bsnes 2014 Performance Core: RetroArch Setup Reference (Source Summary)

bsnes 2014 Performance is the bsnes v094 core packaged in RetroArch as `bsnes2014_performance_libretro`. The current bsnes is a separate core documented on its own page. bsnes is a Super Nintendo emulator whose development began on 2004-10-14; it favors accuracy and clean code over speed and compatibility hacks, so its minimum system requirements are higher than other emulators. bsnes ships in three profiles — accuracy, balanced and performance — which differ slightly in PPU (graphics) emulation. This core is compiled with the Performance profile.

Core basics

• Core file name: `bsnes2014_performance_libretro`
• Author: byuu
• License: GPLv3
• Internal core name: 'bsnes'

Content extensions and databases

The core loads content with these file extensions: .sfc, .smc and .bml. The RetroArch databases associated with it are Nintendo - Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo - Super Nintendo Entertainment System Hacks, and Nintendo - Sufami Turbo.

Firmware and special chip games

Required or optional firmware files go in the frontend's system directory. The core uses split ROMs for special chip games, so co-processor firmware files may be needed for titles that use those chips.

Supported frontend features

The core respects these frontend-level features: Restart, Screenshots, Saves, States, Rewind, Netplay, Memory Monitoring (achievements), RetroArch Cheats, Controls, Remapping, Subsystem, Softpatching and Crop Overscan. Features it does not support include Core Options, Native Cheats, Rumble, Sensors, Camera, Location, Disk Control, Username, Language and LEDs. Multi-Mouse is not listed as supported.

Saves and save states

The core saves cartridge battery data to the frontend's save directory as 'content-name'.srm, and save states to the frontend's state directory as 'content-name'.state#.

Geometry and timing

The core reports 60.0988118623 FPS for NTSC games and 50.0069789082 FPS for PAL games, a sample rate of 32040.5 Hz, and an aspect ratio of 4/3.

Super Game Boy support and its limits

For Super Game Boy support you need sgb.boot.rom in RetroArch's system directory, a Game Boy ROM and a Super Game Boy ROM. The Game Boy and Super Game Boy ROMs must be unzipped. Support is provided via the Subsystem API.

• 1. In RetroArch's Main Menu, use 'Load Super GameBoy' and select the Game Boy ROM.
• 2. In RetroArch's Menu Menu, use 'Load Super GameBoy' and select the Super GameBoy ROM.
• 3. In RetroArch's Menu Menu, select 'Start GameBoy' to launch the content.

retroarch -L {path to bsnes core} {path to Super GameBoy ROM} --subsystem sgb {path to GameBoy rom}

MSU-1 support

MSU-1 support in this core is described in the documentation as complex. MSU-1 support can be used by loading a correct .bml file. The source also links to standalone higan documentation for loading MSU-1 games.

Controller device types

In the controls menu, User 1 can be set to None, SNES Joypad (default) or SNES Mouse. User 2 can be set to None, SNES Joypad (default), SNES Mouse, Multitap, SuperScope, Justifier, or Justifiers. Selecting the Multitap device type for User 2 enables multitap support in compatible games, allowing up to five players. The Justifiers option plugs in two Justifiers for two-player Justifier games.

Documented compatibility issues

The source lists specific known issues rather than an overall compatibility rating, so treat this as a record of documented problems, not a complete compatibility statement. Mega Man X2 and Mega Man X3 are listed as displaying only a black screen.

Related cores

The documentation lists other SNES cores alongside this one, including bsnes 2014 Accuracy, bsnes 2014 Balanced, the bsnes-mercury variants, bsnes-jg, bsnes C++98 (v085), Beetle bsnes, higan Accuracy, nSide Balanced, Mesen-S, and the Snes9x family. Choosing among them is left to the reader in the source.