The Lesser Talked About Consoles.

[TyBO!]

I know there has been a lot of speculation about whether PS1 emulation will be possible on the GP2X, and there's even some talk about N64, but what about the less mainstream systems that were slightly less powerful than PS1?

Specifically:

Sega Saturn
Sega CD
32X
Atari Jaguar
3DO
NeoGeo (or NeoGeo CD)

I know Sega Saturn is probably unrealistic (I can hope, right?), but are any of the others I listed likely candidates for full speed (or close to it) emulation on the GP2X?

 

[Cahaz]

Sega Saturn isn't realistic. It's a very though and complex console, and even if we can emulated in some way the psx, i doubt very much we'll see a saturn emulator, even not at full framrate. 32x is very likely, and so is sega cd. In fact, the 32x is a bit like a superior super nes with more colors, better cpu built-in 3d capability chip, scaling, rotating, and all. the genesis is already (near) perfectly emulated on gp32, and that system is the base of the 32x. Neo geo? I doubt we won't be able to, but we'll get some problems with roms bigger than 60 mo, but i'm sure that somehow we'll find a way to get those roms working. Maybe with the help of the flash, or with a method that would only load of the SD card what you'll need in the game, in near future. cuting the games in parts would also be something to consider. Neo geo CD would be easier, but games are laking.

as for 3do and Jaguar, i don't know these systems from the hardware point of view enough to tell.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Sega Saturn isn't realistic. It's a very though and complex console, and even if we can emulated in some way the psx, i doubt very much we'll see a saturn emulator, even not at full framrate. 32x is very likely, and so is sega cd. In fact, the 32x is a bit like a superior super nes with more colors, better cpu built-in 3d capability chip, scaling, rotating, and all. the genesis is already (near) perfectly emulated on gp32, and that system is the base of the 32x. Neo geo? I doubt we won't be able to, but we'll get some problems with roms bigger than 60 mo, but i'm sure that somehow we'll find a way to get those roms working. Maybe with the help of the flash, or with a method that would only load of the SD card what you'll need in the game, in near future. cuting the games in parts would also be something to consider. Neo geo CD would be easier, but games are laking.

as for 3do and Jaguar, i don't know these systems from the hardware point of view enough to tell.

​

The best Saturn emulators only start offering decent results in +2GHz PC's with the latest 3D cards.

And I don't think 32X will be emulated either (although I'd love it! ). It's almost as complex as a Sega Saturn and it also requires fast (+500Mhz) processing.

 

[TyBO!]

Woohoo... possibly NeoGeo/Sega CD!

Thanks for the thorough analysis Cahaz and Segata... does anybody know anything about 3DO or Jaguar?

 

[Goity]

I think reesy may be working on a cd or 32x emu, I can't remember which.

And the saturn was ridiculously complex, even for the developers.

 

[junker]

sega cd..definitely. sonic cd on the go
neo mvs is likely, too.

 

[efegea]

32X is megadrive+one or two SH2 proccesors....I don't think GP2X can emulate ALL chips at full framerate

segacd is the same, megadrive+additional proccesors

 

[jmetal88]

I think it would be rediculous to expect Jaguar emulation. The core processor wouldn't be any problem for the GPx2 (or even GP32), but the thing has 4 more processors you'd have to worry about (that is, the dual-core GPU and DSP processors). Project Tempest is the only good Jaguar emulator out there and it requires a 2 ghz computer to run any games as a good speed.

 

[deadlychicken22]

I would love to have a sega cd emulator or sega cd supported by DrMD. All bow down to the almighty reesy! (and with a little luck and some donations, it might be possible )

 

[abigsmurf]

wonder if it can do mega CD 32X games (ones where you needed both the addons)...

I think I only ever saw one game advertised as this

 

[Huxley]

32X is megadrive+one or two SH2 proccesors....I don't think GP2X can emulate ALL chips at full framerate

segacd is the same, megadrive+additional proccesors

​

I could be wrong, but isn't that pretty much what a NeoGeo is? I mean, if we're tlaking about Neogeo emulation why not Sega CD or 32X?

I think it would be rediculous to expect Jaguar emulation.

True, but I'm sure there would be more advanced Jaguar emulators out there if was more demand.

 

[Cahaz]

wonder if it can do mega CD 32X games (ones where you needed both the addons)...

I think I only ever saw one game advertised as this

​

i doubt very much that we'll be able both sega cd and 32x, with the genesis at the same time. There's like 5 games that supports sega cd 32x anyway..

we'll start by sega cd and/or 32x separately first.

as for 32x being emulated on 500+ mhz machines, it depends on the emulator. some emulators are well written, others are not. you can see greatly written neo geo emulators running at good speed on 300mhz machines. And you need to remember that consoles or handhelds aren't working like PCs. You're continusly running an OS that is continusly running alot of backround programs that you don't even know about if you're not going deeper into the PC experience. OSes and their back running programs are very demanding from a CPU and RAM point of view. While you might think the gp2x is using Linux as its OS, consider that they're not running it while running games, that's why 300mhz home consoles can run games that 600 mhz PCs couldn't.

 

[TreIII]

So maybe it's true that the Sega Saturn has no real chance of being emulated on the 2X...what about the base arcade boards from which some of the games came, like the Model2 (Virtua Fighter, Fighting Vipers, etc.)? Virtual On on the go would be a dream come true...

Heh, this brings up another question altogether, what about certain arcade boards, like say the one that Capcom used for its short run on 3D games like Rival Schools, and perhaps what Namco used for the early Tekken games (1-3)? Granted, the 2X isn't a 3D-based console, but for if we're seriously thinking that PSX is a possibility, we should give thought to these arcade boards which hosted some of the games that got ported to said system. Not only would it be perhaps be a bit more "on" to emulate the original hardware, we could possibly have better performance running the games on their native hardware. I would think this would be preferred over going all around the mulberry bush to get different bios and different configuration settings and plug-ins together for a PSX emulator to do the same damn thing, with arguably "worse" versions of the games in some cases.

 

[Prophet]

I could be wrong, but isn't that pretty much what a NeoGeo is? I mean, if we're tlaking about Neogeo emulation why not Sega CD or 32X?

No, NeoGeo is nothing like SegaCD.

NeoGeo and NeoGeoCD have a single 68000 CPU (and a Z80). Just like the plain old Genesis/Megadrive. The Neo is just clocked 50% higher and has a much beefier AV setup compared to Genesis (way more sprites, colors, backgrounds etc.)

Whereas SegaCD requires a Genesis PLUS a second (faster clocked) 68000 CPU on the CD unit itself, along with extra AV support chips. A lot more to emulate there than for NeoGeo, it's really like two entire systems. 32X comprises a bonifide 32bit system, with dual SH2 CPU's each clocked at 23Mhz - all added ON TOP of a Genesis. Again, like two entirre systems, but even more powerful.

I think SegaCD might be doable, not sure how fast. Hopefully Reesy will give it a try and will find out. 32X, not happening - emulating dual 32bit SH2's each clocked at 23Mhz on GP2X, no way IMO.

And Jaguar and Saturn are pipe dreams. The only way you'll see those emulated on GP2X is if you're really, REALLY high. Likewise for Sega Model 2 hardware. As for PSX based arcade boards - assuming PSX does get emu'd on GPX2 it's very doubtful that it would fast enough to make something like Tekken very playable. So let's get past that hurdle before moving to a slightly higher one.

And anyone pinning their hopes for emulated 3D games like Tekken and Virtua Fighter on GP2X - you might want to do a reality check. This is starting to sound like people who bought a GP32 expecting good/perfect SNES and GBA emulation, and then being upset when they found the GBA emus were mostly useless, and SNES emus left much to be desired. If you're getting a GP2X for 3D system emulation, or 32bit system emulation - rethink your purchase. Because you're most likely going to end up very disappointed. Think GP32 on steroids, not handheld desktop PC.

 

[supaimposter]

if u want 3d stuff then the Giz i sthe only way to go homebrew on its way very very soon

 

[x68000]

Some crazy suggestions are flying around here!! Let's keep this realistic and great things will surely come out of this. There are already many mainstream and obscure linux emus already out which will hopefully convert easily to the gp2x ranging from snes to x68000. IMO i think the following will find their way onto the system.

SNES, Amiga, CPS2, Neo Geo CD, X68000, Mega CD, PC Engine Super and Arcade CD.

Now If these can be emulated competently, and with the kind of support this community has, there should be no reason why they won't materilaise. Better start stocking up on 1gb SD cards

 

[Huxley]

Whereas SegaCD requires a Genesis PLUS a second (faster clocked) 68000 CPU on the CD unit itself, along with extra AV support chips. A lot more to emulate there than for NeoGeo, it's really like two entire systems. 32X comprises a bonifide 32bit system, with dual SH2 CPU's each clocked at 23Mhz - all added ON TOP of a Genesis. Again, like two entirre systems, but even more powerful.

Wow, that was a lot of wasted hardware. :rolleyes:

 

[junker]

not wasted
there were some good mega cd titles.

oh yeah, how's homebrew on the giz looking?

 

[supaimposter]

its looking real good at the moment hoping to see some real movement in a week or so
Firefly seems to be doing a real good job at the mo

 

[TyBO!]

supaimposter - Is there a good/popular Gizmondo homebrew website? I'd be curious to see what's coming out on this platform...