Difference between revisions of "Flycast"

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m (flycast-wiki mention)
(Flycast is ported in full to the PS Vita via official source; VitaDB)
(Tags: Mobile edit, Mobile web edit)
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{{lowercase title}}
 
{{lowercase title}}
 
{{Infobox emulator
 
{{Infobox emulator
|title = flycast
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|title = Flycast
 
|logo = Flycast.png
 
|logo = Flycast.png
|version = 09c439b
+
|logowidth = 130
 +
|version = {{Version|Flycast}}
 
|active = Yes
 
|active = Yes
|platform = [[Android emulators|Android]], Linux, Windows, Mac OSX
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|platform = [[Emulators on Windows|Windows]]<br/>Linux<br/>[[Emulators on macOS|macOS]]<br/>[[Emulators on Android|Android]]<br/>[[Emulators on iOS|iOS]]<br/>[[Emulators on Switch|Nintendo Switch]]<br/>[[Emulators on Xbox One|Xbox One]]<br/>[[Emulators on PS Vita|PS Vita]]
|target = [[Sega Dreamcast emulators|Dreamcast]], SEGA NAOMI, Atomiswave, Windows CE
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|target = [[Sega Dreamcast emulators|Dreamcast]]<br/>NAOMI<br/>NAOMI 2<br/>Atomiswave<br/>Windows CE
 
|developer = flyinghead
 
|developer = flyinghead
 +
|compatibility = Almost all Dreamcast, Windows CE, NAOMI, NAOMI 2 and Atomiswave games
 
|website = [https://github.com/flyinghead/flycast Site]
 
|website = [https://github.com/flyinghead/flycast Site]
|source = https://github.com/flyinghead/flycast GitHub]
+
|source = [https://github.com/flyinghead/flycast GitHub]
 
|license = GNU GPLv2
 
|license = GNU GPLv2
 
}}
 
}}
'''flycast''' is an open-source [[Sega Dreamcast emulators|Dreamcast emulator]] produced currently for [[Android emulators|Android]], Linux, Mac OSX and Windows. It is an fork based off [[reicast]], existing Dreamcast emulator for Windows, Linux and Android, respectively. It has an work-in-progress wiki avaliable [https://github.com/TheArcadeStriker/flycast-wiki/wiki right here], which is intended to have useful information about certain features and guides on how to use.
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'''Flycast''' is an open-source [[Sega Dreamcast emulators|Dreamcast emulator]] currently available for [[Emulators on Windows|Windows]], Linux, [[Emulators on macOS|macOS]], [[Emulators on Android|Android]], [[Emulators on iOS|iOS]] and [[Emulators on Switch|Nintendo Switch]]. It is a fork of [[reicast]] - another Dreamcast emulator for Windows, Linux and Android. It has a work-in-progress wiki available [https://github.com/TheArcadeStriker/flycast-wiki/wiki here], complete with guides and information about various features.
  
 
==Downloads==
 
==Downloads==
 
{| cellpadding="4"
 
{| cellpadding="4"
 
|-
 
|-
|align=center|{{Icon|Win|Lin|Mac|APK}}
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|align=center|{{Icon|Win|Mac|APK|iOS|Switch}} {{Icon|XB1}}
|'''[https://flyinghead.github.io/flycast-builds/ Dev builds]'''<br>
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|'''[https://flyinghead.github.io/flycast-builds CI Builds]'''<br>
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|-
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|colspan="2"|<hr/>
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|-
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|align=center|{{Icon|Linux-big}}
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|'''[https://flathub.org/apps/details/org.flycast.Flycast Flatpak nightly binary]<br/><small>via [https://flathub.org Flathub]</small>'''
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==Overview==
 
==Overview==
Flycast requires an GPU that supports at least OpenGL 3.0 or Open GL ES 2.0. A Dreamcast BIOS file is optional but NAOMI and Atomiswave BIOS files are required. It has support for almost all Dreamcast games, including compatibility with Windows CE games, as well as almost all NAOMI and Atomiswave games; using the latest MAME ROMs, or using .DAT/BIN and .LST files (which were needed for reicast/NullDC NAOMI; but it is not recommended to use over the MAME ROMs, specially because of no EEPROM support if using .LST), or ; using the MAME ROM. On top of that, it has support for the following features:
+
Flycast requires a GPU that supports OpenGL 3.0 or OpenGL ES 2.0. A Dreamcast BIOS file is optional, but NAOMI, NAOMI 2 and Atomiswave BIOS files are required. It has support for almost all Dreamcast, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, Atomiswave and Windows CE games. It also has support for the following features:
  
 
*Emulating standard Dreamcast controllers, Keyboard, Mouse, Light-Gun (with your mouse), Twin Sticks, and even the ASCII Mission Stick
 
*Emulating standard Dreamcast controllers, Keyboard, Mouse, Light-Gun (with your mouse), Twin Sticks, and even the ASCII Mission Stick
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*Dump textures and load custom textures
 
*Dump textures and load custom textures
 
*Support for HLE BIOS (note that it's recommended to use a real BIOS)
 
*Support for HLE BIOS (note that it's recommended to use a real BIOS)
*Automatically configured to be able to connect to Dreamcast Live fan servers for the games supported
 
 
*High compatibility and high performance
 
*High compatibility and high performance
 
*Widescreen Game Hack (Auto-applying codes/patches to certain games to do Widescreen instead of using the hack)
 
*Widescreen Game Hack (Auto-applying codes/patches to certain games to do Widescreen instead of using the hack)
*Auto-configured connecting to Dreamcast Live servers for games that are supported
 
 
*Compatible with NAOMI games that use analog sticks (Monkey Ball, Gun Survivor 2) and trackball (Outtrigger)
 
*Compatible with NAOMI games that use analog sticks (Monkey Ball, Gun Survivor 2) and trackball (Outtrigger)
 
*VMU Support for compatible NAOMI games (Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper, Virtual-On, etc)
 
*VMU Support for compatible NAOMI games (Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper, Virtual-On, etc)
 +
*[https://github.com/libretro/flycast/issues/136 flycast's NAOMI arcade Compatibility list]
 +
 +
==Netplay==
 +
* Networked Dreamcast & NAOMI games are supported natively with [https://dreamcastlive.net/ Dreamcast Live] configured by default for supported games.
 +
* Local multiplayer netplay support available in the '''[https://github.com/blueminder/flycast-dojo/ Flycast Dojo]''' fork. Peer-to-peer, delay-based and rollback netcode with spectating available. 2 Players only. Featured as a part of [https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/FightCade Fightcade].
 +
* For '''Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon & DX''', a custom fork of Flycast and private game server is maintained [https://github.com/inada-s/gdxsv here].
  
 
==Libretro core==
 
==Libretro core==
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===Availability of versions===
 
===Availability of versions===
*Windows and Linux ([https://www.patreon.com/posts/reicast-libretro-20673851 32bit] and 64bit)
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*Windows, macOS (Intel and ARM) and Linux (64-bit).
*Mobile devices ([https://www.patreon.com/posts/reicast-libretro-20753597 Android OS and ARM hardware]. NAOMI arcade hardware also supported.)
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*Mobile devices (Android and iOS).
 +
*Nintendo Switch.
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*Xbox One.
  
 
===Supported GPU features===
 
===Supported GPU features===
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*[[Shaders_and_Filters#Smoothing_shaders|xBRZ]] texture upscaling
 
*[[Shaders_and_Filters#Smoothing_shaders|xBRZ]] texture upscaling
 
*[https://www.libretro.com/index.php/reicast-libretro-updates-26-7-2018/ Render to texture upscaling] (Lets you set the upscaling factor to output whole screen at multiples of native resolution. Only affects games which render the screen to a texture, e.g. ''Dead or Alive 2'' or ''Crazy Taxi''. Results look amazing, ala what the xBRZ filter does to emulators for 2D-graphics consoles, e.g. SNES, GBA and etc.)
 
*[https://www.libretro.com/index.php/reicast-libretro-updates-26-7-2018/ Render to texture upscaling] (Lets you set the upscaling factor to output whole screen at multiples of native resolution. Only affects games which render the screen to a texture, e.g. ''Dead or Alive 2'' or ''Crazy Taxi''. Results look amazing, ala what the xBRZ filter does to emulators for 2D-graphics consoles, e.g. SNES, GBA and etc.)
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 +
==Forks==
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* [https://github.com/blueminder/flycast-dojo Flycast Dojo]: A fork of Flycast, with a focus on netplay features and replay.
  
 
[[Category:Emulators]]
 
[[Category:Emulators]]
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[[Category:Console emulators]]
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[[Category:Home console emulators]]
 
[[Category:Sega Dreamcast emulators]]
 
[[Category:Sega Dreamcast emulators]]
 
[[Category:Windows emulation software]]
 
[[Category:Windows emulation software]]
 
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]
 
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]
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[[Category:MacOS emulation software]]
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[[Category:Android emulation software]]

Revision as of 14:25, 18 March 2023

Flycast
Flycast.png
Developer(s) flyinghead
Latest version 2.3 [+]
Active Yes
Platform(s) Windows
Linux
macOS
Android
iOS
Nintendo Switch
Xbox One
PS Vita
Emulates Dreamcast
NAOMI
NAOMI 2
Atomiswave
Windows CE
Compatibility Almost all Dreamcast, Windows CE, NAOMI, NAOMI 2 and Atomiswave games
Website Site
License GNU GPLv2
Source code GitHub

Flycast is an open-source Dreamcast emulator currently available for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch. It is a fork of reicast - another Dreamcast emulator for Windows, Linux and Android. It has a work-in-progress wiki available here, complete with guides and information about various features.

Downloads

Windows macOS Android iOS Switch Xbox One CI Builds

Linux Flatpak nightly binary
via Flathub

Overview

Flycast requires a GPU that supports OpenGL 3.0 or OpenGL ES 2.0. A Dreamcast BIOS file is optional, but NAOMI, NAOMI 2 and Atomiswave BIOS files are required. It has support for almost all Dreamcast, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, Atomiswave and Windows CE games. It also has support for the following features:

  • Emulating standard Dreamcast controllers, Keyboard, Mouse, Light-Gun (with your mouse), Twin Sticks, and even the ASCII Mission Stick
  • Emulating two expansion sockets per controller (VMU, Purupuru/Rumble Pack, or Microphone)
  • Widescreen (Rendering outside of screen)
  • Resolution and Texture Upscaling
  • Frame Skipping
  • Dump textures and load custom textures
  • Support for HLE BIOS (note that it's recommended to use a real BIOS)
  • High compatibility and high performance
  • Widescreen Game Hack (Auto-applying codes/patches to certain games to do Widescreen instead of using the hack)
  • Compatible with NAOMI games that use analog sticks (Monkey Ball, Gun Survivor 2) and trackball (Outtrigger)
  • VMU Support for compatible NAOMI games (Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper, Virtual-On, etc)
  • flycast's NAOMI arcade Compatibility list

Netplay

  • Networked Dreamcast & NAOMI games are supported natively with Dreamcast Live configured by default for supported games.
  • Local multiplayer netplay support available in the Flycast Dojo fork. Peer-to-peer, delay-based and rollback netcode with spectating available. 2 Players only. Featured as a part of Fightcade.
  • For Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon & DX, a custom fork of Flycast and private game server is maintained here.

Libretro core

Two reicast cores on libretro called reicast OIT and reicast regular were introduced in June 2018 that replace the original core. These cores backport changes from flyinghead's fork that rework the rendering system. The regular core is compliant with OpenGL 3 and GLSL 1.30 in order to support mobile devices and mid-tier PCs. The OIT core supports a graphics feature of the Dreamcast called Order-Independent Transparency that can only be properly emulated using OpenGL 4.3 and later, so it's only available for Windows and Linux at the moment. The two reicast cores have been merged in one reicast libretro core in October 2018. In 2019 the core was first renamed to Beetle DC and a short while later Flycast, for licensing reasons.

Availability of versions

  • Windows, macOS (Intel and ARM) and Linux (64-bit).
  • Mobile devices (Android and iOS).
  • Nintendo Switch.
  • Xbox One.

Supported GPU features

  • Tile clipping support
  • Fogging support
  • Volume modifier shadow support
  • Multipass rendering (enabled by default for non-OIT)
  • Render to texture buffer
  • Log 2 depth buffer
  • Order independent transparency (OIT only)
  • Two-volume mode support (OIT only)
  • Accumulation Pixel Buffer Size core option (OIT only. Can be set to 512MB, 1GB or 2GB, depending on how much VRAM your video card has. May help with correct output at higher resolutions.)
  • 64-bit dynarec (Fixes Shenmue 1/2, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Heavy Metal Geomatrix)
  • Flat shading and bump-mapping
  • Trilinear filtering (Video)
  • Improved palette/YUV texture quality (Converts to 32-bit colors instead of RGB565; i.e. lossless quality of background textures in Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare and is equal to DEmul and redream.)
  • Display VMU screens in-game (Positioning, opacity levels and sizing available. Can also show all 4 attached VMU screens at once.)
  • Extra Depth Scaling (Fixes graphics in Samurai Shodown VI (NAOMI).)

Misc features and enhancements

Forks

  • Flycast Dojo: A fork of Flycast, with a focus on netplay features and replay.