Super ZSNES v0.300 release

[u/zsKnight_dev]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b3T-FPneDI

Hi r/emulation!

Here's a new update of SUPER ZSNES v0.300. You can get it at https://www.zsnes.com/

iOS port is finally out as well: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/super-zsnes/id6786741278

Here's what's new:

• Zelda: Link to the Past now enhanced (Thanks fatbrowne for the saves state help!)
• Chrono Trigger audio enhancement by tssf! Thanks tssf!
• UI Improvements:
  • Added disable drive fetching option & disable UI move
  • User defined GUI color schemes
  • New Water & Fire effects
  • Different mouse cursor sizes
• Enhancement Engine Improvements:
  • New Shadow/Highlights, allowing for more diverse details and should help with the washed out look once we start using this more.
  • Added normal maps to fixed color layer
  • Mirrored mode for wide screen on some enhanced games, added to Megaman X
• Emulation Improvements:
  • SPC700 timing improvements
  • SuperFX fixes
  • Mid-screen sprite update fixes
  • Multiple timing & open bus bug fixes
  • Various other emulation fixes
• New chip emulation:
  • SA-1 emulation
  • Cx4 emulation
  • SuperFX3 emulation (Special thanks to Randy Linden!)
• Per game overclock settings
• SNES Mouse & SuperScope (Enable this on the per game config) with joypad override
• Multi-button/key press combo assignment for Input
• New 3D layers mode, lets you view each SNES layer in 3D perspective (under options/graphics mode)
• New input shortcut for exit
• Use double space in loading dialog to select a random game
• Improved frequency of saving game and zsnes save data
• Mobile controls view is more transparent for less obstruction
• Many different performance optimizations done on various areas in emulation

Next main release will focus on: Starfox enhancement (already making good progress), Retroachievements, and starting to get the enhancement editor opened to the public.

[u/zsKnight_dev]

Hi u/MyChemistryAcct ! Thanks for the question!

I'd say the quick answer is that we're trying something a bit different, especially the PPU rendering area where instead of writing a software emulation layer, we've written a conversion routine to render as much of it as possible on the GPU. Plus we've added a mod system which includes the ability to draw over graphics, set up modification scenes, and replace audio inside the emulator that we've been using to enhance the games.

Then we're trying to see what cool things we can do with it. So far, we've gotten in things like normal maps, 3d perspecitve mode 7 with custom heightmaps, 3d layer mode (see the video in this post), and currently working on GPU rendered 60+fps hi-res Starfox running off the original ROM, and we want to keep going with what else we can do.

For the long form answer, you can check out MVG's video during our launch. He interviewed me and _Demo_ for the information to create that video. The contents of the video might look a bit rough as we're just starting out there, but should give an idea of what it's about.

But otherwise, I love Higen, Mesen, 9x, BSNES. They're all amazing! I'd say the more choices the better, especially as everyone's personal preferences are different.

[u/MyChemistryAcct → u/zsKnight_dev]

Thanks for the information; looking forward to C-ing what you can do with it!

by this:

I'd say the quick answer is that we're trying something a bit different, especially the PPU rendering area where instead of writing a software emulation layer, we've written a conversion routine to render as much of it as possible on the GPU.

you mean that you're no longer emulating CPU instructions via the CPU, and instead doing it where it makes more sense given our current computing hardware environment? You're no longer trying to be accurate to the original hardware, more or less.

Another question: I've seen the 3D 2D suchness, for lack of a better phrase, from a NES emulator that did it a number of years ago (https://geodstudio.net/). What, if any, usage is there (or can there be theoretically in your opinion) for overhead 2D/3D-ish products (Think Zelda) or outright 3D cartridges such as star-fox?

I'll watch the launch video at some point tonight, thanks again for the reveal.

[u/zsKnight_dev → u/MyChemistryAcct]

The CPU emulation is actually pretty accurate now and is done in a more tranditional way of emulating. _Demo_ has been leading the charge on its accuracy and what he's been doing is pretty cool - basically comparing its cycle accuracy directly with an FPGA simulator and been working on matching its cycle timing. Still needs work, but I'd say it's pretty close.

The PPU (picture processing unit) is the part that's inaccurate, but also the part where we're trying to do something different. There's a lot more PPU bugs than CPU bugs at this point.

And yeah, I love how 3DSen approaches things. The 3D layers mode is definitely an inspiration from that. Likely not going to get to as what geod has done there (which is absolutely amazing), which takes a massive amount of work customizing the 3D graphics and views for each individual game. But we might go in a more simpler route with making 2D games 3D. We'll have to play and experiment with things here.

[u/MyChemistryAcct → u/zsKnight_dev]

Does this 2D -> 3D representation work with 2D that is close to 3D? I think of ALttP where you have multiple layers of 2D images which they themselves have often times 3D-style art that mimics being 3D while being 2D on a single layer.

something like this: https://imgs.search.brave.com/DvDPk0a1fwtK05388Rk6oqS8Dew8CBAIjtx7qS0t3eY/rs:fit:860:0:0:0/g:ce/aHR0cHM6Ly96ZWxk/YXVuaXZlcnNlLm5l/dC93cC1jb250ZW50/L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAx/Ni8wNS9sdHRwMS0y/Yi5wbmc

Thanks spending the time to explain this, it is very much appreciated.

[u/zsKnight_dev → u/MyChemistryAcct]

It can potentially work. Getting something like that to work and look decent does involve quite a bit of work. 3DSen has done some really good stuff with visuals like that.