Namco System 11 - MiSTer 20260818

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The Namco System 11 core is back with its first release since July, bringing several meaningful improvements for players using original-style arcade controls and CRT displays.

This release adds DB9/DB15 joystick support through the MiSTer user port, live CRT geometry adjustment directly from the OSD, improvements to the C352 audio implementation, and a cleaner, more streamlined core and repository structure.

All 12 titles supported by the 20260727 release carry forward.

REAL ARCADE CONTROLS + CRT ADJUST

DB9 / DB15 Joystick Support

System 11 can now be played using DB9 and DB15 controllers connected directly through the MiSTer user port.

Supported configurations include:

• Mega Drive / Genesis 3-button and 6-button controllers

• Neo Geo / Supergun-style DB15 arcade sticks

• Two-player operation through an Antonio Villena user-port splitter

Connect your controller, select UserIO Joystick in the OSD, and play.

A couple of important technical notes:

In-game controls work with the standard MiSTer firmware. However, navigating the MiSTer OSD directly from a DB9 controller requires the MiSTer-DB9 fork's MiSTer binary and menu.rbf. With that configuration, Start+C opens the menu.

This implementation also uses the eighth user-port line previously associated with the uncommon secondary SPI-SD add-on. As a result, that add-on is no longer supported by this core.

The normal MiSTer SD-card slot and USB functionality are completely unaffected.

CRT Adjust

CRT users can now adjust analog picture geometry directly from the OSD:

• H-Size

• H-Position

• V-Shift

Adjustments happen live, allowing the picture to be fitted to the display without repeatedly reaching for chassis geometry controls.

Based on rmonic79's MiSTer-CRT-Adjust, the implementation moves and stretches the visible picture while preserving native synchronization timing. The CRT therefore remains locked while adjustments are made.

CRT Adjust defaults to Off.

With it disabled, video output remains unchanged from previous releases, including HDMI output.

AUDIO — C352 IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE CATALOG

A subtle issue in the C352 sound-chip implementation has also been addressed.

A voice-parameter path previously synthesized into transparent latches whose behavior could vary between builds. The issue was identified while working on the System 12 core and has now been backported to System 11.

The merge path is now fully registered, reducing the potential for unwanted static or inconsistencies in the audio mix across all 12 supported titles.

PAUSE SCREEN — REFRESHED

The pause and credits overlay now uses the same renderer as the other cores in the project.

The current supporter list is displayed with color-coded tiers:

• Gold — Hall of Fame

• Cyan — High Score

• Green — Insert Coin

If you're on that list, your name is now appearing on real MiSTer hardware across these cores.

Thank you for helping make continued development possible.

A CLEANER CORE — NEW NAME, LEANER TREE

This release also includes substantial cleanup behind the scenes.

Simplified Core Naming

The core is now simply:

Arcade-SYSTEM11_20260818.rbf

All included MRA files now reference:

<rbf>SYSTEM11</rbf>

The temporary XN prefix has been retired.

Important Migration Note

If you're upgrading from an earlier build:

Delete old XNSYSTEM11*.rbf files from _Arcade/cores/ and use the MRA files supplied with this release.

Older MRA files reference the retired core name and should not be retained.

Repository Cleanup

A dozen inherited PlayStation-core source files that were never part of the System 11 build have been removed, along with a collection of obsolete upstream release bitstreams.

The release package has also moved to the standard MiSTer repository layout:

_Arcade/

The folder can now be copied directly onto your MiSTer SD card, while also laying the groundwork for a future official update path.

The unnecessary manual Load ROM entries have also been removed from the OSD. Games continue to load through their MRA files as intended.

Timing Closure

Every core clock reports positive timing closure in this build.

It isn't the flashiest release note, but it represents the cleanest timing report in the history of the System 11 core — exactly where it should be.

12 PLAYABLE TITLES

This release supports:

Tekken
Tekken 2
Soul Edge Ver. II
Xevious 3D/G
Dunk Mania
Prime Goal EX
Dancing Eyes
Star Sweep
Kosodate Quiz My Angel 3
Pocket Racer
Point Blank 2
Gunbarl

One featured MRA for each title is placed at the top level of _Arcade, while regional versions are organized by game under:

Arcade/alternatives/

Light-gun titles retain their existing:

• Mouse aiming

• OSD crosshair

• Sensitivity controls

EEPROM settings continue to save normally to the MiSTer SD card.

Family Bowl remains outside the scope of the core.

DB9 / DB15 Hardware Testing

The new DB9/DB15 input path has passed its electrical and logic checks, but a complete physical splitter-and-arcade-stick test session is still pending.

If you use this configuration, please share your results in the comments. Real-world hardware reports are particularly useful for validating this feature across different setups.

INSTALLATION

1. Copy the release's Arcade folder directly onto the Arcade folder of your MiSTer SD card.

   The core will be installed as:

   Arcade/cores/Arcade-SYSTEM1120260818.rbf

   The included MRA files will be placed alongside your existing arcade titles.

2. Remove any old XNSYSTEM11* cores and MRA files. They reference the retired core name and should not be mixed with this release.

3. Supply your own compatible ROM ZIP files under:

   games/mame/

No ROMs are included with this project or its releases.

BUILD INFORMATION

Credits

Special thanks for this release to:

rmonic79 & Andrea Bogazzi — MiSTer-CRT-Adjust

MiSTer-DB9 Project

• Aitor Pelaez (NeuroRulez)

• Victor Trucco

• Fernando Mosquera

• Timothy Redaelli

Antonio Villena — user-port splitter hardware

And, as always, thank you to everyone supporting the project.

Your support helps keep development, testing, hardware research, and new releases moving forward.

Disclaimer

All product names, company names, project names, platform names, hardware names, game titles, logos, trademarks, registered trademarks, copyrighted materials, source code, and other intellectual property referenced in this post are the property of their respective owners.

This includes, but is not limited to, MiSTer, MiSTer FPGA, MiSTerFPGA, MiSTer-devel, PSX_MiSTer, Analogue, Analogue Pocket, openFPGA, MAME, The MAME Project, GitHub, Intel, Altera, Sony, Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation, Namco, Namco Limited, Namco Hometek, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Bandai Namco Holdings, Namco System 11, Axela, MOSS, Mitsubishi Electric, and Renesas Electronics.

Referenced game titles include Tekken, Tekken Ver.B, Tekken Ver.C, Tekken 2, Tekken 2 Ver.B, Soul Edge, Soul Edge Ver. II, Soul Edge Ver. III, Dunk Mania, Xevious 3D/G, Prime Goal EX, Dancing Eyes, Pocket Racer, Family Bowl, Star Sweep, Kosodate Quiz My Angel 3, Point Blank 2, Gun Barl, and Point Blank 3. All associated characters, artwork, audio, game data, regional versions, revisions, prototypes, undumped and unreleased builds, hardware designs, software, and derivative works remain the intellectual property of their respective rights holders.

References to SYSTEM11 MOTHER PCB, SYSTEM11 MOTHER(B) PCB, SYSTEM11 ROM8 PCB, SYSTEM11 ROM8(64) PCB, GP-11, GP-13, COH-100, COH-110, KEYCUS, C406, C409, C410, C411, C430, C431, C432, C442, C443, C76, C195, C352, C384, M37702, R3000A, GTE, CXD8530AQ, CXD8530BQ, CXD8530CQ, CXD8538Q, CXD8561Q, CXD2923AR, AT28C16, JAMMA, SNAC, HDMI, DDR, SDRAM, FRAM, EEPROM, NVRAM, M10K, altsyncram, FPGA implementations, emulation behavior, source-code repositories, hardware specifications, software cores, compatibility research, and related technologies are provided solely for identification, technical documentation, commentary, interoperability, preservation, educational, and research purposes.

This is an independent, non-commercial hardware-preservation and interoperability project. The use of any names, titles, trademarks, or technical materials does not imply sponsorship, authorization, endorsement, affiliation, or association with this post, its creator, the MiSTer project, or any related development project. No ownership of third-party intellectual property is claimed. No copyrighted game software, ROM images, BIOS files, MCU program data, security-chip key data, encryption keys, or other proprietary game data is provided with this post.

All rights are reserved by their respective owners.

Source: Github