Sega - MS/MD/CD/32X (PicoDrive)Link
BackgroundLink
PicoDrive is an open-source Sega 8/16 bit and 32X emulator which was written having ARM-based handheld devices in mind.
- Supports 32x emulation.
- Designed to run on weak devices.
Author/LicenseLink
The PicoDrive core has been authored by
- notaz
- fdave
The PicoDrive core is licensed under
A summary of the licenses behind RetroArch and its cores have found here.
ExtensionsLink
Content that can be loaded by the PicoDrive core have the following file extensions:
- .bin
- .gen
- .smd
- .md
- .32x
- .cue
- .iso
- .sms
- .68k
DatabasesLink
RetroArch database(s) that are associated with the PicoDrive core:
- Sega - Master System - Mark III
- Sega - Mega-CD - Sega CD
- Sega - Mega Drive - Genesis
- Sega - PICO
- Sega - 32X
BIOSLink
Required or optional firmware files go in the frontend's system directory.
Filename | Description | md5sum |
---|---|---|
bios_CD_E.bin | MegaCD EU BIOS - Required | e66fa1dc5820d254611fdcdba0662372 |
bios_CD_U.bin | SegaCD US BIOS - Required | 2efd74e3232ff260e371b99f84024f7f |
bios_CD_J.bin | MegaCD JP BIOS - Required | 278a9397d192149e84e820ac621a8edd |
FeaturesLink
Frontend-level settings or features that the PicoDrive core respects.
Feature | Supported |
---|---|
Restart | ✔ |
Screenshots | ✔ |
Saves | ✔ |
States | ✔ |
Rewind | ✔ |
Netplay | ✔ |
Core Options | ✔ |
RetroAchievements | ✔ |
RetroArch Cheats | ✔ |
Native Cheats | ✕ |
Controls | ✔ |
Remapping | ✔ |
Multi-Mouse | ✕ |
Rumble | ✕ |
Sensors | ✕ |
Camera | ✕ |
Location | ✕ |
Subsystem | ✕ |
Softpatching | ✕ |
Disk Control | ✔ |
Username | ✕ |
Language | ✕ |
Crop Overscan | ✕ |
LEDs | ✕ |
DirectoriesLink
The PicoDrive core's internal core name is 'PicoDrive'
The PicoDrive core saves/loads to/from these directories.
Frontend's Save directory
- 'content-name'.srm (Cartridge backup save)
Frontend's State directory
- 'content-name'.state# (State)
Geometry and timingLink
- The PicoDrive core's core provided FPS is 60 for NTSC games and 50 for PAL games.
- The PicoDrive core's core provided sample rate is 44100 Hz
- The PicoDrive core's core provided aspect ratio is dependent on the 'Core-provided aspect ratio' core option.
Loading Sega CD contentLink
When loading Sega CD games, PicoDrive needs a cue-sheet that points to an image file. A cue sheet, or cue file, is a metadata file which describes how the tracks of a CD or DVD are laid out.
If you have e.g. foo.bin
, you should create a text file and save it as foo.cue
. If the Sega CD game is single-track, the cue file contents should look like this:
1 2 3 | FILE "foo.bin" BINARY TRACK 01 MODE1/2352 INDEX 01 00:00:00 |
After that, you can load the foo.cue
file in RetroArch with the PicoDrive core.
Certain Sega CD games are multi-track, so their .cue files might be more complicated.
Here's a cue file example done with Lunar - Eternal Blue (USA)
Core optionsLink
The PicoDrive core has the following option(s) that can be tweaked from the core options menu. The default setting is bolded.
Settings with (Restart) means that core has to be closed for the new setting to be applied on next launch.
-
Input device 1 [picodrive_input1] (3 button pad/6 button pad/None)
Choose which kind of controller is plugged in slot 1.
-
"Input device 2 [picodrive_input2] (3 button pad/6 button pad/None)
Choose which kind of controller is plugged in slot 2.
-
No sprite limit [picodrive_sprlim] (disabled/enabled)
Enable this to remove the sprite limit.
-
MegaCD RAM cart [picodrive_ramcart] (disabled/enabled)
Emulate a MegaCD RAM cart.
-
Region [picodrive_region] (Auto/Japan NTSC/Japan PAL/US/Europe)
Force a specific region.
-
Core-provided aspect ratio [picodrive_aspect] (PAR/4/3/CRT)
Choose the core-provided aspect ratio. RetroArch's aspect ratio must be set to Core provided in the Video seetings.
Core-provided aspect ratio - PAR
Core-provided aspect ratio - 4/3
Core-provided aspect ratio - CRT
-
Show Overscan [picodrive_overscan] (disabled/enabled)
Crop out the potentially random glitchy video output that would have been hidden by the bezel around the edge of a standard-definition television screen.
Show Overscan - Off
Show Overscan - On
-
68k overclock [picodrive_overclk68k] (disabled/+25%/+50%/+75%/+100%/+200%/+400%)
Overclock the emulated 68k chip
-
Dynamic recompilers [picodrive_drc] (enabled/disabled)
Enable dynamic recompilers which help to improve performance. This core option is not available on all hardware.
ControllersLink
The PicoDrive core supports the following device type(s) in the controls menu, bolded device types are the default for the specified user(s):
User 1 - 2 device typesLink
- None - Doesn't disable input.
- RetroPad - Joypad
- RetroPad w/Analog - Joypad - There's no reason to switch to this.
Controller tablesLink
JoypadLink
User 1 - 2 Remap descriptors | RetroPad Inputs | 3 button pad | 6 button pad |
---|---|---|---|
B | ![]() |
B | B |
A | ![]() |
A | A |
Mode | ![]() |
Mode | |
Start | ![]() |
Start | Start |
D-Pad Up | ![]() |
D-Pad Up | D-Pad Up |
D-Pad Down | ![]() |
D-Pad Down | D-Pad Down |
D-Pad Left | ![]() |
D-Pad Left | D-Pad Left |
D-Pad Right | ![]() |
D-Pad Right | D-Pad Right |
C | ![]() |
C | C |
Y | ![]() |
Y | |
X | ![]() |
X | |
Z | ![]() |
Z |
CompatibilityLink
32x games | Issue |
---|---|
Brutal Unleashed – Above the Claw | Softlocks after the first fight. |
FIFA Soccer ’96 | Glitched main menu text. |
Knuckles’ Chaotix | Glitched graphics on the Player Select screen. |
NBA Jam Tournament Edition | Framerate issues. |
NFL Quarterback Club | Some menu graphics are missing. |
Star Wars Arcade (PAL version) | Glitched opening visuals. Cannot get past Press Start screen. |
Virtua Racing Deluxe | Blinking line during the SEGA logo screen. |
World Series Baseball Starring Deion Sanders | Crashes when starting a match. |
WWF Raw | Various graphics are missing. |
External LinksLink
- Official PicoDrive Website
- Official PicoDrive Github Repository
- Libretro PicoDrive Core info file
- Libretro PicoDrive Github Repository
- Report Libretro PicoDrive Core Issues Here