Project-Friday v1.7.0

Project-Friday v1.7.0 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.7.0

• About a third less CPU load (measured on the Steam Deck: 23.7 s -> 15.1 s for the same 6000-frame test recording): cooler and quieter Deck, longer battery life. The project's own renderer got faster, and the leftover work of the old emulator renderer is gone.
• Less emulator inside, nothing to see or hear: the video chip's data path (writes, registers, DMA) and the system start-up now run on the project's own code; Genesis Plus GX's renderer is only kept as a test picture. Every step was checked against the old way on all 74 test recordings (identical game state, sound and picture).
• Everything from v1.6.0 is included (rebuilt dungeon map, Modern HUD life numbers, Sprint, Smooth Scrolling, experimental Friday Hints).

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256 (to check your download, no extra file needed): AppImage 5e258ca70f093b23b11eff24cf676b2b13c31e3f7f6d57ddf7c5a7b874971074, Windows zip 3b9be1176a263a8dbe32c8da783c11fb981642da604694108f2ccc3562a1761c (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.6.0

Project-Friday v1.6.0 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.6.0

• Dungeon map, rebuilt (still experimental, off by default): bind a button to "Map" in Options > Keybindings. In a dungeon it pauses the game and shows a schematic map of the rooms you have visited: every door sits on the wall the game itself gives it, doors that meet are joined by corridors, the rest carry matching numbers; river / raft passages are drawn blue. Scroll with the D-pad / stick, change floors with L1 / R1 (shown at the top right).
• Modern HUD: the life numbers (e.g. 55/78) are back next to the hearts.
• Less emulator inside, nothing to hear: the sound mixer and the Z80's start-up program now run on the project's own code instead of Genesis Plus GX (checked sample for sample against the old way on every test recording).
• Everything from v1.5.0 is included (Sprint, Smooth Scrolling, the first-start fix for newer Linux, experimental Friday Hints).

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256 (to check your download, no extra file needed): AppImage 0e2bca59cc7084fbc1fe9a27996bffdab82be17f69e1538227414dfd8d09f8d5, Windows zip f1a871b34ab521ed57803a8fa848aa59fa5cb2f74b30073f35df35a1dc01a450 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.5.0

Project-Friday v1.5.0 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.5.0

• Sprint (new, On by default): hold R2 (keyboard Left Shift) and Nigel runs faster on the ground; jumps stay exactly as in the original. Options > Quality of Life: Sprint On / Off, Sprint Key Hold / Toggle. The controls moved for it: Quick Equip is now R1, Fast Forward L3, Fullscreen R3 (all remappable in Options > Keybindings).
• Smooth Scrolling (new, On by default): while sprinting the room scrolls evenly at 1.5 x and stays sharp (the scenery is shifted by whole screen pixels inside the display filter, Nigel, HUD and text boxes stay put). Off = sprint 2 x.
• Fix for the first start on newer Linux (issue #12, Ubuntu 26.10 / Python 3.14): the build helper module is now installed into the game's own data folder, so distributions that lock the system Python ("externally-managed-environment") work; your system Python is not touched.
• Experimental, off by default (still being tuned, feedback welcome):
  • Friday Hints (Options > Quality of Life): press Select and Friday flies out of Nigel's bag and gives a hint where to go next, in her own words.
  • Dungeon map: bind a button to "Map" in Options > Keybindings. In a dungeon it pauses the game and shows the rooms you have visited, floor by floor, each room drawn from your ROM, with your position.
• Everything from v1.4.0 is included.

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256 (to check your download, no extra file needed): AppImage cb49fcb02e44eaf1efddad22e57acb35f4fdede2b04a632fb67afbfb1da87971, Windows zip 55f7e94d40cb55205f955c59ea02cc80d1e5d37de36c10bc458d30c798c8c776 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.4.0

Project-Friday v1.4.0 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.4.0

• Native Pace is now on by default: busy rooms (e.g. the swamp shrine) no longer run in slow motion. Switch it off in Options > Quality of Life for the exact console timing.
• Modern HUD (new option, Options > Video > HUD, default Original): no status bar; hearts and the sword charge top left, gold bottom right, round buttons top right with the sword and the Quick Items (with the name of the bound button, follows your key configuration). In the Start menu only the hearts are shown.
• Quick Equip, new control: hold R2 and press a direction to open the strip of swords (up), armour (right), boots (down) or rings (left), then choose with left / right.
• Item icons straight from the game: Quick Items, Quick Equip and the HUD buttons show every item right away (no visit to the Start menu needed first).
• Everything from v1.3.0 is included.

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256 (to check your download, no extra file needed): AppImage c4af2ad873c1c36abe64f6182bc974a6434e3ec163b0eb5ba820614dfc384a93, Windows zip a9a9da0d9e6af5c809a90d3580a577044bcd36f1f8f1ef86d24ca34a631b6ab3 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.3.0

Project-Friday v1.3.0 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.3.0

• Native Pace (new option, Options > Quality of Life, default Off): busy rooms no longer run in slow motion (e.g. the swamp shrine). The picture waits for the game instead of the game losing a frame like on the console.
• Own timing model: line / frame clock, interrupts, VDP, Z80 bus and pad timing are now our own code instead of the emulator core's (the game plays exactly as before).
• Own sound chips: the PSG and YM2612 sound now come from our own cores (sound identical to before).
• Smoother picture with CRT Pro: the filter got much cheaper, the micro stutter on long walks is gone.
• Friday's wake-up flash is visible again with the own renderer.
• Everything from v1.2.0 is included.

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256: AppImage ec69ceb7bfacf58288d3022ba9ba489de4e6d7eb1b6560b31842e90bf3dc4996, Windows zip 1950988e91c05363d69862bb40af572cf32fa525928f6b78241595883ba23272 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.2.0

Project-Friday v1.2.0 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.2.0

• Fast forward keeps the music at normal speed (the sound runs on its own clock; GitHub issue #11 part 2). Speech blips are thinned so they sound as often as at normal speed.
• Native sound (always on): the sound driver runs recompiled inside the game instead of GPGX's Z80 (audio bit identical to before).
• No sprite limit (always on, no option row): every figure of a room is drawn, without the cartridge's limit of 20 sprites per line and its flicker. The own renderer got faster at the same time.
• Shadows fixed: a shadow no longer lies on a roof or wall in front of Nigel, and no longer goes missing at places on paths / grass; none in the intro rooms and on ladders / vines.
• Intro fixes: Enemy HP / Damage Taken settings no longer apply in the intro (with Enemy HP 300 % the golem statues of the third intro scene survived the scripted hit and the intro hung); the third intro scene shows its black scene changes correctly; text boxes are back in all intro scenes.
• Text box: figures that the cartridge hides behind a text box (corner, beside the box) are drawn and the box covers them.
• Gaia effect and other sprite effects work again with No Sprite Limit; Europe ROM and the AppImage first run were re-tested.
• Everything from v1.1.0 is included (Language option + German, Europe ROM, Fast Forward toggle, focus pause, ...).

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256: AppImage 2258f8dea8596e5872a90938461c5caeeeb8084fd91c0e0a3d49776d8fcf0696, Windows zip 59f93850e0b09ac35a19d98f1016f696dbaf168f1291031eecf3b25012676649 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.1.0

Project-Friday v1.1.0 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.1.0

• Language option + German (first part): Options > Language. Menus, item names, system messages, hints and options are translated; character dialogue is still English for now.
• Europe ROM supported: the European Landstalker ROM is accepted too and runs at the right speed (60 Hz).
• Fast Forward can be a toggle (issue #11): Options > Quality of Life > Fast Forward Key: Hold or Toggle.
• Game and sound pause while the window is not in focus (alt+tab, issue #9).
• Quick Save and Fast Forward are OFF by default: turn them on under Options > Quality of Life; pressing their button while off now shows a hint (issue #6). Fast forward: hold Tab / Steam Deck back button R5.
• Everything from v1.0.2 is included (Windows start fix, Quick Equip, Better Menu, Live Gaia Effect, Widescreen ...).

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256: AppImage 9c371ba8051a4011f6f761cb0a6a0b2fc4569b549c42e6cce7b0928c8c51f65d, Windows zip 4cde4f55ae86004481d7e57aa20637a74e490b4a9ff478c4ebe7b344d31a2578 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.0.2

Project-Friday v1.0.2 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.0.2

• Windows: the game no longer crashes right after the start (exit code 0xC0000005, GitHub issue #5, thanks for the report!). The name of the save file (.srm) is now worked out before the emulator core starts. The Windows package is also tested on a real Windows machine by GitHub now (start with a test ROM, with and without a save file). Nothing changes for Steam Deck / Linux.
• Included since v1.0.1: the Windows first-build fix (compile step 162 / 163, issue #3).
• Everything from v1.0.0 is included: Quick Equip (hold R2 + direction), Better Menu (B in Use / Equip goes back to the bar), Live Gaia Effect, Widescreen Off / 16:10 / 16:9 in any width, defaults 16:9 + Full Height + CRT Pro, the own renderer always on, and the AppImage first-start fix.

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256: AppImage 12b7d9571c260dccdfafdd80ee8e95780bef1144355e2bb219a013be6076f0e9, Windows zip eebaf5974c4d60da0837413f20f7a679ab1abae5287c3cc2c4edb19cf2f7ffe3 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.0.1

Project-Friday v1.0.1 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.0.1

• Windows: the first build from your ROM works again. v1.0.0 stopped at the last compile step (162 / 163) on Windows because two places used a Linux-only form of mkdir (GitHub issue #3, thanks for the log!). Nothing changes for Steam Deck / Linux.
• Everything from v1.0.0 is included: Quick Equip (hold R2 + direction), Better Menu (B in Use / Equip goes back to the bar), Live Gaia Effect, Widescreen Off / 16:10 / 16:9 in any width, defaults 16:9 + Full Height + CRT Pro, the own renderer always on, and the AppImage first-start fix.

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256: AppImage 52f2d22447dece279a128eb6e19303958ff067e02cc267ccde070e4757f03b96, Windows zip 481a4dd0bb3f3fd9f2361f630c0da38c8f655f2020792d923a25316aa0f42800 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.

Project-Friday v1.0.0

Project-Friday v1.0.0 - Landstalker (Mega Drive) recompiled for Steam Deck / Linux and Windows.

New in v1.0.0

• Quick Equip (Options > Quality of Life, On by default): hold R2 (keyboard Q) and press a direction - up sword, right armour, down boots, left ring. The first press only shows the pieces of that kind (icons, owned ones in colour, others as black silhouettes), the second press switches; the starting equipment (Broad Sword, Leather Breast, Leather Boots, no ring) is part of the cycle. The game pauses while R2 is held. Fast Forward moved to R5 by default.
• Better Menu (Options > Quality of Life, On by default): B in the Use list or the Equip grid goes back to Use / Equip / Options instead of closing the whole menu; START still closes it.
• Live Gaia Effect is On by default: the falling rocks no longer freeze the game and stay in the world; no second Gaia use while they fall.
• Widescreen in any width: Options > Video > Widescreen is now Off / 16:10 / 16:9 (any width works, no longer multiples of 16 only). New defaults for a fresh install: 16:9, Full Height On, CRT Pro, Scaling Fit, Map Behind Text On.
• The own renderer is always on (its Options row is gone); the HD Graphics and De-Dither rows are hidden for now.
• Fixes: figures are hidden behind the text box like on the original hardware (dwarves), the ending credits are visible again, shadows (no pop-up after the Start menu, every platform casts one, Nigel's ground), two stray grey pixels in the HUD bar next to the gold, Options page hang with LEFT on some rows, and the first start from the AppImage (a missing file made the first build fail on a clean system).
• Everything from v0.9.6 is included.

Downloads

• Steam Deck / Linux: Project-Friday-x86_64.AppImage (make it executable, start it, pick your ROM).
• Windows 10 / 11 (experimental): Project-Friday-windows-x64.zip (extract the whole zip, start Project-Friday.exe).

SHA-256: AppImage 796bd63e704b3777301c9e12ec5c72f19cb3a6c585a99a5c99b415075a5ee83f, Windows zip e613c37f84b8693ea6c9034c26c5d460d4b3f4625eacd9ddf1e45791a3eb3bd7 (built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source).

Non-commercial use only (Genesis Plus GX and Musashi licences, texts and sources are included). Code written by Claude (AI), tested by the project owner by playing, see the README. Do not share the built game or your ROM.