Guide to Game Emulators for the Mac by Ben Rood What would you say if I told you that with today's hardware it would be conceivable that Apple has designed the first multi-platform hand-held console? In fact, from a certain point of view (and with some leniency on weight, size and power usage) it's totally true. It's all possible with something that was a buzzword a couple of years ago when the mac (and Apple itself) was floundering: Emulation. In a misguided effort to try and fit itself into a growing conformist wintel society, Apple pushed emulation through 3rd-Party developers. Windows on the Mac (sic). But, what does emulation and all this mean for the modern mac gamer? Well, last year Connectix woke a few people (eg. Sony) up to the possibilities of emulation through their $99 product, the Connectix Virtual Station which emulates the Playstation console. It turned heads, it caused a fuss, but the most important thing was that it gave macintosh users access to genres of game never seen. Everyone's heard of CVGS, but what about other systems? What about Super Nintendo, Neo-Geo, Gameboy and even Nintendo64? The good news is, in some shape in form, all those systems and more can be emulated today on your macintosh, and the software that does it is either Shareware or completely free. I've play tested (successful and not quite so) the top emulators for Sega Master system, Sega Genesis (aka MegaDrive), Nintendo Gameboy, NES, Super Nintendo (aka SuperFamicom), Nintendo64, Sega Playstation, Neo-Geo, Commodore Amiga and old MAME arcades (all the emulators featured in this article and more can be found at the excellent emulation.net). My test system was a Power Macintosh G3/266 with the built-in Rage Pro. The basic principle behind most of the emulators mentioned in this article is this: When developers make a console/arcade game they have to test the builds (normally on a Unix system). The application that ran them gets ported to MacOS. Games are normally on a Read Only Memory device (normally a CD-ROM) which gets loaded by the hardware. In this case the ROM (the game) is made into a self-contained file or compressed. The emulator simply loads the ROM into the available memory on your system and away you go. Disclaimer: Although the emulation systems are either Shareware or free, the ROMs (the game(s) itself) is not (Please read the documentation that comes with the specific emulator to know of the full legal details - Inside Mac Games does not condone or authorize the use of pirate ROM(s) in any form). You must own, or be in possession of the only licensed copy of the game to be able to use the ROM. Fortunately for us I am a hard-core game of years gone by, and the IMG resources extend far and wide - so I was able to legally play test all the emulators. Nintendo Gameboy - Virtual Gameboy This was the first emulator I ever really used, I've owned 3 different Gameboys in my time by due to the shoddiness of the manufacturing (ahem) but mostly my treatment (or rather the lack) of them they all died. But, I still have all my GamePaks stashed away for some reason. Anyway, I mainly got this emulator for myself initially because being a fan of the crazy kiddy anime Pokemon, I wanted to play the game. However, I didn't want to shell out the cash for another gameboy. What to do? Buy the game, find myself a ROM copy and use the emulator. First Impressions: This is cool. The sound is perfect, the graphics are fine (I don't have to squint at a tiny screen) and it supports Color. Go Bulbasaur! Final Analysis: Fantastic, a perfect piece of emulation. The default controls are absolutely fine, there's no difficulty playing this on keyboard. Every single game I tested worked 100% and moreover it was fun! I managed to play Pokemon from start to finish completely on my computer. An excellent piece of software for anyone who wants to play a few Gameboy games, but not shell out the full $$$, well worth the $15 shareware fee - it's even able to save games just like with a real Gameboy (save files end with a ".sav" extension). However, nothing will replace the first little handheld itself. Installation & Usage: Incredibly easy. Decompress the .sit file and drag and drop any ROM onto the application, or load the ROMS from the Open function in the File menu. Something to watch for: all Gameboy roms end with the extensions ".gb" and after that ".gz" - the Virtual Gameboy uses gzip compression, don't try to decompress the roms in any way. (I discovered a conflict between Snapz Pro while using this emulator - you aren't allowed to quit the game after the screenshot is taken, the only thing you can do is force a restart via command-option-power keys) Games Tested: Pokemon (Blue), Robocop 2, Battletoads, Klax, Wario Land, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2, Tetris (grin), Pokemon Pinball. Nintendo Entertainment System - iNES I never really liked the NES, it was kinda before my time really. In any case, Kagi does an o.k. job of emulating the NES environment - there are some graphical and sound glitches but it runs pretty well. First Impressions: Sometimes you have limits. I can accept the Gameboy's graphics, but for some reason the 8-bit color and sound of the NES just doesn't work. hmmm.... Final Analysis: Good it terms of nostalgia. It plays well on any system, but for almost every game on the NES there is a SNES version - just make sure you own the ROMs. Worth the $15 shareware fee if you plan on using it regularly. Installage & Usage: Same as Virtual Gameboy and SNES9X (drag and drop). All the ROMs I tested ended with the extension ".nes" - so make sure you use ROMs that have those extensions. (I discovered a conflict between Snapz Pro while using this emulator - you aren't allowed to quit the game after the screenshot is taken, the only thing you can do is force a restart via command-option-power keys) Games Tested: Super Mario Bros 3, Cabal, Mega Man 4 (just about all places I found that had NES roms were unreliable) Super Nintendo - SNES9X Emulates the Super Nintendo experience completely: It plays very fast, the sound works perfectly, it looks great in RAVE mode - and it's free! First Impressions: The default controller for the Super Nintendo was actually pretty good and it had 6 buttons - so I was concerned that maybe games like NBA Live '95 (the most fun basketball game ever ) which use all the buttons might not play well. I was wrong, it played no problem on the default keys, and those are the ones most everyone uses anyway if they plan it right. Final Analysis: Very, very, good. With the exception of a couple of games, the SNES9X emulated everything perfectly and fast, and with RAVE mode in 1024x768 it didn't look bad at all. The only real problem I faced was loading certain ROMs, it would just hang the machine - but more likely than not it was the actual ROM that was the problem (possibly a damaged file/not encoded right). It's free, so why not use it? There are many great games out there that will never come to mac, and certain games which never age e.g. Super Mario World) so it's definitely worth reliving some days of old on your mac, or just renting some games from your video store and then downloading the ROMs. This emulator proves that it's always gameplay over flash new graphics. Maybe Epic and Id should remember that! (makers of Unreal Tournament and Quake3: Arena respectively) Installation & Usage: Same as the Virtual Gameboy and iNES, simply drag and drop the ROM onto the application. Be careful though: actual ROM extensions vary, sometimes with gzip compression (".gz"), sometimes with macbinary (".bin") somewhere in the file name - but generally speaking actual ROMs follow this format: "romname.smc.gz" (save games are "romname.smc.srm") (I discovered a conflict between Snapz Pro while using this emulator - you aren't allowed to quit the game after the screenshot is taken, the only thing you can do is force a restart via command-option-power keys) Games Tested: NBA Live '95, Madden Football '93, Madden NFL '98, FIFA '98, Donkey Kong Country 3, Battletoads (crashed computer), Alien vs. Predator, Bubsy[uk] (crashed computer), Super Mario World, Super Mario AllStars, Super Offroad Racer, Super Ghols'n'Ghosts, WWF Arcade (crashed computer). Nintendo 64 - Mac True Reality Ah, the fabled promised land of Nintendo64 emulation via True Reality. Truth is, there's a long way to go before it gets there... First Impressions: ...waiting waiting waiting... Final Analysis: Slow as a dog. I was only able to successfully get Mario64 working, and even then there were missing polygons, it ran slower than it should have and the framerate was about 5fps on average. Also, onscreen text renders partially transparent so be prepared to squint. A lot of work needs to be done on this emulator, but even then I think you'll have to wait for G4 to use this emulator properly. The makers acknowledge this, but still for now it's best to stick to the real thing, for now. Installation & Usage: Drag and Drop the ROM onto the app, or load it from the file menu after booting up the application. Don't be surprised if it crashes or you have to wait a long time for something to happen. Games Tested: Mario64, Zelda64 [hanged], WaveRace64 [crashed] Sega MasterSystem - MasterGear This emulator not only emulates the old MasterSystem but the portable Game Gear console too. The MasterSystem was always criticized for its very poor graphics so in America it came second-best to the Nintendo Entertainment System in sales. First Impressions: Like with the NES, I don't like shoddy 8-bit graphics and performance. It's very stable and seems like it would perform well on more humble machines. Final Analysis: If you've got a few old cartridges lying around it might be worth downloading the ROMs (they are normally between 70-200k only). But if you don't I can't see any reason to bother renting or borrowing some games just to play them on the computer, when just about every good game that came out for the MasterSystem came out for the Megadrive. Also worth noting is that several games ran too fast to control (can't beat the G3 power). Aside from that though, every ROM tested worked 100% Installation & Usage: After decompressing the MasterGear archive and downloading some ROMs simply drag and drop them onto the application. Important: Even though a lot of MasterSystem ROMs use the ".sms" extension not all of them do. Make sure you virus check everything you download before using it. (I discovered a conflict between Snapz Pro while using this emulator - you aren't allowed to quit the game after the screenshot is taken, the only thing you can do is force a restart via command-option-power keys) Games tested: Terminator, Mortal Kombat 2, After Burner, A New Zealand Story, Sonic 2, Strider, Cyber Shinobi. Sega Genesis - DGen The Sega Genesis console (also know as the MegaDrive) was (to my knowledge) the first 16-Bit console released commercially in the US. It was Sega's answer to the highly popular NES (also the successor to the MasterSystem), and it offered good graphics and a load of developer support (unlike today it seems.. just see if you can get 1/2 the amount of games for Saturn as you could for Genesis). First Impressions: OK I guess, plays fast enough, graphics are okay... Final Analysis: A lot of the ROMs didn't load, and it crashed a bit. I came away not wanting to use the application to be honest, which is weird since I liked my Megadrive a lot. Is it worth the download? Yes, but be prepared to rub your forehead in frustration a bit... the games are fine, well worth playing again as long as they load. Installation & Usage: Drag. Drop (on application). Play (and Pray if you are so inclined), with crossed fingers. Games Tested: Strider, Golden Axe 2 [crashed], Sonic 1 [crashed], Sonic 2 [crashed], Sonic3 & Knuckles, Terminator [crashed], After Burner 2, Desert Strike [graphical objects were missing/did not display], Jungle Strike [graphical objects were missing/did not display]. MAME Arcades - MacMAME Remember those cool arcades when you were a kid? Well I doubt I even knew what the word 'arcade' meant when these oldies were out, but now I bet you long to relive those former glories right? Hmm, don't have high expectations. First Impressions: I expanded the .zip files like with the NeoMAME. Stupid me, yeah yeah yeah. Nothing worked. Final Analysis: Well, *cough* after I resolved those "issues" I went on to load all but two ROMs successfully. However, I wonder if it was worth my time. I mean, I don't like to see big pixels when I am zoomed in 400% in Photoshop, so I definitely don't like it when everything is made up of them. Not to mention, the games are slow, boring and awkward most of the time (at least I found them to be so). Only tread this path if you believe the golden age of gaming was 1982 *shudder*. Installation & Usage: All ROMs for MAME systems come in zipped up (".zip" extension), don't make the mistake I made of decompressing them! Simply drop the zipped ROMs into the ROMs folder, then run the application (Don't increase memory size). If you have a RAVE-compatibly card use that acceleration over OpenGL (you can enable 3D acceleration by clicking the "Options..." button before you play the ROM). The smaller the resolution your computer is set to, the faster the game will play, but make sure Speed Toggle is on. Games Tested: Frogger [did not load], Asteroids, Asteroids 2, Pacman, Ms. Pacman, Far West, Silkworm, Tazmania [crashed], Tag-Team wrestling, Punchout. Neo Geo - NeoMAME (now known as GeoMAME) The Neo Geo system represented (along with the Capcom arcades) the top of the line arcades for years (this was before 3D boys ;) - offering host to great action and fighting games. NeoMAME emulates this system. (Later on SNK made several versions of a Neo-Geo console, I used borrowed CD-ROMs for that as a legal way of using the ROMs) First Impressions: This isn't as obvious as it looks, it was my first MAME-style emulation and I screwed up. Hint: don't unzip the ROMs! (laugh all you like it seems pretty logical to decompress files to me...) Final Analysis: You may have to switch to 640x480 to get consistent (60fps avg) framerates, but all games except Last Blade 2 played in 1024x768 on my test system without any sound glitches or frame dropping. An excellent emulator (all games with the exception of one worked), my personal favorite and definitely worth the download if you have access to the ROMs. I am sure you would be able to buy the CD's for the Neo Geo console second hand for quite cheap and then just download the ROMs in mint condition. The games are of a very high quality, and they prove that 3D isn't completely necessary. Also worth noting is that there are many games and genres for Neo Geo which won't come to the Mac in my lifetime so if you want to play 2D fighters this is the emulator for you. Installation & Usage: All ROMs for MAME systems come in zipped up (".zip" extension), don't make the mistake I made of decompressing them! Simply drop the zipped ROMs into the ROMs folder, then run the application (Don't increase memory size). If you have a RAVE-compatibly card use that acceleration over OpenGL (you can enable 3D acceleration by clicking the "Options..." button before you play the ROM). The smaller the resolution your computer is set to, the faster the game will play, but make sure Speed Toggle is on. Also very vital: you need the Neo-Geo BIOS to run any games (place the file, still zipped, in your ROMs folder) . Where you find the games you should find the BIOS files though. But remember, make sure you follow the legal requirements in the readme and any other documentation. Games Tested: Last Blade 2, Fatal Fury, Fatal Fury 3, Super Sidekicks, Super Sidekicks 4, Metal Slug 2 [graphics did not display correctly; ROM appeared to be corrupted], Art Of Fighting, Art Of Fighting 3, King of Fighters '98. Atari Lynx - Handy (MacOS) The Atari Lynx was the first widely distributed colour handheld console. I remember playing it and disliking everything except California Games, but I managed to find a friend to borrow some games and a Lynx from for testing purposes and was mildly impressed with what I played. First Impressions: When I say mildly, I mean it. All of the games are as pathetic now as they were then (with the exception of Surfing in California Games - classy...), so don't expect to be dazzled. Final Analysis: Good speeds, but in full screen mode the framerate drops considerably. If you liked the Atari Lynx, you'll like this but I don't see the point to be honest. As part of my reviewing process I have to state whether it's worth the download. Answer: No thanks. Installation & Usage: Just like all the other console emulators, simply Drag and Drop the ROM onto the application. Handy requires the boot image built into the Lynx, but I managed to find a copy of the "LYNXBOOT.IMG" to use, and whacked it in the same folder as the application. Games Tested: California Games, Gauntlet. Commodore Amiga - MacU.A.E. My Commodore Amiga was the first computer I ever owned. And when I say Amiga, I mean the classy Amiga 500. It lasted me 5 years before it conked out after a life of orange juice stains and total physical abuse (they really used to make 'em back then). It played games, and not much else. It kicked ass, and I'm yet to play a game of Mac that gave me as much bang for my buck as the best Amiga games did (with the possible exception of Marathon 2 - I love that game). First Impressions: Odd. A bit more difficult to use that any of the other emulators... but seems okay. Final Analysis: The Amiga used some pretty cutting edge graphics technology that was hard to emulate period. And still in intense sections of games where lots of pixels are flying about, the game definitely slows down (eg. Cannon Fodder) - and my G3 must be like 10 times faster than my old Amiga 500! However I discovered two glitches: I was unable to get joystick to work properly, which is a bummer because a lot of games actually require one. Secondly, sound does not emulate 100% and slows the game down (my advice is to turn it off). But still, certain games like Formula One Grand Prix and Populous 2 never age, so I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Installation & Usage: ROMs normally come stuffed (".sit" extension), so decompress them with stuffit expander and put them wherever you want (it'll expand into a folder). The ROMs come with the ".adf" extension, don't bother touching them, there's no drag and drop in this one. Upon double-clicking on the program click "OK" and from the Disk menu choose "Insert Disk in DFO". Then simply select the correct .adf file. Insert as many remaining .adf's as you can in the 3 DF slots available. To toggle emulating the mouse in the Amiga window, press command-m. Important: The emulator requires that you have the Amiga's kick ROM in the same folder as the application. You should find the "kick.rom" where you find the games. Games Tested: Cannon Fodder, Kick Off 2 , Populous 2, Test Drive 2, Formula One Grand Prix, Out Run (yeah! ;), Railroad Tycoon, Street Fighter 2, Syndicate, Future Wars, The Secret of Money Island, Monkey Island 2, Supremacy, Soccer Kid. What about Playstation? Well, there have been a heap of reviews already on the Connectix Virtual Game Station, so there's not point me talking in depth about it. What I will say is this: don't bother. The best games in my opinion on the Playstation do not play nearly as good as with the real thing (eg. Tekken 3). In this reporters opinion, it doesn't look as good, and it's slower. For the price of a decent USB controller and VGS, you would only have to pay a little more to get the real thing. Playstations today are very cheap and you'll be able to play all the games in the Playsation 2 (which uses firewire - maybe some future link with computers methinks. On a side note, the original Playstation was Sony's test in the computer waters. Brand name alone meant a lot, and following the success of the CD console Sony began developing wintel clones. One could guess that these machines will definitely include firewire in the future). But Bleem! sounds good right? In theory. Reports from the PC version show that although the graphics are incredible through Direct3D, the speed is lacking somewhat, and you again have to buy a decent USB controller. When the Mac version comes out, look for a full review here at Inside Mac Games (for now check out these few screenshots from the PC version). But is it morally right? The answer to this question can be seen in a very objective manner. If you don't own a hard copy of the game, you shouldn't use the ROM. However, many people do abuse that trustworthy system and use ROMs they do not own at all. On the other hand, what about all the law-abiding citizens that only use emulators and ROMs in a legal fashion? Might they pay the price for other's dishonesty? Whatever way you look at it, use of commercial ROMs in an illegal fashion is exactly the same as privacy - and developers looking to combat ROM usage should approach it this way. But for example, I brought Pokemon especially to play it on my computer legally. I am not going to buy another Gameboy when how I play it suits me fine on my machine. Should I be punished for this? Absolutely not. Yeah, well, I think old games stink... Well they don't. If you want to borrow a friend's SNES game and download the ROM and emulator then you'll see why. Just like in architecture they teach you that form follows function, the same is true of games - Gameplay over Graphics. There are so many games that no cool 3D engine can compare to (that's what a lot of First Person Shooters are like today: engines not games), so don't be put off. And, if you have access to Neo Geo games and your computer is fast enough I doubt any 3D fighter will be much better. Years of 2D games taught people to refine the process, and the gameplay flourished. Also worth noting is the lack of fighting/action/driving games on Mac -through emulation these worlds are accessible. Definitely take the time to save Princess Toadstill, become the King of Fighters, drive for McLaren, get a Tetris and become an Elite starfighter all over again.