Codeweavers released CrossOver 12 in mid-December. This version introduces an experimental new “Mac Driver” that removes the requirement for the X Window System (thereby making installation friendlier to casual users). CrossOver 12 also includes improvements to Wine and improved support for many applications. See here for the announcement post.
It’s been a long time coming, but ResidualVM finally has a stable release. ResidualVM is ScummVM’s sister project, focused on the handful of 3D LucasArts adventures—Grim Fandango and Escape From Monkey Island—plus Myst 3 Exile. This release supports Grim Fandango, making the game playable on modern computers. Head over to the ResidualVM website for a download and more information.
Nintendo Wii and Gamecube emulator Dolphin officially ticked over from 3.0 to 3.5 in December. This milestone rounds up work done over nearly 18 months, resulting in hundreds of nightly builds, and brings the “stable” codebase mostly up to date. You can get version 3.5 or the latest nightly builds from the Dolphin download page.
Continue reading for more emulator updates, including new versions of PPSSPP, QMC2, Mednafen, Stella, PCSX-Reloaded, and more.
The promising new PSP emulator PPSSPP has reached version 0.5. Changes include better audio and compatibility, graphics fixes, save game support for “many” games, and save state support. The Mac version still needs to be built from source, and it doesn’t run as smoothly as the Android and Windows builds. In any case, you can grab it from the PPSSPP Downloads page.
QMC2, a launcher and frontend for MAME, MESS, and UME, has received a major update. Version 0.148 introduces a new arcade mode, which is included as a standalone appication called QMC2 Arcade, that presents your games in a fancy new skin. It looks like a contender for running games on a media centre. See here for the lengthy change log and click here to go directly to the Download page.
Multi-system emulator Mednafen and its frontend NekoLauncher Mednafen received multiple updates over the past six weeks. Changes and additions include M3U file support for multiple-CD PlayStation games, improved PS1 emulation, reduced input latency in SNES emulation, and more. Head over to Nekocan (website in Japanese) for more details and download links.
ZX Spectrum emulator zxsp has reached version 0.8.0.pre11. Developer Günter Wolgk’s blog runs down the changes in some detail, with current efforts still focused on the debugger and memory disassembler. You can always get the latest version from the bottom of the zxsp website’s distributions page.
Arcade emulator MAME, and its Mac-specific port SDLMAME, has been updated to version 0.148. See here for the list of changes. You can grab the source from the official MAME website, or download 32-bit or 64-bit Mac builds from the SDLMAME site.
XRoar, a Dragon and Tandy Color Computer emulator, is now at version 0.29.1. Recent changes include various CPU timing fixes, Hitachi 6309 support, fixes to the emulation of Dragon 32 with 64K, and more. Head over to the XRoar website for more details and a download link.
VirtualBox, an open-source x86 virtualisation tool, got its regular maintenance release in December. Version 4.2.6 fixes many issues across all areas of the program (even 3D support!). Check out the list here.
Dapplegrey, a DOSBox frontend, has been updated to version 3.3. This fixes a problem with mounting CD images set by folder. Get it from the Classics For X website.
Atari 2600 VCS emulator Stella has been updated to version 3.7.5. This update fixes a crash when loading invalid PNG files in the ROM hrowser, generates more informative snapshots (presumably in the form of metadata), and improves regressions in the PAL format auto-detection. Head over to the Stella website for more information and a download link.
The latest builds of PlayStation emulator PCSX-Reloaded are getting compiled over at ConsoleEmu (SpeedofMac’s new home for emulation). Head over to the ConsoleEmu website for details. NES and Famicom Disk System emulator FCEUX is also getting compiled regularly.
Multi-system emulator Bizhawk is now at version 1.4.0. The latest release adds Atari 7800 support, in sync with the Windows version. Head over to this TASVideos forum thread for more information.
Got any news tips? Let us know on the forums. Next roundup will be late-February/early-March.