Homebrew melonDS 0.4

[Arisotura]

melonDS 0.4 is out!

The highlights of this release are several 2D and 3D fixes and improvements, but also, working wifi multiplayer.

The full changelog is below.


• implement access modes for certain IO registers that were unhandled
• actually implement RCNT instead of hardcoding it
• wifi: emulation of multiplayer cmd/reply/ack transfers
• wifi: more accurate RFSTATUS/RFPINS
• wifi: some games can go into multiplayer now (Pictochat, NSMB, Pokémon known working)
• improved savemem detect heuristic
• implement firmware write, fix SPI bugs
• accurate emulation of 'main memory display FIFO'
• 2D: fix render/capture order
• 2D: implement mode6 large BG
• 2D: fix bitmap BG sizes
• 2D: fix rotscaled bitmap sprites
• 3D: fix missing term in MatrixTranslate
• 3D: fix toon highlight mode
• 3D: fix boxtest bug
• 3D: accurate viewport transform
• 3D: polygon Y-sorting
• 3D: more accurate interpolation, still not perfect
• 3D: more accurate Z and W transforms, fix some cases of Z-fighting
• 3D: separate polygonID attributes for opaque and translucent pixels
• 3D: start documenting and implementing depth test edge cases
• emulate delays for SPI transfers and div/sqrt
• misc bugfixes/additions as usual


pile of copypasta

How to use

melonDS requires BIOS/firmware dumps from a DS. You can dump them with the following dumper.

The files must be placed in the same directory as the melonDS executable, as follows:

* bios7.bin -- ARM7 BIOS, 16KB
* bios9.bin -- ARM9 BIOS, 4KB
* firmware.bin -- firmware, 256KB or 512KB

Note: the DS-mode firmware in the 3DS isn't bootable. It only contains the bare minimum required to run DS games. Be sure to enable direct game boot when using a firmware dump from a 3DS.

Settings

Emulation: settings related to emulation. For now it lets you enable direct game boot (directly runs the game instead of going through the firmware) and the threaded 3D renderer.

There's also a wifi-related setting (which only ended up there because I'm lazy and I need to redo the UI). You should try toggling it if you have trouble getting multiplayer working.

Input: allows you to configure keyboard and joystick input. You can change a mapping by clicking the corresponding entry, then pressing a keyboard key or joystick button. For now, joystick input uses the first joystick available if multiple joysticks are plugged.

If your game fails to save

Check the size of the savefile. melonDS can, in some circumstances, misdetect the save memory type.

Save memory type detection is done only when no existing savefile is present.

If you provide an existing savefile with the correct size, melonDS will use the correct save memory type and saving should work properly.


Downloads

* Windows 64-bit
* Linux 64-bit


If you feel generous

melonDS Patreon


Have fun!

 

[Olmectron]

Wow. Thanks for this release!

 

[AsPika2219]

Oh yeah! WIFI!!!!!! Is time for enjoying Pokemon games with WIFI!!!!

 

[AsPika2219]

Someone testing Pokemon games with trading between version on 2 PC's!



That's was AWESOME!!!

 

[spotanjo3]

It is going to the best emulator over DeSmuME. I will replace it soon. melonDS is an awesome emulator right now!

 

[Hayro]

How do you setup the Wifi function for MelonDS?
I can't find the access point.

Anyone tested Dragon Quest iX online?

 

[Arisotura]

It only works for local multiplayer.

 

[Mat37]

I am only about 20FPS at MKDS title screen and about 10-15 in race. Is that because the emu require a lot of power or something like bad BIOS and firmware ? (i got them from that paradise site since i don't have a ds)

 

[mustafag32g]

whats the difference between this and the first DS emulator that came out many years ago ?

 

[Mat37]

whats the difference between this and the first DS emulator that came out many years ago ?

We can play Wifi

 

[StarTrekVoyager]

This emulator is more accurate in many ways. Also, it still doesn't have JIT, so it's very slow and you need very capable hardware.

 

[Mat37]

This emulator is more accurate in many ways. Also, it still doesn't have JIT, so it's very slow and you need very capable hardware.

Thank, will wait for some newer releases ^^

 

[AsPika2219]

Testing 1-2-3..... I testing exporting save games from Desmume into melonDS, just few hour ago.

• Open Desmume and any games (example Digimon World Dawn). Play the game and save after any events on games. Pause the game.
  
• Next, open File menu and select Export Backup Memory. For Save As Type, stay with Raw save format because melonDS using RAW save version.
• Change directory into MelonDS or anything depend you put melonds.exe file. For file name, type game name (must matched) for you play it.
• Click Save and done. Quit Desmume. Next, open My Computer and select Hard Disk C:\ (not other drive because you play them)
  
• Next job is copy ROM games from Desmume (under C:\Desmume\Roms or any directory) into MelonDS directory.
• After that, rename save game that you created from Desmume, just matching game name.
• Example:- ROM game is Digimon Dawn.nds and save game must to be Digimon Dawn.sav
• Next job is open MelonDS and open the games (example Digimon Dawn). Wait until show main menu.
  
• Select Continue (or Load Game depend on games itself) and finally you continue the saved games from Desmume before!

Try it! Is works! If doesn't work, maybe some games required other save game format.... Anyway, enjoy the games!

 

[noctis90210]

i hope this can be ported to 3ds, will it be possible?

 

[StarTrekVoyager]

No. The 3DS can't even handle N64 emulation.

 

[blckshrk]

What's the reason for this emulator having 3 windows?

Nonetheless melonDS is great and I'm sure it's going to be a better emulator than DeSmuME is!
It seems like it doesn't even have those timing issues with Pokemon HGSS that DeSmuME supposedly has and there are no random black dots/lines as well. Nice work!

 

[PeeJay Bonobo]

What's the reason for this emulator having 3 windows?

Nonetheless melonDS is great and I'm sure it's going to be a better emulator than DeSmuME is!
It seems like it doesn't even have those timing issues with Pokemon HGSS that DeSmuME supposedly has and there are no random black dots/lines as well. Nice work!

@StapleButter has stated that he is currently at work on a UI, so you don't have a console, ingame, and a menu window all over your computer screen. Hopefully, this happens by 0.5+, but nonetheless, it's shaping up to be what DeSmuME should've been.

 

[Kioku]

No. The 3DS can't even handle N64 emulation.

What does that have to do with anything? Also, why are we talking about emulating DS on the 3DS again? There's already ways of playing ds games without a flashcard and horrible emulation.

 

[Hayro]

Also, why are we talking about emulating DS on the 3DS again? There's already ways of playing ds games without a flashcard and horrible emulation.

You can't run all DS games on 3DS because of Compatibility problem.

 

[Oleboy555]

No. The 3DS can't even handle N64 emulation.

'there already is a DS emulator...

https://gbatemp.net/threads/wip-3desmume-ds-emulator-for-3ds.430223/