| Developer(s) | Matt Ownby |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 1.0 beta / February 6, 2007 |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Emulator |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Website | http://www.daphne-emu.com |
DAPHNE is an arcade emulator application that emulates a variety of laserdisc video games with the intent of preserving these games and making the play experience as faithful to the originals as possible.[1] The developer calls DAPHNE the "First Ever Multiple Arcade Laserdisc Emulator" ("FEMALE").
The software is available for Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS X operating systems, and consists of a command-line emulator (DAPHNE itself) with a graphical frontend (DaphneLoader) to make configuring and launching easier. DAPHNE is capable of displaying the games' full-motion video by playing MPEG video files on the computer or by driving certain models of laserdisc player directly via a serial interface.[2] As with other arcade machine emulators, ROM images are also required to play the games. These may be ROM images from the original arcade machines, or alternatively fans of two of the most popular laserdisc arcade games, Dragon's Lair and Space Ace, have created updated ROMs that alter the gameplay, correct bugs and reintroduce removed sequences.[3][4]
As of version 1.0 beta the DAPHNE project is supported by Digital Leisure, the current copyright holder for several laserdisc titles including Dragon's Lair and Space Ace, allowing people who already own legal copies of these games on DVD to download versions that function in DAPHNE.[5]
Developer Matt Ownby is currently working on a hardware based solution for laser disc players. This hardware solution will allow cabinet owners to bypass the internal laserdisc player and play the game directly from an attached usb drive or laptop. He hopes to have a production model ready fall of 2011 at an approximate cost of $500.