melonDS-android v0.5.0 Black Lines Rendering Fix (Pokémon, etc.)

Version 0.5.0 is now available.

This release is mainly focused on fixing rendering issues by @SapphireRhodonite, especially the black lines that appear in some games (very noticeable in Pokémon titles like Pokémon HeartGold), along with a few additional quality-of-life improvements.

This version includes a fix for the black lines / gaps that appear in games like Pokémon HeartGold and similar titles.

To enable the fix:

1. Go to Settings
2. Open Video
3. Scroll down to Video Hacks
4. Enable Conservative coverage fix
5. Set Coverage expand to 150 (recommended and most stable value)
6. Make sure:
   • Apply to repeat → enabled
   • Apply to clamp → disabled

Notes about Coverage Expand:

• 150 is the most stable value found so far.
• If you still see black lines:
  • Try 200 (increase)
  • Or 100 (decrease)
• If you are using high Internal Resolution (e.g. 8x), lower values work better.
  In that case, Coverage expand = 100 is recommended.

This fix significantly improves visual stability in many games.

Conservative coverage fix off and 1x Internal Resolution (OpenGL):

Conservative coverage fix with Coverage Expand at 200 and 1x Internal Resolution (OpenGL):

Conservative coverage fix with Coverage Expand at 100 and 8x Internal Resolution (OpenGL):

Improvements

From @rafaelvcaetano

• Allow DSiWare titles to be launched directly from the ROM list.
• Reduce RetroAchievements game hash cache size to 1 day.
• Merge internal and external layouts into a single unified system.

From @Dicot0721

• Use a password-type keyboard for the RetroAchievements login dialog.

Thank you for your continued testing and feedback, each iteration helps bring a smoother, more stable dual-screen experience to Android. 💙

Support & Early Access

If you'd like early access to upcoming builds, help shape development priorities, or participate in feature testing and feedback discussions, consider supporting the project on Patreon:

https://patreon.com/SapphireRhodonite

Early builds and work-in-progress features are released there before public GitHub releases, and community feedback directly influences what gets polished and shipped.
Thanks to everyone testing, reporting issues, and contributing.