snes360-enhanced (Snes9x-360 tweaks)

Enhanced Xbox 360 port of the Snes9x 1.51 SNES emulator focused on Direct3D rendering and Xbox 360-specific optimizations. Core emulation code remains intact; improvements are limited to the Xbox UI layer (XUI scenes, Direct3D rendering, XAudio2 audio, input handling).

Note: Based on the original Xbox 360 port (Snes360 V0.32 Beta, credited to "Anonymous" in source code). ModernVintageGamer (Dimitris) worked extensively on the original port and provided the source code that made this enhanced version possible. We are very thankful for his contributions and for sharing the source code. The original port was a collaborative effort with multiple developers. This enhanced version removes all achievement functionality to prevent Xbox Live bans, along with build fixes, C89 compatibility improvements, and Many more features and improvements are planned for future releases.

Note: This can also be built with newer versions of Visual Studio and the Xbox 360 SDK/XDK. If you want to update from Visual Studio 2008, try using Visual Studio 2010. Confirmed working on Xbox 360 SDK 21256.3.

Current Version: V0.36 Beta

Toolchain: Visual Studio 2008 SP1
SDK: Xbox 360 XDK 2.0.9328.0
Target: Xbox 360 (RGH/JTAG/Dev Kits), retail-runnable .xex
Original Port: Anonymous (Snes360 V0.32 Beta, 07-16-2010) - Original Xbox 360 port of Snes9x
Source Code Provider: ModernVintageGamer (Dimitris) - Provided the source code and worked extensively on the original port (see Credits section)

Features Showcase

Direct3D Rendering

Hardware-accelerated SNES rendering using Direct3D 9, optimized for Xbox 360's GPU with custom HLSL shaders.

XAudio2 Audio

Low-latency audio output using XAudio2, taking full advantage of Xbox 360's audio hardware.

Xbox 360 Controller Support

Native Xbox 360 controller input with full button and trigger support.

Custom Xbox 360 UI

XUI-based user interface with custom skin resources and Xbox 360 dashboard integration.

What's New

V0.36 Beta - New Features (Latest)

Game Genie Cheat Code Support: Enter cheat codes before launching games from Favorites
- Keyboard Input: Xbox 360 on-screen keyboard appears when launching from Favorites List
  - Enter up to 3 Game Genie codes at once (separated by comma or space)
  - Example: C222-D4DD,8B99-17DD,DD8C-C7A7 (Super Mario World codes)
  - Press Select/B to skip entering codes and launch normally
- Automatic Validation: Codes are validated before ROM loads
  - Invalid codes show detailed error messages
  - ROM won't launch if any code is invalid (prevents typos)
  - Uses standard Game Genie format (XXXX-XXXX)
- Real-time Application: Codes applied immediately after ROM initialization
  - Uses SNES9x's built-in S9xGameGenieToRaw(), S9xAddCheat(), and S9xApplyCheats() functions
  - Codes are active from the moment gameplay starts
- XML Configuration: Enable/disable via settings.xml
  - Add <GameGenieEnabled>true</GameGenieEnabled> to enable (default: true)
  - Set to false to launch ROMs immediately without keyboard
- Favorites Only: Game Genie keyboard only appears when launching from Favorites List
  - Add games to favorites first (press LB in ROM list)
  - Regular ROM list launches games immediately (no keyboard)
- Multiple Code Support: Up to 3 codes per session
  - Comma separated: C222-D4DD,8B99-17DD,DD8C-C7A7
  - Space separated: C222-D4DD 8B99-17DD DD8C-C7A7
  - Mixed separators also work

V0.35 Beta - New Features

ROM Search Functionality: Quick search feature to filter ROM list by name
- Y Button Search: Press Y button while browsing the ROM list to open the Xbox 360 on-screen keyboard
  - Enter search text to filter ROMs in real-time
  - Search is case-insensitive for easy finding
  - Empty search clears the filter and shows all ROMs
- Persistent Filter: Search filter persists when switching devices or rescannning ROMs
  - Filter remains active when navigating between storage devices
  - Filter is maintained when ROM list is refreshed
- Async Keyboard Handling: Uses asynchronous overlapped I/O to prevent UI freezing
  - Keyboard opens smoothly without blocking the interface
  - Per-frame completion checking ensures responsive operation
  - Matches the proven pattern used in the NES emulator for reliability

V0.34 Beta - New Features

FPS Display Counter: New frame rate display toggle in InGameOptions menu
- Display FPS Toggle: Added "Display FPS" checkbox in the in-game options menu
  - Accessible via InGameOptions menu (press both thumbsticks during gameplay)
  - Shows current frame rate in the top-right corner of the screen
  - Toggle on/off to show or hide the FPS counter
- Persistent Setting: FPS display preference is saved and persists across game sessions
- Direct3D Support: FPS counter now works correctly on Xbox 360 Direct3D rendering path
- Real-time Display: Shows frame rate as "XX/YY" format (current FPS / target FPS)

V0.33 Beta - New Features

Favorites System: Complete favorites management system for organizing your ROM collection
- Favorites List Page: Dedicated favorites page accessible from the main menu
  - Shows all your favorite games in one convenient list
  - Quick access to your most-played games
  - Sorted alphabetically for easy browsing
- Add/Remove Favorites: Easy favorite management
  - Press LB (Left Bumper) while browsing ROMs to toggle favorite status
  - Or use the "Add to Favorites" button in the ROM list
  - Favorites are saved automatically
- Favorite Tags in ROM List: Visual indicators for favorites
  - Favorite games show a [Favorite] tag prefix in the main ROM list
  - Helps identify favorites at a glance
  - ROM list sorts alphabetically (favorites mixed in, not separated)
- Persistent Storage: Favorites are saved to settings.xml and persist across sessions
Enhanced XZP Build Script: Improved Build_XZP.bat script for creating XZP packages
- Smart File Filtering: Automatically excludes graphics files (PNG, JPG, etc.) when duplicating
  - Only duplicates XUR, XUI, XML, TTF, XMA, and other non-graphics files
  - Prevents unnecessary duplication of large image files
  - Reduces XZP file size while maintaining functionality
- Streamlined Process: Easier XZP package creation for custom skins

⚠️ CRITICAL: Achievement System Completely Removed

All Xbox Live Achievement Functionality Removed: Complete removal of achievement system to prevent Xbox Live bans
- Why This Matters: Achievement systems in homebrew applications can trigger Xbox Live account bans and console bans
- Safety First: This build is safe to use without risk of Xbox Live enforcement actions
- Complete Removal:
  - All achievement header files excluded from build (Achievements.spa.h, Snes 360.xlast)
  - Achievement compilation step (SPA compiler) completely disabled
  - All achievement function calls removed (DoAchievo(), EnumerateAchievements(), XShowAchievementsUI())
  - Achievement-related variables, structures, and declarations removed
  - Achievement UI button functionality disabled
  - All game-specific achievement triggers removed (Super Metroid, Super Mario Kart, etc.)
- Files Modified: Main.cpp, InGameOptions.cpp, memmap.cpp, wsnes9x.h, RomList.cpp, snes9xw.vcproj
- Replacement: Created XboxContext.h with minimal context/property definitions for Xbox Live presence only (zero achievement code)

Important: If you're using a modded Xbox 360 console, using achievement systems in homebrew can result in permanent Xbox Live bans. This build eliminates that risk entirely.

Build Fixes & Enhancements

CRC32 Standalone Implementation: Fixed linker errors by implementing standalone CRC32 for Xbox 360 builds
- Problem: Xbox 360 build was trying to link against zlib's crc32() function which wasn't available
- Solution: Added EMUCRC32_STANDALONE preprocessor definition and standalone CRC32 implementation
- Impact: Builds successfully without requiring zlib's crc32 symbol
- Technical: zLib/emucrc32.c now provides crc32() wrapper for unzip code when EMUCRC32_STANDALONE is defined
C89 Compatibility: Fixed C99 compatibility issues for Xbox 360 compiler
- Problem: Xbox 360 compiler (based on older MSVC) doesn't support C99 features
- Solution: Converted all variable declarations to C89 style (declared at top of function blocks)
- Impact: Code compiles successfully with Xbox 360 toolchain
- Files Modified: zLib/emucrc32.c, jma/crc32.cpp
Project Configuration: Optimized build settings for Xbox 360
- Excluded Files: zLib/crc32.c excluded from Xbox 360 builds to prevent symbol conflicts
- Preprocessor Definitions: Added EMUCRC32_STANDALONE to all Xbox 360 configurations
- Build Configurations: Release, Debug, and C core configurations all properly configured

Repository Layout

snes360-enhanced/
├── win32/                    # Windows/Xbox 360 project files
│   ├── snes9xw.vcproj        # Visual Studio 2008 project file
│   └── Xbox 360/             # Xbox 360 build outputs
│       ├── Release/           # Release build output
│       └── Debug/             # Debug build output
├── zLib/                     # zlib source code
│   ├── emucrc32.c            # CRC32 wrapper (standalone mode for Xbox 360)
│   └── emucrc32.h            # CRC32 wrapper header
├── jma/                      # JMA archive support
│   ├── crc32.cpp             # JMA CRC32 implementation
│   └── [other JMA files]
├── libPNG/                   # PNG library source
├── unzip/                    # ZIP extraction support
├── xbox/                     # Xbox 360-specific resources
│   ├── Shaders/              # HLSL shader files for Direct3D
│   └── Skin/                 # XUI skin resources
└── [Snes9x core files]       # Core emulation code (untouched)

Build

Prerequisites

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 SP1
- Must be Service Pack 1 or later
- Provides the C/C++ compiler and build tools needed for Xbox 360 development
- Download from Microsoft (legacy downloads)
Xbox 360 XDK (Xbox Development Kit) 9328
- Version 9328 is required for compatibility
- Provides Xbox 360-specific libraries, headers, and tools
- Includes the Xbox 360 compiler toolchain (VCCLX360CompilerTool)
- Required for building Xbox 360 executables
Dependencies (Included in Repository)
- zlib - Compression library (included in zLib/ directory)
- libPNG - PNG image support library (included in libPNG/ directory)
- Both libraries are included in the repository and do not need to be downloaded separately

Build Steps

Open the Project
- Launch Visual Studio 2008
- Open win32/snes9xw.vcproj
Select Configuration
- Choose Release | Xbox 360 from the configuration dropdown
- Alternative configurations:
  - Debug | Xbox 360 - For debugging (slower, includes debug symbols)
  - C core | Xbox 360 - Alternative core configuration
Build the Project
- Select Build → Rebuild Solution (or press Ctrl+Shift+B)
- The build process will:
  - Compile all C/C++ source files
  - Link against Xbox 360 libraries
  - Generate snes9x.exe (actually a .xex file) in win32\Xbox 360\Release\
Output Location
- Release build: win32\Xbox 360\Release\snes9x.exe
- Debug build: win32\Xbox 360\Debug\snes9x.exe

Build Configuration Notes

The Xbox 360 build uses the following key preprocessor definitions:

_XBOX - Identifies Xbox 360 platform
EMUCRC32_STANDALONE - Uses standalone CRC32 implementation (no zlib dependency)
USE_DIRECTX3D - Direct3D rendering
JMA_SUPPORT - JMA archive support
HAVE_LIBPNG - PNG screenshot support

Build Notes

Post-build may warn about Xbox 360 connection - this is expected if Neighborhood isn't configured. The .xex still builds successfully.
Typical era/toolchain warnings are harmless (e.g., /GR- RTTI notes, FASTCALL macro noise).

Building the XZP Package (Customizing the XUI Skin)

The XZP (XUI Package) file contains all the skin resources (XUR files, images, fonts, etc.) used by the Xbox 360 UI. To customize the skin or add new XUR files, you'll need to rebuild the Snes360.xzp package.

Prerequisites

XZP Tool 2.0 - Tool for extracting and examining XZP archives
A working Snes360.xzp file from a current build
The Build_XZP.bat script (included in the repository root)

Steps to Customize and Rebuild the XZP

Extract the Current XZP
- Use XZP Tool 2.0 to extract a current working build of Snes360.xzp
- This will give you the base structure and all existing skin files
Set Up the Folder Structure
- Create the following directory structure:
```
C:\Users\imike\Desktop\snes360-enhanced\Xbox\Xbox\Skin\
```
- Copy all extracted files from the XZP into this Xbox\Xbox\Skin\ folder
- Maintain the same directory structure (including the Graphics\ subfolder if present)
Add Your Custom XUR Files
- Place your new or modified XUR files in Xbox\Xbox\Skin\
- Important: Also copy your new XUR files to the source directory:
```
snes9x-1.51-src-d3d\xbox\Skin\
```
- This ensures the files are available in both locations for the build process
Run the Build Script
- Open a command prompt in the repository root directory
- Run Build_XZP.bat
- The script will:
  - Create a new Snes360.xzp file in the repository root
  - Include files from both snes9x-1.51-src-d3d\xbox\Skin\ and Xbox\Xbox\Skin\
  - Preserve the relative path structure (..\Xbox\Skin\) inside the XZP
  - Maintain duplicate files with different table offsets (matching original structure)
Deploy to Xbox 360
- Copy the newly created Snes360.xzp to your Xbox 360
- Replace the existing Snes360.xzp in your media folder on the Xbox
- The exact location depends on your setup, typically:
```
Hdd1:\Emulators\Snes360\media\Snes360.xzp
```
  or wherever your media folder is located

Build Script Details

The Build_XZP.bat script:

Runs from the snes9x-1.51-src-d3d\win32\ directory (matching the original build process)
First adds files from ..\xbox\Skin\* (source directory) - includes all files (graphics and non-graphics)
Then appends files from ..\..\Xbox\Xbox\Skin\* (your custom directory) using the /a (append) flag
- Smart Filtering: Automatically filters out graphics files (PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, BMP) when duplicating
- Only duplicates non-graphics files: XUR, XUI, XML, TTF, XMA, WAV, 3XUI
- Prevents unnecessary duplication of large image files
- Reduces final XZP file size
Creates duplicates with different table offsets to match the original XZP structure
Outputs Snes360.xzp in the repository root directory

Notes

The script preserves the relative path structure ..\Xbox\Skin\ inside the XZP archive
Duplicate files (like filemanager.xur) with different sizes and table offsets are intentionally maintained to match the original build structure
Always test your custom XZP on the Xbox 360 before deploying to ensure fonts and resources load correctly

Deploy to Xbox 360 (RGH/JTAG/Dev Kits)

Requirements

Xbox 360 console capable of running .xex files (RGH, JTAG, Dev Kit, etc.)
FTP server running on the console (e.g., via XeXMenu, Aurora, or FreeStyle Dash)
Network connection to the console

Deployment Steps

Transfer the Executable
- Copy snes9x.exe (from win32\Xbox 360\Release\) to your Xbox 360 via FTP
- Recommended location: Hdd1:\Emulators\Snes360\ or similar
Transfer Required Files
- Copy ROM files to an accessible location (e.g., Hdd1:\Emulators\Snes360\roms\)
- Ensure any required configuration files are present
- Copy Xbox 360 resources if needed:
  - xbox/Shaders/ - HLSL shader files for Direct3D rendering
  - xbox/Skin/ - XUI skin resources
Launch the Application
- Use a dashboard (XeXMenu, Aurora, FreeStyle Dash, etc.) to launch snes9x.exe
- Or create a shortcut in your dashboard's menu

Running on Modded Consoles

The compiled .xex executable can run on any Xbox 360 console that supports unsigned code execution. This includes:

RGH consoles (RGH1, RGH2, RGH3) - Hardware modification allowing unsigned code
JTAG consoles - Early hardware modification method
Dev Kits - Official Microsoft development hardware
Other modded consoles - Any Xbox 360 with the ability to run .xex files

Note: Modifying Xbox 360 hardware may void warranties and violate terms of service. Use at your own risk. This software is intended for educational and homebrew development purposes.

Controls

Front-End (ROM Browser)

D-pad / Left Stick: Navigate ROM list
A: Load selected game & start emulation
B: Back / Return to previous screen
Y: Open search keyboard to filter ROM list by name
- Press Y to open Xbox 360 on-screen keyboard
- Enter text to filter ROMs in real-time (case-insensitive)
- Empty search clears filter and shows all ROMs
Next Device Button: Switch between storage devices (USB, HDD, etc.)
Favorites Button: Access the favorites list page (main menu)
LB (Left Bumper): Toggle favorite status for selected ROM (while browsing ROM list)
Add to Favorites Button: Add/remove selected ROM from favorites
Game Genie Codes (Favorites Only): Enter cheat codes when launching from Favorites
- Press A on a favorite game to open Game Genie keyboard
- Enter up to 3 codes (comma or space separated): C222-D4DD,8B99-17DD
- Press Select/B to skip codes and launch normally
- Codes are validated before ROM loads - invalid codes show errors

In-Game

D-pad / Left Stick: SNES D-pad
A, B, X, Y: SNES buttons
LB, RB: SNES shoulder buttons
START, BACK: SNES Start/Select
Both Thumbsticks (Press): Open InGameOptions menu
- Access save/load state, filters, aspect ratio, point filtering, mute audio, FPS display, and more
LEFT_THUMB + LT: Screenshot (if implemented)
START + BACK: OSD/Menu (if implemented)

Note: Control mappings may vary based on the specific port implementation.

Technical Notes

Dependencies

zlib and libPNG are included in the repository:

zlib - Located in zLib/ directory, used for compression/decompression
libPNG - Located in libPNG/ directory, used for PNG screenshot support
Both libraries are compiled as part of the build process
No additional downloads or installation required

CRC32 Implementation

The Xbox 360 build uses a standalone CRC32 implementation to avoid linking against zlib's crc32() function. This is handled by:

zLib/emucrc32.c - Provides crc32() wrapper function for unzip code
EMUCRC32_STANDALONE preprocessor definition enables standalone mode
zLib/crc32.c is excluded from Xbox 360 builds to prevent symbol conflicts

Technical Details:

When EMUCRC32_STANDALONE is defined, emucrc32.c checks for it first (before zlib)
Provides both emu_crc32() and calc_crc32() functions
Also provides crc32() wrapper matching zlib's signature for unzip code compatibility
Includes zlib.h for type definitions (uLong, Bytef, uInt) but uses standalone implementation

XUI Scene Files

The Xbox 360 UI is built using XUI (Xbox User Interface) scene files. The main XUI files are located in xbox/Skin/ and define the user interface screens:

RomList.xui - Main ROM browser/list interface
- Displays the list of available ROM files
- Allows browsing and selecting games to play
- Includes device switching, favorites management, ROM preview, and search functionality
- Press Y button to open search keyboard and filter ROMs by name
- Entry point for launching games
FavoritesListScene.xui - Favorites list interface
- Dedicated page showing all favorite games
- Accessible from the main menu via the Favorites button
- Provides quick access to frequently played games
- Allows launching games directly from favorites list
- Game Genie support: Press A on a favorite to enter cheat codes before launch
- Supports up to 3 Game Genie codes per session (comma or space separated)
InGameOptions.xui - In-game pause menu/options interface
- Accessible during gameplay by pressing both thumbsticks
- Provides access to:
  - Save/Load state functionality
  - Video filters (Simple 2x, Scanlines, TV Mode, Super Eagle, etc.)
  - Display options (Aspect Ratio, Point Filtering, FPS Display)
  - Audio options (Mute Audio)
  - Screen adjustment controls
  - Preview capture
  - Exit game option

These XUI files are packaged into the Snes360.xzp archive along with associated resources (images, fonts, sounds) and loaded at runtime. Customizing these files allows you to modify the appearance and behavior of the Xbox 360 UI.

Troubleshooting

Runtime Issues

Application won't launch on modded console

Verify the console can run other .xex files (test with a known working homebrew)
Check that the executable is not corrupted
Ensure all required dependencies are present
Verify the console's mod is functioning correctly

Graphics issues

Verify Direct3D shaders are present in xbox/Shaders/ directory
Check Xbox 360 video settings
Ensure Direct3D initialization is successful

Audio issues

Verify XAudio2 is properly initialized
Check Xbox 360 audio settings
Ensure audio buffers are properly configured

Credits

Original Xbox 360 Port

Anonymous - Original Xbox 360 port developer (chose to remain anonymous)
- Initial port to Xbox 360 platform (Snes360 V0.32 Beta, 07-16-2010)
- Direct3D rendering implementation
- XAudio2 audio integration
- Xbox 360 controller support
- XUI integration
ModernVintageGamer (Dimitris) - Original Xbox 360 port contributor and source code provider
- Worked extensively on the original Xbox 360 port alongside other developers
- Provided the source code that made this enhanced version possible
- We are very thankful for his contributions and for sharing the source code
- The original port was a collaborative effort with multiple contributors

Original Port Contributors & Credits

The original Xbox 360 port credits acknowledge the following contributors:

r0wdy, Arak0n, kl0wn, idc, direw0lf, PeteNub, MomDad, Odb718, Angerwound, Redline99, TJ_CRS, Xenon7, Xantium, skitzo

Note: Many original Xbox 360 homebrew developers from that era chose to remain anonymous for various reasons. The original port was credited to "Anonymous" in the source code.

Enhanced Version

frankischilling - Current maintainer
- Achievements removed for safety (prevents Xbox Live bans)
- Build fixes and compatibility improvements
- Documentation improvements
- Default settings.xml creation
- UI improvements
- V0.36 Beta Features:
  - Game Genie cheat code support in Favorites List
  - Multi-code support (up to 3 codes per session)
  - Code validation before ROM launch
  - XML configuration toggle (<GameGenieEnabled>)
  - Async keyboard handling for Game Genie input
  - Integration with SNES9x's built-in cheat system
- V0.35 Beta Features:
  - ROM search functionality with Y button
  - Xbox 360 on-screen keyboard integration
  - Real-time ROM list filtering
  - Persistent search filter across device switches
  - Async keyboard handling for smooth operation
- V0.34 Beta Features:
  - FPS display counter toggle in InGameOptions menu
  - Direct3D rendering path improvements for FPS display
  - InGameOptions menu navigation enhancements
- V0.33 Beta Features:
  - Favorites system implementation
  - Favorites list page
  - Favorite tags in ROM list
  - Enhanced XZP build script with smart file filtering

Core Emulator

Snes9x Team - Original Snes9x emulator
- Core SNES emulation
- Game compatibility
- Feature development
- See copyright.h and source file headers for complete contributor list

Libraries & Tools

zlib - Compression library
libPNG - PNG image support
JMA - JMA archive format support
Microsoft - Visual Studio 2008, Xbox 360 XDK

License

This project is based on Snes9x, which is licensed under various open-source licenses. See the doc/ directory for license information, including:

doc/snes9x-license.txt - Main Snes9x license information
doc/GPL-2 - GNU General Public License v2
doc/LGPL-2.1 - GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1

Disclaimer

This software is for educational and homebrew development purposes. Use of this software on modified Xbox 360 consoles may violate Microsoft's terms of service. Use at your own risk.

Last Updated: 2025 Current Version: V0.36 Beta
Build System: Visual Studio 2008 SP1 + Xbox 360 XDK 9328
Target Platform: Xbox 360 (.xex compatible consoles - RGH, JTAG, Dev Kits, etc.)
Original Port: ModernVintageGamer (Dimitris)

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 68 Commits
img		img
snes9x-1.51-src-d3d		snes9x-1.51-src-d3d
tools		tools
LICENSE		LICENSE
README.md		README.md

Folders and files

Latest commit

History

Repository files navigation

snes360-enhanced (Snes9x-360 tweaks)

Table of Contents

Features Showcase

Direct3D Rendering

XAudio2 Audio

Xbox 360 Controller Support

Custom Xbox 360 UI

What's New

V0.36 Beta - New Features (Latest)

V0.35 Beta - New Features

V0.34 Beta - New Features

V0.33 Beta - New Features

⚠️ CRITICAL: Achievement System Completely Removed

Build Fixes & Enhancements

Repository Layout

Build

Prerequisites

Build Steps

Build Configuration Notes

Build Notes

Building the XZP Package (Customizing the XUI Skin)

Prerequisites

Steps to Customize and Rebuild the XZP

Build Script Details

Notes

Deploy to Xbox 360 (RGH/JTAG/Dev Kits)

Requirements

Deployment Steps

Running on Modded Consoles

Controls

Front-End (ROM Browser)

In-Game

Technical Notes

Dependencies

CRC32 Implementation

XUI Scene Files

Troubleshooting

Runtime Issues

Credits

Original Xbox 360 Port

Original Port Contributors & Credits

Enhanced Version

Core Emulator

Libraries & Tools

License

Disclaimer

About

Topics

Resources

License

Uh oh!

Stars

Watchers

Forks

Releases 4

Packages 0

Uh oh!

Contributors

Uh oh!

Languages

Packages