BlastEm
Developer(s) | Mike Pavone |
---|---|
Latest version | 0.6.2 [+] |
Active | Yes |
Platform(s) | Windows Linux macOS |
Architecture(s) | x86 |
Emulates | Sega Genesis/Mega Drive |
Website | Official homepage |
License | GPLv3 |
Source code | Mercurial repository |
BlastEm is a free and open-source Sega Genesis/Mega Drive emulator developed primarily for Linux (though it's also available for macOS and Windows). BlastEm aims for cycle accuracy while also hitting lower system requirements than Exodus; it is one of the only emulators to properly run Overdrive 2, a demoscene production by the group Titan meant to showcase the capabilities of the Genesis through digital art.[N 1] The first Overdrive demo runs perfectly which only Genesis Plus GX can also claim. Commercial game compatibility is close to, but not quite at, 100%. It is the only emulator other than Exodus that can properly display direct color DMA demos and to pass all of the tests in Nemesis' VDP FIFO Testing ROM.
It is also available as a libretro core for RetroArch.
Stable releases went into a hiatus in 2019, and thus current Nightly version, 0.6.3, went into perpetual developement until further notice. Users should avoid the current stable version 0.6.2, which has broken controller input configuration, and use the most recent nightly build of 0.6.3.