systems:vemulator [Batocera.linux

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====== Dreamcast VMU ======

The **Visual Memory Unit** (VMU), known as the **Visual Memory System** (VMS) in Japan, is a removable storage device developed by Sega for use with the Dreamcast console. Released in 1998, it doubles as a standalone handheld gaming device featuring a monochrome 48×32 pixel LCD screen, a D-pad, and four buttons (A, B, MODE, SLEEP). The VMU could run mini-games that were often bundled with Dreamcast titles, as well as homebrew software.

This system scrapes metadata for the "vemulator" group and loads the ''vemulator'' set from the currently selected theme, if available.
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==== Quick reference ====

  * **Emulator:** [[#retroarch|RetroArch]]
  * **Core:** [[#libretro:_vemulator|libretro: vemulator]]
  * **Folder:** ''/userdata/roms/vemulator''
  * **Accepted ROM formats:** ''.vms'', ''.dci'', ''.bin''

===== BIOS =====

No Dreamcast VMU emulator in Batocera needs a BIOS file to run.

===== ROMs =====

Place your VMU ROMs in ''/userdata/roms/vemulator''.

VMU games come in several formats:

^ Extension ^ Description ^
| ''.vms'' | Standard VMU save/mini-game file |
| ''.dci'' | DCI format (alternative VMU dump format) |
| ''.bin'' | Full 128 KB VMU flash memory dump |

Many Dreamcast games included VMU mini-games that were downloaded to the VMU when a save file was created. These mini-games can be extracted and played standalone. There is also an active homebrew scene producing original VMU games.

===== 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.

Standardized features available to all libretro cores: ''vemulator.videomode'', ''vemulator.ratio'', ''vemulator.smooth'', ''vemulator.shaders'', ''vemulator.pixel_perfect'', ''vemulator.decoration'', ''vemulator.game_translation''

^ ES setting name ''batocera.conf_key'' ^ Description => ES option ''key_value'' ^
^ Settings that apply to all cores of this emulator ||
| **GRAPHICS API ''vemulator.gfxbackend''** | Choose which graphics API library to use. Vulkan is better, when supported.\\ => OpenGL ''opengl'', Vulkan ''vulkan''. |
| **AUDIO LATENCY ''vemulator.audio_latency''** | In milliseconds. Can reduce crackling/cutting out.\\ => 256 ''256'', 192 ''192'', 128 ''128'', 64 ''64'', 32 ''32'', 16 ''16'', 8 ''8''. |
| **THREADED VIDEO ''vemulator.video_threaded''** | Improves performance at the cost of latency and more video stuttering. Use only if full speed cannot be obtained otherwise.\\ => On ''true'', Off ''false''. |

=== libretro: vemulator ===

[[https://github.com/libretro/vemulator-libretro|VeMUlator]] is the only VMU emulator available for Batocera. It is a port of the Android VeMUlator application by Mahmoud Jaoune, translated from Java to C++. The core uses high-level emulation (HLE) to emulate the Sanyo LC86K87 "Potato" CPU found in the VMU hardware.

== libretro: vemulator configuration ==

^ ES setting name ''batocera.conf_key'' ^ Description => ES option ''key_value'' ^
^ Settings that apply to all systems this core supports ||
| **ENABLE FLASH WRITE ''global.vemulator_enable_flash_write''** | When enabled, allows writing to .bin flash memory files. Changes persist between sessions. Requires a restart to take effect.\\ => On ''enabled'', Off ''disabled''. |

===== Controls =====

Here are the default Dreamcast VMU controls shown on a [[:configure_a_controller|Batocera Retropad]]:

{{https://raw.githubusercontent.com/batocera-linux/batocera-controller-overlays/master/solid-4k/vemulator.png}}

The VMU has a simple control scheme consisting of a D-pad and two action buttons (A and B), plus MODE and SLEEP buttons.

^ VMU button ^ Retropad equivalent ^
| D-pad Up | D-pad Up |
| D-pad Down | D-pad Down |
| D-pad Left | D-pad Left |
| D-pad Right | D-pad Right |
| A | {{:wiki:south.png?nolink&20|South button (B SNES)}} |
| B | {{:wiki:east.png?nolink&20|East button (A SNES)}} |
| MODE | Start |
| SLEEP | Select |

===== Specifications =====

^ Specification ^ Detail ^
| **CPU** | 8-bit Sanyo LC86K87 "Potato" |
| **RAM** | 256 bytes (application) + 256 bytes (system) |
| **Flash storage** | 128 KB (200 blocks of 512 bytes) |
| **Display** | 48 x 32 pixels, monochrome LCD |
| **Audio** | 1-channel 8-bit PWM |
| **Buttons** | D-pad, A, B, MODE, SLEEP |
| **Power** | 2x CR-2032 lithium batteries |
| **Release** | Japan: 1998, NA: 1999, EU: 1999 |

===== Known issues =====

  * **Save states are not supported** by the VeMUlator core.
  * **Audio synchronization** may be slightly off due to limited VMU hardware documentation.
  * **Games may run too fast.** If this occurs, enable **Automatic Frame Delay** in RetroArch's **Settings** -> **Latency** menu.
  * **Closing or restarting content** may occasionally cause crashes.
  * **Rewind** is not supported.

===== Troubleshooting =====

==== Further troubleshooting ====

For further troubleshooting, refer to the [[:support|generic support pages]].