretro core ~ Non-commercial[1]
Real3DOPlayer Android 1.0.32 ? Proprietary ~
4DOPlay Android 0.3.1 test video
Consoles
Opera Xbox One Xbox Series X/S libretro core ~ Non-commercial[1]
  1. Only available outside of Windows as a libretro core (e.g., RetroArch).
  2. CI-Windows CI-Linux CI-Macos
  3. As 0.251, 0.139 (2010), 0.78 (2003), 0.37b5 (2000)

Comparison

FreeDO
An older abandoned emulator that never left beta. Paved the way for preliminary 3DO emulation development while spawning 4DO and Phoenix. Was open source at one point but became closed due to fear of legal issues[2].
3d'oh!
Based on the FreeDO emulator. Seems to have lower compatibility, however most of the more popular 3DO titles are compatible. It's a source-only release, so it has to be compiled.
4DO / opera_libretro
4DO is a fork of the FreeDO emulation project, only available for Windows and no longer active. It offers enhancement features. Severe audio glitches are very common, no matter what settings are used. A libretro port named Opera is still in active development, with many of the same features.[3].
Phoenix
A closed-source project by a long-time FreeDO contributor. It is the most compatible 3DO emulator (claiming "100%?!" compatibility). The PC versions are completely in Russian (you can download an English translation patch here). Most of the settings are translated in this picture.
MAME
Has seven preliminary 3do drivers (One for NTSC models, one for PAL models and five related to American Laser Games). Commercial games do not load in the drivers yet (As it is reported as not working and the sound is unimplemented). None of the games are playable so MAME is currently not recommended at this point. [4]
Real3DOPlayer
The Phoenix emulation project is released as separate emulators for Android; this is the 3DO version. Identical compatibility to the PC version, according to the author. Requires 1.5 GHz dual-core ARM or better for full speed.

Enhancements

Name Opera_libretro MAME
Graphics Resizable Internal Resolution ?
Widescreen hack ? ?
Texture Replacement ? ?
Performance Overclock ?
Internal Framerate Hack ? ?
Frame generation technologies
(LSFG, DLSS-G, ExtraSS and AFMF)
Implementing frame generation technology in an emulator is unfortunately quite challenging and unlikely to be feasible in the near future, however post-processing techniques such as motion interpolation is quite possible. Input latency will be a crucial factor, but its impact likely varies depending on the specific technique employed, it's recommended to use after applying the "Internal Framerate Hack".
While AFMF or LSFG can be used with MAME, please be aware that some visual glitches and artifacts may occur at this time.
Preload optical disc image to RAM
For users with sluggish multi-platter HDDs or plagued by horrible seek times, this enhancement might offer smoother experience, potentially reduced power consumption; it also shines when disc images reside on a network drive.
Although keep in mind that preloading image would take some time, and it will require additional amount of RAM capacity.
? ?
Post-Processing Post-rendering AA
(FXAA, TXAA and MLAA/SMAA)
? ?
Post-rendering scaling
(Sharp bilinear, Lanczos and FSR 1)
Filters
AI-powered filter compatible
(Freestyle)
? ?
Shader Chain
Inverse tone mapping compatible * ?
TAS features Macros/Scripts/Lua ? ?
Rewind ?
Fast-Forward/Turbo Speed ? ?
Savestates ?
Movie recording/playback ? ?
Controls Input lag-mitigating technique ? ?
Mouse Injector Compatible
True/dual analog control
Quality of life Pause/Resume Emulation ? ?
Per-Game Profiles ? ?
Command Line Options
Streamable compression format
Built-in mod editor and manager ? ?
Built-in Cheat Manager * ?
Built-in Patch Manager ? ?
Big Picture Mode
Built-in Custom resolution/CRTSwitchRes
For using this on Windows OS you need CRT Emudriver.
Another option is using EDID editor tool such as "Custom Resolution Utility".
Exclusive to libretro cores and GroovyMAME at the moment.
Also there is a project for achieving software emulators like libretro cores and GroovyMAME send the raw RGB data over a network to a core running on MiSTer, it basically turns the MiSTer into a GPU for the emulator allowing for easy setup and use with CRT TVs/Arcade monitors.
Misc Netplay ?
EmuVR support Exclusive to libretro cores at the moment.
AI Service
With the help of OCR and other techniques, the AI service can provide a live translation of a game, or text-to-speech capabilities for the visually impaired among other things, either on demand or automatically.
Exclusive to libretro cores at the moment.
Free Look
Free Look is a enhancement feature that allows manipulation of the in-game camera.
While freecam would be technically possible, it will require per-game patches.
Said patches would require a significant amount of time to reverse the game's engine, which means that only someone talented with enough dedication to a single game could do it.
RetroAchievements
Debug Features ? ?


Hardware features and accessories

Name Opera_libretro MAME
Mouse ? ?
Steering Wheel ? ?
Panasonic FZ-EM256 ? ?
Gamegun ? ?
Home media accessories Panasonic 3DO Karaoke Mixer ? ?
3DO REAL Video CD Adaptor
3DO Digital Video Module GPA511M
Game Guru

Mouse

Wikipedia - 3DO Mouse (Panasonic FZ-JM1 and Logitech 3DO)

Fewer than 20 games supported its use, some of which were optimized for the standard controller or light gun rather than the mouse. Of the 3DO games which were optimized for use with the mouse, the best known are Myst and Lemmings. The Panasonic mouse was also bundled with Konami's Policenauts Limited Edition in Japan which came with a Policenauts mouse pad.

Home media accessories

Panasonic 3DO Karaoke Mixer

The Panasonic 3DO Karaoke Mixer allows 3DO owners to play a standard Audio CD, turn the vocals down, plug in one or two microphones and sing over the music. This unit was released in limited markets.

3DO REAL Video CD Adaptor

Rare peripheral (for FZ-FV1 models) for VCD home media playback support.

3DO Digital Video Module GPA511M

Another rare peripheral (for Goldstar models) for VCD home media playback support.

See this dedicated page for more information about home media playback support for emulation software.

Resources

References