emulator: VVVVVV
type: standalone
core_classification: game_engine
source: "https://github.com/TerryCavanagh/VVVVVV"
upstream: "https://github.com/TerryCavanagh/VVVVVV"
profiled_date: "2026-10-17"
source_commit: "a0bd2f3da42da2f5249e2a4892e2b48b51b2fd86"
core_version: "v2.5"
display_name: "VVVVVV"
cores:
  - "vvvvvv"
systems:
  - "vvvvvv"

notes: |
  Terry Cavanagh's VVVVVV game, desktop build. The source release holds
  the engine, the level data, the language files and the fonts; graphics,
  music and sounds are in data.zip, which is not in the repository.

  FILESYSTEM_init() mounts data.zip from the -assets argument, or from
  the binary's directory when no argument is given, and exits with a
  "data.zip missing!" message box when the mount fails
  (ref: desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp:318-346). Recalbox
  passes -assets /recalbox/share/roms/ports/vvvvvv/data.zip. The game
  accepts the data.zip of the retail release or of the free Make and
  Play Edition (ref: desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp:332-335).

  The lang/ and fonts/ directories are mounted ahead of data.zip from
  the binary's directory (ref: desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp:81-177,
  312-315); Recalbox installs them from the source tree beside the
  binary. gamecontrollerdb.txt is read from the binary's directory when
  present (ref: desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp:349-353).

files:
  - name: "data.zip"
    system: "vvvvvv"
    category: game_data
    path: "data.zip"
    required: true
    unsourceable: "game data the collection does not hold; a same-named archive of another game must not stand in"
    description: "VVVVVV game assets (graphics, music, sounds)"
    source_ref: "desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp:318-346, desktop_version/src/main.cpp:433-438"
    note: "Path given by -assets, otherwise data.zip next to the binary. Retail and Make and Play Edition archives are both accepted; the code checks neither size nor hash."
  - name: "gamecontrollerdb.txt"
    system: "vvvvvv"
    path: "gamecontrollerdb.txt"
    required: false
    description: "SDL game controller mappings"
    source_ref: "desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp:349-353"
    note: "Read from the binary's directory; a missing file is logged and ignored."