MasterGear-Android 2.7.1 Published

[fms]

Hello, All!

The next MasterGear 3.1.3 for Android is now available from Google Play:

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

The new release comes with the accurate PSG noise channel emulation, with the random noise generator implemented exactly the way documentation describes it. Android KitKat+ users will also find they can use the "immersive mode" to reveal/hide the user interface. I have also added cheats for 12 more GameGear games.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added accurate SN76489 noise channel emulation.
* Added configurable noise generator API to EMULib.
* Added Android immersive mode support.
* You must start or finish your fling at the top to toggle title bar.
* Added 12 new GameGear games to the Cheatopedia.
* Added Faceball 2000 and Frogger to the Cheatopedia.
* Added F15 Strike Eagle and Formula 1 to the Cheatopedia.
* Added Fatal Fury and Fantasy Zone to the Cheatopedia.

Have fun!

[fms]

Hello, All!

The next MasterGear-Android 3.1.5 is now online:

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

It emulates the 8bit Sega MasterSystem, Sega GameGear, and SG-1000 gaming consoles from Sega. MasterGear will also emulate SC-3000 home computer. This week's changes include translucent immersive UI on Kitkat+ Androids and separate settings for the media buttons, found on many Bluetooth devices. See below for the complete list.

ALL CHANGES:
* Made system UI translucent when immersive mode is on.
* Fixed the File Selector Search to properly find storage.
* Added "Use PLAY/RECORD Media Keys" option.
* When enabled, RECORD saves, PLAY restores gameplay.
* Added "Use FFWD/REWIND Media Keys" option.
* When enabled, FFWD fast-forwards, REWIND replays.
* Built package with the latest Android SDK.

Enjoy!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have released MasterGear-Android 3.1.6 this morning, a new version of my Sega MasterSystem and GameGear emulator:

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

This is the last MasterGear release this year. It fixes a bunch of OpenGLES-related bugs, adds scaling for bigger screens, support for split windows and popups on Samsung Galaxy devices. You can now search for a game by its name from the File Selector. Finally, in response to many requests, I removed unused virtual buttons from the top of the screen.

ALL CHANGES:
* Removed FIREL/FIRER buttons off the screen.
* Added split-screen and popup window modes on Samsung devices.
* Added searching by name to the File Selector Search.
* Added assembler scaling routines for 1280x1120+ screens.
* Fixed auto frame skip when OpenGLES video enabled.
* Fixed reenabling UI with a fling on Kitkat+ phones.
* Reenabled automatic frame skip by default.
* Reenabled accelerated video and audio by default.
* You can now fling from the top or the bottom to toggle UI.
* Removed deprecated code, settings, and resources.

Have fun!

[fms]

Hello, All!

A new MasterGear release is out:

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

MasterGear 3.1.7 will run in split-screen and pop-up window modes on Samsung devices, adds an option to always show box art rather than screenshots, makes File Selector images bigger, and fixes a bunch of bugs. See below for the complete change list.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added "Show Box Art First" option to the File Selector.
* Fixed OpenGLES lockups on Mali GPUs (Samsung, RK, etc).
* Fixed running MasterGear in the lower half of split-screen.
* Fixed flickering border when simulating scanlines on x86 devices.
* Made screenshots and box art display bigger on large screens.
* Hiding the title bar is now the default behavior.
* Fixed premature hiding of the title bar.

Enjoy!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have updated my Sega MasterSystem and GameGear emulator, MasterGear-Android, to version 3.1.8:

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

This update introduces Material theme on Lollipop+ devices, replaces all UI icons with newer versions, and makes a few more preparations for switching to a new UI paradigm.

ALL CHANGES:
* Now targeting Lollipop, Froyo+ still works though.
* Now using Material theme on Lollipop.
* Updated all icons to the newest Lollipop versions.
* Retired some icons, replacing them with better fitting ones.
* Removed app name from all title bars, to save space.
* GBA link now redirects to VGBAnext.

Have fun!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have published MasterGear-Android 3.2 tonight:

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

In this version, I have added initial AndroidTV support, fixed a bunch of UI bugs, and patched Moga and License Verification libraries to work on Android Lollipop. As result, the new MasterGear now uses android-21 APIs (i.e. Lollipop). If you have a real AndroidTV device, please, test the app and let me know how well it works. I do not have an AndroidTV to fully test it myself.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added experimental AndroidTV support. Please, test!
* Added tiles to the File Selector grid view.
* Fixed screenshots and highlight in the State Selector.
* Fixed Moga library to work on Android Lollipop.
* Fixed LVL library to work on Android Lollipop.
* Fixed screenshot sizes int the State Exchange.
* Fixed black banding in the Palette Editor.
* Fixed text color in the Gallery.
* Switched to android-21 API, as required by AndroidTV.

Enjoy!

[fms]

I have published MasterGear-Android 3.2.1, as well as free MasterGear 3.2 for Windows and Linux:

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

Starting with this release, MasterGear should show up in the Google Play Store for AndroidTV. I have also enabled the button assignment dialog on devices without touch screens (e.g. AndroidTV), fixed the emulation settings and further improved the user interface. People, who asked if they can supply their own ROM database, will find their wish granted in this release.

Since this is the first Windows and Linux release since MasterGear 2.6, there is quite a lot of changes in the desktop version. Just like its Android sibling, the desktop version now supports ActionReplay cheat codes (press [F5]), translation patches, instant replay (press [F8]), and the semi-automated cheat search (press [F5]). There are also major updates to Z80 CPU and SN76489 PSG emulation. See below for the complete list of changes.

ANDROID CHANGES:
* Released free MasterGear 3.2 for Windows and Linux.
* When assigning keys, DPAD_CENTER button confirms assignments.
* You can add your own game names database in "/sdcard/MasterGear/names.dat".
* Fixed Emulation Settings not showing up from File Selector.
* Removed unnecessary group inside Emulation Settings.
* Added the "up" button to the main emulator title bar.
* Cleaned up and beautified the File Selector grid view.
* MasterGear now shows up in the Google Play for AndroidTV.
* Fixed multiple build warnings.

WINDOWS/LINUX CHANGES:
* MG-Windows is now free for everyone to use and share.
* Added .IPS patch support. For "mygame.sms", name your patch file "mygame.ips".
* Added support for ActionReplay cheats.
* Added automatic gameplay recording (press [F8] to replay).
* Added cheat hunter tool for finding new cheats.
* Added accurate Z80 R register emulation.
* Added accurate Z80 LDIR/LDDR opcode emulation.
* Fixed a bug in the Z80 CPDR opcode.
* Added undocumented opcode 71h to the Z80 emulation.
* Added accurate SN76489 noise channel emulation.
* Switched SN76489 PSG to logarithmic volumes.
* Corrected SN76489 PSG base frequency.
* Improved audio quality, removing harmonics.
* Made sure audio updates after restoring state.
* Added configurable noise generator API to EMULib.
* Added automatic hardware selection for some games.
* Micro Machines works out of the box now.
* MLB Majors Pro Baseball works out of the box now.
* Added "vertical scanlines" and "raster" visual effects.

Have fun!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have just updated MasterGear for Android to version 3.2.4:

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

In this release, I have slightly changed the way VDP behaves when someone tries writing into VRAM while in read mode. While it is generally a bug, but some programmers still did it for unknown reasons. This VDP change fixed graphical glitches in Klax (both MasterSystem and GameGear versions), Astrowarrior, and Wolf Child.

I have also improved the user interface, adding the navigation menu and a separate "tile view" option to the File Selector. Please note that all File Selector view toggles have moved to the top-left corner navigation menu.

ALL CHANGES:
* Fixed VRAM writes when VDP is in read mode.
* Fixed graphical glitches in Klax (both SMS and GG).
* Fixed title screen garbage in Wolf Child.
* Fixed corrupted explosion craters in AstroWarrior.
* Added 15 new GameGear games to the Cheatopedia.
* Added navigation menu to the File Selector.
* Added tile view to the File Selector.
* Added "up" button to the main emulator title bar.
* Made "grid view" and "tile view" options separate.
* Moved File Selector view toggles to the navigation menu.
* Enabled application-wide hardware acceleration.
* Improved "What's New" page formatting.

Have fun!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have just uploaded MasterGear 3.2.5 for Android devices to Google Play:

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

The latest version adds the floating action button to run the last played game and optimizes controls for gamepad-based Android devices, such as Nvidia Shield Portable.

ALL CHANGES:
* Added floating action button that starts the last played game.
* Added "Show Action Button" option to the Settings.
* Optimized controls for Nvidia SHIELD Portable and similar devices.
* FIRE-R, FIRE-Y, and SELECT buttons open File Selector main menu.
* FIRE-X button opens File Selector navigation menu.
* FIRE-L button opens Gallery from the File Selector.
* FIRE-B button now exits File Selector.
* Fixed crash when detecting an outdated version.

Have fun!

[fms]

Hello, All!

I have updated MasterGear-Android to version 3.3 today:

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

Since I have got an ADT-1 AndroidTV box to test on, this version contains many optimizations for AndroidTV and other devices without touchscreens. The gamepad BACK key now exits the emulator, while pressing A+BACK will open the menu. The "Assign Keys" dialog has been redesigned to completely avoid the touchscreen use. I have also updated the banner image and added overscan border on AndroidTV devices

ALL CHANGES:
* Removed waveform interpolation for more realistic sound.
* Optimized app for AndroidTV, tested on the ADT-1 box.
* Added overscan border on AndroidTV devices.
* Added hints to the emulator and key mapping dialog.
* Fixed crashes on devices with no web browser (e.g. ADT-1).
* Replaced AndroidTV banner image.
* Enabled gamepad-only emulation interface.
* Press BACK on gamepad to exit emulation.
* Press MODE or BUTTON_A+BACK to open menu.
* Press BUTTON_X if you have no SELECT button.
* Press BUTTON_Y if you have no START button.
* Xperia CIRCLE button now acts as BUTTON_B.
* Redesigned key mapping dialog.
* Press same key twice to remove it from assignments.
* Press same key three times to confirm key mappings.
* DPAD_CENTER key no longer confirms key mappings.

Enjoy!