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{{Short description|Multi-system emulator}}
⚫ {{lowercase}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
⚫ {{lowercase title}}
{{Infobox software {{Infobox software
| name = higan | name = higan
| logo = The_logo_for_multi-system_emulator_higan.svg
| logo = ]
| screenshot = File:Higan v105.png
| logo caption = <!-- Caption for above icon -->
| caption = higan v105 running on ]
| screenshot = ]
⚫ | developer = ] et al.
| caption = The redesigned "Library" menu in higan 092
⚫ | released = {{Start date and age|2004|10|14}}
| collapsible = <!-- Change this to yes if a long screenshot is ever uploaded -->
| latest release version = 115
| author =
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2020|08|15}}<ref></ref>
⚫ | developer = byuu et al.
⚫ | programming language = ], ]
⚫ | released = {{Start date and age|2005|05}}
⚫ | operating system = ], ], ], ]
| latest release version = 092 <!-- Also update the version at ] -->
| platform = Independent: ], ], ], ], etc.
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2013|01|12}}
⚫ | genre = ]
| latest preview version = <!-- Add the version number of a preview here -->
| license = 2020: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/higan-emu/higan/commit/309560b06073678bbe6f64e34ad6965ee68e995b|title=Convert higan into a group project and relicense it to GPLv3 or later.|website=] |date=2020-03-22}}</ref><br />2017: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/higan-emu/higan/commit/9e06857e4d5f9d65a1aef2e2081e3231f79d8a1f|title=Update version and license|website=] |date=2017-10-25}}</ref>
| latest preview date = <!-- Date for above version -->
| website = {{plainlist|
| status = Active
* {{URL|https://github.com/higan-emu/higan}}
⚫ | programming language = ]<br>'''libco:''' ]
Derivatives:
⚫ | operating system = ]<br>]
* {{URL|https://github.com/bsnes-emu/bsnes}}
| platform = ]<br>]
* {{URL|https://ares-emu.net}} }}
| size = 1.2&nbsp;]: ], ]<br>1.5&nbsp;]: ], ]<br>772&nbsp;]: ]
⚫ | genre = ]
| license = ]
| website = {{URL|http://byuu.org/higan/}}
}} }}


'''Higan''' is a ] and ] ] for multiple ]s, including the ]. It was developed by ]. Originally called '''bsnes'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bsnes.dev/about |title=About – bsnes |access-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref> (which was later reused for a new emulator by the same developer), the emulator is notable for attempting to emulate the original hardware as accurately as possible through ], ] emulation and for the associated historical preservation efforts of the Super NES platform.<ref name="Accuracy takes power">{{cite web | work=Ars Technica | date=August 9, 2011 | author=Near | title=Accuracy takes power: one man's 3GHz quest to build a perfect SNES emulator | url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/08/accuracy-takes-power-one-mans-3ghz-quest-to-build-a-perfect-snes-emulator/ | access-date=March 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name="16-bit time capsule"/>
'''higan''' is a ] multi-system ] for ] and ] which aims to emulate the original ] hardware as accurately as possible. As such, higan is a ]. From version 087 onward, higan can run all SNES titles commercially released through the ] emulation of their ] (if applicable) with no known bugs. higan was formerly known as '''bsnes''', but was renamed to better reflect the more diverse pool of emulation it now offers in addition to the SNES.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://board.byuu.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3085 new name - higan|title=byuu.org |accessdate=October 8, 2012}}</ref>


==Background== == Overview ==
Development of higan began on October 14, 2004 as bsnes and the first version was released in May 2005 for ]. Since then, it has been ported to ]. Richard Bannister unofficially ported bsnes v068 to ], while an official OS X port is currently being developed by byuu.<ref name=port>{{cite web |url=http://board.byuu.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3784 |title=OS X port |work=byuu's message board - View topic - higan for OS X - interest? |publisher= |accessdate=March 18, 2013}}</ref> The emulator has always been ] and is currently under ] licensure. It is still being actively developed.


Development of the emulator began with the name ''bsnes'' on October 14, 2004. The first version was released in May 2005 for Microsoft ]. The early versions would require high-power hardware to run games in a consistent manner and therefore garnered controversy.<ref name="vice-bahamut">{{cite web|author=Patrick Klepek|date=2021-03-08|title=A 23-Year Perfectionist Journey to Localize the Obscure 'Bahamut Lagoon'|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvxezw/a-23-year-perfectionist-journey-to-localize-the-obscure-bahamut-lagoon|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627205651/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvxezw/a-23-year-perfectionist-journey-to-localize-the-obscure-bahamut-lagoon|archive-date=June 27, 2021|access-date=2021-06-27|work=Vice}}</ref> Since then, it has been ported to ], ], and ]. Initially developed under a custom license, later releases were licensed under various versions of the ]. On August 9, 2012, the project was renamed to higan, to better reflect its new nature as a multi-system emulator.
higan was the first emulator to feature ] emulation, cycle-accurate ] emulation, cycle-accurate ] emulation, and ] emulation.<ref name=byuu.org>{{cite web |url=http://byuu.org/articles/emulation-3 |title=The State of Emulation, Part III |work=byuu's homepage |publisher= |accessdate=July 5, 2012}}</ref> Newer versions of higan can also experimentally emulate the ], ], ], and ]. An older version of higan, bsnes 091, had an experimental ] emulation core called dasShiny, developed by Cydrak, but was removed in higan 092.


The higan project has contributed significantly to the field of Super NES emulation, with a number of original achievements in its emulation, and in ] developments such as the organization of funds, hardware, and expertise for ] the Super NES's enhancement chips.<ref name="16-bit time capsule">{{cite web |url=http://www.tested.com/tech/gaming/44376-16_bit-time-capsule-how-emulator-bsnes-makes-a-case-for-software-preservation/ |title=16-bit Time Capsule: SNES Emulator Makes a Case for Software Preservation | first=Wesley | last=Fenlon |access-date=2021-06-27 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130204035430/https://www.tested.com/tech/gaming/44376-16_bit-time-capsule-how-emulator-bsnes-makes-a-case-for-software-preservation/ | archive-date=2013-02-04 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
A fork of bsnes 082 (the last version with sole SNES support) was developed by LuigiBlood called bsnes-sx2. It adds peripherals such as the ] and Super Famicom Box, but mostly aims to correctly emulate certain aspects of the ] software - a feat which is not planned for main higan builds, as it goes against byuu's cycle-accurate programming philosophy.


Higan is able to run every commercial Super NES title ever released.<ref>{{cite interview | last=Bannister | first=Richard | interviewer=Craig Grannell | title=Emulation Nation: Interview – Richard Bannister | work=] | issue=21 | page=97 | date=February 2006}}</ref> It is the first emulator to have featured ] emulation, cycle-accurate ] emulation, cycle-accurate ] emulation, ] emulation,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://near.sh/articles/emulation/state-of-emulation-iii/ |title=The State of Emulation, Part III |work=near.sh |access-date=February 3, 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and a dot-based instead of ]-based ] for the Game Boy Advance. It is the first multi-emulator of this breadth to achieve cycle-based emulation for every single component of every system.
⚫ As of March 23, 2012, a fork called lsnes is the preferred emulator for creating ] by tasvideos.org, due to its superior accuracy over previous emulators used.<ref name=tasvideos>{{cite web |url=http://tasvideos.org/EmulatorResources.html |title=tasvideos.org Preferred Emulators |work=tasvideos.org |publisher= |accessdate=May 13, 2012}}</ref>


⚫ Forked versions of bsnes have provided emulation support for ], ], Super Famicom Box, ] software, and ]s.<ref name="tasvideos">{{cite web |url=http://tasvideos.org/EmulatorResources.html |title=tasvideos.org Preferred Emulators |work=tasvideos.org |publisher= |access-date=May 13, 2012 | quote=Isnes}}</ref>
]


=== higan products family ===
==Reception==
Higan has been forked and renamed over the years, and consists of three sub-projects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About — ares |url=https://ares.dev/about |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704034845/https://ares.dev/about |archive-date=July 4, 2020 |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=ares.dev}}</ref> The current sub-projects are:
⚫ British Internet magazine '']'' recommended bsnes for "some fun old-school gaming" in 2008.<ref>{{cite journal | year = 2008 | title = Downloaded | journal = ] | issue = 191 | pages = 39 }}</ref>
*bsnes: A ] emulator with ] support.
*higan: A multi-system emulator that focuses on accuracy. Supported systems include the ], ], ] (]), ], ], ], ], ], ], ] (]), ], ], ], and ] (]).
*ares: A multi-system emulator that is a fork of higan, focusing on performance and adding experimental ] and ] support in addition to the systems supported in higan.


== Author ==
Japanese game magazine ''GameLabo'' recommended bsnes for "those seeking a realistic playing experience" in 2009.<ref>{{cite journal | year = 2009 | title = SFC | journal = GameLabo | issue = September | pages = ? }}</ref>
{{Main|Near (programmer)}}
Higan was developed by American software engineer ], known as ''Near'' and formerly as ''byuu''.<ref name="usatoday">{{Cite news |last=Dastagir |first=Alia |date=July 23, 2021 |title='The internet is not a game. ... This stuff really hurts.' Respected developer who was bullied online dies by suicide. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/07/23/how-toxic-online-cultures-trolling-and-bullying-contribute-suicide/8042846002/ |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210723171613/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/07/23/how-toxic-online-cultures-trolling-and-bullying-contribute-suicide/8042846002/ |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |access-date=July 23, 2021 |work=] |publisher=]}}</ref> Near started out in the emulation scene as an amateur programmer, translating Japanese video-game ]s in 1998, at the age of 14, and one year later developed a tool for displaying resized text font in games. After that, a ''patching assembler'' called "xkas" would follow, which streamlined the ROM-translation process. The development of bsnes was triggered by bugs during translation of ] game '']'' that would only appear on the original hardware but not on 2004-era Super NES emulators; as such, the aim of bsnes was for accurate emulation.<ref name="vice-bahamut" /> Near died in 2021.<ref name="usatoday" />


==See also== == Reception ==
⚫ * ]


⚫ In 2008, British Internet magazine '']'' recommended ''bsnes'' for "some fun old-school gaming".<ref>{{cite journal | year = 2008 | title = Downloaded | journal = ] | issue = 191 | pages = 39 }}</ref> In 2009, Japanese game magazine ''GameLabo'' recommended it for "those seeking a realistic playing experience".<ref>{{cite journal | year = 2009 | title = SFC | journal = GameLabo | issue = September | pages = ? }}</ref>
⚫ ==References==
⚫ {{reflist}}


In 2017, components of higan's ] were used to emulate the vintage ] computer used by ] ], after the original hardware began showing signs of wear. Hawking would continue using this emulator to converse with others until his death in 2018.<ref name="sfchronicle">{{cite web | work=San Francisco Chronicle | date=March 18, 2018 | author=Jason Fagone | title=The quest to save Stephen Hawking's voice | url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/The-Silicon-Valley-quest-to-preserve-Stephen-12759775.php | access-date=March 19, 2018}}</ref>
⚫ ==External links==

⚫ {{Portal|Free software}}
== See also ==
* {{Official website|http://byuu.org/higan/}}
⚫ * ]
*

*
⚫ == References ==
*
⚫ {{reflist|30em}}
*

* , an ] article on bsnes by byuu
⚫ == External links ==
*

*
*
* for various distributions
* article by the author on the state of Higan in 2011


{{Nintendo emulators}} {{Nintendo emulators}}
⚫ {{Portal bar|Video games|Free and open-source software}}


] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 14:57, 26 June 2024

Multi-system emulator

higan
higan v105 running on Windows 10
Developer(s)Near et al.
Initial releaseOctober 14, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-10-14)
Stable release115 / August 15, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-08-15)
Repository
Written inC++14, C99
Operating systemWindows, Linux, macOS, FreeBSD
PlatformIndependent: IA-32, x86-64, ARM32/64, MIPS, etc.
TypeVideo game console emulator
License2020: GPL-3.0-or-later
2017: GPL-3.0-only
Website

Derivatives:

Higan is a free and open source emulator for multiple video game consoles, including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was developed by Near. Originally called bsnes (which was later reused for a new emulator by the same developer), the emulator is notable for attempting to emulate the original hardware as accurately as possible through low-level, cycle-accurate emulation and for the associated historical preservation efforts of the Super NES platform.

Overview

Development of the emulator began with the name bsnes on October 14, 2004. The first version was released in May 2005 for Microsoft Windows. The early versions would require high-power hardware to run games in a consistent manner and therefore garnered controversy. Since then, it has been ported to Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD. Initially developed under a custom license, later releases were licensed under various versions of the GNU General Public License. On August 9, 2012, the project was renamed to higan, to better reflect its new nature as a multi-system emulator.

The higan project has contributed significantly to the field of Super NES emulation, with a number of original achievements in its emulation, and in reverse engineering developments such as the organization of funds, hardware, and expertise for decapping the Super NES's enhancement chips.

Higan is able to run every commercial Super NES title ever released. It is the first emulator to have featured SPC7110 emulation, cycle-accurate SPC 700 emulation, cycle-accurate Super FX emulation, Super Game Boy emulation, and a dot-based instead of scanline-based renderer for the Game Boy Advance. It is the first multi-emulator of this breadth to achieve cycle-based emulation for every single component of every system.

Forked versions of bsnes have provided emulation support for Nintendo DS, XBAND, Super Famicom Box, Satellaview BS-X software, and tool-assisted speedruns.

higan products family

Higan has been forked and renamed over the years, and consists of three sub-projects. The current sub-projects are:

Author

Main article: Near (programmer)

Higan was developed by American software engineer David Kirk Ginder, known as Near and formerly as byuu. Near started out in the emulation scene as an amateur programmer, translating Japanese video-game ROM images in 1998, at the age of 14, and one year later developed a tool for displaying resized text font in games. After that, a patching assembler called "xkas" would follow, which streamlined the ROM-translation process. The development of bsnes was triggered by bugs during translation of Super Famicom game Der Langrisser that would only appear on the original hardware but not on 2004-era Super NES emulators; as such, the aim of bsnes was for accurate emulation. Near died in 2021.

Reception

In 2008, British Internet magazine Webuser recommended bsnes for "some fun old-school gaming". In 2009, Japanese game magazine GameLabo recommended it for "those seeking a realistic playing experience".

In 2017, components of higan's source code were used to emulate the vintage text-to-speech computer used by physicist Stephen Hawking, after the original hardware began showing signs of wear. Hawking would continue using this emulator to converse with others until his death in 2018.

See also

References

  1. Higan release on GitHub
  2. "Convert higan into a group project and relicense it to GPLv3 or later". GitHub. March 22, 2020.
  3. "Update version and license". GitHub. October 25, 2017.
  4. "About – bsnes". Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  5. Near (August 9, 2011). "Accuracy takes power: one man's 3GHz quest to build a perfect SNES emulator". Ars Technica. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  6. ^ Fenlon, Wesley. "16-bit Time Capsule: SNES Emulator Makes a Case for Software Preservation". Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  7. ^ Patrick Klepek (March 8, 2021). "A 23-Year Perfectionist Journey to Localize the Obscure 'Bahamut Lagoon'". Vice. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. Bannister, Richard (February 2006). "Emulation Nation: Interview – Richard Bannister". Retro Gamer (Interview). No. 21. Interviewed by Craig Grannell. p. 97.
  9. "The State of Emulation, Part III". near.sh. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  10. "tasvideos.org Preferred Emulators". tasvideos.org. Retrieved May 13, 2012. Isnes
  11. "About — ares". ares.dev. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Dastagir, Alia (July 23, 2021). "'The internet is not a game. ... This stuff really hurts.' Respected developer who was bullied online dies by suicide". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  13. "Downloaded". Webuser (191): 39. 2008.
  14. "SFC". GameLabo (September): ?. 2009.
  15. Jason Fagone (March 18, 2018). "The quest to save Stephen Hawking's voice". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 19, 2018.

External links

Emulators of Nintendo hardware
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