NullDC

infobox software
name = nullDC



caption = nullDC running the game Ikaruga
developer = drkIIRaziel and ZeZu
latest_release_version = v1.0.3
latest_release_date = August 20, 2008
operating_system = Microsoft Windows
genre = Emulator
website = [http://www.emudev.org/nullDC-new/ http://www.emudev.org/nullDC-new/]

nullDC is a freeware Sega Dreamcast and NAOMI videogame systems emulator for Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista systems under active development, though the release timeline tends to be uncertain and widen through time.

Features

NullDC requires the latest version of Microsoft DirectX 9.0c, the latest Visual C++ runtime libraries and optionally WinPcap for modem emulation. As usual for emulators, a dump of the original console BIOS is also needed.It has a plugin architecture, with several alternative implementations (some ported from Chankast) for graphics, sound, reading games burned to CD-ROMs (it cannot read GD-ROMs directly) or disk image files, memory cards, etc.

History

The emulator was first announced on February 19, 2006.

On August 25, 2006 the first screenshots were released, the authors were revealed to be ZeZu (programmer of Icarus, a Dreamcast emulator which was never released) and drk||Raziel, it was explained that the emulator would aim at compatibility more than speed, and would use a plugin structure to allow other authors to contribute.

The [http://www.emudev.org/nullDC/Releases/Archive/nullDC_100b1_setup.rar first version] (v1.0.0 BETA) was released on April 1,2007, and proved itself to be the Dreamcast emulator with the highest compatibility to date.

The [http://www.emudev.org/nullDC/Releases/Archive/nullDC_100b1_5.rar second version] (beta 1.5) was released on November 4, 2007. It added support for game pads, but the sound did not work and had other bugs (in the author's words, it was "crashy, buggy, shitty" [ [http://www.ngemu.com/index.php?action=post&id=2210] . NGEmu. Retrieved January 20, 2008] ).

A [http://www.emudev.org/nullDC/Releases/Current/nullDC_100b1_6.rar third version] (beta 1.6) was released after few days, on November 7, 2007. This version included a new audio plugin and several bug fixes.

A [http://www.emudev.org/nullDC/Releases/Current/drkpvr_lwr_stereo3dmod.rar new plugin and video shader] for nullDC were released on January 10, 2008, to fix some display bugs and add the support for stereoscopy as per the specifics of the nVidia stereo 3D drivers.

[http://www.emudev.org/nullDC/Releases/Current/nullDC_103.rar Version 1.0.3] was released on August 20, 2008, nine months after the last beta 1.6 and bringing speed improvements, bugfixes and new features like the fog effect emulation, support for Dreamcast VMU and experimental DSP sound effects added to nullAICA plugin. The release is the first introducing NAOMI arcade system emulation with [http://www.emudev.org/nullDC/Releases/Current/nullDC-Naomi_103.rar a separate version] of the emulator. [ [http://kingofgng.com/eng/2008/08/24/nulldc-103-dreamcast-emulation-returns-on-pc-carrying-naomi-with-it/] . Sir Arthur's Den. Retrived August 24, 2008] Gamepad support has been temporarily removed in this version, but it will be included in later versions.

References

External links

* [http://www.emudev.org/forums/index.php?board=6.0 NullDC Forums]
* [http://www.emudev.org/nullDC-new/ NullDC Website]