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It had a recent major update, 0.12, which improved compatibility for certain General issues:* '''Character sprites in SNK games but broke others. It added support for some of games like Astal (needs don't appear:''' Change "Cartridge" to "Enable SH2 Cache1MBytes RAM Cartridge"). Keep both versions, pre- and post-0.12 just * '''Flickering in caseFMVs:''' Enable "Check Cycle Pattern". To raise compatibility, you can try with * '''No sound:''' Enable "No BiosMemory Access Wait" 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)Stuttering sound:''' Enable "Scanline Base Timing".
The emulator needs an external virtual drive Game-specific issues:* '''Astal''', '''Denpa Shounenteki Game''' : Enable "SH2 Cache".* '''Baroque''' (FMV issues): Enable "Check Sprite Priority".* '''Castlevania Symphony of the Night''' (fix for data select screen), '''Macross Do You Remember Love''', '''World Heroes Perfect''': Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access".* '''Chaos Seed''': Enable "Check Cycle Pattern". Enable "VDP2 RAM Revision Access".* '''Daina ☆ Airan, Deep Fear, Mr. Bones, X-Men Vs. Street Fighter''': Enable "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".* '''Galjan''': Enable "SH2 DMA Real Transfer".* '''Gokujou Parodius Da! Deluxe Pack (aka Fantastic Journey)''': Enable "Bus Wait", Set "Bus Wait Clock" to read iso files0. You* '''Grandia'''ll need (FMV issues): Set "Dot Clock" on 3.7 or above. Set "SlaveSH2 Speed" to 90%, Set "EZ Setting" to close Highest.* '''Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai II''' (fix for cutscenes): Enable "Check Cycle Pattern" and restart the emulator "VDP2 RAM Revision Access".* '''Lunar Silver Star Story''' (FMV issues): Enable "SCU DMA Delay Interrupt".* '''Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter''' (fix for sound noise): Disable "Sound Thread".* '''Megaman X3''', '''Pro Mahjong Kiwame S''': Set "Dot Clock" to 3.7 or above. Set "1Block Clock" to a value as low as it says possible.* '''Quovadis 2''' (fix for FMVs): Set "Dot Clock" to 3.0 or above, and "EZ Setting" to "High".* '''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.* '''Sonic Jam''': Set "Dot Clock" to 2.7 or above. Enable "Check Cycle Pattern" (fix for 2P Mode in the Japanese dialogue popup appearingSonic 2). * '''Taito Chase HQ Plus SC'''I: Enable "CD Track/Index".* '''Toshinden URA''' (if FMVs skip) whenever you modify the options : 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 them to take effectkey config screen). Enable "Memory Access Wait".
Even though ===SSF Drag and Drop Loader===[https://mega.nz/file/QhNEhDZD#76O76LscytcGil4T20O04x1jXYsNEsb0xTSefugOQck The best option] for SSF. Put it has a "No Bios" optionin your SSF directory. It works with normal Saturn filenames. Just drag and drop the game file, youlike Mednafen.[https://www.mediafire.com/file/lat61ymnzz4oyf9/SSF-RS.7z/file (Alt. link from Nevermindxx'll sometimes need the bios files, of course specifying the correct region in the optionss original post.)]
F7===CHDSSF===[https: Pause and Load State (Press 0-9 //github.com/batteryshark/CHDSSF This loader] allows you to choose)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.
Shift+F7: Pause and Save State (Press 0-9 to choose)
Useful for sprite rippers are the numeral pad keys, which disable layers. Keep in mind this often causes 3D games to crash, and they already have lower compatiblity than 2D one when it comes to general emulations.===Cheating with CEP===
==Guides and Info==# [httphttps://wwwgamehacking.org/downloads/cep022.racketboyzip download CEP] and prepare your CODELIST.comTXT file. You can find an [https:/retro/segaeadmaster.altervista.org/saturnpub/index.php?page=cheatpacks#ssfexample 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-nearly-perfect-sega-saturn-emulator General Guide]few digits.# click "Codes" tab, select the current game and the cheat codes you want to enable# click the "On" button to activate codes
| style="text-align: center;"|[httphttps://www.slysoftelby.comch/en/download.html Virtual Clone DriveCloneDrive]| style="text-align: center;"|
| style="text-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;"|
* Can mount up to 6 images at once.| 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;"|* Installer tries to fill your computer up with adware, and judging by some reports, newer versions force you to install adware(Version 4.30.4 does not force it).* Can only 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 images .3x] seems unaffected and still works with modern systems but might be buggier)* No longer run by the original team. Possibly Chinese spyware at oncethis point.
| style="text-align: center;"|[http://wincdemu.sysprogs.org/ WinCDEmu]| style="text-align: center;"|
* Can mount unlimited images at once.| style="text-align: center;"|
SSF
,no edit summary
{{Infoboxemulator|title = SSF|logo = |logowidth = |developer = Shima|first version = 0.12 beta R4{{Version|SSF}}|second active = Yes|third platform = [[Emulators on Windows|Windows]]<br/>[[Emulators on Android|Android]]|architecture = |target = [[Sega Saturn emulators|Sega Saturn]]|fourth compatibility = ShimaHigh|accuracy = Mid-high|fifth website = [httphttps://www7a.biglobe.netwitter.jp/~phantasy/ssfcom/ FessX Shima's SiteTwitter]|prog-lang = |support = |license = Closed-source|source = [httphttps://ssftributegithub.csdprojects.co.ukcom/shimazzz/ English Tribute SiteSEGASaturnEmulator-SSF GitHub]}} '''SSF''' is a closed-source [[Sega Saturn emulators|Sega Saturnemulator]] emulator. It's known for being the only Sega Saturn emulator to date that has any level of compatibility with SS games and the only one worth usingmost compatible for a long time.
==Download==
{| cellpadding="4"|-|align=center|{{Icon|Win-big|APK-big}}|'''[http://ssftribute.csdprojects.co.uk/files/SSF_012_beta_R4.zip {{SSFDownloadLink}} Latest Versionrelease] (0.12 beta R4)'''|}
==Review=='''SSF''' was once renowned as being the best Saturn emulator from its inception in the early 2000s till around mid-2010s when a slate of newer and open-source Saturn emulation software was first launched. These included the [http[Mednafen]] versions from the late 2010s and onwards with much improved Saturn compatibility, and two WIP derivatives of the old [[Yabause]] base called Kronos and [[Yaba Sanshiro]]. SSF is superior to [[Yabause]] and was initially superior to [[Mednafen]] with its early Saturn core versions for compatibility, but SSF is closed-source and was made for Windows only until it was [https://segaretrogithub.orgcom/shimazzz/imagesSEGASaturnEmulator-SSF/5releases/53tag/SSF_011_alpha_R5%27%27AndroidVer released] to Android devices in 28 January 2021.7z ''.zip Version 0.11 alpha R5'']
Before the Android release, source code alongside several older builds were uploaded to GitHub in 26 January 2021 and newer builds were uploaded there afterwards, but there were no commits made to the GitHub source code since then. A large number of Saturn games require manual and persnickety editing in the emulator's configuration options to run properly, which makes SSF less easier to use in comparison to other Saturn emulators, and more recently, [https://github.com/shimazzz/SEGASaturnEmulator-SSF/issues/15#issuecomment-1038281021 trojan detections in recent versions] caused this emulator to become a risk for some computers. Despite this, SSF remains largely clean and it is recommended for users with older PCs. The author Shima was, for a time, probably the longest-time active developer on any emulator from the emulator's public launch (Labelled 'SSF 001') in 1999 till 20 years later in late November 2019. It is unknown when the first ever version was released publicly, however, the next version of 'SSF 002' was released on 5th December 1999.<ref name="20Years_reddit">{{cite web|url=Reviewhttps://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/e3u9wz/ssf_saturn_emulator_has_been_actively_developed/ |title=Thread: 'SSF (Saturn emulator) has been actively developed by the same single author for 20 years now.' |author='ZarkonD' |publisher=Reddit |date=30 November 2019}}</ref> A 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 "Enable SH2 Cache"). 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). For some time, 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. Since Preview Version R4, SSF no longer requires mounting ISO files in a virtual drive to run them, though it is largely experimental and may cause crashes. [[SSF#Free Virtual Drive Software|Please see below for recommendations]]. Even though it has a "No Bios" option, you'll sometimes need the BIOS files, of course specifying the correct region in the options. Some useful commands:* 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 rips. 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. ==Guides and Info==* [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]. * An user called 'FreeckyCake' has produced an useful, detailed overview and guide to setting up SSF and uploaded it to a website in early December 2021. It also contains 15 table of content items and small information on decent alternatives such as Mednafen and [[RetroArch]]'s cores of Beetle Saturn and Kronos, although the user probably didn't try Mednafen with a GUI frontend, which marred his experience somewhat.<ref name="FC-Guide_reddit">{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/EmulationOnPC/comments/r80f95/ssf_emulator_guide_for_beginners_saturn_emulator |title=SSF Emulator Guide For Beginners (Saturn Emulator) |author='FreeckyCake' |publisher=Reddit |date=3 Dec 2021}}</ref><ref name="FC-Guide_AoG">{{cite web|url=https://altarofgaming.com/how-to-play-sega-saturn-games-on-windows-pc/ |title=How to Play Sega Saturn Games on Your Windows PC |author='FreeckyCake' |publisher=Altar of Gaming |date=3 Dec 2021}}</ref> * The website FantasyAnime, which is well known for hosting fan-translation patches for many SNES RPGs among others has detailed guides for many advanced emulators of old consoles before 2000 and 2010. They have a much more detailed guide than FreeckyCake's guide above to setting up and running SSF, which was last updated on March 2022.<ref name="FA-Tutorial>{{cite web|url=https://fantasyanime.com/emuhelp/ssf |title=SSF Tutorial |publisher=FantasyAnime |date=31 March 2022}}</ref> ===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 best, and only good Saturn emulator right nowconfiguration closest to accurate hardware emulation would be: Enable "Bus Wait". Set "Bus Wait Clock" to 0. Windows only and closed source sadlyEnable "SH2 DMA Real Transfer". FarAlternatively, far better than Yabause"Setting5" (holding the 5 keyboard button at startup) achieves similar results.
===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 said aboveof [https://twitter.com/FessX/status/1151502018185293824 Preview Version R4], SSF requires a virtual drive you can mount CD images that use .cue and .bin files by going to read ISO filesOptions > Peripherals, then in the ''CD Image'' section, select '''Enable''', then select the . Now there aren't a lot cue file of options for a free virtual driveyour choosing, and there are even fewer good optionsrestart the emulator. The programs Mind you that this feature is still experimental, ergo the game will be named right nowlikely crash at certain points, with so it's best to use the pros and cons of each: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 come bundled with any try to install unwanted software.* Can mount up to 8 images at once.| style="text-align: center;"|* 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.* Very unreliable (Can't mount .cue files. DON'T mount the .bin instead, as SSF might will boot you back to the bios menu when running some games using VCDwhenever it feels like it if you do. Instead, make a .ccd/.img copy with CloneCD and another virtual drive program.|-|[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.
|-
* Supports every Saturn image extension.
* Very reliable.
* Installer contains optional adware.
* Mounting the images causes the sound files to autoplay.
* The installer forces you to install crapware called Smart File Advisor, which you can't uninstall without uninstalling Alcohol.
(You can mostly ignore the program by stopping it from running on startup, howeveror 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.
|-
* Isn't a cut-down version of a paid software.
* Open-source.
* Very lightweight.
* Doesn't come bundled try to install unwanted software.* Supports every Saturn image extension.|* SSF isn't compatible with any it.|-|[http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-magicdisc-overview.htm MagicDisc]|* 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}}
[[Category:Emulators]]
[[Category:Console emulators]]
[[Category:Home console emulators]]
[[Category:Sega Saturn emulators]]
[[Category:Windows emulation software]]
[[Category:Android emulation software]]
[[Category:Closed-source emulators]]
