2017.07.01
N3S is a 3D NES emulator for Windows that is currently in alpha. It wraps
the Nestopia UE libretro core and re-emulates the PPU to draw predefined 3D
voxel meshes in place of 2D sprites.
Current Features
- Emulates PPU
- Nametable scrolling and mirroring
- OAM sprite data
- Registers such as CTRL, MASK, etc
- Detects CHR bank switching and draws sprites accordingly
- Renders NES games in 3D
- Replaces sprites with predefined 3D voxel meshes
- Can draw partial sprites that are clipped by edge of screen or nametable
scroll
- Palette-based shader code uses actual palette data from PPU each frame
- Mirrors sprites in shader code
- Draws 8x16 mode if specified in CTRL register
Planned Features
- Support for games without CHR ROM
- Meshes are generated when the game is loaded, so games with sprite data
compressed in PRG ROM cannot be loaded.
- Utilize built-in libretro features like save states, frameskipping, etc
- Haven't implemented yet but comes with Nestopia libretro core
- Built-in voxel editor
- Allows users to sculpt truly 3D meshes for each sprite and export for each
game
- Sprites are 8x8x32 voxels
- N3S file repository
- "Official" 3D definitions will be curated in Git repository and downloaded
by app automatically
- Users can upload and revise
N3S v0.3.0 Alpha Changelog:
New Features:
- Editor added.
- You can currently switch between game and editor with ; (semicolon) and '
(single quote) keys, respectively.
- You can read more about workflow and scene / voxel editor here:
http://n3s.io/index.php?title=Editing_N3S_Files
- Editor is not feature-complete, and N3S file format is subject to change in
coming versions. I wouldn't recommend seriously tackling converting a game to
- 3D yet as it may become incompatible.
- Editor controls are currently hardcoded and listed below.
Input system added
- Can now bind multiple analog or digital inputs to various functions within
the app.
- Currently supports XInput and keyboard/mouse.
- Bindings temporarily hard-coded, but will support remapping with config file
or menu in coming versions.
- GUI implemented, along with shader for overlay and text rendering.
- In-app console output implemented, rarely used in current version
Bug fixes:
- Fixed audio issues when moving or resizing window.
New issues:
- Mesh info window in editor overlaps new buttons (VRAM, CHR pages) in scene
selector GUI.
- Buttons in palette window not always responsive.
- Left analog stick moves camera and give NES directional input at the same
time.
- ALT key focuses Windows menu, even within editor.
Outstanding issues:
- Cannot play games with no CHR data / sprite data compressed in PRG.
- Many games still have graphical glitches.
- PAL games run, but at 60hz rather than 50hz.
- Audio buffer still loops when accessing application menu bar.
- Many menu items do not do anything yet.
- Possibly unknown issues on different versions of Windows, has only been
tested on Windows 10 x64.
https://github.com/and0p/N3S