GENS

GENS

Developer(s)	Stéphane (Stef)
Latest version	2.15.5
Active	No
Platform(s)	Windows Linux BeOS
Emulates	Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega/Mega CD, Sega 32X
Website	Gens.me
License	GPLv2
Source code	SourceForge
Issue tracker	SourceForge

Gens is an open-source Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega/Mega CD and Sega 32X emulator. The original emulator hasn't been updated since 2006, but dozens of unofficial forks were created with varying sets of features and game compatibility - see Sega Retro for more comprehensive coverage. None of these are still active or recommended to use. However, it was once noteworthy for being one of the few 32X emulators (beating PicoDrive and often Kega Fusion in accuracy), and for having netplay via the once-popular Kaillera system.

Download

	Gens 2.14
	Gens/GS Release 7
	Gens/GS II Git Repository Source only

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