Option to disable border masking in GG games.

[Former user]

Original issue 275 created by vaguerant on 2012-09-20T06:35:50.000Z:

Firstly, I don't mean turning borders on and off. As I'm sure you're aware, the Game Gear uses a masked 256*192 image, and in many games--particularly Master System ports or games based on old engines (e.g. the entire Sonic series), the cropped area displays as would be normal for SMS titles. For some examples, see this album of games with used and unused border areas highlighted:

http://imgur.com/a/zIDJH

Clearly, some games work better than others--many not at all--and I understand this option flies in the face of emulation accuracy, but for gaming, it can be fantastic, really making platformers and such feel less cramped. Thanks for any thoughts.

[Former user]

Comment # 1 originally posted by ekeeke31 on 2012-09-20T09:43:16.000Z:

This option is implemented in smsplus-gx but I decided to leave it out genplus-gx because it complexified everything and require special case handlings (thus reducing code efficiency even for systems not concerned), for very little benefits (it's just esthetical feature, the extended screen area is no use because GG games obviously take care of the fact this part is not displayed by the LCD screen, just rendered by the video hardware because GG VDP is similar to SMS VDP and outputs the same resolution)

I will have a fresh look on how this could be added back but if it impacts code efficiency too much, i am afraid you will have to live without.

[Former user]

Comment # 2 originally posted by vaguerant on 2012-09-20T14:03:00.000Z:

Thanks for the rapid response; I agree it's essentially unnecessary, and can go without if it complicates the code too much. Many of the games it's most useful for (Sonic 2!) are available on SMS anyway, and later exclusives like Sonic Triple Trouble do a much better job handling the resolution, though I still enjoy playing them "full screen". However you decide, thanks for the interest.

[Former user]

Comment # 3 originally posted by ekeeke31 on 2012-09-20T21:25:27.000Z:

Turns up the changes to get this working are very minimal contrary to what I initially thought (must have been when the design for multi system support was not really finalized) so option could easily be added.

[Former user]

Comment # 4 originally posted by ekeeke31 on 2012-10-13T17:06:41.000Z:

Added in r715

[Former user]

Comment # 5 originally posted by vaguerant on 2012-10-14T15:01:15.000Z:

Thanks, Eke-Eke; really enjoying this and other additions (Mega-CD CDDA and "lock on" in particular) made in the latest build. Very much appreciate your dedication and the fantastic results.