Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- systems:colecovision [2024/01/10 16:44] – [Controls] toccata10
+++ systems:colecovision [2026/05/20 18:16] (current) – wizzard
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-<WRAP center round todo>
-This article needs some TLC. Read at your own risk.
-</WRAP>
 <WRAP group>
 <WRAP round box twothirds column>
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 ====== ColecoVision ======
 The ColecoVision is a second-generation video-game console produced by Coleco Industries. It retailed for $174.99 and had a Zilog Z80 CPU at 3.58 MHz with 8KB of RAM. Due to poor sales of the console (maybe related to the video-game crash in North America) Coleco Industries filed for bankruptcy soon after. It was notable for providing a close-to-arcade experiences for some games. Masayuki Uemura, head of [[systems:nes|Famicom]] development, stated that the ColecoVision set the bar that influenced how he approached the creation of the Famicom.
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 ==== Quick reference ====
+  * **Emulator:** [[#retroarch|RetroArch]], [[#openmsx|OpenMSX]] or [[#clk|CLK]]
-  * **Emulator:** [[#retroarch|RetroArch]]
+  * **Core:** [[#libretro_bluemsx|libretro: bluemsx]] (default), [[#libretro_gearcoleco|libretro: gearcoleco]]
-  * **Core:** [[#libretro:_bluemsx|libretro: bluemsx]]
   * **Folder:** ''/userdata/roms/colecovision''
   * **Accepted ROM formats:** ''.bin'', ''.col'', ''.rom'', ''.zip'', ''.7z''
 ===== BIOS =====
+==== RetroArch (BlueMSX) ====
+The BlueMSX core requires external database and machine files. Download the standalone BlueMSX emulator from [[http://bluemsx.msxblue.com/rel_download/blueMSXv282full.zip|this URL]] and extract the ''Databases'' and ''Machines'' folders into ''/userdata/bios/''.
-No ColecoVision emulator in Batocera needs a BIOS file to run.
+Ensure the BIOS file ''coleco.rom'' (MD5: ''2c66f5911e5b42b8ebe113403548eee7'') is inside ''/userdata/bios/Machines/COL - ColecoVision/''.
-===== ROMs =====
+==== RetroArch (GearColeco) ====
+GearColeco requires no BIOS file to run.
+==== OpenMSX ====
+OpenMSX requires ''coleco.rom'' placed in ''/userdata/system/configs/openmsx/share/systemroms'' to run ColecoVision (SGM) ROMs.
+==== CLK ====
+CLK requires the following BIOS file:
+^ MD5 checksum ^ Share file path ^ Description ^
+| ''2c66f5911e5b42b8ebe113403548eee7'' | ''bios/ColecoVision/coleco.rom'' | Only required for CLK |
+===== ROMs =====
 Place your ColecoVision ROMs in ''/userdata/roms/colecovision''.
 ===== Emulators =====
 ==== RetroArch ====
 [[https://docs.libretro.com/|RetroArch]] (formerly SSNES), is a ubiquitous frontend that can run multiple "cores", which are essentially the emulators themselves. The most common cores use the [[https://www.libretro.com/|libretro]] API, so that's why cores run in RetroArch in Batocera are referred to as "libretro: (core name)". RetroArch aims to unify the feature set of all libretro cores and offer a universal, familiar interface independent of platform.
 === RetroArch configuration ===
 RetroArch offers a **Quick Menu** accessed by pressing ''[HOTKEY]'' + {{:wiki:south.png?nolink&20|South button (B SNES)}} which can be used to alter various things like [[:advanced_retroarch_settings|RetroArch and core options]], and [[:remapping_controls_per_emulator|controller mapping]]. Most RetroArch related settings can be altered from Batocera's EmulationStation.
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 === libretro: Bluemsx ===
 == libretro: Bluemsx configuration ==
 ^ ES setting name ''batocera.conf key'' ^ Description => ES option ''key value'' ^
 ^ Settings that apply to all systems this core supports |
 | **REDUCE SPRITE FLICKERING ''colecovision.bluemsx_nospritelimits''** | Remove the 4 sprite per line limit\\ => Off ''False'', On ''True''. |
-===== Controls =====
+=== libretro: GearColeco ===
+[[https://github.com/drhelius/Gearcoleco|GearColeco]] is a highly accurate ColecoVision emulator. It does not require a BIOS file.
-The original controller has 2 side buttons and a keyboard with 10 numeric values and 2 symbols. Only a fraction of these controls can be mapped to a standard controller, so 9 and 0 are missing in the default layout.
+== libretro: GearColeco configuration ==
+^ ES setting name ''batocera.conf key'' ^ Description => ES option ''key value'' ^
+^ Settings specific to the GearColeco core |
+| **REFRESH RATE ''colecovision.gearcoleco_timing''** | Set the refresh rate (requires restart)\\ => Auto ''Auto'', NTSC (60 Hz) ''NTSC (60 Hz)'', PAL (50 Hz) ''PAL (50 Hz)''. |
+| **ASPECT RATIO ''colecovision.gearcoleco_aspect_ratio''** | Set the aspect ratio\\ => 1:1 PAR ''1:1 PAR'', 4:3 DAR ''4:3 DAR'', 16:9 DAR ''16:9 DAR''. |
+| **OVERSCAN ''colecovision.gearcoleco_overscan''** | Show overscan borders\\ => Disabled ''Disabled'', Top+Bottom ''Top+Bottom'', Full (284 width) ''Full (284 width)'', Full (320 width) ''Full (320 width)''. |
+| **ALLOW UP+DOWN / LEFT+RIGHT ''colecovision.gearcoleco_up_down_allowed''** | Allow opposite directional inputs at the same time\\ => Disabled ''Disabled'', Enabled ''Enabled''. |
+| **NO SPRITE LIMIT ''colecovision.gearcoleco_no_sprite_limit''** | Remove the 4 sprite per scanline hardware limit\\ => Disabled ''Disabled'', Enabled ''Enabled''. |
+| **SPINNER SUPPORT ''colecovision.gearcoleco_spinners''** | Enable spinner controller support (for games like Super Action Controller)\\ => Disabled ''Disabled'', Super Action ''Super Action'', Roller ''Roller''. |
+| **SPINNER SENSITIVITY ''colecovision.gearcoleco_spinner_sensitivity''** | Set spinner sensitivity when spinner support is enabled\\ => 1 ''1'' through 5 ''5''. |
+==== OpenMSX ====
+[[https://openmsx.org/|OpenMSX]] is an open-source MSX emulator that also supports ColecoVision emulation. In Batocera, it uses the **ColecoVision_SGM** machine definition, which includes Super Game Module support for enhanced games.
+OpenMSX requires the ''coleco.rom'' BIOS file placed in ''/userdata/system/configs/openmsx/share/systemroms''.
+==== CLK ====
+[[https://github.com/TomHarte/CLK|CLK aka Clock Signal]] is a multi-system emulator that is focused on low-latency emulation, that can be used for ColecoVision. CLK has been added to Batocera 42.
+<WRAP center round important>
+CLK does not support ''.7z'' compressed ROM files. Use ''.zip'' or uncompressed formats instead.
+</WRAP>
+===== Controls =====
+The original controller has 2 side buttons (Side Button Left and Side Button Right) and a keyboard with 10 numeric values and 2 symbols.
 The default button mapping for the ColecoVision's controls is as follows:
+^ Gamepad button ^ ColecoVision function ^
+| D-Pad Up | Coleco 1 |
+| D-Pad Down | Coleco 2 |
+| D-Pad Left | Coleco 3 |
+| D-Pad Right | Coleco 4 |
+| A (East) | Coleco 5 |
+| B (South) | Coleco 6 |
+| X (North) | Coleco 7 |
+| Y (West) | Coleco 8 |
+| R2 | Coleco 9 |
+| L2 | Coleco 0 |
+| R (R1) | Coleco Button 1 (Side Right) |
+| L (L1) | Coleco Button 2 (Side Left) |
+| Select | Coleco * (Star) |
+| Start | Coleco # (Hash) |
 {{ https://raw.githubusercontent.com/batocera-linux/batocera-controller-overlays/master/solid-4k/colecovision.png }}
 ===== Troubleshooting =====
 For further troubleshooting, refer to the [[:support|generic support pages]].