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'''{{Infobox emulator|title = SSF''' is a |logo = |logowidth = |developer = Shima|version = {{SSFVer}}|active = Yes|platform = Windows<br/>Android|architecture = |target = [[Sega Saturn emulators|Sega Saturn]] emulator. It is the only Sega Saturn emulator to date that has any level of |compatibility with SS games and the only one worth using= |accuracy = |website =[https://twitter.com/FessX Shima's Twitter]|prog-lang = |support = |license = Closed-source|source = }}
* '''Taito Chase HQ Plus SC'''I: Enable "CD Track/Index".
| style="text-align: center;"|[https://www.elby.ch/en/download.html Virtual CloneDrive]| style="text-align: center;"|
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| style="text-align: center;"|
| style="text-align: center;"|[http://www.daemon-tools.cc/products/dtLite Daemon Tools LITE]| style="text-align: center;"|
| style="text-align: center;"|
| style="text-align: center;"|[http://wincdemu.sysprogs.org/ WinCDEmu]| style="text-align: center;"|
| style="text-align: center;"|
| style="text-align: center;"|[http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-magicdisc-overview.htm MagicDisc]| style="text-align: center;"|
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SSF
,→Troubleshooting
{{Infobox|first = 0.12 beta R4|second = Yes|third = Windows|fourth = Shima|fifth = [http://www.geocities.jp/mj3kj8o5/ssf/index.html Shima's Site][https://ssftribute.csdprojects.co.uk/ English Tribute Site]|sixth = Closed sourceOutdated}}
'''SSF''' is a closed-source [[Sega Saturn emulators|Sega Saturn emulator]] known for being the most compatible for a long time. ==DownloadsDownload==*[http://www.geocities.jp/mj3kj8o5/ssf/files/SSF_TestVer.zip Latest Version] (The {| cellpadding="test versions4" are development builds.)*|-|align=center|{{Icon|Win-big|APK-big}}|'''[http://www.geocities.jp/mj3kj8o5/ssf/files/SSF_012_beta_R4.zip 0.12 Beta R4{{SSFDownloadLink}} Latest release]*[http://segaretro.org/images/5/53/SSF_011_alpha_R5%27%27.7z ''.zip Version 0.11 alpha R5'']|}
==Review==
The best Saturn emulator right now. SSF is superior to [[Yabause ]] and [[Mednafen ]] for compatibility, but is Windows only, and closed source and . It no longer requires mounting ISO files in a virtual drive to run them(see below).
A recent major update to 0.12 improved compatibility for certain games and broke others. It added support for some of the games such as Astal (needs needs "Enable SH2 Cache"). Keep Keep both versions, pre- and post-0.12 just in case. To raise compatibility, you can try with "No Bios" enabled or disabled, and you'll want to start with the MaxCompatibility (slow) option, then try with the faster options (that do not always work).
SSF requires either an external virtual drive or a specific loader to read disc images. Close and restart the emulator (as it says in the Japanese dialogue popup appearing) whenever you modify the options for them to take effect.
* F7: Pause and Load State (Press 0-9 to choose)
* Shift + F7: Pause and Save State (Press 0-9 to choose)
* Numeral Pad 1-6: Disable 2D layers. Useful for sprite rippsrips. Keep in mind this often causes 3D games to crash, and they already have lower compatibility than 2D one when it comes to general emulations.
* You can change the speed of emulation under options up to 4x.
[http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sega/saturn/ssf-a-nearly-perfect-sega-saturn-emulator General Guide]
[https://www.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geocities.jp%2Fmj3kj8o5%2Fssf%2Fsetting.html&sandbox=1 Shima's FAQ about compatibility issues. Note that this is Japanese-to-English Google Translate, and has a very shoddy syntax as a result.] [https://segaretro.org/SSF See the external links in this Sega Retro page for guides and compatibility databases].
===Troubleshooting===
A rough translation of Shima's FAQ about compatibility issues with various games and fixes for them. The original can be found [https://web.archive.org/web/20190331080907/http://www.geocities.jp/mj3kj8o5/ssf/setting.html here].
The configuration closest to accurate hardware emulation would be: Enable "Bus Wait". Set "Bus Wait Clock" to 0. Enable "SH2 DMA Real Transfer". Alternatively, "Setting5" (holding the 5 keyboard button at startup) achieves similar results.
Game-specific issues:
* '''Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street FighterAstal''' (fix for sound noise): Disable "Sound Thread".* , '''Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai IIDenpa Shounenteki Game''' (fix for cutscenes): Enable "Check Cycle Pattern" and "VDP2 RAM Revision AccessSH2 Cache".* '''The Tower:Baroque''' (FMV issues): Enable "VDP2 RAM Write TimingCheck Sprite Priority".* '''Quovadis 2Castlevania Symphony of the Night''' (fix for FMVsdata select screen), '''Macross Do You Remember Love''', '''World Heroes Perfect''': Set Enable "Dot Clock" to 3.0 or above, and "EZ Setting" to "HighVDP2 RAM Revision Access".* '''GaljanChaos Seed''': Enable "SH2 DMA Real TransferCheck Cycle Pattern". Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access".* '''WhizzDaina ☆ Airan, Thunder Hawk IIDeep Fear, Mr. Bones, X-Men Vs. Street Fighter''': Enable "Bus Memory Access Wait".
* '''Dark Savior''': Enable "Bus Wait" (fix for logo). Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access" (fix for save data screen).
* '''Daytona USA Circuit Edition''': Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access".
* '''Virtua Fighter 2Galjan''': Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access" (fix for key config screen). Enable "Memory Access WaitSH2 DMA Real Transfer".* '''BaroqueGokujou Parodius Da! Deluxe Pack (aka Fantastic Journey)''' (FMV issues): Enable "Check Sprite PriorityBus Wait", Set "Bus Wait Clock"to 0.* '''Sonic JamGrandia'''(FMV issues): Set "Dot Clock" to 2on 3.7 or above. Set "SlaveSH2 Speed" to 90%, Set "EZ Setting" to Highest.* '''Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai II''' (fix for cutscenes): Enable "Check Cycle Pattern" (fix for 2P Mode in Sonic 2)and "VDP2 RAM Revision Access".
* '''Lunar Silver Star Story''' (FMV issues): Enable "SCU DMA Delay Interrupt".
* '''GrandiaMarvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter''' (FMV issuesfix for sound noise): Disable "Sound Thread".* '''Megaman X3''', '''Pro Mahjong Kiwame S''': Set "Dot Clock" on to 3.7 or above. Set "SlaveSH2 Speed" to 90%, Set "EZ Setting1Block Clock" to Highesta value as low as possible.* '''Deep Fear, Daina ☆ Airan, Mr. Bones, X-Men Vs. Street FighterQuovadis 2'''(fix for FMVs): Enable Set "Dot Clock" to 3.0 or above, and "EZ Setting" to "Memory Access WaitHigh".
* '''Riglord Saga 2''': Set "Dot Clock" to 3 or above.
* '''Ruri Iro no Yuki''' (fix for company logo among other stuff): Enable "Check Cycle Pattern".
* '''Sol Divide''': Set "Dot Clock" to 3.4 or above.
* '''Pro Mahjong Kiwame S, Megaman X3Sonic Jam''': Set "Dot Clock" to 32.7 or above. Set "1Block Clock" to a value as low as possible.* '''World Heroes Perfect, Castlevania Symphony of the Night''' (fix for data select screen), '''Macross Do You Remember Love''': Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access".* '''Chaos Seed''': Enable "Check Cycle Pattern". Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access".* '''Denpa Shounenteki Game, Astal''': Enable "SH2 Cache".* '''Gokujou Parodius Da! Deluxe Pack (aka Fantastic Journeyfix for 2P Mode in Sonic 2)''': Enable "Bus Wait", Set "Bus Wait Clock" to 0.* '''Ruri Iro no YukiTaito Chase HQ Plus SC''' (fix for company logo among other stuff)I: Enable "Check Cycle PatternCD Track/Index".
* '''Toshinden URA''' (if FMVs skip): Set "1Block Clock" to 50. Disable "Check SlaveSH2 Idle Loop". Enable "Bus Wait". Set "Bus Wait Clock" to 1. Enable "Enable Instruction Cache".
* '''The Tower:''' Enable "VDP2 RAM Write Timing".
* '''Thunder Hawk II, Whizz''': Enable "Bus Wait".
* '''Virtua Fighter 2''': Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access" (fix for key config screen). Enable "Memory Access Wait".
===SSF Drag and Drop Loader===
[https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/e9cqrd/drag_drop_rom_loader_for_ssf_emulator_sega_saturn/ The best option] for SSF. Put it in your SSF directory. It works with normal Saturn filenames. Just drag and drop the game file, like Mednafen.
===CHDSSF===
[https://github.com/batteryshark/CHDSSF This loader] allows you to use disc image without having to mount them at all with the only major caveat being that it requires you to convert your rips to .CHD beforehand using [http://forums.bannister.org//ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68262#Post68262 chdman] or one of it's forks.
===Cheating with CEP===
# [https://gamehacking.org/downloads/cep022.zip download CEP] and prepare your CODELIST.TXT file. You can find an [https://eadmaster.altervista.org/pub/index.php?page=cheatpacks#ssf example with some codes and an handy converter here].
# start SSF.exe and wait for the game to load, then click About->cep, and leave the dialog with the base address opened.
# start cep.exe
# click "Process" tab, and select the correct emulator version and code type (usually "60codes")
# make sure the address in the field in the 2nd line matches the one in SSF (NO NEED TO CLICK "Search"). Usually it won't match and you will have to change a few digits.
# click "Codes" tab, select the current game and the cheat codes you want to enable
# click the "On" button to activate codes
===Free Virtual Drive Software===
As said above one of the ways to get SSF to use disc images is using a virtual disc drive. Sadly, most of the good free ones don't work with SSF for one reason or another. They either have a bunch of adware or they don't support some formats. The ones that do work (along with some that don't) will be listed below.
As of [https://twitter.com/FessX/status/1151502018185293824 Preview Version R4], you can mount CD images that use .cue and .bin files by going to Options > Peripherals, then in the ''CD Image'' section, select '''Enable''', then select the .cue file of your choosing, and restart the emulator. Mind you that this feature is still experimental, ergo the game will likely crash at certain points, so it's best to use the software below. {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of Free Virtual Drive Software
|-
! scope="col" style="text-align: center;"|Program Name! scope="col" style="text-align: center;"|Pros! scope="col" style="text-align: center;"|Cons
|-
* Isn't a cut-down version of a paid software.
* Very lightweight.
* Doesn't try to install unwanted software.
* Doesn't support .mdf/.mds files. This is kind of a big deal, since quite a few of the Saturn's popular titles are only available as mdf/mds.
* Can't mount .cue files. DON'T mount the .bin instead, as SSF will boot you back to the bios whenever it feels like it if you do. Instead, make a .ccd/.img copy with CloneCD and another virtual drive program.
|-
| style="text[http://yubsoft.com/imgdrive/ ImgDrive]|* Very lightweight. * Doesn't try to install unwanted software.* Can be used from the command line.|* Doesn't seem to work with .cue/.bin or .cue/.iso files (disc gets mounted, but without audio tracks)..mds/.mdf & .ccd/.img/.sub files are fine, though.|-align: center;"|[http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/CD-DVD-Rip-Other-Tools/Alcohol-52.shtml Alcohol 52% Free Edition]| style="text-align: center;"|
* Supports every Saturn image extension.
* Very reliable.
* Installer contains optional adware.
* Mounting the images causes the sound files to autoplay.
(You can mostly ignore the program by stopping it from running on startup, or you can install the program while completely offline using an [http://www.free-codecs.com/download/alcohol_52.htm offline installer] and the crapware will fail to install itself and won't cause any further issues at any point)
|-
* Nice UI.
* Supports every Saturn image extension.
* Installer tries to fill your computer up with adware, and newer versions force you to install adware (Version 4.30.4 does not force it).
* Sends data on every image you mount to an outside location. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neowin.net/news/daemon-tools-knows-what-you-mounted-last-summer|title=Daemon tools spying}}</ref> (mostly applies to versions 4.4x and on, [https://mega.nz/#!ZLwFXJYL!CYc0yn38agyZcfcJm487Id2XoJZ9JrzfyGpZ-nGY9AQ version 4.3x] seems unaffected and still works with modern systems but might be buggier)
* No longer run by the original team. Possibly Chinese spyware at this point.
|-
* Isn't a cut-down version of a paid software.
* Open-source.
* Doesn't try to install unwanted software.
* Supports every Saturn image extension.
* SSF isn't compatible with it.
|-
* Lightweight.
* Doesn't try to install unwanted software.
* Supports every Saturn image extension.
* SSF isn't compatible with it.
|}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200417060901/http://aaaaaaaa.g2.xrea.com/ssf/ Shima's Site (archived from xrea.com)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190331134556/http://www.geocities.jp/mj3kj8o5/ssf/ Shima's Site (archived from geocities.jp)]
* [https://ssftribute.csdprojects.co.uk/ English Tribute Site]
* [http://segasaturn.org/ Updated Compatibility List Based On Game Region]
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
[[Category:Emulators]]
[[Category:Consoles' emulators]]
[[Category:Home consoles' emulators]]
[[Category:Windows emulation software]]
[[Category:Sega Saturn emulators]]
[[Category:Closed-source emulators]]
