ZSNES
Encyclopedia
ZSNES is a free software
SNES
emulator
written mostly in x86 assembly with official ports for Linux
, MS-DOS
, Mac OS X
, Windows
and an unofficial port for Xbox
.
using Qt.
ZSNES is notable in that it was among the first to emulate most SNES enhancement chips at some level. Until version 1.50, ZSNES featured netplay via TCP/IP or UDP
.
Due to being written in low-level
assembly language
for x86 processors, it is not possible to port ZSNES to devices using RISC processors. Other than the first Xbox
, no mainstream gaming device has ever used an x86 processor.
called ZSNES "very impressive" and praised the "incredible toaster mode" in 2005. It also has a reputation of being one of the fastest SNES emulators available.
However, developers and advocates of competing emulators often criticize ZSNES for its relatively poor accuracy and being written in x86 assembly, meaning non-portability across processor architectures and high difficulty to develop and maintain.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
emulator
Emulator
In computing, an emulator is hardware or software or both that duplicates the functions of a first computer system in a different second computer system, so that the behavior of the second system closely resembles the behavior of the first system...
written mostly in x86 assembly with official ports for Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and an unofficial port for Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
.
Background
Development of ZSNES began on July 3, 1997 and the first version was released on October 14, 1997, for MS-DOS. Since then, official ports have been made for Windows and Linux. The emulator became free software under the GPL license on April 2, 2001. It is still being actively developed despite the departure of its original developers zsKnight and _Demo_. Much of the development efforts concentrate on increasing the emulator's portability, by rewriting assembly code in C and C++, including a new GUIGui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
using Qt.
ZSNES is notable in that it was among the first to emulate most SNES enhancement chips at some level. Until version 1.50, ZSNES featured netplay via TCP/IP or UDP
User Datagram Protocol
The User Datagram Protocol is one of the core members of the Internet Protocol Suite, the set of network protocols used for the Internet. With UDP, computer applications can send messages, in this case referred to as datagrams, to other hosts on an Internet Protocol network without requiring...
.
Due to being written in low-level
Low-level programming language
In computer science, a low-level programming language is a programming language that provides little or no abstraction from a computer's instruction set architecture. Generally this refers to either machine code or assembly language...
assembly language
Assembly language
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...
for x86 processors, it is not possible to port ZSNES to devices using RISC processors. Other than the first Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, no mainstream gaming device has ever used an x86 processor.
Reception
ZSNES is arguably the most popular and highest rated SNES emulator available. It has been also reported as the best Super NES emulator available for Linux. British game magazine Retro GamerRetro Gamer
Retro Gamer is a British magazine, published worldwide, covering retro video games. It was the first commercial magazine to be devoted entirely to the subject. Although launched as a quarterly publication, Retro Gamers soon became a monthly...
called ZSNES "very impressive" and praised the "incredible toaster mode" in 2005. It also has a reputation of being one of the fastest SNES emulators available.
However, developers and advocates of competing emulators often criticize ZSNES for its relatively poor accuracy and being written in x86 assembly, meaning non-portability across processor architectures and high difficulty to develop and maintain.