Difference between revisions of "MelonDS"

From Emulation General Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Added melonDSi information.)
(Updated some of the wording and added a new upscale example)
Line 20: Line 20:
 
==Downloads==
 
==Downloads==
 
* '''[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php Official builds]''' <small>also available on '''[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/releases Github]'''</small> (Windows, Linux)
 
* '''[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php Official builds]''' <small>also available on '''[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/releases Github]'''</small> (Windows, Linux)
* '''[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/melonDS/releases Switch port (WIP)]''' (Some games play at a playable frame rate, but is still far from perfect, don't except to play games at full speed yet)<ref>http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=64 </ref>
+
* '''[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/melonDS/releases Switch port (WIP)]'''<ref>http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=64 </ref><!--I don't know what the current status is for the Switch port in terms of compatibility-->
 
* '''[https://github.com/Rinnegatamante/melonDS-Vita Vita Port (Not maintained)]'''
 
* '''[https://github.com/Rinnegatamante/melonDS-Vita Vita Port (Not maintained)]'''
  
Line 33: Line 33:
 
* (WIP) Wifi: local multiplayer, online connectivity  
 
* (WIP) Wifi: local multiplayer, online connectivity  
  
Though it's not as mature as DeSmuME in some areas, it's a relatively simple emulator to use and has potential.
+
Though it's not as mature as DeSmuME in some areas, it's a relatively simple emulator to use and has potential. There's also plans on adding support for <abbr title="Action Replay>AR</abbr> cheats in the near future.   
 
 
There is currently work on emulating the DSi<ref>http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=94</ref> and is planned to be a feature in version 0.9.  So far, it has been able to boot into the home screen of the DSi's firmware, but requires a lot of files to be dumped in order to workIt is not ready for general use yet.
 
  
 
==Issues==
 
==Issues==
Like most emulators, development has been rocky with at one point the sole developer putting the project on a [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=42 hiatus in May of 2018] leaving this [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=43 to-do list] for anyone who wished to contribute improving the emulator, which is still open-source. [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=44 On July 2018] it was announced that development was going to continue for melonDS and has since showed high hopes for 2019.  
+
Like most emulators, development has been rocky with at one point the sole developer putting the project on a [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=42 hiatus in May of 2018] leaving this [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=43 to-do list] for anyone who wished to contribute improving the emulator, which is still open-source. [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=44 On July 2018] it was announced that development was going to continue for melonDS and has since shown potential.  
  
 
There is very little to tweak in terms of improving performance (which can be a good or bad thing). This is mainly due to the developer's goal of accurate emulation rather than providing game-specific hacks.
 
There is very little to tweak in terms of improving performance (which can be a good or bad thing). This is mainly due to the developer's goal of accurate emulation rather than providing game-specific hacks.
  
The new OpenGL renderer is still being developed, meaning that there's a slight chance some models/textures may not render correctly.
+
The OpenGL renderer is still being worked on, meaning that there's a slight chance some models/textures may not render correctly.
  
 
==melonDSi==
 
==melonDSi==
On October 15, 2019, Arisotura released the beta version of an emulator called melonDSi, an experimental melonDS branch for DSi emulation.<ref>[https://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=103 melonDSi beta release]</ref>
+
On October 15, 2019, Arisotura released the beta version of an emulator called melonDSi, an experimental melonDS branch for DSi emulation. So far, it has been able to boot into the home screen of the DSi's firmware and boot some DSiWare, DSi-Enhanced games aren't working yet.  The beta requires a lot of files to be dumped in order to work (most of which are console-unique), more information can be found [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=103 here].
  
 
==Getting Started==
 
==Getting Started==
Line 65: Line 63:
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Metroid2X.png|Top: 2x the native resolution without OpenGL. <br>Bottom: 2x the native resolution with OpenGL  
 
Metroid2X.png|Top: 2x the native resolution without OpenGL. <br>Bottom: 2x the native resolution with OpenGL  
 +
Chibi4x.png|Top: Native software render. <br>Bottom: 4x the native resolution with OpenGL
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  

Revision as of 23:28, 18 November 2019

melonDS
MelonDS.png
Developer(s) Arisotura
Repository contributors
Latest version 0.9.5
Active Yes
Platform(s) Windows, Linux, Nintendo Switch
Emulates Nintendo DS
Accuracy Medium-Accurate
Website melonds.kuribo64.net
Support ($) Patreon
Programmed in C++,C
License GNU GPLv3
Source code GitHub

melonDS is a work-in-progress Nintendo DS emulator aiming for better performance than DeSmuME and to emulate Wi-Fi and local multiplayer capabilities. It is developed by Arisotura (formerly known as StapleButter), a former contributor to DeSmuME, and has been available as a libretro core since version 0.6.

Downloads

Overview

As of 0.8.3, melonDS offers:

  • Nearly complete core (CPU, video, audio, ...)
  • OpenGL renderer, 3D upscaling
  • RTC, microphone, lid close/open
  • Joystick support
  • Savestates
  • Various display position/sizing/rotation modes
  • (WIP) Wifi: local multiplayer, online connectivity

Though it's not as mature as DeSmuME in some areas, it's a relatively simple emulator to use and has potential. There's also plans on adding support for AR cheats in the near future.

Issues

Like most emulators, development has been rocky with at one point the sole developer putting the project on a hiatus in May of 2018 leaving this to-do list for anyone who wished to contribute improving the emulator, which is still open-source. On July 2018 it was announced that development was going to continue for melonDS and has since shown potential.

There is very little to tweak in terms of improving performance (which can be a good or bad thing). This is mainly due to the developer's goal of accurate emulation rather than providing game-specific hacks.

The OpenGL renderer is still being worked on, meaning that there's a slight chance some models/textures may not render correctly.

melonDSi

On October 15, 2019, Arisotura released the beta version of an emulator called melonDSi, an experimental melonDS branch for DSi emulation. So far, it has been able to boot into the home screen of the DSi's firmware and boot some DSiWare, DSi-Enhanced games aren't working yet. The beta requires a lot of files to be dumped in order to work (most of which are console-unique), more information can be found here.

Getting Started

From the README on GitHub:

melonDS requires BIOS/firmware copies from a DS. Files required:
  • bios7.bin, 16KB: ARM7 BIOS
  • bios9.bin, 4KB: ARM9 BIOS
  • firmware.bin, 128/256/512KB: firmware
Firmware boot requires a firmware dump from an original DS or DS Lite. DS firmwares dumped from a DSi or 3DS aren't bootable and only contain configuration data, thus they are only suitable when booting games directly.
DS BIOS dumps from a 3DS can be used with no compatibility issues. DSi BIOS dumps should be usable too, provided they were dumped properly.

These files can be found here, just rename the BIOS to match.

In order to use the OpenGL renderer, you must have at least OpenGL 3.1. More information can be found in this FAQ.

Gallery

References

External Links