Virtual Jaguar vs z26
Virtual Jaguar
github.comz26
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Virtual Jaguar | z26 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Atari Emulators | 8.2 (#3) | 7.1 (#16) |
| Controllers | Supported inputs include standard pads, Pro Controller, Team Tap, ST and Amiga mice, Tempest rotary, analog and driving controllers, 6D stick and light gun. | The documentation describes support for PC and USB joysticks and gamepads, as well as mouse and keyboard input. |
| License | The project is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0. | The project README says z26 is released under the GNU General Public License Version 2. |
| Purpose | Virtual Jaguar libretro is an open-source emulator core for Atari Jaguar cartridges and Jaguar CD, designed to run with RetroArch. | z26 is an open source Atari 2600 emulator. |
Plans
Virtual Jaguar
- FreeFree
- Virtual Jaguar Android appFree
- Virtual Jaguar libretro coreFree
In their own words
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.
z26
z26 is a free, open-source Atari 2600 emulator for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The maker lists version 4.07 as the current SDL2 and OpenGL release for those systems, with Windows and Macintosh executables plus source code. A separate DOS release is listed as version 1.58. Input support covers PC and USB joysticks, gamepads, mouse, and keyboard. A mouse or PC trackball can operate trackball and paddle games; mouse input is also documented for light-gun games, while keyboard input supports driving-controller games. z26 handles several cartridge bank-switching schemes, including standard 8K and 16K, Atari Super-Chip, CBS Ram Plus, and Pitfall II. Digital sound processing has low and high settings. Developer tools include trace mode, scanline counting, and controls for disabling individual graphics objects. The project is licensed under GNU General Public License Version 2. Its listed plan costs nothing, and the license states the program comes without warranty to the extent permitted by law.