emulator: uzem
type: libretro
source: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-uzem"
cores:
  - uzem
systems:
  - uzebox

# Uzem emulates the Uzebox, an open-source 8-bit game console based on an
# ATmega644 AVR microcontroller. The console was designed by Alec Bourque (Uze)
# and all hardware/software is open-source.
#
# No BIOS or firmware files are required. The core loads .uze ROM files directly
# into progmem (uzem_libretro.cpp:254-286). The .uze format includes a "UZEBOX"
# magic header followed by a RomHeader struct (uzerom.h) and raw program data.
#
# The standalone uzem (oldsrcs/uzem.cpp:90) has a --boot flag that sets PC to
# 0xF000 for bootloader mode, but this is NOT exposed in the libretro port.
# The libretro core has no retro_environment calls for RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SET_SYSTEM_DIR
# or any firmware loading paths.
#
# SD card emulation uses RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_GET_CORE_ASSETS_DIRECTORY
# (uzem_libretro.cpp:186-192) for virtual FAT16 filesystem access via SDEmulator.cpp,
# but this is optional game data, not system firmware.
#
# The .info file declares no firmware entries.

files: []

notes:
  open_source_console: >
    The Uzebox is fully open-source hardware and software. There is no proprietary
    BIOS or bootloader required. Games are self-contained .uze files that include
    all code needed to run on the ATmega644 MCU emulation.
  sd_card: >
    Some games use SD card access for loading assets. The core reads from the
    libretro core assets directory to emulate a FAT16 SD card, but this is game
    data, not system firmware.
  standalone_bootloader: >
    The original standalone uzem supports a --boot flag for bootloader mode
    (PC starts at 0xF000 instead of 0x0000). This feature is not available in
    the libretro port.