Supermodel

MAME MESS EMULATOR

Supermodel

Supermodel is an open-source emulator that reproduces Sega’s Model 3 arcade hardware, allowing many Model 3 arcade titles to run on PC and other hosts.

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Supermodel emulator screenshot.

mame messPRIMARY SYSTEM

2011PROJECT BEGAN

Open sourcePROJECT MODEL

WHY IT MATTERS

Why Supermodel matters

Sega’s Model 3 hardware powered a set of influential 3D arcade games in the late 1990s (Virtua Fighter 3, Scud Race, Daytona USA 2, The House of the Dead 2, etc.). Supermodel is one of the few projects focused specifically on recreating that hardware so those original arcade titles can be run and tested on modern systems for preservation, development, and hobbyist play.

BEST FOR

Best features

– Focused, active Model 3 hardware emulation with ongoing development and cross-platform builds (Windows, Linux, macOS). – Native GUI and command-line usage options; save states and configuration stored in Supermodel.ini. – Integration into frontends via libretro (there is a libretro core) and third-party ports (Android ports exist that are based on Supermodel).

The people behind Supermodel

History & status

Supermodel traces to efforts to recreate Sega’s Model 3 platform; the source repository maintained by Bart Trzynadlowski (GitHub: trzy/Supermodel) and contributors contains code, documentation, and releases. The project is actively maintained with automated builds and periodic releases. There are community resources (the Supermodel website and forum) with compatibility lists and setup discussion. Third-party ports and wrappers exist (for example Android ports and frontends) that use Supermodel as upstream code. Note: Supermodel’s development builds and release notes are published from the official GitHub repository; community projects sometimes repackage or extend the emulator for specific platforms.

What Supermodel supports

Sega Model 3 arcade hardware (Model 3 Step 1/Step 2/Step 3 titles)
Host platforms: Windows (official binaries), Linux, macOS (official builds); third-party Android ports based on Supermodel source
Libretro core available for frontends that accept libretro cores (separate libretro integration)
Save states, configuration files (Supermodel.ini), and optional peripheral support such as drive/steering board emulation for driving titles

Download and availability

OFFICIAL DOWNLOADS

Get Supermodel

Official source code and release binaries are published on the project’s GitHub releases page. For packaged platform installs (Homebrew formula, community builds, or frontend integrations) use the corresponding project or distribution maintainer; always verify the release is from the trz y/Supermodel repository or a named downstream fork.

Get Supermodel ↗

DOCUMENTATION

Official documentation

Read the official configuration, compatibility, and troubleshooting material before changing advanced options.

Read official documentation ↗

Broken or missing download? Emulator projects move and official links sometimes change. Please contact Retro Replay so the source can be verified and updated.

Supermodel setup guide

Setup note: This guide explains verifying downloads, preparing Model 3 ROMs and configuration, and running Supermodel on a desktop host. It focuses on the official trz y/Supermodel project and practical steps referenced from the project's documentation and forum resources.

1) Obtain Supermodel: Download releases or the source from the official GitHub repository (trzy/Supermodel). For Windows, Linux, and macOS the project provides automated release assets; for other platforms check for well-known downstream ports (for example Android ports) and verify they reference the trz y/Supermodel upstream.
2) Verify integrity and provenance: Prefer official GitHub release assets. If building from source, clone trz y/Supermodel and follow the repository’s build instructions in Docs. When using third-party builds (community packages, Homebrew formula, or Linux distribution packages), confirm the package references the official repository or a clearly identified fork.
3) Prepare required game files (ROMs and system files): Supermodel requires original Model 3 ROM image files to run games. The emulator and its releases do not include any commercial ROMs, BIOS, or firmware. Place ROM sets and any required system files in the paths the emulator expects (refer to Docs and the Supermodel.ini configuration). Compatibility information for specific titles is maintained on the Supermodel website and community compatibility lists—consult those lists to confirm required ROM filenames for each title.
4) Configure folders and Supermodel.ini: On first run Supermodel writes a Supermodel.ini (or you can create one following Docs). The emulator reads configuration (controls, video, audio, paths) from that file. Some frontends place the configuration under a system directory (for example libretro frontends require system files under a frontend-specific system path). Ensure the Config and NVRAM directories are writable by the user account running the emulator.
5) Select video/audio/input backends and options: Supermodel supports multiple host rendering and audio backends depending on the platform and build. Use the GUI or command-line options to choose rendering resolution, vsync, and audio device. Driving games that expect special steering or drive board hardware may need additional configuration or specific input mappings; refer to the project documentation and community threads for recommended controller mappings and drive-board emulation settings.
6) Running games, troubleshooting, and save states: Launch a supported ROM set via the GUI or CLI. If a game fails to load, check the log/console output for missing ROM filenames and verify ROM integrity. Use the project’s compatibility list to check known working titles and any game-specific notes. Save states are supported; their files will be created in the configured NVRAM/save-state directory.
7) Frontend integration (optional): For use inside a frontend, either use the libretro core (if available for your frontend) or configure the emulator as an external emulator with the proper command-line template and system directory. Put required system files where the frontend expects them and test one game before importing a full game list.

Software reminder: Supermodel does not include or distribute commercial game ROMs, firmware, or BIOS files. You must supply legally obtained ROM images and any required system files. Building or running Supermodel from source requires a working toolchain as described in the repository Docs.