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84 changes: 55 additions & 29 deletions docs/library/geargrafx.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -4,12 +4,13 @@

Geargrafx is an open source, cross-platform, PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 / SuperGrafx emulator written in C++.

- Accurate emulation supporting the entire PCE / SGX catalog
- Accurate emulation supporting the entire HuCard PCE / SGX catalog
- CD-ROM² and Super CD-ROM² systems
- Multi Tap support (up to 5 players)
- Controllers:
- Standard Gamepad (2 buttons)
- Avenue Pad 3 (3 buttons, auto-configured based on game)
- Avenue Pad 6 (6 buttons)
* Standard Gamepad (2 buttons)
* Avenue Pad 3 (3 buttons, auto-configured based on game)
* Avenue Pad 6 (6 buttons)
- Internal database for automatic rom detection
- Backup RAM support
- Save state support
Expand All @@ -30,7 +31,22 @@ A summary of the licenses behind RetroArch and its cores can be found [here](../

## BIOS

Geargrafx does not require BIOS (bootrom) files to work.
Geargrafx requires a BIOS file to run CD-ROM games.

Required or optional firmware files go in RetroArch's system directory.

!!! attention
Any CD-ROM System BIOS will work, but some of them are known to be incompatible with certain games.

!!! attention
You can choose the BIOS to use in the core options menu.

| Filename | Description | md5sum |
|:-------------:|:-------------------------------------:|:--------------------------------:|
| syscard3.pce | Super CD-ROM2 System V3.xx - Required | 38179df8f4ac870017db21ebcbf53114 |
| syscard2.pce | CD-ROM System V2.xx - Optional | |
| syscard1.pce | CD-ROM System V1.xx - Optional | |
| gexpress.pce | Game Express CD Card - Optional | |

## Extensions

Expand All @@ -40,11 +56,13 @@ Content that can be loaded by the Geargrafx core have the following file extensi
- .sgx
- .bin
- .rom
- .cue

RetroArch database(s) that are associated with the Geargrafx core:

- [NEC - PC Engine - TurboGrafx 16](https://github.com/libretro/libretro-database/blob/master/rdb/NEC%20-%20PC%20Engine%20-%20TurboGrafx%2016.rdb)
- [NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx](https://github.com/libretro/libretro-database/blob/master/rdb/NEC%20-%20PC%20Engine%20SuperGrafx.rdb)
- [NEC - PC Engine CD - TurboGrafx-CD](https://github.com/libretro/libretro-database/blob/master/rdb/NEC%20-%20PC%20Engine%20CD%20-%20TurboGrafx-CD.rdb)

## Features

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -115,12 +133,13 @@ Settings with (restart) means that core has to be closed for the new setting to

This option enables/disables TurboTap support (up to 5 players).

- **Aspect Ratio** [geargrafx_aspect_ratio] (**1:1 PAR**|4:3 DAR|16:9 DAR|16:10 DAR)
- **Aspect Ratio** [geargrafx_aspect_ratio] (**1:1 PAR**|4:3 DAR|6:5 DAR|16:9 DAR|16:10 DAR)

Select which aspect ratio will be presented by the core.

- *1:1 PAR* selects an aspect ratio that produces square pixels.
- *4:3 DAR* forces 4:3 aspect ratio.
- *6:5 DAR* forces 6:5 aspect ratio.
- *16:9 DAR* forces 16:9 aspect ratio.
- *16:10 DAR* forces 16:10 aspect ratio.

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -154,22 +173,29 @@ Settings with (restart) means that core has to be closed for the new setting to

This option allows you to disable backup RAM (not recommended).

- **Force Japanese PC Engine (restart)** [geargrafx_force_pce_jap] (**Disabled**|Enabled)
- **System (restart)** [geargrafx_console_type] (**Auto**|PC Engine (JAP)|SuperGrafx (JAP)|TurboGrafx-16 (USA))

Allows you to force Japanese PC Engine hardware.
This option is not recommended, as many USA games will fail to start if a Japanese system is detected.
Select the console type to emulate. The default setting, Auto, automatically detects the appropriate console type based on the loaded content.
Many US games will not start if a Japanese system is detected.

- **Force SuperGrafx (restart)** [geargrafx_force_sgx] (**Disabled**|Enabled)
- **CD-ROM (restart)** [geargrafx_cdrom_type] (**Auto**|Standard|Super CD-ROM|Arcade CD-ROM)

Allows you to force SuperGrafx hardware.
This option is recommended only for content (homebrew) not detected correctly as SuperGrafx.
Choose the type of CD-ROM system to emulate. The Auto setting automatically selects the appropriate CD-ROM type based on the loaded content.

- **CD-ROM Bios (restart)** [geargrafx_cdrom_bios] (**Auto**|System Card 1|System Card 2|System Card 3|Game Express)

Specify the BIOS file to use for CD-ROM emulation. The *Auto* setting automatically selects the appropriate BIOS based on the loaded content. You can also manually choose one for compatibility with specific games.

- **No Sprite Limit** [geargrafx_no_sprite_limit] (**Disabled**|Enabled)

Enabling this option will remove the sprite limit in a single line.
This may cause glitches to occur in certain games.
Enabling this option removes the per-line sprite limit, but may cause glitches in certain games.
It's best to keep this core option disabled.

- **Avenue Pad 3 Switch** [geargrafx_avenue_pad_3_switch] (**Auto**|SELECT|RUN)

When using the Avenue Pad 3 controller, you can set the switch to either *RUN* or *SELECT* with this option.
If you choose *Auto*, the emulator will select the best option based on the game being played.

- **Soft Reset** [geargrafx_soft_reset] (**Enabled**|Disabled)

Pressing RUN and SELECT simultaneously on the PCE gamepad will SOFT RESET the console. This is the default hardware behavior.
Expand All @@ -183,24 +209,24 @@ Settings with (restart) means that core has to be closed for the new setting to

## Joypad

| RetroPad Inputs | PCE Pad (2-button) | Avenue Pad 3 (3-button) | Avenue Pad 6 (6-button) |
|----------------------------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_dpad_up.png) | D-Pad Up | D-Pad Up | D-Pad Up |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_dpad_down.png) | D-Pad Down | D-Pad Down | D-Pad Down |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_dpad_left.png) | D-Pad Left | D-Pad Left | D-Pad Left |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_dpad_right.png) | D-Pad Right | D-Pad Right | D-Pad Right |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_select.png) | Select | Select | Select |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_start.png) | Run | Run | Run |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_a.png) | I | I | I |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_b.png) | II | II | II |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_y.png) | III | III | III |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_x.png) | IV | | IV |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_l2.png) | V | | V |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_r2.png) | VI | | VI |
| RetroPad Inputs | PCE Pad (2-button) | Avenue Pad 3 (3-button) | Avenue Pad 6 (6-button) |
|---------------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------|
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_dpad_up.png) | D-Pad Up | D-Pad Up | D-Pad Up |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_dpad_down.png) | D-Pad Down | D-Pad Down | D-Pad Down |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_dpad_left.png) | D-Pad Left | D-Pad Left | D-Pad Left |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_dpad_right.png) | D-Pad Right | D-Pad Right | D-Pad Right |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_select.png) | Select | Select | Select |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_start.png) | Run | Run | Run |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_a.png) | I | I | I |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_b.png) | II | II | II |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_y.png) | | III (mapped to Select/Run) | III |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_x.png) | | | IV |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_l2.png) | | | V |
| ![](../image/retropad/retro_r2.png) | | | VI |

## External Links

- [Official Geargrafx Repository](https://github.com/drhelius/Geargrafx)
- [Libretro Geargrafx Core info file](https://github.com/libretro/libretro-super/blob/master/dist/info/Geargrafx_libretro.info)
- [Libretro Geargrafx Core info file](https://github.com/libretro/libretro-super/blob/master/dist/info/geargrafx_libretro.info)
- [Report Libretro Geargrafx Core Issues Here](https://github.com/drhelius/Geargrafx/issues)