Dreamcast Emu

[acidblue0]

What is the best DC emu? 

[Ginsu Victim]

NullDC

[acidblue0]

Now will it work with a Frontend?

[Deadly]

It's no different from running MAME on a FE.
You will however, have to script each game to mount an ISO via Daemon tools or the likes and then start NullDC. And when game ends scripted to dismount ISO.

[acidblue0]

Where can I learn how to do that?

[massive88]

It's no different from running MAME on a FE.
You will however, have to script each game to mount an ISO via Daemon tools or the likes and then start NullDC. And when game ends scripted to dismount ISO.

Dont have to with NullDC, you can load disc images directly without mounting.

Edit: More complete response.

Edit your NullDC.cfg to make sure emulator auto start and load default image are both = 1

Code: [Select]

; nullDC config file;;
[ImageReader]
DefaultImage=defualt.cdi
PatchRegion=0
LoadDefaultImage=1

[nullDC]
Dynarec.Enabled=1
Dynarec.DoConstantPropagation=1
Dynarec.UnderclockFpu=0
Dreamcast.Cable=0
Dreamcast.RTC=1543288153
Emulator.AutoStart=1
Then use the command line tag -config ImageReader:DefaultImage="imagename.ext"

Here is my mamewah line:

Code: [Select]

emulator_commandline                      c:\Emulators\Sega\nullDCB1.6\nulldc_100b1_6.exe -config ImageReader:DefaultImage="[rompath]\[name].[romext]"{dosbox}{safelaunch}{nocursor}

[Deadly]

Wow that's come a long way from the last time I used it. That's great news. Hows the performance these days?

[massive88]

Ive been using it for a few years, havent updated to the newest version though.

I dont think the speed has changed much, but the compatibility has gotten better.

[acidblue0]

I have the newest version and the cfg file is a little differnet than what you have

Code: [Select]


;; nullDC config file;;
[nullDC]
Dynarec.Enabled=1
Dynarec.DoConstantPropagation=1
Dynarec.UnderclockFpu=0
Dreamcast.Cable=3
Dreamcast.RTC=1843084859
Emulator.AutoStart=0
Emulator.NoConsole=0

[nullDC_plugins]
GUI=nullDC_GUI_Win32.dll
Current_PVR=nullPVR_Win32.dll
Current_GDR=nullGDR_Win32.dll
Current_AICA=nullAICA_Win32.dll
Current_ExtDevice=nullExtDev_Win32.dll
Current_maple0_5=drkMapleDevices_Win32.dll:0
Current_maple1_5=NULL
Current_maple2_5=NULL
Current_maple3_5=NULL
Current_maple0_0=drkMapleDevices_Win32.dll:2
Current_maple0_1=drkMapleDevices_Win32.dll:2
Current_maple0_2=NULL
Current_maple0_3=NULL
Current_maple0_4=NULL

[drkpvr]
Emulation.AlphaSortMode=1
Emulation.PaletteMode=1
Emulation.ModVolMode=1
Emulation.ZBufferMode=3
OSD.ShowFPS=0
OSD.ShowStats=0
Fullscreen.Enabled=0
Fullscreen.Res_X=-1
Fullscreen.Res_Y=-1
Fullscreen.Refresh_Rate=-1
Enhancements.MultiSampleCount=0
Enhancements.MultiSampleQuality=0
Enhancements.AspectRatioMode=1

[ImageReader]
PatchRegion=0
LoadDefaultImage=0
DefaultImage=defualt.gdi
LastImage=c:\game.gdi

[nullAica]
BufferSize=1024
LimitFPS=1
HW_mixing=0
SoundRenderer=1
GlobalFocus=1
BufferCount=1
CDDAMute=0
GlobalMute=0
DSPEnabled=0

[nullExtDev]
mode=0
adapter=0

[ndc_hookjoy]
PortA_CONT_C=66
PortA_CONT_B=88
PortA_CONT_A=86
PortA_CONT_START=16
PortA_CONT_DPAD_UP=38
PortA_CONT_DPAD_DOWN=40
PortA_CONT_DPAD_LEFT=37
PortA_CONT_DPAD_RIGHT=39
PortA_CONT_Z=77
PortA_CONT_Y=90
PortA_CONT_X=67
PortA_CONT_DPAD2_UP=0
PortA_CONT_DPAD2_DOWN=0
PortA_CONT_DPAD2_LEFT=0
PortA_CONT_DPAD2_RIGHT=0
PortA_CONT_ANALOG_UP=73
PortA_CONT_ANALOG_DOWN=75
PortA_CONT_ANALOG_LEFT=74
PortA_CONT_ANALOG_RIGHT=76
PortA_CONT_LSLIDER=65
PortA_CONT_RSLIDER=83
PortB_CONT_C=66
PortB_CONT_B=88
PortB_CONT_A=86
PortB_CONT_START=16
PortB_CONT_DPAD_UP=38
PortB_CONT_DPAD_DOWN=40
PortB_CONT_DPAD_LEFT=37
PortB_CONT_DPAD_RIGHT=39
PortB_CONT_Z=77
PortB_CONT_Y=90
PortB_CONT_X=67
PortB_CONT_DPAD2_UP=0
PortB_CONT_DPAD2_DOWN=0
PortB_CONT_DPAD2_LEFT=0
PortB_CONT_DPAD2_RIGHT=0
PortB_CONT_ANALOG_UP=73
PortB_CONT_ANALOG_DOWN=75
PortB_CONT_ANALOG_LEFT=74
PortB_CONT_ANALOG_RIGHT=76
PortB_CONT_LSLIDER=65
PortB_CONT_RSLIDER=83
PortC_CONT_C=66
PortC_CONT_B=88
PortC_CONT_A=86
PortC_CONT_START=16
PortC_CONT_DPAD_UP=38
PortC_CONT_DPAD_DOWN=40
PortC_CONT_DPAD_LEFT=37
PortC_CONT_DPAD_RIGHT=39
PortC_CONT_Z=77
PortC_CONT_Y=90
PortC_CONT_X=67
PortC_CONT_DPAD2_UP=0
PortC_CONT_DPAD2_DOWN=0
PortC_CONT_DPAD2_LEFT=0
PortC_CONT_DPAD2_RIGHT=0
PortC_CONT_ANALOG_UP=73
PortC_CONT_ANALOG_DOWN=75
PortC_CONT_ANALOG_LEFT=74
PortC_CONT_ANALOG_RIGHT=76
PortC_CONT_LSLIDER=65
PortC_CONT_RSLIDER=83
PortD_CONT_C=66
PortD_CONT_B=88
PortD_CONT_A=86
PortD_CONT_START=16
PortD_CONT_DPAD_UP=38
PortD_CONT_DPAD_DOWN=40
PortD_CONT_DPAD_LEFT=37
PortD_CONT_DPAD_RIGHT=39
PortD_CONT_Z=77
PortD_CONT_Y=90
PortD_CONT_X=67
PortD_CONT_DPAD2_UP=0
PortD_CONT_DPAD2_DOWN=0
PortD_CONT_DPAD2_LEFT=0
PortD_CONT_DPAD2_RIGHT=0
PortD_CONT_ANALOG_UP=73
PortD_CONT_ANALOG_DOWN=75
PortD_CONT_ANALOG_LEFT=74
PortD_CONT_ANALOG_RIGHT=76
PortD_CONT_LSLIDER=65
PortD_CONT_RSLIDER=83
local_port=0
server_addr=192.168.1.33
server_port=11122




[massive88]

Same stuff is in there, just in a different order.  Same headers, so the command line syntax should be the same.

[acidblue0]

Hmmm now it crashes everythime

[massive88]

You also have to make sure that everything works when launching it normally.  To go in and check or fix any other settings, just change the autostart line back to = 0.

[Thenasty]

Hmmm now it crashes everythime

Maybe case the DEFAULT in the config is not the same espeeling as the command line syntax.

[Turnarcades]

I only realised yesterday that next-gen emulation is getting better. Although still a little slow, Dolphin now runs Gamecube (6th-generation) and even Wii (7th generation) very well. I tried it on my dual-core 2.0Ghz PC with only a basic graphics card and most things I threw at it ran with no glitches, if very slow. Apparently if you are using a quad-core with good graphics card and a 64-bit OS, it runs very well and has high compatibility, even with Wii games.

[massive88]

I only realised yesterday that next-gen emulation is getting better. Although still a little slow, Dolphin now runs Gamecube (6th-generation) and even Wii (7th generation) very well. I tried it on my dual-core 2.0Ghz PC with only a basic graphics card and most things I threw at it ran with no glitches, if very slow. Apparently if you are using a quad-core with good graphics card and a 64-bit OS, it runs very well and has high compatibility, even with Wii games.

You sure a quad is much better than a dual core?

I havent messed with Dolphin much.

[DJ_Izumi]

Markaron or whatever it's called seems to be looking to succeed NullDC as the best DC emulator.  Namely because it's actually in development where as NullDC hasn't been updated since mid 2008.

[Shoegazer]

I will confirm that at least for now NullDC is the best DC emu.  However, if you're seeking to run NAOMI, NAOMI 2 and Atomiswave arcade games, you really need to check out Demul as it runs all three fairly well.  As someone else here pointed out, NullDC is seriously lagging in development, due to the author's refocused efforts on porting the emu to the PSP and other such silliness, rather than add some badly needed improvements to accuracy among other features.  In fact at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the emu has seen it's final release.  Demul on the other hand is rapidly improving in many great ways, and is still the only emulator that properly runs the excellent DC game "Propeller Arena".

As for Makaron, well, good luck.  I've gotten it working, but not without a serious amount of hand-editing configuration settings etc.  It's just too user-unfriendly to be worth anything, and the author adds another layer on top of that by refusing to support MAME rom sets.  With NullDC and Demul being in existence there's hardly a reason to use it - it's basically obsolete.

For more info:

http://nonmame.retrogames.com (for Demul)
http://nonmess.retrogames.com (for nullDC)

[Turnarcades]

You sure a quad is much better than a dual core?

I havent messed with Dolphin much.

From what I read around, yes. Having XP64 definitely helps and they are focusing more on that build.