How to Play Arcade Games on a Computer
Get an arcade emulator software., Try newer emulators., Get the ROM(s)., Get a real arcade controller (optional).
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Get an arcade emulator software.
These are usually free to download and use.
The most active and popular ones are:
M.A.M.E.(Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) 2700+ games currently supported on a wide range of hardware. kawaks focuses on CAPCOM CPS-1, CPS-2 and SNK NeoGeo hardware. raine focuses on taito, jaleco and capcom games.
ZiNC focuses on Capcom, Taito, Konami, Tecmo, and Namco games (ZN-1, ZN-2 and system11 hardware) Modeler focuses on Sega System 32, Sega Model-1 games. nebula focuses on CAPCOM CPS-1, CPS-2, NeoGeo, NeoGeo CD, konami and PGM games.
Daphne focuses on Laserdisc games such as dragon's lair or Space ace -
Step 2: Try newer emulators.
These include GBA for Game Boy, GBC for Game Boy Color, DeSmuME for Nintendo DS, PSX for Play Station, PPSSPP for PSP and PCSX2 for Play Station
2.
These emulators are easily available on websites like emuparadise, Coolrom, Rom Hustler, etc., You are on your own to find the games ROMs.
These are more often than not protected by intellectual property and you may not have them if you don't own the original game.
You can also find these on websites like emuparadise, Coolrom, Rom Hustler, etc. , Although not required it surely improves the gaming experience to use a real arcade controller such as x-arcade or slikstik.
Of course you can also play with a keyboard, mouse, gamepad if you wish.
If you need to map your gamepad/joystick to keyboard keys, use JoyToKey under windows and QJoyPad, RejoyStick or joy2key under GNU/Linux. -
Step 3: Get the ROM(s).
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Step 4: Get a real arcade controller (optional).
Detailed Guide
These are usually free to download and use.
The most active and popular ones are:
M.A.M.E.(Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) 2700+ games currently supported on a wide range of hardware. kawaks focuses on CAPCOM CPS-1, CPS-2 and SNK NeoGeo hardware. raine focuses on taito, jaleco and capcom games.
ZiNC focuses on Capcom, Taito, Konami, Tecmo, and Namco games (ZN-1, ZN-2 and system11 hardware) Modeler focuses on Sega System 32, Sega Model-1 games. nebula focuses on CAPCOM CPS-1, CPS-2, NeoGeo, NeoGeo CD, konami and PGM games.
Daphne focuses on Laserdisc games such as dragon's lair or Space ace
These include GBA for Game Boy, GBC for Game Boy Color, DeSmuME for Nintendo DS, PSX for Play Station, PPSSPP for PSP and PCSX2 for Play Station
2.
These emulators are easily available on websites like emuparadise, Coolrom, Rom Hustler, etc., You are on your own to find the games ROMs.
These are more often than not protected by intellectual property and you may not have them if you don't own the original game.
You can also find these on websites like emuparadise, Coolrom, Rom Hustler, etc. , Although not required it surely improves the gaming experience to use a real arcade controller such as x-arcade or slikstik.
Of course you can also play with a keyboard, mouse, gamepad if you wish.
If you need to map your gamepad/joystick to keyboard keys, use JoyToKey under windows and QJoyPad, RejoyStick or joy2key under GNU/Linux.
About the Author
Steven Green
Committed to making hobbies accessible and understandable for everyone.
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