[fms]

Hello, All!

I have released MasterGear 3.3 for Windows and Linux today, as well as MasterGear 3.3.3 for Android:

http://fms.komkon.org/MG (free Windows and Linux versions)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg (Android version)

The Android version fixes Joystick Layout Editor and adds two more button combinations to open a menu during the game (useful on AndroidTV). The Windows version switches to the texture-based Direct3D rendering. See the full list of changes below.

ALL CHANGES:
* Removed waveform interpolation for more realistic sound.
* Fixed Joystick Layout Editor in MG-Android.
* R1+BACK or L1+BACK opens a menu in MG-Android.
* Switched MG-Windows to Direct3D textures-based rendering.
* Added "Simulate LCD Scanlines" option to MG-Windows.
* Added "Stretch Full Screen" option to MG-Windows.
* Added new icon to MG-Windows.
* Added -lcd and -nolcd command line options.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have added Sega MasterSystem light gun emulation to my MasterGear emulator for Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

The light gun works in such games as Operation Wolf, Safari Hunt, Trap Shooting, and Marksman Shooting. To enable light gun, check the "Settings | Emulation | Light Gun" option. I have also fixed a possible crash in the State Exchange browser, optimized the app for the latest Nvidia Shield AndroidTV device, and made the menu appear when you press both thumbsticks on an AndroidTV gamepad.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added light gun emulation (Operation Wolf, Safari Hunt, etc).
* Added beam position register (port 7Fh).
* Added "Emulation | Light Gun" option to the Settings.
* Fixed a crash in the State Exchange browser.
* Tested and optimized for Nvidia Shield AndroidTV box.
* On AndroidTV, press both thumbsticks down to invoke the menu.
* Reenabled action bar on devices with physical MENU key.

Have fun!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have published MasterGear-Android 3.4.1 this morning:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

The new release adds support for custom virtual joystick skins. To create your own joystick skin, download the template from the web site, edit it, and place it into /sdcard/MasterGear/Controls.png. After that, select "Custom Skin" option in the Layout Editor to see your skin.

I have also made the action bar optional on devices that have a MENU button (and thus do not need the action bar icons). Since many people complained that they cannot find the Cheatopedia or Freeze/Restore options, these options are back in the menu. You can move them to the action bar by checking the "General | Enable Action Bar" option.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added joystick skins, place your own skin into /sdcard/MasterGear/Controls.png.
* Added "Input | Layout Editor | Shape | Custom Skin" option for choosing your skin.
* Sample joystick skin image available at http://fms.komkon.org/EmuAndroid/#Skin.
* Made action bar optional on devices with MENU button (off by default).
* Added "General | Enable Action Bar" option for devices with MENU button.
* Added exception for LG Optimus Zone 2 (does not show submenus).

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have pushed MasterGear-Android 3.4.2 to the Google Play this morning:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

This release beautifies the background image, making sure it attaches to the MasterSystem display with no gaps. If you are storing games on an external SD card, and Android prevents apps from writing to it, MasterGear will save your game states to /sdcard/MasterGear.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added new background image, removing the gap.
* Now automatically creating /sdcard/MasterGear if missing.
* When MasterGear cannot write SD card, it will save to /sdcard/MasterGear.

Have fun!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have updated MasterGear-Android to version 3.4.3, adding support for per-game custom backgrounds:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

You may use a .PNG image of any size for the background, although I usually use 640x800. The bottom part of the background will go off screen, as needed.

ALL CHANGES:
* You can have custom backdrop for Game.sms in Game.sms.back.png.
* Typical backdrop size is 640x800, bottom part may go off-screen.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

MasterGear-Android 3.4.4, a new version of my Sega MasterSystem and GameGear emulator, is now available online:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

It includes two new raster effects, simulating TV or LCD pixel components, and fixes several rather nasty bugs in the Instant Replay feature.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added "Video | Color Mask Effect" selector.
* Added "CMY pixels" and "RGB pixels" special effects.
* Merged "Scale Video" and "Stretch Video" into one selector.
* Fixed memory corruption bug in the instant replay recorder.
* Fixed instant replay not recording the initial state.
* Fixed instant replay not restoring successive states.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have released MasterGear 3.4 for Windows and Linux today, as well as MasterGear 3.4.5 for Android:

http://fms.komkon.org/MG/ -- free Windows and Linux versions
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg -- Android version

The new release adds EPX and EAGLE image scalers, as well as pixel raster simulation (CMY and RGB modes). I have also fixed several crucial bugs in the instant replay feature and added an MG-Windows option to clear file associations. See below for all changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added special effects simulating individual pixel components.
* Added EPX and EAGLE scaling algorithms.
* Fixed memory corruption bug in the instant replay recorder.
* Fixed instant replay not restoring successive states.
* Fixed instant replay not recording the first state.
* Added "Video | Interpolation Effect" selector in MG-Android.
* Renamed "Soften Video" to "2xSal interpolation".
* Switched to android-22 platform and tools (Android Lollipop 5.1.1).
* Merged scanline options into "Simulate Scanlines" in MG-Windows.
* Merged scaling options into "Interpolate Video" in MG-Windows.
* Added "Apply Color Raster" submenu to MG-Windows.
* Added "RGB Raster" and "CMY Raster" options to MG-Windows.
* Added "Clear File Associations" option to MG-Windows.
* Added -rgb and -cmy command line options.
* Added -epx and -eagle command line options.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

The new MasterGear-Android 3.4.6 release comes with a bunch of user-requested fixes and upgraded DropBox algorithms. I have also returned gradient to the action bar, since the single-color Material Design version looked too ugly:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed Cheat Editor not finding .cht files in private SD card folders.
* Fixed BACK key on devices where it did not exit emulation.
* Fixed the first/second gamepad detection.
* Fixed a crash in the File Selector when showing grid.
* Returned gradient to the action bar (sorry, Material Design).
* Amplified pixel color raster effects.
* Switched to v2 authentication in DropBox.
* Upgraded to DropBox SDK 1.6.3.
* Improved the What's New dialog.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have just published MasterGear 3.5 for Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

This release completely changes VRAM access mechanism to comply with the documentation. Among other effects, this change fixes title screen garbage in Wolf Child.

I have also added recognition for five more CodeMasters games and a way to automatically detect other CodeMaster cartridges. More support for custom hardware coming later.

ALL CHANGES:
* Switched to the new VRAM/CRAM/VDP access mechanism.
* Added new CodeMasters mapper detection scheme.
* Fixed serial port status (CJ Elephant Fugitive GG).
* Fixed artefacts in Wolf Child.
* Added CodeMasters game CJ Elephant Fugitive GG.
* Added CodeMasters game Cosmic Spacehead GG.
* Added CodeMasters game Micro Machines GG.
* Added CodeMasters game Micro Machines 2 GG.
* Added CodeMasters game Pete Sampras Tennis GG.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

I updated MasterGear for Windows and Linux to version 3.5:

http://fms.komkon.org/MG/ -- distribution page
http://fms.komkon.org/MG/MG35-Windows-bin.zip -- Windows binary
http://fms.komkon.org/MG/MG35-Ubuntu-x86-bin.zip -- Linux binary

The new version changes accesses to VRAM, CRAM and VDP registers to comply with the documentation, implements 224/240-pixel GameGear video modes, and adds an automated way to detect CodeMasters cartridges. As result, many game glitches, big and small, have been fixed. The Windows version now lets you play audio while the emulator is running in the background.

ALL CHANGES:
* Switched to the new VRAM/CRAM/VDP access mechanism.
* Added 224/240-pixel screen modes for GameGear.
* Added new CodeMasters mapper detection scheme.
* Fixed serial port status (CJ Elephant Fugitive GG).
* Fixed artefacts in Wolf Child.
* Fixed Star Trek GG screen shift.
* Fixed Micro Machines 1/2 GG screen artefacts.
* Fixed most Cosmic Spacehead issues.
* Added CodeMasters game CJ Elephant Fugitive GG.
* Added CodeMasters game Cosmic Spacehead GG.
* Added CodeMasters game Micro Machines GG.
* Added CodeMasters game Micro Machines 2 GG.
* Added CodeMasters game Pete Sampras Tennis GG.
* Amplified pixel color raster effects.
* Added "Play Sound When Inactive" option to MG-Windows.
* Updated MG-Windows "About" box.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

MasterGear 3.5.1 for Android is available from Google Play this morning:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

This update adds more accurate line interrupt generation and 224/240-line screen modes to GameGear emulation (of which GameGear only shows 144 lines, of course). I have also disabled the fixed top rows feature in GameGear mode, since it only makes sense for MasterSystem. These changes fixed screen artifacts in a bunch of games, such as Dynamite Headdy, The Smurfs, and Star Trek.

ALL CHANGES:
* Disabled fixed top rows mode for GameGear.
* Fixed Dynamite Headdy screen flicker.
* Made line interrupt occur later inside a scanline.
* Fixed The Smurfs hangup problem.
* Added 224/240-pixel screen modes for GameGear.
* Fixed Micro Machines 1/2 GG screen artefacts.
* Fixed most Cosmic Spacehead issues.
* Fixed Star Trek GG screen shift.
* Added ability to periodically save gameplay.
* Added "General | Save Emulation State" selector.
* Removed "General | Save State on Exit" option.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

Just published MasterGear 3.5.2 for Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

In this version, you can place shortcuts to your favorite games to the Android home screen. Simply hold your finger on a game entry in the File Selector and then choose "Add to Home Screen" from the popup menu. Similarly, hold an entry in the State Selector to delete it. The on-screen FFWD button is now optional and can be disabled via "General | Show FFWD Button". See below for other changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Add home screen shortcuts via File Selector context menu.
* Long press to delete state in the State Selector.
* State Selector now starts with autosaved slot selected.
* Fixed error messages when screenshots not found in State Selector.
* Fixed individual slot heights in State Selector.
* Fixed State Selector crashes (reported on IUNI devices).
* Added option to hide FFWD button ("General | Show FFWD Button").
* Now disabling FAB button by default on AndroidTV devices.
* Fixed disappearing FAB button.
* Refactored and simplified all EMULib activities.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

The MasterGear 3.5.3 for Android is now online:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

There has been a lot of under the hood changes in this version. The unused Java code is gone, while the pre-android-9 and post-android-8 native libraries have been merged into a single implementation. Pressing the one-time FAB button in the Settings will let you rate the app.

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed volume for high-frequency white noise.
* Added a "Rate Me" FAB button to the Settings (disappears when pressed).
* Cleaned up the Java side, removing deprecated code.
* Merged pre-Gingerbread and post-Gingerbread native code.
* Removed some debug messages from the native side.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have published MasterGear 3.5.4 for Android this morning:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

This release fixes a few bugs in the Joystick Layout Editor and adds ability to assign special functions (menu, replay, etc) to the hardware keys found on your device. Also eliminated the dependence on Apache HTTP APIs that were removed from Android Marshmallow.

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed Layout Editor to always save changes before emulation resumes.
* Made Layout Editor always rotate when device rotated.
* Added "Input | Assign Special Keys" setting.
* Use new setting to assign functions (menu, ffwd, etc) to hardware keys.
* Removed "General | Use PLAY/RECORD Media Keys" option.
* Removed "General | Use FFWD/REWIND Media Keys" option.
* Removed outdated org.apache.http.* API from the State Exchange.

Have fun!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

Today's MasterGear 3.5.5 release for Android fixes several issues in the Joystick Layout Editor and lets you have separate joystick layouts for portrait and landscape modes:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

ALL CHANGES:
* Layout Editor has separate layouts for landscape and portrait modes.
* Adjusted portrait background image in the Layout Editor.
* Fixed dashed lines display in the Layout Editor.
* Removed dormant ChartBoost SDK library.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

MasterGear 3.5.6 for Android, a new version of my MasterSystem, GameGear, and SG-1000 emulator, is now available from Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

The new version fixes fast-scroll index and the file search function in the File Selector. AndroidTV users, whose devices have a system-wide overscan setting, can now disable app-specific overscan by unchecking "General | Add Overscan Margins" option. Finally, I updated the manifest so that third-party apps (like file managers) can invoke MasterGear to play Sega games.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added "General | Add Overscan Margins" option for AndroidTV.
* Fixed fast-scroll index in the File Selector.
* Fixed file search feature on newer Androids.
* Fixed missed item clicks in the File Selector.
* Declared emulation activities enabled for external use.
* Optimized default preferences update on startup.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

MasterGear 3.5.7 for Android fixes button layouts in the Joystick Layout Editor and finally enables the menus on Android TV:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

Starting with this version, the buttons will no longer shift from where you placed them on the screen. Also, since Google for some reason disabled the normal options menu on AndroidTV, I had to simulate it with the context menu. Press both thumbsticks inside the emulator in order to open it.

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed button placement in Joystick Layout Editor.
* Buttons no longer shift from where you set them.
* Custom screen rectangle goes where it should go now.
* Button labels will not distort when custom screen selected.
* Fixed the menu on AndroidTV.
* Added a menu workaround for Google's political idiocy.
* Replaced options menu with context menu for AndroidTV.
* Added "Toggle cheats" special key function.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

MasterGear 3.5.8, a new version of my Sega MasterSystem, GameGear, and SG-1000 emulator, is now available from the Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

This release switches accelerated video rendering from GLES1 to the newer GLES2 APIs. I have also made Cheatopedia, Cheat Editor, and Palette Editor more friendly for the AndroidTV users (and anyone with no touchscreen). From now on, pressing the X button on the gamepad will apply changes made in these dialogs, pressing Y will discard changes. See below for all the changes.

ALL CHANGES:
* Switched to OpenGLES2 rendering for accelerated video.
* OpenGLES2 is faster and allows for future special effects.
* Press X to apply cheats, Y to discard them in Cheatopedia.
* Press X to apply changes, Y to reset them in Cheat Editor.
* Press X to apply changes, Y to reset them in Palette Editor.
* Now disabling Joystick Layout Editor on devices with no touchscreen.

Enjoy!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

MasterGear 3.6 for Android is now online:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

It includes a bunch of hardware-accelerated scanline and color raster effects using GLES2 fragment shaders. To try the new effects, make sure you have "Video | Hardware Acceleration" enabled, then choose wanted effects from the "Video" tab.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added high-quality scanline shader effects.
* Enable "Video | Hardware Acceleration" to see new effects.
* Select scanline effect via "Video | Scanline Effect".
* Added high-quality color raster effects.
* Select raster effect via "Video | Color Mask Effect".

Have fun!

 

[fms]

Hello, All!

MasterGear 3.6.1 for Android is now online:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.mg

This release adds GLES2-accelerated EPX and EAGLE scaling algorithms that you can enable in the "Video" Settings tab. Just make sure you also enable "Video | Hardware Acceleration", or the slow, CPU-based algorithms will be used.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added EPX and EAGLE scaling algorithms using GLES2 shaders.
* Enable "Video | Hardware Acceleration" to see new algorithms.
* Select scaling algorithm via "Video | Scale Video".
* You can combine scaling, scanline, and color raster effects.

Enjoy!