GENS

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GENS
Gens.gif
Developer(s) Stéphane (Stef)
Latest version 2.14
Active No
Platform(s) Windows, Linux, BeOS
Emulates Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega/Mega CD, Sega 32X
Website Gens.me
License GNU GPLv2
Source code SourceForge

Gens is an open-source Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega/Mega CD and Sega 32X emulator.

Download

Netplay

You can also use a P2P Kaillera client with Gens for netplay.

Review
PROS
  • Support for up to 4 (5??) simultaneous people
  • No fiddling with router settings and port forwarding
  • Netplay traffic is handled by a central dedicated server that helps keep things synched
  • Private game chat support and public chat to speak people outside your game room
  • Being able to drop out of a game at any time without disrupting (much) your teammate(s).
  • Kicking/banning/muting people from your room
  • It's a matchmaking service where you can join other people's rooms, too
CONS
  • Supports only Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega/Mega CD, and Sega 32X games
  • Dropping out of a game is a bit different than with standard emulators
  • Everyone needs to have the exact same ROM version or Netplay won't work (if it somehow does, it'll desynch rather quickly)
  • Everyone needs to have the exact same save file, or no save file at all. Else, it desynchs
  • You need to constantly switch focus back and forth between chat and emulator window in order to chat.
  • You will hear no sound while the window is unfocused.
  • It's slightly (significantly still) prone to freezing/crashing/BSOD (in that order)
  • Random, inconsistent FPS drops due to the server trying to keep everyone synched, sometimes stuttering. It's annoying, but rarely does it make it unplayable

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