---------------
* added support for CUE files
* added CD-DA tracks emulation (needs CUE+BIN or ISO+WAV images)
* added CD fader emulation
* added CDD "Fast FW" & "Fast RW" commands emulation
* improved CDD TOC emulation (random freezes in Sonic CD, Switch/Panic, Final Fight CD and probably many others)
* improved PCM chip synchronization with SUB-CPU (missing speeches in Willy Beamish)
* fixed PCM chip emulation (random hangs in Snatcher, missing sound effects in Switch/Panic, Final Fight CD, Wonderdog...)
* fixed Word-RAM memory mode on soft-reset (missing logo gfx effects)
* fixed SUB-CPU access to unused areas when using PC-relative instructions (Final Fight CD first boss random crash)
* fixed CPU idle loop detection on memory mode register access (Pugsy CD first boss slowdown)
* fixed Mode 1 emulation (cartridge boot mode)
[Core/Sound]
---------------
* replaced FIR resampler by Blip Buffer for FM resampling
* modified SN76489 core for use of Blip Buffer
* improved PSG & FM chips synchronization using Blip Buffer
* added Game Gear PSG stereo support
* fixed SG-1000 specific PSG noise
* fixed YM2612 LFO AM waveform (California Games surfing event)
* fixed YM2612 phase precision
* minor optimizations to YM2612 core
[Core/Game Gear]
---------------
* added support for CJ Elephant Fugitive (recently released by SMS Power)
* added Game Gear extended screen option
[Core/Genesis]
---------------
* added support for a few recently dumped (but unreleased) games
[Core/General]
---------------
* improved ROM & CD image file loading
* various code cleanup
[Gamecube/Wii]
---------------
* added automatic disc swap feature
* removed automatic frameskipping (no use)
* improved general audio/video sync
* various code cleanup & bugfixes
.added YM2413 context to Master System savestates
.removed support for older savestates format (1.3.x, 1.4.x), use 1.5.0 to convert old savestates to new (1.5.x) format
---------------
* added support for Master System compatibility mode (Z80 ports access mode), incl. Mode 5 rendering.
* added Mode 4 rendering for both Genesis & Master System modes.
* added alternate BG planes rendering functions (should be faster on PPC architectures).
[Core/IO]
---------------
* added support for Master System compatibility mode (Z80 ports access mode).
* added Master System peripherals emulation (Control Pad, Paddle, Sports Pad & Light Phaser).
* added XE-1AP (analog controller) emulation.
* added Activator emulation.
[Core/Extra]
---------------
* added support for all known Master System cartridge mappers.
* added copy-protection hardware emulation for a few MD unlicensed games: fixes 777 Casino (crash when talking to bunny girls).
(NB: most of those unlicensed games seem to have been already patched by ROM dumpers, main purpose is documenting them)
* added support for Top Shooter arcade board controller. (A=Shoot, B=Bet, C/RIGHT=Coins, START=Start, hold UP on startup to enter service mode)
* improved King of Fighters 98 mapper emulation (registers address decoding is now 100% accurate)
* fixed Game Genie when several codes affect same ROM address.
* fixed EEPROM types for Brian Lara Cricket & NBA Jam TE (verified on real cartridges)
[Core/General]
---------------
* added Master System compatibility mode emulation (automatically enabled when loading ROM file with .sms extension).
* improved savestate stability & compatibility (support for old 1.4.x savestates is preserved)
* various code cleanup & comments.
[Gamecube/Wii]
---------------
* fixed cheat codes handling when several codes affect same ROM address.
* improved input controller detection on menu exit.
* improved key remapping dialog box to match emulated device
* changed Menu key for Gamecube controller to allow MODE button mapping
* fixed DVD not being unmounted on swap (memory leak)
[Wii only]
---------------
* added USB mouse support for Sega Mouse emulation
* compiled with latest libogc: improves USB compatibility & fixes stability issues with Wiimotes.
* improved sprites processing accuracy.
* fixed VBLANK transition line checks.
* code cleanup and (minor) optimizations.
[Core/Sound]
* increased FM internal sample size to 32-bit to avoid overflow when adding channels.
* added preliminary emulation of YM2612 DAC precision (can be configured to match real console output).
* added configurable roll-off for FIR filtering in High-Quality FM mode.
[Wii]
*added support to enable/disable Video Encoder Trap Filter: can help reproducing "color blending" as on a real Genesis (composite video only).
*added support to configure Video Encoder gamma correction.
------
* improved 68k accuracy (initial reset timing + auto-vectored interrupts handling).
* modified Z80 & 68k cores to directly use external cycle count instead of intermediate counters.
* improved Z80 & 68k cpu execution/synchronization accuracy, now use Master Clock as common clock reference.
* improved PSG & FM chips synchronization with CPU execution (fixed point precision).
* completely rewrote sound output processing & mixing: sound chips are now clocked with exact output frame rate
to ensure 100% smooth video & audio playback, with no lag or skipping, while still rendering an accurate number
of samples per frame. This will also make fast-forward implementation (video AND sound) more trivial.
* improved color accuracy in VDP highlight mode to match results observed on real hardware.
* improved sprites processing timing accuracy: fixes (un)masked sprites in Mickey Mania (3D level), Sonic 2 (VS mode).
* improved horizontal blanking & HINT/VINT occurrence timing accuracy, as measured on real hardware.
* improved H-Counter accuracy in 40-cell mode, as measured on real hardware.
* optimized Z80 bus status signals
* usual code cleanup
[GCN/WII]
---------
fixed ASNDLIB exit when returning to game
fixed audio/video startup sync
modified audio back-end engine according to new audio processing core (see above)
~fixed some memory leaks with Blip Buffer
~reverted previous change regarding frame synchronization: always use VSYNC when switched to 60hz (fix video issues in interlace mode 2)
~optimized cell rendering (less byte swapping)
~fixed savestate file version checking
