emulation.net News Archives

November 1998

Happy Thanksgiving!
Richard Bannister has released a new ROM info utility, SMS/GG ROM Info. Also, all of his other ROM Info utilities have been updated to fix a bug which caused sporadic problems.
Power PC Engine has been updated to version 0.3.8b3.

New versions of Genesis ROM Info and NES ROM Info have been released. The interface has been redone, and the 15-second delay for unregistered users on startup has been replaced with a 15-file conversion limit.
A reader notes that a British company, System Solutions, is selling MagiCMac 6.0 for Ł89 plus shipping, which works out to around $160 in US dollars--a small but significant savings over the usual price of $189.
Per Persson is developing a new emulator for the Memotech MTX512 computer. He has recently released screenshots of the emulator playing Backgammon and another game.

The SNES9X source code for version 1.1.2 has been released. This contains some fairly useful NetSprocket sample code, if you've ever been interested in how to write net-based games.

Power PC Engine has been updated to version 0.3.8b2! This version includes several optimizations to the video and sound code, so it should run faster than before.
SNES9X has been updated to version 1.1.2! This version has full support for NetPlay, thanks to Apple's NetSprocket! (Note: a LAN is highly recommended; NetPlay over the Internet can be very, very slow.)
Due to overwhelming reader concern, emulation.net will not be transitioning to Stuffit 5.0 format. Stuffit 4.5 will be used for the time being. When some of the more pressing issues have been fixed in Stuffit 5.0, this decision may be reevaluated. Virtual Gameboy has been re-uploaded in the Stuffit 4.5 format. However, in order to conserve server bandwidth, new files will be uploaded in MacBinary format instead of BinHex. If files downloaded from emulation.net no longer automatically decompress, you may need to drag them on Stuffit Expander manually.

Virtual Gameboy has been updated to version 1.3! This version offers improved Gameboy Color support, and fixes several glitches from previous versions.
Generator has been updated to version 0.03b3! This version now supports GZ-compressed ROMs.
TO8/MacOS has been updated to version 0.7. This version features improved disk emulation.

MacMAME has been updated to version 0.34b7! This version includes support for games based on the TMS34010 processor, such as Mortal Kombat! Unfortunately these games run extremely slowly, even on G3s.
Several readers have reported the recent disappearance of MacMAME.org. Fortunately, this is only a temporary problem; the server is being reconfigured due to a recent move. It should be back up shortly.
A Japanese patch for MacMAME 0.34b6 is available; hopefully it will soon be replaced by a patch for the newly released version 0.34b7.
Power PC Engine has been updated to version 0.3.8b1! This version can load GZ-compressed ROMs.
Italian and Japanese versions of SNES9X have been released.

SNES9X has been updated to version 1.1.1.1! Mario Kart has been significantly improved in this update. Also, SRAMs and freeze files can now be saved in the same folder as the SNES9X application--useful for storing SNES ROMs on read-only media like CD-Rs.
A new Genesis emulator called Generator has been released! It offers speedy emulation but limited compatibility and almost no sound.
Mac OS Daily has posted a cute article in praise of MacMAME.
A few readers have reported difficulty in downloading files from emulation.net recently. If downloaded files are coming out corrupt or incomplete, try using a wonderful utility called Monica.
Japanese versions of iNES 0.7.1+, Virtual Gameboy 1.2.1, and Master Gear 1.2 have been released, compliments of Ryumu!
Bernie ][ the Rescue has received a minor update, fixing a crash bug that occured in rare circumstances.

The emulation table below was cleaned up significantly, removing the need for a separate text-only jump table. (Older browsers that don't support style sheets may look a little strange with the new table, unfortunately.)
Rebirth has been updated to version 2.0.1! The demo version has been posted as well.
Users report that in addition to Insignia's previously noted $50 rebate on SoftWindows 98 for users of other emulators, there is also a $40 rebate on SoftWindows 98 for all new customers until December 31. It appears that the two rebates cannot be combined, however.
It appears that Microsoft has pinpointed the bug which caused crashes when loading emulation.net with Internet Explorer on some machines! Beta testers of America Online 4.0 (which has the Internet Explorer core built-in) should find that version 4.0b74(a) solves the problem once and for all. Unfortunately, I don't know if a patch is planned for the standalone version of Internet Explorer in the near future.

Bernie ][ the Rescue has been updated to version 2.0 (prerelease)! This version features industrial-strength communications support, vastly improved customization features, Zip Chip emulation, and more optimizations. Although still a prerelease, all Bernie users should be very pleased with this new version!
PowerPCEngine has been updated to version 0.3.7! This fixes several bugs in the user interface code.
The House of Coins is back up! It's fantastic to see the return of this beautifully-designed emulation page from Germany.
A new Genesis emulator for the Mac is coming soon! Although the first release may not have full sound support, it is claimed to be very fast and is fairly compatible!
A Java-based ZX Spectrum emulator called Hob was recently developed--this will probably run slowly under Netscape Java, so I recommend that this be run with the Java Applet Runner.
SNES9X 1.1.1 has been translated into Japanese and Swedish.
An emulation.net page was created for the Nintendo 64.
The Site of the Week has been updated!

Send feedback to emulation.net.
Back to emulation.net.

	Happy Thanksgiving! Richard Bannister has released a new ROM info utility, SMS/GG ROM Info. Also, all of his other ROM Info utilities have been updated to fix a bug which caused sporadic problems. Power PC Engine has been updated to version 0.3.8b3.
	New versions of Genesis ROM Info and NES ROM Info have been released. The interface has been redone, and the 15-second delay for unregistered users on startup has been replaced with a 15-file conversion limit. A reader notes that a British company, System Solutions, is selling MagiCMac 6.0 for Ł89 plus shipping, which works out to around $160 in US dollars--a small but significant savings over the usual price of $189. Per Persson is developing a new emulator for the Memotech MTX512 computer. He has recently released screenshots of the emulator playing Backgammon and another game.
	The SNES9X source code for version 1.1.2 has been released. This contains some fairly useful NetSprocket sample code, if you've ever been interested in how to write net-based games.
	Power PC Engine has been updated to version 0.3.8b2! This version includes several optimizations to the video and sound code, so it should run faster than before. SNES9X has been updated to version 1.1.2! This version has full support for NetPlay, thanks to Apple's NetSprocket! (Note: a LAN is highly recommended; NetPlay over the Internet can be very, very slow.) Due to overwhelming reader concern, emulation.net will not be transitioning to Stuffit 5.0 format. Stuffit 4.5 will be used for the time being. When some of the more pressing issues have been fixed in Stuffit 5.0, this decision may be reevaluated. Virtual Gameboy has been re-uploaded in the Stuffit 4.5 format. However, in order to conserve server bandwidth, new files will be uploaded in MacBinary format instead of BinHex. If files downloaded from emulation.net no longer automatically decompress, you may need to drag them on Stuffit Expander manually.
	Virtual Gameboy has been updated to version 1.3! This version offers improved Gameboy Color support, and fixes several glitches from previous versions. Generator has been updated to version 0.03b3! This version now supports GZ-compressed ROMs. TO8/MacOS has been updated to version 0.7. This version features improved disk emulation.
	MacMAME has been updated to version 0.34b7! This version includes support for games based on the TMS34010 processor, such as Mortal Kombat! Unfortunately these games run extremely slowly, even on G3s. Several readers have reported the recent disappearance of MacMAME.org. Fortunately, this is only a temporary problem; the server is being reconfigured due to a recent move. It should be back up shortly. A Japanese patch for MacMAME 0.34b6 is available; hopefully it will soon be replaced by a patch for the newly released version 0.34b7. Power PC Engine has been updated to version 0.3.8b1! This version can load GZ-compressed ROMs. Italian and Japanese versions of SNES9X have been released.
	SNES9X has been updated to version 1.1.1.1! Mario Kart has been significantly improved in this update. Also, SRAMs and freeze files can now be saved in the same folder as the SNES9X application--useful for storing SNES ROMs on read-only media like CD-Rs. A new Genesis emulator called Generator has been released! It offers speedy emulation but limited compatibility and almost no sound. Mac OS Daily has posted a cute article in praise of MacMAME. A few readers have reported difficulty in downloading files from emulation.net recently. If downloaded files are coming out corrupt or incomplete, try using a wonderful utility called Monica. Japanese versions of iNES 0.7.1+, Virtual Gameboy 1.2.1, and Master Gear 1.2 have been released, compliments of Ryumu! Bernie ][ the Rescue has received a minor update, fixing a crash bug that occured in rare circumstances.
	The emulation table below was cleaned up significantly, removing the need for a separate text-only jump table. (Older browsers that don't support style sheets may look a little strange with the new table, unfortunately.) Rebirth has been updated to version 2.0.1! The demo version has been posted as well. Users report that in addition to Insignia's previously noted $50 rebate on SoftWindows 98 for users of other emulators, there is also a $40 rebate on SoftWindows 98 for all new customers until December 31. It appears that the two rebates cannot be combined, however. It appears that Microsoft has pinpointed the bug which caused crashes when loading emulation.net with Internet Explorer on some machines! Beta testers of America Online 4.0 (which has the Internet Explorer core built-in) should find that version 4.0b74(a) solves the problem once and for all. Unfortunately, I don't know if a patch is planned for the standalone version of Internet Explorer in the near future.
	Bernie ][ the Rescue has been updated to version 2.0 (prerelease)! This version features industrial-strength communications support, vastly improved customization features, Zip Chip emulation, and more optimizations. Although still a prerelease, all Bernie users should be very pleased with this new version! PowerPCEngine has been updated to version 0.3.7! This fixes several bugs in the user interface code. The House of Coins is back up! It's fantastic to see the return of this beautifully-designed emulation page from Germany. A new Genesis emulator for the Mac is coming soon! Although the first release may not have full sound support, it is claimed to be very fast and is fairly compatible! A Java-based ZX Spectrum emulator called Hob was recently developed--this will probably run slowly under Netscape Java, so I recommend that this be run with the Java Applet Runner. SNES9X 1.1.1 has been translated into Japanese and Swedish. An emulation.net page was created for the Nintendo 64. The Site of the Week has been updated!