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ESP32-FabGL-SMSEmulator

ESP32-FabGL-SMSEmulator is a work-in-progress emulator for the SEGA MarkIII and Master System, built for ESP32 with the FabGL library.

Place
#21 of 25
Score
5.3
ESP32-FabGL-SMSEmulator's website

What ESP32-FabGL-SMSEmulator is

ESP32-FabGL-SMSEmulator is a work-in-progress emulator for the SEGA MarkIII and Master System, built for ESP32 with the FabGL library. It outputs video over VGA and accepts input from PS/2 keyboards or external serial controllers. The main README reports 60 FPS (59.94 Hz) with every frame rendered, while the MarkIII subdirectory README gives a target of about 30 FPS. SRAM-compatible titles can save and restore data on an SD card through three slots; users must create the SAVE folder before launch. The recommended setup is an ESP32 Dev Module with FabGL v1.0.9 and PSRAM, which is required. Atari-specification D-Sub 9-pin controllers connect through UART using RS-232C at 115200 bps on IO39 for two joystick ports. Audio has reduced fidelity for FM sound, especially rhythm sections, and some PSG sampling playback. Keyboard mappings may need source changes for a particular layout. The project is free and open source, but the repository page showed no releases; license terms are in source-file headers.

Good

  • Free and open source.
  • VGA output and PS/2 keyboard support.
  • Three SD-card save slots for SRAM-compatible titles.
  • Supports two serial joystick ports.
  • Main README reports 60 FPS.

Watch out

  • Work in progress.
  • PSRAM is required.
  • Some audio playback has reduced fidelity.
  • No releases were listed on the repository page.

Who it suits

This project suits people building or using an ESP32 setup for MarkIII or Master System emulation, particularly those with VGA, PS/2, or serial controller hardware. It requires PSRAM and may involve changing source code for keyboard mappings.

Verdict

ESP32-FabGL-SMSEmulator offers VGA output, controller input, and save slots for a hardware-specific setup. Its work-in-progress status, PSRAM requirement, and stated audio limitations are important considerations.

The facts

Each one read from ESP32-FabGL-SMSEmulator's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Audio limitation
FM sound, especially rhythm, and PSG sample playback may have reduced fidelity because of FabGL sampling-rate constraints.checked 9 Oct 2026
Build requirements
The recommended setup uses an ESP32 Dev Module with PSRAM enabled, the Espressif ESP32 board manager, and FabGL v1.0.9.checked 9 Oct 2026
Controller converter
The README says the Atari-to-Serial converter hardware and firmware published in the repository’s MSX1 emulator section can be reused.checked 9 Oct 2026
Controller support
Atari-specification D-Sub 9-pin controllers can connect through the ESP32 UART; the README specifies RS-232C at 115200 bps on IO39 for two joystick ports.checked 9 Oct 2026
Development status and support
The developer says most main source code is based on AI-generated code and that they cannot answer detailed questions about its internal logic or specifications.checked 4 Oct 2026
Download availability
The GitHub repository page showed no releases.checked 4 Oct 2026
External controllers
It accepts Atari-specification D-Sub 9-pin controller signals via UART using RS-232C at 115200 bps on IO39, for two joystick ports.checked 4 Oct 2026
Frame rate
The README reports 60 FPS (59.94 Hz), with every frame rendered.checked 4 Oct 2026
Keyboard controls
F12 pauses or resumes the emulator, Shift+F12 resets the ESP32, and F9–F11 with Shift load and save slots 1–3.checked 9 Oct 2026
License information
The README directs users to source-file header comments for license terms and says included cores follow the policies of FabGL, fMSX, and MIT/free licenses.checked 9 Oct 2026
Licensing
The README directs users to review source-file header comments for license details and says included cores follow the stated FabGL, fMSX, and MIT or free-license policies.checked 4 Oct 2026
Performance
The main README lists 60 FPS (59.94 Hz) with every frame rendered; the MarkIII subdirectory README lists a target of about 30 FPS.checked 9 Oct 2026
Product
An emulator for the SEGA MarkIII / Master System built for ESP32 using the FabGL library; the project is marked as a work in progress.checked 4 Oct 2026
Purpose
An in-progress SEGA MarkIII / Master System emulator built for ESP32 using the FabGL library.checked 9 Oct 2026
Save states
SRAM-supported titles can save and restore data on a MicroSD card using three slots, with the SAVE folder created manually before launch.checked 9 Oct 2026
Support limitation
The developer says most main source code is based on AI-generated code and detailed questions about its internal logic may not be answerable.checked 9 Oct 2026
Use disclaimer
The README states that use is at the user's own risk and disclaims liability for resulting damages.checked 4 Oct 2026
Use limitation
The project disclaims liability for damages and says users use the software at their own risk.checked 9 Oct 2026
Video and input
The project describes VGA output, PS/2 keyboard support, and serial connections for external controllers.checked 9 Oct 2026

Where it runs

Keyboard mapping
The README says users may need to modify source code to adapt key mappings to their keyboard layout.checked 4 Oct 2026

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