emulator: FreeIntv
type: libretro
core_classification: pure_libretro
source: "https://github.com/libretro/FreeIntv"
profiled_date: "2026-03-23"
source_commit: "ef3e0fe322bec62a7f916c0bb0834c08c348d0b4"
core_version: "2018.1.5"
display_name: "Mattel - Intellivision (FreeIntv)"
cores:
  - freeintv
systems:
  - intellivision

notes: |
  Written for libretro by David Richardson. Intellivoice SP0256 emulation
  contributed by Joe Zbiciak (jzIntv), mask ROM embedded in source
  (src/ivoice.c:337-510, 4097-byte static array). No external ivoice ROM.

  BIOS loading in retro_init() (src/libretro.c:1175-1183). Paths joined
  directly to system directory, no subdirectory.

  loadExec() reads exec.bin as big-endian 16-bit words into 0x1000-0x1FFF.
  loadGrom() reads grom.bin as raw bytes into 0x3000-0x37FF.

  Both files required for operation. Without them, the OSD shows
  "PUT GROM/EXEC IN SYSTEM DIRECTORY" and games do not run.

  No hash or size validation on either file.

  No ECS support. No ecs.bin loading code in the source.

  Per-game controller overlays are read from freeintv_overlays/<rom>.png
  (or .jpg) in the system directory, only when the multi-screen option is
  on (src/libretro.c:278-280, 294). Without one the core draws the keypad
  image embedded in the binary (src/libretro.c:321-325).

data_directories:
  - ref: freeintv-overlays
    destination: freeintv_overlays
    required: false

files:
  - name: "exec.bin"
    system: intellivision
    required: true
    size: 8192
    note: "Executive ROM. Big-endian 16-bit words loaded at 0x1000-0x1FFF."
    source_ref: "src/intv.c:51-96, src/libretro.c:1178"

  - name: "grom.bin"
    system: intellivision
    required: true
    size: 2048
    note: "Graphics ROM. Raw bytes loaded at 0x3000-0x37FF."
    source_ref: "src/intv.c:98-144, src/libretro.c:1182"