diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/RomLoader.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/RomLoader.cs
index 874b9d2151..00f1773e49 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/RomLoader.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/RomLoader.cs
@@ -54,28 +54,28 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 		}
 
 		// helper methods for the settings events
-		private object GetCoreSettings<T>()
-			where T : IEmulator
+		private TSetting GetCoreSettings<TCore, TSetting>()
+			where TCore : IEmulator
 		{
-			return GetCoreSettings(typeof(T));
+			return (TSetting)GetCoreSettings(typeof(TCore), typeof(TSetting));
 		}
 
-		private object GetCoreSyncSettings<T>()
-			where T : IEmulator
+		private TSync GetCoreSyncSettings<TCore, TSync>()
+			where TCore : IEmulator
 		{
-			return GetCoreSyncSettings(typeof(T));
+			return (TSync)GetCoreSyncSettings(typeof(TCore), typeof(TSync));
 		}
 
-		private object GetCoreSettings(Type t)
+		private object GetCoreSettings(Type t, Type settingsType)
 		{
-			var e = new SettingsLoadArgs(t);
+			var e = new SettingsLoadArgs(t, settingsType);
 			OnLoadSettings?.Invoke(this, e);
 			return e.Settings;
 		}
 
-		private object GetCoreSyncSettings(Type t)
+		private object GetCoreSyncSettings(Type t, Type syncSettingsType)
 		{
-			var e = new SettingsLoadArgs(t);
+			var e = new SettingsLoadArgs(t, syncSettingsType);
 			OnLoadSyncSettings?.Invoke(this, e);
 			return e.Settings;
 		}
@@ -125,9 +125,11 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 		{
 			public object Settings { get; set; }
 			public Type Core { get; }
-			public SettingsLoadArgs(Type t)
+			public Type SettingsType { get; }
+			public SettingsLoadArgs(Type t, Type s)
 			{
 				Core = t;
+				SettingsType = s;
 				Settings = null;
 			}
 		}
@@ -309,16 +311,16 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						game,
 						null,
 						new[] { disc },
-						GetCoreSettings<GPGX>(),
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<GPGX>()
+						GetCoreSettings<GPGX, GPGX.GPGXSettings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<GPGX, GPGX.GPGXSyncSettings>()
 					);
 					break;
 				case "SAT":
 					nextEmulator = new Saturnus(
 						nextComm, game,
 						new[] { disc },
-						(NymaCore.NymaSettings)GetCoreSettings<Saturnus>(),
-						(NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings)GetCoreSyncSettings<Saturnus>(),
+						GetCoreSettings<Saturnus, NymaCore.NymaSettings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<Saturnus, NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings>(),
 						Deterministic
 					);
 					break;
@@ -328,15 +330,15 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						new List<Disc> { disc },
 						new List<string> { Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(path) },
 						null,
-						GetCoreSettings<Octoshock>(),
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock>(),
+						GetCoreSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.Settings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.SyncSettings>(),
 						DiscHashWarningText(game, discHash)
 					);
 					break;
 				case "PCFX":
 					nextEmulator = new Tst(nextComm, game, new[] { disc },
-						(NymaCore.NymaSettings)GetCoreSettings<Tst>(),
-						(NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings)GetCoreSyncSettings<Tst>(),
+						GetCoreSettings<Tst, NymaCore.NymaSettings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<Tst, NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings>(),
 						Deterministic);
 					break;
 				case "PCE": // TODO: this is clearly not used, its set to PCE by code above
@@ -348,8 +350,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							nextComm,
 							game,
 							disc,
-							GetCoreSettings<PCEngine>(),
-							GetCoreSyncSettings<PCEngine>()
+							GetCoreSettings<PCEngine, PCEngine.PCESettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<PCEngine, PCEngine.PCESyncSettings>()
 						),
 //						CoreNames.HyperNyma => new HyperNyma(
 //							game,
@@ -363,8 +365,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							game,
 							new[] { disc },
 							nextComm,
-							(NymaCore.NymaSettings) GetCoreSettings<TurboNyma>(),
-							(NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings) GetCoreSyncSettings<TurboNyma>(),
+							GetCoreSettings<TurboNyma, NymaCore.NymaSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<TurboNyma, NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings>(),
 							Deterministic
 						)
 					};
@@ -409,8 +411,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 				discs,
 				discNames,
 				null,
-				GetCoreSettings<Octoshock>(),
-				GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock>(),
+				GetCoreSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.Settings>(),
+				GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.SyncSettings>(),
 				swRomDetails.ToString()
 			);
 		}
@@ -477,7 +479,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						var ti83 = new TI83(
 							ti83BiosAsRom.GameInfo,
 							ti83Bios,
-							GetCoreSettings<TI83>()
+							GetCoreSettings<TI83, TI83.TI83Settings>()
 						);
 						ti83.LinkPort.SendFileToCalc(File.OpenRead(path.SubstringBefore('|')), false);
 						nextEmulator = ti83;
@@ -503,8 +505,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							isXml ? rom.FileData : null,
 							Path.GetDirectoryName(path.SubstringBefore('|')),
 							nextComm,
-							GetCoreSettings<LibsnesCore>(),
-							GetCoreSyncSettings<LibsnesCore>()
+							GetCoreSettings<LibsnesCore, LibsnesCore.SnesSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<LibsnesCore, LibsnesCore.SnesSyncSettings>()
 						);
 						return;
 					}
@@ -545,8 +547,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 								null,
 								null,
 								nextComm,
-								GetCoreSettings<LibsnesCore>(),
-								GetCoreSyncSettings<LibsnesCore>()
+								GetCoreSettings<LibsnesCore, LibsnesCore.SnesSettings>(),
+								GetCoreSyncSettings<LibsnesCore, LibsnesCore.SnesSyncSettings>()
 							);
 							return;
 						}
@@ -562,8 +564,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						nextComm,
 						new[] { rom.FileData },
 						rom.GameInfo,
-						GetCoreSettings<C64>(),
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<C64>()
+						GetCoreSettings<C64, C64.C64Settings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<C64, C64.C64SyncSettings>()
 					);
 					return;
 				case "ZXSpectrum":
@@ -571,8 +573,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						nextComm,
 						new[] { rom.RomData },
 						new List<GameInfo> { rom.GameInfo },
-						GetCoreSettings<ZXSpectrum>(),
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<ZXSpectrum>(),
+						GetCoreSettings<ZXSpectrum, ZXSpectrum.ZXSpectrumSettings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<ZXSpectrum, ZXSpectrum.ZXSpectrumSyncSettings>(),
 						Deterministic
 					);
 					return;
@@ -580,9 +582,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 					nextEmulator = new ChannelF(
 						nextComm,
 						game,
-						rom.FileData,
-						GetCoreSettings<ChannelF>(),
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<ChannelF>()
+						rom.FileData
 					);
 					return;
 				case "AmstradCPC":
@@ -590,8 +590,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						nextComm,
 						new[] { rom.RomData },
 						new List<GameInfo> { rom.GameInfo },
-						GetCoreSettings<AmstradCPC>(),
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<AmstradCPC>()
+						GetCoreSettings<AmstradCPC, AmstradCPC.AmstradCPCSettings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<AmstradCPC, AmstradCPC.AmstradCPCSyncSettings>()
 					);
 					return;
 				case "PSX":
@@ -600,8 +600,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						null,
 						null,
 						rom.FileData,
-						GetCoreSettings<Octoshock>(),
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock>(),
+						GetCoreSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.Settings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.SyncSettings>(),
 						"PSX etc."
 					);
 					return;
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 					nextEmulator = new MAME(
 						file.Directory,
 						file.CanonicalName,
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<MAME>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<MAME, MAME.SyncSettings>(),
 						out var gameName
 					);
 					rom.GameInfo.Name = gameName;
@@ -633,8 +633,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 				rom.RomData,
 				rom.FileData,
 				Deterministic,
-				GetCoreSettings(core.Type),
-				GetCoreSyncSettings(core.Type),
+				GetCoreSettings(core.Type, core.SettingsType),
+				GetCoreSyncSettings(core.Type, core.SyncSettingsType),
 				rom.Extension
 			);
 		}
@@ -652,8 +652,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 			nextEmulator = new Octoshock(
 				nextComm,
 				psf,
-				GetCoreSettings<Octoshock>(),
-				GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock>()
+				GetCoreSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.Settings>(),
+				GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.SyncSettings>()
 			);
 
 			// total garbage, this
@@ -688,8 +688,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 								leftBytes,
 								right,
 								rightBytes,
-								GetCoreSettings<GBHawkLink>(),
-								GetCoreSyncSettings<GBHawkLink>()
+								GetCoreSettings<GBHawkLink, GBHawkLink.GBLinkSettings>(),
+								GetCoreSyncSettings<GBHawkLink, GBHawkLink.GBLinkSyncSettings>()
 							);
 							// other stuff todo
 							return true;
@@ -702,8 +702,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 								leftBytes,
 								right,
 								rightBytes,
-								GetCoreSettings<GambatteLink>(),
-								GetCoreSyncSettings<GambatteLink>(),
+								GetCoreSettings<GambatteLink, GambatteLink.GambatteLinkSettings>(),
+								GetCoreSyncSettings<GambatteLink, GambatteLink.GambatteLinkSyncSettings>(),
 								Deterministic
 							);
 							// other stuff todo
@@ -724,8 +724,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							centerBytes3x,
 							right3x,
 							rightBytes3x,
-							GetCoreSettings<GBHawkLink3x>(),
-							GetCoreSyncSettings<GBHawkLink3x>()
+							GetCoreSettings<GBHawkLink3x, GBHawkLink3x.GBLink3xSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<GBHawkLink3x, GBHawkLink3x.GBLink3xSyncSettings>()
 						);
 						return true;
 					case "GB4x":
@@ -747,15 +747,15 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							C_Bytes4x,
 							D_4x,
 							D_Bytes4x,
-							GetCoreSettings<GBHawkLink4x>(),
-							GetCoreSyncSettings<GBHawkLink4x>()
+							GetCoreSettings<GBHawkLink4x, GBHawkLink4x.GBLink4xSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<GBHawkLink4x, GBHawkLink4x.GBLink4xSyncSettings>()
 						);
 						return true;
 					case "AppleII":
 						nextEmulator = new AppleII(
 							nextComm,
 							xmlGame.Assets.Select(a => a.Value),
-							(AppleII.Settings) GetCoreSettings<AppleII>()
+							(AppleII.Settings) GetCoreSettings<AppleII, AppleII.Settings>()
 						);
 						return true;
 					case "C64":
@@ -763,8 +763,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							nextComm,
 							xmlGame.Assets.Select(a => a.Value),
 							GameInfo.NullInstance,
-							(C64.C64Settings) GetCoreSettings<C64>(),
-							(C64.C64SyncSettings) GetCoreSyncSettings<C64>()
+							GetCoreSettings<C64, C64.C64Settings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<C64, C64.C64SyncSettings>()
 						);
 						return true;
 					case "ZXSpectrum":
@@ -772,8 +772,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							nextComm,
 							xmlGame.Assets.Select(kvp => kvp.Value),
 							xmlGame.Assets.Select(kvp => new GameInfo { Name = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(kvp.Key) }).ToList(),
-							(ZXSpectrum.ZXSpectrumSettings) GetCoreSettings<ZXSpectrum>(),
-							(ZXSpectrum.ZXSpectrumSyncSettings) GetCoreSyncSettings<ZXSpectrum>(),
+							GetCoreSettings<ZXSpectrum, ZXSpectrum.ZXSpectrumSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<ZXSpectrum, ZXSpectrum.ZXSpectrumSyncSettings>(),
 							Deterministic
 						);
 						return true;
@@ -782,8 +782,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							nextComm,
 							xmlGame.Assets.Select(kvp => kvp.Value),
 							xmlGame.Assets.Select(kvp => new GameInfo { Name = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(kvp.Key) }).ToList(),
-							(AmstradCPC.AmstradCPCSettings) GetCoreSettings<AmstradCPC>(),
-							(AmstradCPC.AmstradCPCSyncSettings) GetCoreSyncSettings<AmstradCPC>()
+							GetCoreSettings<AmstradCPC, AmstradCPC.AmstradCPCSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<AmstradCPC, AmstradCPC.AmstradCPCSyncSettings>()
 						);
 						return true;
 					case "PSX":
@@ -812,8 +812,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							discs,
 							discNames,
 							null,
-							GetCoreSettings<Octoshock>(),
-							GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock>(),
+							GetCoreSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.Settings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<Octoshock, Octoshock.SyncSettings>(),
 							swRomDetails.ToString()
 						);
 						return true;
@@ -823,8 +823,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						nextEmulator = new Saturnus(
 							nextComm, game,
 							saturnDiscs,
-							(NymaCore.NymaSettings)GetCoreSettings<Saturnus>(),
-							(NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings)GetCoreSyncSettings<Saturnus>(),
+							GetCoreSettings<Saturnus, NymaCore.NymaSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<Saturnus, NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings>(),
 							Deterministic
 						);
 						return true;
@@ -832,8 +832,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						var pcfxDiscs = DiscsFromXml(xmlGame, "PCFX", DiscType.PCFX);
 						if (pcfxDiscs.Count == 0) return false;
 						nextEmulator = new Tst(nextComm, game, pcfxDiscs,
-							(NymaCore.NymaSettings)GetCoreSettings<Tst>(),
-							(NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings)GetCoreSyncSettings<Tst>(),
+							GetCoreSettings<Tst, NymaCore.NymaSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<Tst, NymaCore.NymaSyncSettings>(),
 							Deterministic);
 						return true;
 					case "GEN":
@@ -845,8 +845,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							game,
 							romBytes,
 							genDiscs,
-							GetCoreSettings<GPGX>(),
-							GetCoreSyncSettings<GPGX>()
+							GetCoreSettings<GPGX, GPGX.GPGXSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<GPGX, GPGX.GPGXSyncSettings>()
 						);
 						return true;
 					case "Game Gear":
@@ -860,8 +860,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 							leftBytesGG,
 							rightGG,
 							rightBytesGG,
-							GetCoreSettings<GGHawkLink>(),
-							GetCoreSyncSettings<GGHawkLink>()
+							GetCoreSettings<GGHawkLink, GGHawkLink.GGLinkSettings>(),
+							GetCoreSyncSettings<GGHawkLink, GGHawkLink.GGLinkSyncSettings>()
 						);
 						return true;
 				}
@@ -881,8 +881,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 						rom.FileData,
 						Path.GetDirectoryName(path.SubstringBefore('|')),
 						nextComm,
-						GetCoreSettings<LibsnesCore>(),
-						GetCoreSyncSettings<LibsnesCore>()
+						GetCoreSettings<LibsnesCore, LibsnesCore.SnesSettings>(),
+						GetCoreSyncSettings<LibsnesCore, LibsnesCore.SnesSyncSettings>()
 					);
 					return true;
 				}
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/config/ConfigExtensions.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/config/ConfigExtensions.cs
index 17ba3477ac..e6b4e7e4d2 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/config/ConfigExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/config/ConfigExtensions.cs
@@ -6,21 +6,15 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 {
 	public static class ConfigExtensions
 	{
-		private class TypeNameEncapsulator
-		{
-			public object o;
-		}
 		private static JToken Serialize(object o)
 		{
-			var tne = new TypeNameEncapsulator { o = o };
-			return JToken.FromObject(tne, ConfigService.Serializer)["o"];
+			return JToken.FromObject(o, ConfigService.Serializer);
 		}
-		private static object Deserialize(JToken j)
+		private static object Deserialize(JToken j, Type type)
 		{
-			var jne = new JObject(new JProperty("o", j));
 			try
 			{
-				return jne.ToObject<TypeNameEncapsulator>(ConfigService.Serializer).o;
+				return j.ToObject(type, ConfigService.Serializer);
 			}
 			catch
 			{
@@ -35,22 +29,20 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 		/// <param name="config"></param>
 		/// <param name="coreType"></param>
 		/// <returns>null if no settings were saved, or there was an error deserializing</returns>
-		public static object GetCoreSettings(this Config config, Type coreType)
+		public static object GetCoreSettings(this Config config, Type coreType, Type settingsType)
 		{
 			config.CoreSettings.TryGetValue(coreType.ToString(), out var j);
-			return Deserialize(j);
+			return Deserialize(j, settingsType);
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>
 		/// Returns the core settings for a core
 		/// </summary>
-		/// <param name="config"></param>
-		/// <typeparam name="TCore"></typeparam>
 		/// <returns>null if no settings were saved, or there was an error deserializing</returns>
-		public static object GetCoreSettings<TCore>(this Config config)
+		public static TSetting GetCoreSettings<TCore, TSetting>(this Config config)
 			where TCore : IEmulator
 		{
-			return config.GetCoreSettings(typeof(TCore));
+			return (TSetting)config.GetCoreSettings(typeof(TCore), typeof(TSetting));
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>
@@ -89,22 +81,20 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 		/// <param name="config"></param>
 		/// <param name="coreType"></param>
 		/// <returns>null if no settings were saved, or there was an error deserializing</returns>
-		public static object GetCoreSyncSettings(this Config config, Type coreType)
+		public static object GetCoreSyncSettings(this Config config, Type coreType, Type syncSettingsType)
 		{
 			config.CoreSyncSettings.TryGetValue(coreType.ToString(), out var j);
-			return Deserialize(j);
+			return Deserialize(j, syncSettingsType);
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>
 		/// Returns the core syncsettings for a core
 		/// </summary>
-		/// <param name="config"></param>
-		/// <typeparam name="TCore"></typeparam>
 		/// <returns>null if no settings were saved, or there was an error deserializing</returns>
-		public static object GetCoreSyncSettings<TCore>(this Config config)
+		public static TSync GetCoreSyncSettings<TCore, TSync>(this Config config)
 			where TCore : IEmulator
 		{
-			return config.GetCoreSyncSettings(typeof(TCore));
+			return (TSync)config.GetCoreSyncSettings(typeof(TCore), typeof(TSync));
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/MainForm.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/MainForm.cs
index c214d46796..29081796f4 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/MainForm.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/MainForm.cs
@@ -2225,7 +2225,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk
 				}
 				else
 				{
-					e.Settings = Config.GetCoreSyncSettings(e.Core);
+					e.Settings = Config.GetCoreSyncSettings(e.Core, e.SettingsType);
 
 					// Only show this nag if the core actually has sync settings, not all cores do
 					if (e.Settings != null && !_suppressSyncSettingsWarning)
@@ -2240,13 +2240,13 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				e.Settings = Config.GetCoreSyncSettings(e.Core);
+				e.Settings = Config.GetCoreSyncSettings(e.Core, e.SettingsType);
 			}
 		}
 
 		private void CoreSettings(object sender, RomLoader.SettingsLoadArgs e)
 		{
-			e.Settings = Config.GetCoreSettings(e.Core);
+			e.Settings = Config.GetCoreSettings(e.Core, e.SettingsType);
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/config/N64/N64VideoPluginconfig.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/config/N64/N64VideoPluginconfig.cs
index 331aebb2d1..bc3f85db9b 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/config/N64/N64VideoPluginconfig.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/config/N64/N64VideoPluginconfig.cs
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				_s = (N64Settings)_config.GetCoreSettings<N64>()
+				_s = _config.GetCoreSettings<N64, N64Settings>()
 					?? new N64Settings();
-				_ss = (N64SyncSettings)_config.GetCoreSyncSettings<N64>()
+				_ss = _config.GetCoreSyncSettings<N64, N64SyncSettings>()
 					?? new N64SyncSettings();
 			}
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/config/ProfileConfig.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/config/ProfileConfig.cs
index aae64b4fbf..f328456029 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/config/ProfileConfig.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/config/ProfileConfig.cs
@@ -233,7 +233,6 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk
 			where TSetting : class, new()
 			where TEmulator : IEmulator
 		{
-			// should we complain if we get a successful object from the config file, but it is the wrong type?
 			object fromCore = null;
 			var settable = new SettingsAdapter(_emulator);
 			if (settable.HasSyncSettings)
@@ -242,7 +241,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk
 			}
 
 			return fromCore as TSetting
-				?? _config.GetCoreSyncSettings<TEmulator>() as TSetting
+				?? _config.GetCoreSyncSettings<TEmulator, TSetting>()
 				?? new TSetting(); // guaranteed to give sensible defaults
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Arcades/MAME/MAME.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Arcades/MAME/MAME.cs
index f7aba5113d..972e1f7c16 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Arcades/MAME/MAME.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Arcades/MAME/MAME.cs
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Arcades.MAME
 		displayName: "Arcade")]
 	public partial class MAME : IEmulator, IVideoProvider, ISoundProvider, ISettable<object, MAME.SyncSettings>, IStatable, IInputPollable
 	{
-		public MAME(string dir, string file, object syncSettings, out string gamename)
+		public MAME(string dir, string file, MAME.SyncSettings syncSettings, out string gamename)
 		{
 			ServiceProvider = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Calculator/TI83.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Calculator/TI83.cs
index 4a8f795746..8b1a32afc4 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Calculator/TI83.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Calculator/TI83.cs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Calculators
 	public partial class TI83 : IEmulator, IVideoProvider, IDebuggable, IInputPollable, ISettable<TI83.TI83Settings, object>
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("TI83")]
-		public TI83(GameInfo game, byte[] rom, object settings)
+		public TI83(GameInfo game, byte[] rom, TI83.TI83Settings settings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/AmstradCPC/AmstradCPC.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/AmstradCPC/AmstradCPC.cs
index 32a59ad375..df7cc80efc 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/AmstradCPC/AmstradCPC.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/AmstradCPC/AmstradCPC.cs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.AmstradCPC
 		isReleased: false)]
 	public partial class AmstradCPC : IRegionable, IDriveLight
 	{
-		public AmstradCPC(CoreComm comm, IEnumerable<byte[]> files, List<GameInfo> game, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public AmstradCPC(CoreComm comm, IEnumerable<byte[]> files, List<GameInfo> game, AmstradCPCSettings settings, AmstradCPCSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/C64.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/C64.cs
index 792e468b48..9c52403f5d 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/C64.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/C64.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.Commodore64
 		isReleased: true)]
 	public sealed partial class C64 : IEmulator, IRegionable, IBoardInfo, IRomInfo
 	{
-		public C64(CoreComm comm, IEnumerable<byte[]> roms, GameInfo game, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public C64(CoreComm comm, IEnumerable<byte[]> roms, GameInfo game, C64Settings settings, C64SyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			PutSyncSettings((C64SyncSettings)syncSettings ?? new C64SyncSettings());
 			PutSettings((C64Settings)settings ?? new C64Settings());
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/MSX/MSX.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/MSX/MSX.cs
index c9c5a5aacf..e4f27f7063 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/MSX/MSX.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/MSX/MSX.cs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.MSX
 	public partial class MSX : IEmulator, IVideoProvider, ISoundProvider, ISaveRam, IInputPollable, IRegionable, ISettable<MSX.MSXSettings, MSX.MSXSyncSettings>
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("MSX")]
-		public MSX(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public MSX(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, MSX.MSXSettings settings, MSX.MSXSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			ServiceProvider = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			Settings = (MSXSettings)settings ?? new MSXSettings();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/SinclairSpectrum/ZXSpectrum.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/SinclairSpectrum/ZXSpectrum.cs
index e48b6fa737..de6f1e4c5c 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/SinclairSpectrum/ZXSpectrum.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/SinclairSpectrum/ZXSpectrum.cs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.SinclairSpectrum
 		isReleased: true)]
 	public partial class ZXSpectrum : IRegionable, IDriveLight
 	{
-		public ZXSpectrum(CoreComm comm, IEnumerable<byte[]> files, List<GameInfo> game, object settings, object syncSettings, bool? deterministic)
+		public ZXSpectrum(CoreComm comm, IEnumerable<byte[]> files, List<GameInfo> game, ZXSpectrumSettings settings, ZXSpectrumSyncSettings syncSettings, bool? deterministic)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/Atari2600.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/Atari2600.cs
index 822a92035e..8d176109e5 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/Atari2600.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/Atari2600.cs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.Atari2600
 		IRegionable, ICreateGameDBEntries, ISettable<Atari2600.A2600Settings, Atari2600.A2600SyncSettings>
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("A26")]
-		public Atari2600(GameInfo game, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public Atari2600(GameInfo game, byte[] rom, Atari2600.A2600Settings settings, Atari2600.A2600SyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/A7800Hawk/A7800Hawk.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/A7800Hawk/A7800Hawk.cs
index d2421767a0..0554e1cc10 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/A7800Hawk/A7800Hawk.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/A7800Hawk/A7800Hawk.cs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.A7800Hawk
 		}
 
 		[CoreConstructor("A78")]
-		public A7800Hawk(CoreComm comm, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public A7800Hawk(CoreComm comm, byte[] rom, A7800Hawk.A7800Settings settings, A7800Hawk.A7800SyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Coleco/ColecoVision.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Coleco/ColecoVision.cs
index d90e821754..6acb27a847 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Coleco/ColecoVision.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Coleco/ColecoVision.cs
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.ColecoVision
 	public sealed partial class ColecoVision : IEmulator, IDebuggable, IInputPollable, ISettable<ColecoVision.ColecoSettings, ColecoVision.ColecoSyncSettings>
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("Coleco")]
-		public ColecoVision(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, object syncSettings)
+		public ColecoVision(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom,
+			ColecoSettings settings,
+			ColecoSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Fairchild/ChannelF/ChannelF.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Fairchild/ChannelF/ChannelF.cs
index 6172cc5fbf..6a0cb384df 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Fairchild/ChannelF/ChannelF.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Fairchild/ChannelF/ChannelF.cs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Consoles.ChannelF
 	[ServiceNotApplicable(new[] { typeof(IDriveLight) })]
 	public partial class ChannelF
 	{
-		public ChannelF(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public ChannelF(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/GCE/Vectrex/VectrexHawk.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/GCE/Vectrex/VectrexHawk.cs
index ea3b65abdb..9c17d5bda2 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/GCE/Vectrex/VectrexHawk.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/GCE/Vectrex/VectrexHawk.cs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Consoles.Vectrex
 		public SerialPort serialport;
 
 		[CoreConstructor("VEC")]
-		public VectrexHawk(CoreComm comm, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public VectrexHawk(CoreComm comm, byte[] rom, VectrexHawk.VectrexSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Consoles.Vectrex
 			ppu = new PPU();
 			serialport = new SerialPort();
 
-			_settings = settings ?? new object();
+			_settings = new object(); // TODO: wtf is this
 			_syncSettings = (VectrexSyncSettings)syncSettings ?? new VectrexSyncSettings();
 			_controllerDeck = new VectrexHawkControllerDeck(_syncSettings.Port1, _syncSettings.Port2);
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Consoles.Vectrex
 			ser.Register<ISoundProvider>(audio);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
 
-			_settings = settings ?? new object();
+			_settings = new object(); // TODO: wtf is this
 			_syncSettings = (VectrexSyncSettings)syncSettings ?? new VectrexSyncSettings();
 
 			_tracer = new TraceBuffer { Header = cpu.TraceHeader };
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Intellivision/Intellivision.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Intellivision/Intellivision.cs
index 354df1f947..58bca3315a 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Intellivision/Intellivision.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Intellivision/Intellivision.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Intellivision
 		IBoardInfo, IDebuggable, ISettable<Intellivision.IntvSettings, Intellivision.IntvSyncSettings>
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("INTV")]
-		public Intellivision(CoreComm comm, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public Intellivision(CoreComm comm, byte[] rom, Intellivision.IntvSettings settings, Intellivision.IntvSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Magnavox/Odyssey2/O2Hawk.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Magnavox/Odyssey2/O2Hawk.cs
index 0b1f604210..4e6ffde4af 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Magnavox/Odyssey2/O2Hawk.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Magnavox/Odyssey2/O2Hawk.cs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Consoles.O2Hawk
 		public bool is_G7400;
 
 		[CoreConstructor("O2")]
-		public O2Hawk(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, /*string gameDbFn,*/ object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public O2Hawk(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, /*string gameDbFn,*/ O2Settings settings, O2SyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawk/GBHawk.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawk/GBHawk.cs
index 53d3fb24d6..457f5a20d6 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawk/GBHawk.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawk/GBHawk.cs
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.GBHawk
 		private static byte[] GBA_override = { 0xFF, 0x00, 0xCD, 0x03, 0x35, 0xAA, 0x31, 0x90, 0x94, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 };
 
 		[CoreConstructor(new[] { "GB", "GBC" })]
-		public GBHawk(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, /*string gameDbFn,*/ object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public GBHawk(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, /*string gameDbFn,*/ GBSettings settings, GBSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink/GBHawkLink.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink/GBHawkLink.cs
index babccb71c7..0ff40e4558 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink/GBHawkLink.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink/GBHawkLink.cs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.GBHawkLink
 		displayName: "Gameboy")]
 	[ServiceNotApplicable(new[] { typeof(IDriveLight) })]
 	public partial class GBHawkLink : IEmulator, ISaveRam, IDebuggable, IStatable, IInputPollable, IRegionable, ILinkable,
-	ISettable<GBHawkLink.GBLinkSettings, GBHawkLink.GBLinkSyncSettings>
+		ISettable<GBHawkLink.GBLinkSettings, GBHawkLink.GBLinkSyncSettings>
 	{
 		// we want to create two GBHawk instances that we will run concurrently
 		// maybe up to 4 eventually?
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.GBHawkLink
 		public bool do_frame_fill;
 
 		//[CoreConstructor("GB", "GBC")]
-		public GBHawkLink(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game_L, byte[] rom_L, GameInfo game_R, byte[] rom_R, /*string gameDbFn,*/ object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public GBHawkLink(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game_L, byte[] rom_L, GameInfo game_R, byte[] rom_R, /*string gameDbFn,*/
+			GBHawkLink.GBLinkSettings settings, GBHawkLink.GBLinkSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink3x/GBHawkLink3x.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink3x/GBHawkLink3x.cs
index bf9cfe2290..2d6c27482a 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink3x/GBHawkLink3x.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink3x/GBHawkLink3x.cs
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.GBHawkLink3x
 		public bool do_frame_fill;
 
 		//[CoreConstructor("GB", "GBC")]
-		public GBHawkLink3x(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game_L, byte[] rom_L, GameInfo game_C, byte[] rom_C, GameInfo game_R, byte[] rom_R, /*string gameDbFn,*/ object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public GBHawkLink3x(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game_L, byte[] rom_L, GameInfo game_C, byte[] rom_C, GameInfo game_R, byte[] rom_R,
+			/*string gameDbFn,*/ GBHawkLink3x.GBLink3xSettings settings, GBHawkLink3x.GBLink3xSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink4x/GBHawkLink4x.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink4x/GBHawkLink4x.cs
index 799247f598..e8b426e4cc 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink4x/GBHawkLink4x.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/GBHawkLink4x/GBHawkLink4x.cs
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.GBHawkLink4x
 		public bool do_frame_fill;
 
 		//[CoreConstructor("GB", "GBC")]
-		public GBHawkLink4x(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game_A, byte[] rom_A, GameInfo game_B, byte[] rom_B, GameInfo game_C, byte[] rom_C, GameInfo game_D, byte[] rom_D, /*string gameDbFn,*/ object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public GBHawkLink4x(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game_A, byte[] rom_A, GameInfo game_B, byte[] rom_B, GameInfo game_C, byte[] rom_C, GameInfo game_D, byte[] rom_D, /*string gameDbFn,*/
+			GBHawkLink4x.GBLink4xSettings settings, GBHawkLink4x.GBLink4xSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/Gameboy/Gambatte.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/Gameboy/Gambatte.cs
index 00763e84dc..61cd1c5346 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/Gameboy/Gambatte.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/Gameboy/Gambatte.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.Gameboy
 		IGameboyCommon, ICycleTiming, ILinkable
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor(new[] { "GB", "GBC" })]
-		public Gameboy(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] file, object settings, object syncSettings, bool deterministic)
+		public Gameboy(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] file, Gameboy.GambatteSettings settings, Gameboy.GambatteSyncSettings syncSettings, bool deterministic)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ser.Register<IDisassemblable>(new GBDisassembler());
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/Gameboy/GambatteLink.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/Gameboy/GambatteLink.cs
index f4dddb15a9..48d1e48a02 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/Gameboy/GambatteLink.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/Gameboy/GambatteLink.cs
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.Gameboy
 	public partial class GambatteLink : IEmulator, IVideoProvider, ISoundProvider, IInputPollable, ISaveRam, IStatable, ILinkable,
 		IBoardInfo, IRomInfo, IDebuggable, ISettable<GambatteLink.GambatteLinkSettings, GambatteLink.GambatteLinkSyncSettings>, ICodeDataLogger
 	{
-		public GambatteLink(CoreComm comm, GameInfo leftinfo, byte[] leftrom, GameInfo rightinfo, byte[] rightrom, object settings, object syncSettings, bool deterministic)
+		public GambatteLink(CoreComm comm, GameInfo leftinfo, byte[] leftrom, GameInfo rightinfo, byte[] rightrom,
+			GambatteLink.GambatteLinkSettings settings, GambatteLink.GambatteLinkSyncSettings syncSettings, bool deterministic)
 		{
 			ServiceProvider = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			GambatteLinkSettings linkSettings = (GambatteLinkSettings)settings ?? new GambatteLinkSettings();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/N64/N64.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/N64/N64.cs
index 0fed3286f6..ebb2d5f82d 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/N64/N64.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/N64/N64.cs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.N64
 		/// <param name="file">Rom that should be loaded</param>
 		/// <param name="syncSettings">N64SyncSettings object</param>
 		[CoreConstructor("N64")]
-		public N64(GameInfo game, byte[] file, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public N64(GameInfo game, byte[] file, N64Settings settings, N64SyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			ServiceProvider = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			InputCallbacks = new InputCallbackSystem();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/NDS/MelonDS.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/NDS/MelonDS.cs
index c9a28abdd8..289235a388 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/NDS/MelonDS.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/NDS/MelonDS.cs
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Consoles.Nintendo.NDS
 		private static extern void FrameAdvance(uint buttons, byte touchX, byte touchY);
 
 		[CoreConstructor("NDS")]
-		public MelonDS(byte[] file, CoreComm comm, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public MelonDS(byte[] file, CoreComm comm, MelonSettings settings, MelonSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			_serviceProvider = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ControllerDefinition = new ControllerDefinition { Name = "NDS Controller" };
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/NES/NES.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/NES/NES.cs
index 80b56fea45..36db961482 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/NES/NES.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/NES/NES.cs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.NES
 		IBoardInfo, IRomInfo, ISettable<NES.NESSettings, NES.NESSyncSettings>, ICodeDataLogger
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("NES")]
-		public NES(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public NES(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, NESSettings settings, NESSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/QuickNES/QuickNES.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/QuickNES/QuickNES.cs
index 5119166544..e24dd86f21 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/QuickNES/QuickNES.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/QuickNES/QuickNES.cs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Consoles.Nintendo.QuickNES
 		}
 
 		[CoreConstructor("NES")]
-		public QuickNES(byte[] file, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public QuickNES(byte[] file, QuickNESSettings settings, QuickNESSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			FP = OSTailoredCode.IsUnixHost
 				? (IFPCtrl) new Unix_FPCtrl()
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SNES/LibsnesCore.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SNES/LibsnesCore.cs
index 9f45c879e2..e393adaf2a 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SNES/LibsnesCore.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SNES/LibsnesCore.cs
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.SNES
 	public unsafe partial class LibsnesCore : IEmulator, IVideoProvider, ISaveRam, IStatable, IInputPollable, IRegionable, ICodeDataLogger,
 		IDebuggable, ISettable<LibsnesCore.SnesSettings, LibsnesCore.SnesSyncSettings>
 	{
-		public LibsnesCore(GameInfo game, byte[] romData, byte[] xmlData, string baseRomPath, CoreComm comm, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public LibsnesCore(GameInfo game, byte[] romData, byte[] xmlData, string baseRomPath, CoreComm comm,
+			LibsnesCore.SnesSettings settings, LibsnesCore.SnesSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			_baseRomPath = baseRomPath;
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SubGBHawk/SubGBHawk.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SubGBHawk/SubGBHawk.cs
index 9e8b608ab8..b3a9b8f5b0 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SubGBHawk/SubGBHawk.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SubGBHawk/SubGBHawk.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.SubGBHawk
 		ISettable<GBHawk.GBHawk.GBSettings, GBHawk.GBHawk.GBSyncSettings>, IDebuggable
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor(new[] { "GB", "GBC" })]
-		public SubGBHawk(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, /*string gameDbFn,*/ object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public SubGBHawk(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, /*string gameDbFn,*/ GBHawk.GBHawk.GBSettings settings, GBHawk.GBHawk.GBSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			
 			var subGBSettings = (GBHawk.GBHawk.GBSettings)settings ?? new GBHawk.GBHawk.GBSettings();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SubNESHawk/SubNESHawk.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SubNESHawk/SubNESHawk.cs
index 47cc65a251..ad48699185 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SubNESHawk/SubNESHawk.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Nintendo/SubNESHawk/SubNESHawk.cs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Nintendo.SubNESHawk
 		ISettable<NES.NES.NESSettings, NES.NES.NESSyncSettings>
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("NES")]
-		public SubNESHawk(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, /*string gameDbFn,*/ object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public SubNESHawk(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, /*string gameDbFn,*/ NES.NES.NESSettings settings, NES.NES.NESSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var subNesSettings = (NES.NES.NESSettings)settings ?? new NES.NES.NESSettings();
 			var subNesSyncSettings = (NES.NES.NESSyncSettings)syncSettings ?? new NES.NES.NESSyncSettings();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/PC Engine/PCEngine.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/PC Engine/PCEngine.cs
index 081e5fcdd1..e8b11bda46 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/PC Engine/PCEngine.cs	
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/PC Engine/PCEngine.cs	
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.PCEngine
 		IPceGpuView
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor(new[] { "PCE", "SGX" })]
-		public PCEngine(GameInfo game, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public PCEngine(GameInfo game, byte[] rom, PCEngine.PCESettings settings, PCEngine.PCESyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			switch (game.System)
 			{
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.PCEngine
 
 		int IVideoLogicalOffsets.ScreenY => Settings.TopLine;
 
-		public PCEngine(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, Disc disc, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public PCEngine(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, Disc disc, PCESettings settings, PCESyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			SystemId = "PCECD";
 			Type = NecSystemType.TurboCD;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/GGHawkLink/GGHawkLink.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/GGHawkLink/GGHawkLink.cs
index 1848bda5c9..e808f38342 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/GGHawkLink/GGHawkLink.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/GGHawkLink/GGHawkLink.cs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Sega.GGHawkLink
 		displayName: "Game Gear")]
 	[ServiceNotApplicable(new[] { typeof(IDriveLight) })]
 	public partial class GGHawkLink : IEmulator, ISaveRam, IDebuggable, IStatable, IInputPollable, IRegionable, ILinkable,
-	ISettable<GGHawkLink.GGLinkSettings, GGHawkLink.GGLinkSyncSettings>
+		ISettable<GGHawkLink.GGLinkSettings, GGHawkLink.GGLinkSyncSettings>
 	{
 		// we want to create two GG instances that we will run concurrently
 		public SMS L;
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Sega.GGHawkLink
 
 		private bool do_r_next = false;
 
-		public GGHawkLink(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game_L, byte[] rom_L, GameInfo game_R, byte[] rom_R, /*string gameDbFn,*/ object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public GGHawkLink(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game_L, byte[] rom_L, GameInfo game_R, byte[] rom_R, /*string gameDbFn,*/
+			GGLinkSettings settings, GGLinkSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/SMS/SMS.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/SMS/SMS.cs
index 7812b079ee..bbbd37e66c 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/SMS/SMS.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/SMS/SMS.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Sega.MasterSystem
 		IDebuggable, ISettable<SMS.SmsSettings, SMS.SmsSyncSettings>, ICodeDataLogger
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor(new[] { "SMS", "SG", "GG" })]
-		public SMS(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public SMS(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, SmsSettings settings, SmsSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			var ser = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			ServiceProvider = ser;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/gpgx64/GPGX.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/gpgx64/GPGX.cs
index 9ce7fb5ee7..a671ec7438 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/gpgx64/GPGX.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sega/gpgx64/GPGX.cs
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Consoles.Sega.gpgx
 		IInputPollable, IDebuggable, IDriveLight, ICodeDataLogger, IDisassemblable
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("GEN")]
-		public GPGX(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] file, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public GPGX(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] file, GPGXSettings settings, GPGXSyncSettings syncSettings)
 			: this(comm, game, file, null, settings, syncSettings)
 		{
 		}
 
-		public GPGX(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, IEnumerable<Disc> cds, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public GPGX(CoreComm comm, GameInfo game, byte[] rom, IEnumerable<Disc> cds, GPGXSettings settings, GPGXSyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			LoadCallback = new LibGPGX.load_archive_cb(load_archive);
 			_inputCallback = new LibGPGX.input_cb(input_callback);
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sony/PSX/Octoshock.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sony/PSX/Octoshock.cs
index 76ae3ba85e..71c52069d9 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sony/PSX/Octoshock.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Sony/PSX/Octoshock.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Sony.PSX
 		isReleased: true)]
 	public unsafe partial class Octoshock : IEmulator, IVideoProvider, ISoundProvider, ISaveRam, IStatable, IDriveLight, ISettable<Octoshock.Settings, Octoshock.SyncSettings>, IRegionable, IInputPollable, IRomInfo
 	{
-		public Octoshock(CoreComm comm, PSF psf, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public Octoshock(CoreComm comm, PSF psf, Octoshock.Settings settings, Octoshock.SyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			string romDetails = "It's a PSF, what do you want. Oh, tags maybe?";
 			Load(comm, null, null, null, settings, syncSettings, psf, romDetails);
@@ -44,13 +44,13 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Sony.PSX
 
 		//note: its annoying that we have to have a disc before constructing this.
 		//might want to change that later. HOWEVER - we need to definitely have a region, at least
-		public Octoshock(CoreComm comm, List<Disc> discs, List<string> discNames, byte[] exe, object settings, object syncSettings, string romDetails)
+		public Octoshock(CoreComm comm, List<Disc> discs, List<string> discNames, byte[] exe, Octoshock.Settings settings, Octoshock.SyncSettings syncSettings, string romDetails)
 		{
 			Load(comm, discs, discNames, exe, settings, syncSettings, null, romDetails);
 			OctoshockDll.shock_PowerOn(psx);
 		}
 
-		void Load(CoreComm comm, List<Disc> discs, List<string> discNames, byte[] exe, object settings, object syncSettings, PSF psf, string romDetails)
+		void Load(CoreComm comm, List<Disc> discs, List<string> discNames, byte[] exe, Octoshock.Settings settings, Octoshock.SyncSettings syncSettings, PSF psf, string romDetails)
 		{
 			RomDetails = romDetails;
 			ConnectTracer();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/WonderSwan/WonderSwan.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/WonderSwan/WonderSwan.cs
index 1907e69dbd..84526eb571 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/WonderSwan/WonderSwan.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/WonderSwan/WonderSwan.cs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.WonderSwan
 		IInputPollable, IDebuggable
 	{
 		[CoreConstructor("WSWAN")]
-		public WonderSwan(byte[] file, bool deterministic, object settings, object syncSettings)
+		public WonderSwan(byte[] file, bool deterministic, WonderSwan.Settings settings, WonderSwan.SyncSettings syncSettings)
 		{
 			ServiceProvider = new BasicServiceProvider(this);
 			_settings = (Settings)settings ?? new Settings();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/CoreInventory.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/CoreInventory.cs
index db1e4a8562..26dbd7c42c 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/CoreInventory.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/CoreInventory.cs
@@ -48,11 +48,18 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores
 					{
 						throw new InvalidOperationException($"Unexpected parameter name {p.Name} in constructor for {Type}");
 					}
-					
-					// disabling the type check here doesn't really hurt anything, because the Invoke call will still catch any forbidden casts
-					// it does allow us to write "MySettingsType settings" instead of "object settings"
-					// if (expectedType != p.ParameterType)
-					//	throw new InvalidOperationException($"Unexpected type mismatch in parameter {p.Name} in constructor for {Type}");
+					if (pName == "settings")
+					{
+						if (p.ParameterType == typeof(object))
+							throw new InvalidOperationException($"Setting and SyncSetting constructor parameters for {type} must be annotated with the actual type");
+						SettingsType = p.ParameterType;
+					}
+					else if (pName == "syncsettings")
+					{
+						if (p.ParameterType == typeof(object))
+							throw new InvalidOperationException($"Setting and SyncSetting constructor parameters for {type} must be annotated with the actual type");
+						SyncSettingsType = p.ParameterType;
+					}
 					_paramMap.Add(pName, i);
 				}
 			}
@@ -60,6 +67,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores
 			public string Name { get; }
 			public Type Type { get; }
 			public ConstructorInfo CTor { get; }
+			public Type SettingsType { get; } = typeof(object);
+			public Type SyncSettingsType { get; } = typeof(object);
 
 			private void Bp(object[] parameters, string name, object value)
 			{