3DO emulators
The first 3DO machine, Panasonic FZ-1 R.E.A.L. 3DO Interactive Multiplayer | |
Developer | The 3DO Company |
---|---|
Type | Home video game console |
Generation | Fifth |
Release date | NA: October 4, 1993 JP: March 20, 1994 |
Discontinued | 1996 KOR: c. 1998 |
Successor | Panasonic M2 (canceled) |
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.
Contents
Emulators
Name | Platform(s) | Latest version | Hardware features and accessories |
Enhancements | License | Active | Recommended |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PC / x86 | |||||||
Opera | [N 1] |
libretro core | ✗ | ~ | Non-commercial[1] | ✓ | ✓ |
Phoenix | 2.8.JAG | ✗ | ? | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ | |
4DO | 1.3.2.4 | ✗ | ? | Non-commercial[1] | ✗ | ~ | |
MAME | git artifacts[N 2] 0.272 libretro core[N 3] |
✗ | ~ | GPLv2 BSD-3-Clause |
✓ | ✗* | |
3d'oh | SVN | ✗ | ? | GPLv2 (Copyleft) | ✗ | ✗ | |
FreeDO | 1.9 beta | ✗ | ? | Non-commercial[1] | ✗ | ✗ | |
Mobile / ARM | |||||||
Opera | libretro core | ✗ | ~ | Non-commercial[1] | ✓ | ✓ | |
Real3DOPlayer | 1.0.32 | ✗ | ? | Proprietary | ✗ | ~ | |
4DOPlay | 0.3.1 test video | ||||||
Consoles | |||||||
Opera | libretro core | ✗ | ~ | Non-commercial[1] | ✓ | ✓ |
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- 4DO is a fork of the FreeDO emulation project, only available for Windows and no longer active.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
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
- Internet Archive
- 3dodev.com
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 FreeDO's source code is licensed under a Custom, Non-commercial LGPL-derivative
- ↑ http://www.freedo.org/HTML/faq.html
- ↑ https://docs.libretro.com/library/opera/#core-options
- ↑ https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/misc/3do.cpp (Bottom of page)