Basics of using ROMs and Emulators to play console classics on your computer

Notice: I posted this guide on Sythe months ago, but I had removed it due to a scare of it being illegal, due to recent confirmation by UE members, I am re-posting it.

Introduction​

Hello, and welcome to my guide about using ROMs and Emulators to play some of your favourite classics.

Chapter 1: What is an Emulator?​

According to Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), An emulator duplicates (provides an emulation of) the functions of one system using a different system, so that the second system behaves like (and appears to be) the first system.

In this case, we'll be emulating video game consoles.

Chapter 2: What is a ROM?​

According to Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), ROM image, or simply ROM, is a computer file which contains a copy of the data from a read-only memory chip, often from a video game cartridge, a computer's firmware, or from an arcade game's main board.

Chapter 3: What are some emulators you recommend?​

Gameboy Advance: Visual boy Advance: http://www.coolrom.com/emulators/gba/14/Visual_Boy_Advance.php

(This can be used for Gameboy Color as well)

NES: Nestopia: http://www.coolrom.com/emulators/nes/45/Nestopia.php

Nintendo 64: Project 64: http://www.coolrom.com/emulators/n64/21/Project64.php

Sega Genesis: Gens: http://www.coolrom.com/emulators/genesis/74/Gens.php

Sega Saturn: Satourne: http://www.coolrom.com/emulators/saturn/66/Satourne.php

SNES: Snes9x: http://www.coolrom.com/emulators/snes/34/Snes9x.php

Chapter 4: Where can I get ROMs?​

Some websites that I'd recommend for getting ROMs are as listed:

www.coolrom.com

www.emuparadise.org

www.romhustler.net

Chapter 5: How do I use them?​

Using the emulators and ROMs is very simple.

First open up your emulator.



Go to File -> Open (May vary with different emulators)

Navigate to the folder where you downloaded your ROM to




Double click on the ROM desired, and it should start emulating the ROM!

Chapter 6: Other features​

Most emulators support features such as changing controllers, and using cheats.

For example, cheats with Project 64:

Go to System -> Cheats

And choose desired cheats.



With other emulators, such as Visualboy Advance, gameshark codes are also supported.

For controls with Project 64:

Go to options -> Configure Controller Plugin

Edit the controls how you desire



Features with different emulators may vary, I'm not gonna get into that for now.

Chapter 7: Tips​

I recommend making an emulator folder, and different ROM folders for each console, for ease of access while switching between ROMs.

I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a USB controller to maximize a fun gaming experience. Who honestly wants to play Zelda with a keyboard? Most emulators should support USB controllers, if not, you should get a controller with a profiler (ie: Logitech).

Conclusion​

I made this guide mainly to inform others who are interested about the subject but may not have heard of what I am educating about. Post any questions that you would like answered, and I'll do my best to answer them. Using ROMs and Emulators IS legal if you have purchased a copy of the game you are emulating. I guarantee that all of the websites and downloads I have posted are safe to use, if you're skepticle, scan it. They may be very slow due to a high amount of ads. Thanks for reading my guide, I hope it helped you.

 

Very nice guide! I use emulators at school all the time when I'm really bored. Well detailed and good use of pictures, 9/10.

 

Good guide, nice pictures. By the way, NO MARIO KART 64?
Other than that (xD) a 9/10

 

Thanks guys

 

Good guide on emulators. It's good that they aren't illegal to post about. The only thing I would suggest is to shrink the width of that one picture. It makes it so you have to scroll right to read parts of the guide.

9/10- Good use of pictures, good grammar and easy to understand content.

 

oops, my bad, I use a 1680 x 1050 resolution so it didn't affect me, but I shall fix it

 

I also use 1680 x 1050. These are illegal unless you actually own the game. You can have the Mario 64 rom if you own the actual game cartridge itself.

I remember this guide from a bit back =). Ive got some n64 emulators and gba emulators on my comp so I might just play pokemon or something.

 

Indeed, these are perfectly legal as long as you own the physical cartridge.

 

Very superb way to describe an Emulator.
If I had not known what an Emulator or a ROM was, I would know now.
Very good organization and pictures.

Overall: 9/10
Pictures: 9/10
Organization: 9/10

Also, to include to this guide, I would like to suggest No Cash GBA for an Emulator. This emulator functions with all Nintendo Handheld games including Nintendo DS.

As well, Emulators and ROMS are not illegal as long as you delete the ROM after 24 hours unless you are entitled to own the game. Personally, I highly dislike this rule and I do not obey it. I had stopped playing ROMs though and deleted every single ROM on all my computers.

 

i made a guide on this like... 3 months ago?

 

Nice guid, i got the gameboy emulator and tryed to play pokemon for the fun but when it start, i skip the little movies and then its something like:
Your battery has run dry
you can now play the game
but then i cannot play
somebody help?

 

PS1

ePSXe - http://www.epsxe.com/download.php

psX - http://psxemulator.gazaxian.com/

PSXeven - http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/PSXeven-Download-68497.html

Get PS1 disk images with torrents using a torrent client like uTorrent, or rip your own PS1 disks to your PC.

 

psX Is The Best For Ps1

PS2:

pcsx2 - www.[B]pcsx2[/B].net/

 

Job well done matt

 

Very smooth and coherent guide, very well organized guide, pictures are very helpful, this guide is almost like a youtube video to me. You might want to mention the legal issues dealing with ROMS, I would suggest taking the links out to the websites, from my experience, many forums ban any links to "illegal" websites. I also like how you gave credit to Wikipedia.org.

 

Nice, nice. 10/10.


ZSES > ALL.

;D