Difference between revisions of "MelonDS"

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{{lowercase title}}
 
{{lowercase title}}
 
{{Infobox emulator
 
{{Infobox emulator
|title = melonDS
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|title = melonDS
|logo = MelonDS.png
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|logo = MelonDS.png
|logowidth = 80
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|logowidth = 80
|version = {{MelonDSVer}}
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|version = {{MelonDSVer}}
|active = Yes
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|active = Yes
|platform = Windows, Linux, [[Nintendo Switch emulators|Nintendo Switch]]
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|platform = Windows, Linux, [[Nintendo Switch emulators|Nintendo Switch]]
|target = [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]
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|target = [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]
|developer = [https://github.com/Arisotura Arisotura]<br/><small>[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/graphs/contributors Repository contributors]</small>
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|developer = [https://github.com/Arisotura Arisotura]<br/><small>[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/graphs/contributors Repository contributors]</small>
|architecture = x86_64
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|accuracy = Medium-Accurate
|website = [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/ melonds.kuribo64.net]
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|website = [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/ melonds.kuribo64.net]
|support = [https://www.patreon.com/staplebutter Patreon]
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|support = [https://www.patreon.com/staplebutter Patreon]
|source = [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS GitHub]
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|prog-lang = C++,C
 +
|license = GNU GPLv3
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|source = [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS GitHub]
 
}}
 
}}
'''melonDS''' is a work-in-progress [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS emulator]] aiming for better performance than [[DeSmuME]] and to emulate Wi-Fi and local multiplayer capabilities. It's developed by Arisotura (formerly know as StapleButter), a former contributor to [[DeSmuME]], and has been available as a [[libretro]] core since version 0.6.<!--What even is this number? I think a typo. Maybe 0.6.-->
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'''melonDS''' is a work-in-progress [[Nintendo DS emulators|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==
 
==Downloads==
* '''[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php Official builds]''' (Windows, Linux)
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* '''[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.  Is expected to improve when 0.8 is released)<ref>http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=64 </ref>
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* '''[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)]'''
  
 
==Overview==
 
==Overview==
As of 0.7.2, melonDS has had major improvements such as savestates, microphone support, the ability to simulate the close/open function of the console's lid, and better timing.  Though it's still not at the same level of quality on some things as DeSmuME, it is getting <i>very</i> close with 0.8 expected to have decent OpenGL rendering which would allow for things like upscaling and potentially better performance.
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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
  
Even some of the additions that has been introduced or planned to be implement into melonDS, such as increased accuracy of Wi-Fi networking emulation (and perhaps DSi mode in future), has forced its 'bigger brother', [[DeSmuME]], to relapse and start their own implementations. The DeSmuME team has, for a very long time, been very reticent, to the point of blank stubbornness, to have any emulation of key NDS technology like Wi-Fi linking.
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Though it's not as mature as DeSmuME in some areas, it's a relatively simple emulator to use and has potential. There are also plans on adding support for <abbr title="Action Replay>AR</abbr> cheats in the near future.
  
 
==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.  
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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.  
  
The UI is still pretty barebones with very little to tweak in terms of improving performance, this is mainly due to the developer's goal of making a working emulation rather than provide game-specific hacks.
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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 [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=103 here].
  
 
==Getting Started==
 
==Getting Started==
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These files can be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS / DSi|here]], just rename the BIOS to match.
 
These files can be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS / DSi|here]], just rename the BIOS to match.
  
To boot to the DS's system menu you can either go to <b>System</b> -> <b>Run</b> or  <b>Config</b> -> <b>Emu settings</b> and uncheck "<i>Boot game directly</i>".
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In order to use the OpenGL renderer, you must have at least OpenGL 3.1.
 +
More information can be found [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/faq.php in this FAQ].
  
 +
==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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Metroid2X.png|Top: 2x the native resolution without OpenGL. <br>Bottom: 2x the native resolution with OpenGL
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Chibi4x.png|Top: Native software render. <br>Bottom: 4x the native resolution with OpenGL
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</gallery>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
 +
==External Links==
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* [https://emucross.com/the-one-that-flourished/ The One That Flourished: A Look at melonDS 0.8] (By [[Dolphin]] tester [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/authors/JMC47/ JMC47], aka Justin M. Chadwick. 6 June 2019.)
 +
 
[[Category:Emulators]]
 
[[Category:Emulators]]
 
[[Category:Windows emulation software]]
 
[[Category:Windows emulation software]]
 
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]
 
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo DS emulators]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo DS emulators]]

Revision as of 03:19, 22 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 are 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