A7800 vs Virtual Jaguar
A7800
github.comVirtual Jaguar
github.comSide by side
| Figure | A7800 | Virtual Jaguar |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 3 |
| Spec score · Atari Emulators | 7.5 (#11) | 8.2 (#3) |
| BIOS | BIOS files are optional and no longer required. | Console and Jaguar CD BIOS images are embedded, so external BIOS files are not required. |
| License | The project source is offered under GNU GPL version 2 or later, with source files potentially having licenses specified in their headers. | The project is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0. |
| Purpose | A7800 is an Atari 7800 emulator and a fork of the MAME Atari 7800 driver. | Virtual Jaguar libretro is an open-source emulator core for Atari Jaguar cartridges and Jaguar CD, designed to run with RetroArch. |
| What it does | A7800 is an Atari 7800 emulator and a fork of the MAME Atari 7800 driver. | Virtual Jaguar is an Atari Jaguar and Jaguar CD emulator distributed as a libretro core for RetroArch and other libretro frontends. |
Plans
Virtual Jaguar
- FreeFree
- Virtual Jaguar Android appFree
- Virtual Jaguar libretro coreFree
In their own words
A7800
A7800 is a free, open-source Atari 7800 emulator and a fork of the MAME Atari 7800 driver. It runs on Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows; version 5.2 lists 64-bit x64 builds for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The emulator supports Proline and VCS joysticks, lightguns, paddles, driving controllers, keypads, Trak-Balls, Amiga mice, and ST mice. Its listed technical work includes improved MARIA DMA timing with accurate DMA-hole penalties, a RIOT emulation fix, POKEY sound changes, and SALLY and MARIA performance adjustments. Users can choose palettes and enhanced screen options. BIOS files are optional and not required. A7800 keeps MAME compatibility and syntax, allowing reuse of MAME configuration files and front ends. Developer targets can display DMA usage per scanline. The repository is offered under GNU GPL version 2 or later, and the license provides no warranty. The project labels v5.2 as its latest release, including corrections to the POKEY poly9 sequence and initial state.
Virtual Jaguar
Virtual Jaguar libretro is a free, open-source emulator core for Atari Jaguar cartridges and Jaguar CD media. It is designed to run through a libretro frontend such as RetroArch, not as a standalone emulator. The core emulates the Jaguar’s 68000, GPU, DSP, Object Processor, and Jaguar CD hardware. It accepts cartridge formats including .j64, .jag, .rom, .abs, .cof, .bin, and .prg, plus Jaguar CD CUE, CDI, and CHD images. Console and Jaguar CD BIOS images are embedded, so external BIOS files are not required. Through its frontend, the core supports save states, cheats, rewind, run-ahead, netplay, shaders, controller remapping, and fast-forward. Optional settings include true-color rendering, 2× internal resolution, overclock controls, and adjustable CD read speed. Link-cable emulation supports TCP transport and a multi-peer hub. The project notes that the blitter is not fully cycle-accurate, GPU/DSP pipeline hazards are not modeled, and some titles can run too fast. Listed platforms include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.