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Emulators

Revision as of 00:21, 24 August 2023 by Phi2x (Talk | contribs) (→‎Peripherals)

Software Platforms (Full OS independance)

Java Platform

Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems Developer tools License
Arnold Jnr [1] Aug 27, 2001 CPC range ❌ Open source
CPCInAJar [2] Mar 16, 2011 CPC range ❌ Open source
JavaCPC Desktop [3] JavaGX4000 3.0.2 Apr 8, 2022 CPC range, Plus range (incomplete), KC Compact ✅ Donationware & Open source
JEMU [4] Feb 19, 2007 CPC range, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, ZX80/81, VZ-300 ❌ Open source
JKCEMU [5] 0.9.8.3 Aug 16, 2023 KC Compact & 25 other computers from East Germany, ZX Spectrum ⚠️ Open source
WebCPC [6] JavaCPC Applet r15 Dec 31, 2010 CPC range ❌ Open source

JS / Wasm / Web Platform

Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems Developer tools License
CPCBox [7] BZH Games beta Dec 28, 2013 CPC range ❌ Freeware
CrocoDS [8] May 13, 2020 CPC range ⚠️ Freeware
JSMESS [9] 0.153 Oct 29, 2014 CPC range & lots of other computer systems ❌ Open source
RetroArch Web Player [10] [11] Jul 31, 2023 Lots of other computer systems, but no Amstrad CPC yet ❌ Open source
Roland [12] Sep 24, 2011 CPC range ❌ Open source
Ronald [13] May 10, 2023 CPC range (incomplete) ⚠️ Open source
RVMplayer [14] 0.1.1 Apr 29, 2023 CPC range, ZX Spectrum ❌ Freeware
Tiny Emus [15] [16] yakc

JavaCPC-Games Amstrad CPC Games zpz frontend

Dec 15, 2021 CPC range, KC Compact, ZX Spectrum, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Acorn Atom, KC 85, KC 87, Z9001, Z1013, LC80 ✅ Open source
Xiragon [17] Nov 28, 2012 CPC range ❌ Open source

LibRetro (API for emulators)

Emulator name Type External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems Developer tools License
libretro-cap32 Emulation core [18] 4.5.3 Mar 16, 2022 CPC range ❌ Open source
libretro-crocods Emulation core [19] 0.1 Feb 28, 2017 CPC range ❌ Open source
MESS 2015 Emulation core [20] 0.160 circa 2015 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems ❌ Open source
SugarLibRetro Emulation core [21] (wraps independent lib CPCCore) git Jan 10, 2020 CPC range, Plus range ❌ Open source
EmuVR Frontend [22] Dec 25, 2022 CPC range & lots of other computer systems ❌ Donationware
Hackable Console Frontend [23] Mar 27, 2022 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems ✅ Open source
RetroArch Frontend [24] 1.15.0 Mar 11, 2023 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems ❌ Donationware & Open source

Current Operating Systems

Desktop

Emulator name External link Windows macOS Linux Current version Latest release Emulated systems Developer tools License
AMSpiriT [25] [26] ✅ ❌ ❌ 0.863b May 13, 2023 CPC range (✅vaporware) (❌for real) Freeware
Arnimedes [27] ✅ ❌ ❌ 1.02 Jul 7, 2012 CPC range ❌ Freeware
Arnold [28] Aeliss fork Arnold TNG [29] ✅ ⚠️ ⚠️ WIP May 13, 2017 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX ✅ Open source
Caprice32 [30] [31] [32] Caprice32-Aleste ✅ ✅ ✅ Oct 8, 2022 CPC range, Plus range (incomplete) ⚠️ Donationware & Open source
Caprice Forever [33] ✅ ❌ ❌ 23.7 Jul 10, 2023 CPC range, Plus range ✅ Freeware
Caprice Reloaded [34] [35] ✅ ❌ ⚠️ r533 Sep 25, 2011 CPC range ✅ Open source
Clock Signal [36] [37] ❌ ✅ ✅ May 15, 2023 CPC range, ZX Spectrum, Enterprise, MSX, ColecoVision, Acorn Electron, Apple II, Oric, VIC-20, ZX80/81, Atari 2600, Atari ST, Macintosh ❌ Donationware & Open source
CoPaCabana [38] ✅ ❌ ❌ 0.74 Apr 12, 2006 CPC range ⚠️ Freeware
CPC-em [39] ✅ ❌ ❌ 0.3 Jan 22, 2004 CPC range ❌ Open source
CPC3D/CPC32 [40] ✅ ❌ ❌ 0.3 Feb 8, 2003 CPC range ❌ Freeware
CPC++ [41] ✅ ✅ ⚠️ b700 May 31, 2015 CPC range ❌ Freeware
cpc4x [42] ❌ ❌ ⚠️ 0.26 Dec 11, 2004 CPC range ❌ Open source
CPCE [43] ✅ ❌ ❌ 1.94 Jun 2, 2011 CPC range ⚠️ Freeware
CPCEC [44] [45] CPCEG ✅ ❌ ⚠️ Aug 6, 2022 CPC range, Plus range, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 ⚠️ Open source
cpcec-gtk [46] ❌ ❌ ✅ Feb 4, 2023 CPC range, Plus range ✅ Open source
CPCemu [47] ✅ ✅ ✅ 2.5 Aug 13, 2022 CPC range ⚠️ Freeware
CPCEPower [48] ✅ ✅ ✅ 2105 Jun 4, 2021 CPC range, Plus range ❌ Freeware
CPCSharp [49] ✅ ✅ ❌ 1.0.0-beta1 Apr 7, 2021 CPC range (incomplete) ⚠️ Open source
CPvC [50] ✅ ❌ ❌ Oct 7, 2020 CPC range (incomplete) ❌ Open source
DSP [51] ✅ ⚠️ ⚠️ 0.21 Mar 12, 2023 CPC range, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, ColecoVision, Game Boy, Nintendo NES, SG-1000, Sega Master System, GameGear, Super Cassette Vision, Arcade ❌ Open source
ep128emu [52] ✅ ✅ ✅ 2.0.11 Jan 20, 2017 CPC range, ZX Spectrum, Enterprise ✅ Donationware & Open source
MacCPC [53] ❌ ✅ ❌ 0.9.2 Jan 22, 2010 CPC range ✅ Freeware
MAME [54] [55] [56] ✅ ✅ ✅ 0.257 Jul 28, 2023 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems ⚠️ Open source
NO$CPC [57] ✅ ❌ ❌ 1.8 Nov 2, 2000 CPC range, Plus range ✅ Freeware
PC-CPC [58] [59] ✅ ❌ ❌ 0.1at b29 Nov 17, 2011 CPC range ⚠️ Open source
Retro Virtual Machine [60] ✅ ✅ ✅ 2.1.7 Jul 24, 2023 CPC range, Plus range, ZX Spectrum, MSX 1, ColecoVision, SG-1000, Sega Master System (✅v2.0) (❌v2.1) Donationware
Roland [61]/GitHub ✅ ❌ ✅ 0.70 Apr 20, 2017 CPC range ❌ Open source
Ronald [62] ❌ ❌ ⚠️ May 10, 2023 CPC range (incomplete) ⚠️ Open source
SugarBox [63] [64] ✅ ✅ ✅ 2.0.1 May 26, 2023 CPC range, Plus range ⚠️ Open-Source
Virtual CPC [65] [66] ✅ ❌ ❌ 1.1 Aug 8, 2011 CPC range ✅ Freeware
WinAPE [67] ✅ ❌ ❌ 2.0b2 Jan 5, 2016 CPC range, Plus range ✅ Donationware
WinCPC [68] vbCPC ✅ ❌ ❌ 0.9.26 Feb 1, 2007 CPC range ✅ Freeware
Xcpc [69] ❌ ❌ ✅ 0.38.1 Apr 8, 2023 CPC range ❌ Open source
XNACPC [70] ✅ ❌ ❌ 1.0 Nov 11, 2011 CPC range ❌ Open source
ZEsarUX [71] ✅ ✅ ✅ 10.3 May 10, 2023 CPC range, PCW, ZX Spectrum, ZX80/81, MSX 1, ColecoVision, Spectravideo, Jupiter ACE, Sam Coupe, SG-1000, Sega Master System, Sinclair QL, MK14, Z88 ⚠️ Donationware & Open source

Alternative OS

Host system Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems Developer tools License
AmigaOS PPC Arnold [72] 1.15 Dec 17, 2012 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact ❌ Open source
AmigaOS PPC SDLMESS [73] 0.146u4 Aug 19, 2012 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems ⚠️ Open source
Haiku ACE [74] [75] 1.25.0 Feb 18, 2023 CPC range, Plus range ✅ Freeware
Haiku AdvanceMAME [76] 3.9-1 Feb 3, 2020 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems ⚠️ Open source
MorphOS ACE [77] 1.25 September 8, 2022 CPC range, Plus range ✅ Freeware
MorphOS MESS [78] 0.113 Nov 1, 2007 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems ⚠️ Open source

Mobile

Host system Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems License
Android andcpc [79] 1.5.1 Apr 4, 2011 CPC range Open source
Android Azimuth [80] 1.06 Aug 10, 2022 CPC range Commercial💲
Android CPCDroid [81] 1.5.1 Mar 2, 2011 CPC range Open source
Android CPCemu [82] 2.5 Aug 14, 2022 CPC range Freeware
Android Droid-CPC [83] 1.1.01 Dec 15, 2016 CPC range Commercial💲
iOS CPCemu [84] 2.5 Aug 13, 2022 CPC range Software available on request
iOS CrocoDS [85] 2.1 Jun 21, 2013 CPC range Open source

Discontinued Operating Systems

Host system Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems License
Acorn RISC OS !CPC [86] Jul 28, 1996 CPC range Freeware
Acorn RISC OS !CPCemu [87] 1.21 Mar 22, 2016 CPC range Open source
AmigaOS m68k A-CPC [88] 2.0 Apr, 2002 CPC range, Plus range Open source
AmigaOS m68k Ami-cpc [89] Ami-cpc2 0.46 Jan 21, 1998 CPC range Open source
AmigaOS m68k CPE [90] Feb 24, 1995 CPC range Open source
AmigaOS m68k EmuCPC [91] 0.7 Sep 15, 1996 CPC range Open source
BlackBerry OS BB-CPC [92] (dead link) 1.0.1.3 Jul 15, 2013 CPC range Commercial💲
Classic Mac OS CPC++ [93] 1.3.2 Oct 6, 1997 CPC range Shareware💲
DOS AdvanceMESS [94] 3.9 Sep 8, 2018 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems Open source
DOS Arnimedes [95] 0.8a Apr 15, 2000 CPC range Freeware
DOS CPC-em [96] 0.4 Jul 7, 2004 CPC range Open source
DOS CPCE [97] 1.94 Jun 2, 2011 CPC range Freeware
DOS CPCemu [98] 1.5 Jul 7, 1998 CPC range Freeware
DOS CPE [99] 5.2 Apr 21, 1997 CPC range Open source
DOS NO$CPC [100] 1.8 Nov 2, 2000 CPC range, Plus range Freeware
DOS PC-CPC [101] Feb 3, 1998 CPC range Open source
DOS RWCPC [102] Mar 23, 1995 CPC range Freeware
DOS SIMCPC [103] 1990 CPC range Commercial💲
DOS YAGE [104] 0.91 Oct 24, 1998 CPC range Freeware
EXOS Software CPC Emulator [105] [106] 1.3 Jan 11, 2013 CPC range Open source
Maemo CPCm [107] 1.20-1 Apr 27, 2010 CPC range Open source
MSX-DOS EMU6CPC [108] Dec 17, 2018 CPC range Freeware
Palm OS CaPriCe for Palm OS [109] 2.8 Jun 28, 2011 CPC range Open source
Palm OS CoPaCabana [110] 0.75 Dec 4, 2007 CPC range Freeware
Pocket PC PocketCaprice [111] 0.9 Aug 19, 2007 CPC range Freeware
SunOS CPC++ [112] 1.3.0 Feb 22, 1997 CPC range Shareware💲
Symbian S60-CPC [113] 0.74 Feb 21, 2006 CPC range Open source
Windows 9x CPCwin [114] 1.0 Dec 4, 1997 CPC range Freeware
Windows 9x MTMW [115] 1.30B Jan 11, 2000 CPC range, Plus range, ZX Spectrum, ZX80/81, Enterprise, Jupiter ACE Freeware
Unreleased? YACE [116] Nov 12, 2014 CPC range Unreleased?

Home Consoles

You can use RetroArch for Amstrad CPC emulation on Apple TV, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS2, GameCube, Wii, Wii U and Switch. Or you can use these stand-alone CPC emulators:

Host system Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems License
Microsoft XBOX ArnoldX [117] [118] v5 Apr 20, 2010 CPC range, Plus range Freeware
Microsoft XBOX CoinOPS (RetroFE) [119] 5 Oct 18, 2012 CPC range & lots of other computer systems Freeware
Microsoft Xbox 360 XNACPC [120] 1.0 Nov 11, 2011 CPC range Open source
Nintendo Wii Wiituka [121] 0.98.8 May 15, 2009 CPC range Open source
Sega Dreamcast CPCast [122] May 6, 2006 CPC range Freeware
Sega Dreamcast DreamCPC [123] Alpha 3 Oct 16, 2005 CPC range Freeware
Sony PS2 CPC-em [124] 0.4 Dec 22, 2004 CPC range Freeware
Sony PS3 Caprice32 [125] 4.1.0 DBG Apr 9, 2012 CPC range Open source

Handheld Consoles

Note: Android-based handheld consoles (Razer Edge, Ayn Odin Pro, Retroid Pocket Flip, GPD XP, ...) will work with stand-alone Android CPC emulators or with RetroArch, same as an Android phone.

You can use RetroArch for Amstrad CPC emulation on PSP, PS Vita, DS, 3DS, Switch, Steam Deck, RetroFW, Miyoo and OpenDingux. Or you can use these stand-alone CPC emulators:

Host system Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems License
Anbernic RG350 CrocoDS [126] Jan 15, 2020 CPC range Freeware
Dingoo A320 / A330 Pituka Dingux [127] 0.8pre Aug 19, 2010 CPC range Open source
Dingoo A320 / A330 Dingux-CAP32 [128] 1.1.2 Oct 17, 2009 CPC range Open source
GamePark Caanoo Caanoo-CAP32 [129] 1.1.3 Apr 24, 2011 CPC range Open source
GamePark GP2x CapriceGP2x [130] 0.5 Feb 22, 2006 CPC range Open source
GamePark GP2x GP2X-CAP32 [131] 1.5.1 Aug 29, 2009 CPC range Open source
GamePark GP32 Pituka GP32 [132] 1d May 15, 2010 CPC range Open source
GamePark Wiz Wiz-CAP32 [133] 1.1.0 Aug 29, 2009 CPC range Open source
GCW Zero Dingux-CAP32 [134] 1.1.2 May 25, 2014 CPC range Open source
JXD S5110 / S601 & Yinlips G18 JXD-CAP32 [135] 1.1.1 Oct 27, 2012 CPC range Open source
Nintendo DS AmeDS [136] 4.0 Apr 25, 2010 CPC range Freeware
Nintendo DS CrocoDS [137] 2.0 Nov 9, 2007 CPC range Freeware
Nintendo GameBoy Advance Mini Amstrad Emulator [138] Dec 26, 2005 CPC range Open source
Odroid GO CapriceESP32 [139] Dec 3, 2020 CPC range Open source
Pandora Pandora-CAP32 [140] 1.1.0 Jun 27, 2010 CPC range Open source
Sony PSP Caprice32 PSP [141] 4.2.0.2 Nov 28, 2007 CPC range Open source
Sony PSP CPCPSP [142] 0.1 Dec 24, 2005 CPC range Freeware
Sony PSP PSPCAP32 [143] 1.5.1 Aug 21, 2009 CPC range Open source
Trimui Model S Arnold Trimui [144] Oct 19, 2021 CPC range, Plus range Open source

Single-Board Computers / Raspberry Pi

LibRetro / RetroArch is used as the foundation of Lakka, Recalbox, Batocera and RetroPie alternative OSes for the Raspberry Pi and other SBC. But you can also use RetroArch for Amstrad CPC emulation on a stock Raspberry Pi OS. Or you can use these stand-alone CPC emulators:

Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems License
#CPC4Rpi [145] 1.1 Dec 19, 2013 CPC range Commercial💲
CapriceRPI [146] 1.3 Feb 28, 2016 CPC range Open source
Clock Signal [147] May 15, 2023 CPC range, ZX Spectrum, Enterprise, MSX, ColecoVision, Acorn Electron, Apple II, Oric, VIC-20, ZX80/81, Atari 2600, Atari ST, Macintosh Donationware & Open source
CPCEPower [148] 2105 Jun 4, 2021 CPC range, Plus range Freeware
MAME [149] 0.256 Jun 28, 2023 CPC range, Plus range, KC Compact, Aleste 520EX & lots of other computer systems Open source
SugarPi [150] 1.2.0 Feb 3, 2021 CPC range Open source
ZEsarUX [151] 10.3 May 10, 2023 CPC range, PCW, ZX Spectrum, ZX80/81, MSX 1, ColecoVision, Spectravideo, Jupiter ACE, Sam Coupe, SG-1000, Sega Master System, Sinclair QL, MK14, Z88 Donationware & Open source

Hardware

Mass-storage, RTC and network dilemma

Multiple mass-storage, RTC and network solutions already exist for the Amstrad CPC. We can put them in 3 categories:

  • Historical: The Vortex Winchester Drive and the Dobbertin HD20 with Dobbertin Smart Watch were sold during the commercial lifetime of the CPC. But these solutions are clumsy today with their very small capacity, their CP/M filesystem and their non-standard hard-drives and interface.
  • Historically-plausible: The Symbiface II or X-Mass with Nova NVRAM/RTC are using the IDE/PATA interface created in 1986 for mass-storage access. However, the IDE interface was introduced on the CPC way after its commercial lifetime, the Symbiface II being released in 2006. The whole IDE/PATA sector access and FAT filesystem dance the CPC has to perform here is not necessary with more modern solutions. On the positive side, this isolation of the filesystem guarantees that the CPC software and the CPC emulator cannot inadvertently do wrong on the host filesystem, as the operations are limited to modifying the contents of the virtual hard-drive file. A direct file view on the host side can also make trouble if the CPC assumes it is the sole owner of the filesystem and doesn't accept that we change files and folders behind his back.
  • Modern: Albireo, ULIfAC, Symbiface 3 and M4 Board as they give the CPC a direct file view of the mass-storage instead of a sectors view. These solutions are better suited to provide network too, as HTTP and FTP are file access protocols. The Symbiface 3 and the M4 Board provide a NetAPI to access the Internet unlike the Albireo and the ULIfAC. The Symbiface 3 also emulates other peripherals (Dobbertin HD20, SSA-1 speech synthesizer, Digiblaster and AmDrum soundcards) but it is going overboard with its embedded MP3 player.

Emulator support is as follows:

  • Dobbertin HD20 with Dobbertin SmartWatch is emulated by MAME
  • Symbiface II or X-Mass IDE/PATA is emulated by ACE, Caprice Forever, MAME, WinAPE, WinCPC, Arnold, Virtual CPC
  • Albireo is emulated by ACE, Caprice Forever
  • M4 Board is emulated by CPCemu
  • Vortex, ULIfAC and Symbiface 3 are not supported by emulators

Audio devices

Emulator support is as follows:

Emulator accuracy checking tools

Quick evaluation

Z80 CPU

Diagnostics

Amstrad Plus

Graphics

Peripherals

Copy-protection

File format specifications

Emulation Tools

Emulator Detection

To detect Amstrad CPC emulators:

  • Check if the memory is initialized with zeroes, as real machines have random memory values at boot
  • Focus on the minute details in emulated Z80, CRTC, and PPI chips. They are most often wrong in emulators
  • Examine the FDC chip. It is only replicated more or less superficially in all emulators because the internals of the chip are still unknown

Combining these methods will definitely get you a 100% success rate in detecting emulators, even the toughest ones.

There is also this initiative for emulators who willingly want to be detected: Emulator IDs

Emulators running on the Amstrad CPC

Emulator name External link Current version Latest release Emulated systems License
CPCZVM [154] Jul 6, 2019 Z-Machine Open source
Pac-Man [155] 1.1 Jun 5, 2014 Pac-Man arcade Open source
Phoenix [156] Jan 6, 2019 Phoenix arcade Freeware
Space Invaders [157] 1.0 Jun 11, 2016 Space Invaders arcade Freeware
ZXM [158] 1993 ZX Spectrum Freeware
Zym [159] 0.9 Feb 19, 2022 Z-Machine Open source