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, and 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, and 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."