Homebrew Emulator [Release]fMSX3DS(MSX/MSX2/MSX2+ emulator with new feature for 3DS)

[Tomioka]

Thanks for this super cool and niche emulator! I wanted to report a major bug I encountered in MSX2 Dragon Quest 1 (specifically with Django's partial English translation applied):

After speaking to the old wizard in the starting castle area who rapidly flashes the screen with light after speaking to him, the color palette of the entire screen became incredibly washed out, with not even resetting the console or saving in-game making it go away on that save. Only starting a new save got rid of it, but when I went back over to him, it happened again. I'm pretty sure that's an important NPC, too.

I confirmed that the bug occurs in a real MSX2.
I guess it's not the bug for the emulator but the bug of the game itself.
I'll investigate further.

 

[Tomioka]

I made GitHub page.
GitHub link here.

 

[RandomMan25XX]

I made GitHub page.
GitHub link here.

Since you've done that maybe you can submit it to Universal Updater to make it easier to update and for more people to see it and check it out

 

[Tomioka]

I've explored this issue a little more, and apparently a lot of English fan translations romhacks just have inherent sound issues, such as the Project Melancholia English translation of SD Snatcher. Apparently, the SCC & SCC+ sound cards just straight-up don't work for it on most emulators. I myself always get the PSG sound, even when the game detects the SCC+ card and I command it to use it.

I finally find what's wrong now.I'll fix the bug in the next update.
Please wait.

For instance fix, in Project Melancholia menu, use arrow key to change SCCI to SCC to fix bug.

Post automatically merged: May 17, 2024

Since you've done that maybe you can submit it to Universal Updater to make it easier to update and for more people to see it and check it out

Well, i'll submit it tomorrow

 

[duwen]

Well, i'll submit it tomorrow

I've been checking Universal Updater for the past week, and FMSX3DS still isn't on there, so I came back here to get the current release.
Any update on when it will get submitted to UU?

 

[Tomioka]

I already send app request.
https://github.com/Universal-Team/db/issues/216

Should be added to Universal Updater soon.

 

[Tomioka]

v1.4
-Add support for V9990 and its clones(GFX9000 etc).
You can use it with chose "[Option]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and enable the "Use V9990" option item.
Good news for New3DS user. I tested almost all of homebrew games/apps that use V9990 and all of them works full speed at 60fps on New3DS.
As to Old3DS, it has mixed results depends on homebrew. Some homebrew runs full speed even on Old3DS, but some homebrew runs too slow.

-Fixed konami SCC sound issue with miss detect of SCC and SCC+ in some cae
(Project Melancholia English translation patched SD Snatcher, TINY SLOT CHECKER etc.).

-Add new option item "Read SCC Plus Wave". Some games/apps requires this option item on to enable SCC sound.
(GEM(GameBoy emulator for MSXTurboR + V9990) etc).

-Update "emu8950.c" by Mitsutaka Okazaki to latest version.

-Add support fr new firmware(0.07.08) for MSX0.

-Add support for ASCII16 ROM Mapper with 4MB size(9Finger Demo by NOP, MSX in a Row!, MSX-Wings etc).

-Adjust posions of "No Scale" and "Keep Aspect" screen strech Mode.

-Fixed bug that you cann't assign ":" key to 3DS's button in keyconfig.

-Add ability to change RAM size of MSX.
You can do that with choosing "[Option]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and change value of "<Emulation Option>/RAM Size".
Caution that you must use same RAM size when you load saved state.

-Add ability to overclock R800 CPU for MSXTurboR.
You can use it with choosing "[OverClockR800(Unsafe)]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and select overclock rate.
Caution that it's unsafe, and many games go wrong with overclock.

-Add suggestion message to restart when you change printer port.

 

[RandomMan25XX]

View attachment 452540View attachment 452541
v1.4
-Add support for V9990 and its clones(GFX9000 etc).
You can use it with chose "[Option]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and enable the "Use V9990" option item.
Good news for New3DS user. I tested almost all of homebrew games/apps that use V9990 and all of them works full speed at 60fps on New3DS.
As to Old3DS, it has mixed results depends on homebrew. Some homebrew runs full speed even on Old3DS, but some homebrew runs too slow.

-Fixed konami SCC sound issue with miss detect of SCC and SCC+ in some cae
(Project Melancholia English translation patched SD Snatcher, TINY SLOT CHECKER etc.).

-Add new option item "Read SCC Plus Wave". Some games/apps requires this option item on to enable SCC sound.
(GEM(GameBoy emulator for MSXTurboR + V9990) etc).

-Update "emu8950.c" by Mitsutaka Okazaki to latest version.

-Add support fr new firmware(0.07.08) for MSX0.

-Add support for ASCII16 ROM Mapper with 4MB size(9Finger Demo by NOP, MSX in a Row!, MSX-Wings etc).

-Adjust posions of "No Scale" and "Keep Aspect" screen strech Mode.

-Fixed bug that you cann't assign ":" key to 3DS's button in keyconfig.

-Add ability to change RAM size of MSX.
You can do that with choosing "[Option]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and change value of "<Emulation Option>/RAM Size".
Caution that you must use same RAM size when you load saved state.

-Add ability to overclock R800 CPU for MSXTurboR.
You can use it with choosing "[OverClockR800(Unsafe)]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and select overclock rate.
Caution that it's unsafe, and many games go wrong with overclock.

-Add suggestion message to restart when you change printer port.

You rock, this is absolutely incredible

 

[CrashMidnick]

Thank you so much for your hard work ! This emulator is awesome !

 

[esv_83]

fMSX is the MSX/MSX2/MSX2+ emulator by Marat Fayzullin.
It runs MSX/MSX2/MSX2+ software with very fast on many different platforms including Windows, MacOS, Unix,
MSDOS, AmigaOS, etc.

fMSX3DS is the port of fMSX for Nintendo3DS(New 3DS/New 2DS/Old 3DS/Old 2DS).
In additional, it add audio emulation by Mitsutaka Okazaki(emu2413.c etc.) with latest version.
It's not the legacy version of over 20 year ago that many emulator uses, but latest(2022) one.
In additional, it add MSXTurboR and V9990 and MSX0 emulation.
Also, it add various improvements based on recently analize of MSX hardware
include analize in Japan that is unknown in world wide.
Read "What's new.txt" to see more detail.

View attachment 385359View attachment 385360
Get Latest release here.

Post automatically merged: Jul 27, 2023

v1.00(First Release)
-Add support for +PCM (ADPCM Voice Sampling hardware).fMSX3DS is the first emulator to support this.
No commercial game support this hardware. but, some japanese homebrew/doujin game support this.
Especially noteworthy, Pleasure Hearts (the legendary homebrew made by author of Judgement Silversword, ESCHATOS)
support this!
To use this, Choose "[Option]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu,
and change option item "<Input/Output Hardware Option>/Printer Port" to "PCM+".

-Add support for the Voice Box (PCM Voice Sampling hardware).fMSX3DS is the first emulator to support this.
As to commercial games, Only one game (Isseki ni kakeru Seishun by LOG) support this hardware.
To use this, Choose "[Option]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu,
and change option item "<Input/Output Hardware Option>/Printer Port" to "Voice Box".

-Add support for Nintendo3DS's 800px wide mode. In Addition, add suport for interlace mode.
So, fMSX3DS can emulate games pixel perfect that use 512x424 resolution mode.

-Implement audio emulation by Mitsutaka Okazaki(emu2413.c etc.) with latest version.
It's not the legacy version of over 20 year ago that many emulator uses, but latest(2022) one.
In Addition, import some features from LibKSS such as Audio filtering, Konami SCC detect.

-Added horizontal hardware scroll emulation for MSX2+

-Improve YJK 19268 color mode for MSX2+.

-Add ability to show MSX2+ boot screen.(Need Kanji Basic ROM(MSXKANJI.rom or KNJDRV.ROM or A1WXKDR.ROM).)

-Add support for VDP command ops in Screen 0-4 for MSX2+.

-Improve Konami SCC and SCC-I detection and add ability to load virtual SCC-I ROM cartridge.
Support SD Snatcher, Snatcher, Konami Game Collection, many kids of SCC hacked ROMs etc.
Also support SCC and SCC-I for many kinds of music driver used for many Disk magazine
or Music Disks(NV magazine, Disk Mail Magazine, etc.).

-Improve Disk Read.This brings many disks to work.
(Ys 1: Ancient Ys Vanished, Konami Game Collection Disk Station's Art Gallary,
Many shumps made by Yoshida Kensetsu(Twinkle Star, Sea Sardine etc.) Anma's Relax, etc.)

-Improve VDP timing, This fixes many graphic glitch and adjast speed for many games.
AshGuine2, Undeadline, The Fantasm Soldier Valis II(Intro timming), MegaDoom, etc.
And this brings many games to wrork(Rune Master II etc.).

-Add support for voice sampling in many games such as Madou Monogatari 1-2-3, Aleste2, Princess maker,
Laydock, Super Laydock, Laydock 2, Ninja Kage, Bosconian etc.

-Improve Save State.
(Now you can State save in Space Manbow intro, YS II intro etc.)

-Improve Sprite collision(Manbow2, 10lines hero, Pooyan New、Litter Box(MSXdev'20), URDIUM(MSXdev2014),
Waves demo (by Dvik & Joyrex) and many kinds of games especially made by BASIC works correctly now).

-Improve cycles of z80 CPU instructions(Seleniak(MSXdev'04), Retaliot(MSXdev'09) become working.
The title screen of Bosconian shows correct image).

-Improve Z80 CPU emulation.(Sweet Acorn, MSX-FAN Appendix Disk etc.)
(taken from FreeMSX/FreeM)
Now ZEXALL test all OK.

-Improve transparent color of sprites(Shin Maou Golvellius(Golvellius 2) etc).

-Improve VDP emulation with 128KB VRAM to manage as 2 x 64KB not one block of 128KB.
This fixes graphic glitches of many games.(F-1 Spirits 3D Special, Laydock2(intro), Breakers,
Feedback(intro) etc.)

-Improve Screen 8 sprite coolors(Ikari Warrior, Rick & Mick's Adventure etc)

-Support many MegaROM Mapper such as R-Type, many kinds of KOEI games
(Sangokushi(Romance of the Three Kingdoms) series, Nobunaga no yabou(Nobunaga's Ambition) series,
Genghis Khan series etc), Wizardry, Manbow2, Super Lode Runner, Wing Warriors(2021 version) etc.

-Improve MegaROM Mapper such as Hole In One Special(ASCII16) etc.

-Improve MegaROM detection and add ability to load ROM database "CARTS32.CSV" of msxDS.

-Improve Japanese keyboard input. fMSX3DS supports every Keys of Japanese keyboard.

-Add supprt for 2nd level kanji in Kanji ROM.

-Support zip compressed files with multiple disk/ROM in the one zip file. and support 2byte charactor
filename like Japanese.

-Support mouse emulaton and Arkanoid Paddle/ Paddle device emulation with touch screen for 3DS.

-Added the Software Keyboard with the touch screen for 3DS.

-Show graph characters in the Software Keyboard when you press graph key.

-Add ability to show the reference image in the bottom screen of 3DS.

-Support homebrew ROM cartridges that has too small or uncommon ROM size.

-Add ability to insert FM-PAC ROM cartridge in SLOT-2 automatelly when you play R-Type.

-Add ability to change memory Slot automatelly when you play YAKSA to get rid of bugs.

I see this is the best MSX/MSX2/MSX2+ emulator for 3DS, you can improve the best msx1 emulator that comes bundled with colecoDS for nds by adding MSX2/MSX2+ emulation.

 

[Tomioka]

v1.41
-Add support for Dual Screen for V9990!(Codename INTRUDER, 2 Screen Demo by N.I etc).
To use this, select "[V9990 Dual Screen]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and select "On".

-Update "emu2149.c" by Mitsutaka Okazaki to latest version(v1.42).

-Add support for LED light analog output for MSX0.
To use this, Choose "[Option]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and change option item "<MSX0 Option>/Use MSX0" to "On",
and "<MSX0 Option>/MSX Analog Output" to "LED(3DS PowerLED)".
Caution! it use Nintendo3DS's real LED. Your 3DS is not breakdown while LED blinking.

-Add support for overlay for reference image.
It's usefull for MSX graphic apps such as Graph Saurus etc. and MSX sprite editor app such as S.S.T etc.
To use this, Choose "[Load Reference Image](Overlay)" item in the fMSX3DS system menu, and select reference image file.
And choose "[Adjust Reference Image]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu to enter adjust reference image menu.
In this menu, you can change reference image's position, size, and transparent rate with Nintendo3DS's keys.
PAD:adjust position LR key:change size of reference image XY key:change transparent rate

-Fixed bug that some disk games does'nt work on MSXTurboR(Breaker(JAST) etc).

-Add support for TC8566AF FDC emulation for MSXTurboR.
With this more games/apps become works correct(ksaver.com etc).

-Fix bug that boot with ctrl key does'nt work on MSXTurboR(Many KOEI game of disk version(Ishin no Arashi , Sangokushi, Sangokushi2 etc) etc).

-Improve emulation of MSXTurboR Pause. (Networkers Gift Disk etc).

-Fix graphic glitches of Screen mode 10 (Intro of Shin kugyoku den etc).

-Fixed bug that fMSX3DS get's error when you power off Nintendo 3DS while displaying "[Frequently Used Folder]" system menu.

-Add support for ".der" copy protected disk files made by Disk-Manager.
http://www.lexlechz.at/en/software/DiskMgr.html

-Add support for ESE-RAM.
https://www.msx.org/wiki/ESE-RAM
http://www.hat.hi-ho.ne.jp/tujikawa/ese/eseram.html
you can use it with selecting menu item "[Load Ese RAM 512k ROM]" in the fMSX3DS's system menu.

Post automatically merged: Oct 11, 2024

I see this is the best MSX/MSX2/MSX2+ emulator for 3DS, you can improve the best msx1 emulator that comes bundled with colecoDS for nds by adding MSX2/MSX2+ emulation.

I have no experience for develop DS homebrew. So, it takes many time to make the MSX2/MSX2+ emulator for DS with the same level of MSXDS.
http://msxds.msxblue.com/

 

[cassette50]

First I want to say thank you for working on this homebrew emulator, it's very comprehensive and easy to use. One question I want to ask is if you plan on offering support for MSX Sahkr/Al Alamiah software? Specifically I am trying to emulate the Quran but the emulator refuses to run it. I don't have this issue with other msx titles I have tried.

 

[Tomioka]

First I want to say thank you for working on this homebrew emulator, it's very comprehensive and easy to use. One question I want to ask is if you plan on offering support for MSX Sahkr/Al Alamiah software? Specifically I am trying to emulate the Quran but the emulator refuses to run it. I don't have this issue with other msx titles I have tried.

I add a mapper for the Quran by Al Alamiah.
You can test that with the work in progress beta version of fMSX3DS.

If you are using BlueMSX core for retroarch,
fMSX3DS load the "ARABIC.rom" BIOS files directly and no need for setup BIOS files.
If not, Copy the "ARABIC.rom" file to the ROOT of your SD card or "FMSX3DS" folder("root\FMSX3DS").

As to other Al Alamiah softwares, please post if it does'nt works.
I will support it individually.

 

[cassette50]

Thank you! The Quran now works perfectly! As for the other Al Alamiah programs they work fine in the emulator provided that "ARABIC.rom" is in cartridge slot 1 and the other program is in cartridge slot 2. This was a workaround on the physical MSX hardware back in the day so this workaround can also be replicated in the emulator as well.

 

[Tomioka]

v1.42
-Add support for Hard Disk drive. It uses NEXTOR driver. Thanks for Konamiman, the auther of NEXTOR,
With that, you can use the hardDisk image with simply opening ".DSK" disk image files.
To manage HDD image, use DiskExplorer.
https://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA013937/editdisk/index_e.html

-Added debugger with dual screen of 3DS.
You can use it with choosing "<Unsafe Actions>/[Start Debugger]" item in the fMSX3DS system menu.
Then press A button to step in, B button to debugger menu.

-Fied bug that SCC sounds missing in MANBOW2.

-Fixed bug that fMSX3DS makes a undeletable(with Windows) file in "/FMSX3DS/SAVEDISK" folder in some case when you use ".gz" compressed disk files.
Sorry, if you troubled with this. If so, you can delete that file with FBI.
https://github.com/Steveice10/FBI

-Add support for 4MB RAM mapper(unsafe). But, it's unsafe to use that, because same as real MSX machine with 4MB RAM, some games and applications do'nt work.

-Fixed bug that MSX0's "IOTGET" command with "host/heap" node shows invalid values.

-Fixed bug that some disks with special header does'nt work(MSX-Fun Info-Disk etc).

-Add support for special disks with 81 Tracks.(Dummieland etc).

-Add support for new MEGAROM mapper for HolyQuran by Al Alamiah.

-Add support for The Curse Of Lies(MSXdev 2024).

-Small GUI improve.

-Small speed up with latest version of devkitpro.

-Fix Compile Error with latest version of devkitpro.

 

[FamicomKun]

how do i change the bios? cbios isnt letting me load snatcher.

 

[Tomioka]

how do i change the bios? cbios isnt letting me load snatcher.

copy the BIOS files to the /FMSX3DS folder, and fMSX3DS use these BIOS files automatically.
Here's the list of the BIOS files:
MSX.ROM
MSX2.ROM
MSX2EXT.ROM
DISK.ROM
FMPAC.ROM
KANJI.ROM

With MSX2+ you need
MSX2P.ROM
MSX2PEXT.ROM
A1WXKDR.ROM

 

[esv_83]

It will be possible that you can modify vgmplay msx, so that those who have a nds/dsi can play music files msx vgm and sms vgm in the emulator colecoDS msx1, since in the emulator msxDS the sound is very low.

 

[Tomioka]

It will be possible that you can modify vgmplay msx, so that those who have a nds/dsi can play music files msx vgm and sms vgm in the emulator colecoDS msx1, since in the emulator msxDS the sound is very low.

Sorry, but It would be impossible modify vgmplay msx to work on coleco DS msx1,
because vgmplay msx requires 128k memory and coleco DS has max 64k memory same as real MSX1.
I'ts very very difficult to reduce required memory 128k to 64k.
If coleco DS support expanded memory, maybe i can modify vgmplay to work on coleco DS.
But in this case, you have to dump correct ROM image file of RAM expansion cartrige.

 

[esv_83]

Sorry, but It would be impossible modify vgmplay msx to work on coleco DS msx1,
because vgmplay msx requires 128k memory and coleco DS has max 64k memory same as real MSX1.
I'ts very very difficult to reduce required memory 128k to 64k.
If coleco DS support expanded memory, maybe i can modify vgmplay to work on coleco DS.
But in this case, you have to dump correct ROM image file of RAM expansion cartrige.

Thanks for the explanation, the only music player programs that work on ColecoDS msx 1 are pt2play and pt3play.