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Guide to Roms (console game emulation) on Ubuntu

thepemberton.com — Great guide to downloading and using roms for psx snes nes gameboy ds n64 and sega genesis/cd/32x

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  • amoore260, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6what about MUGEN?
    • parabolee, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Mugen is mentioned in the article.
    • ArthurSucks, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1MUGEN is not an emulator.
    • airstrike, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1mugen is so unstable it's not even funny.
  • cyberpope, on 10/10/2007, -4/+30Shouldn't this be "A Guide to Emulation on Ubuntu"? I think that would be a much better title.
    • bruenig, on 10/10/2007, -6/+7A guide to emulation on gnu/linux would be better.
    • bstock, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3I was also about to say it should be a guide for gnu/linux, but the guide is made specifically for Ubuntu. It may work in other debian-based distros if the packages are in apt, but it is targeted for Ubuntu so in this case specifying Ubuntu is not as evil as it usually is.
      • bruenig, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Just say synaptic instead of package manager and bam it is distro specific? Clever.
    • wookieface, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2No, because you can emulate a lot of other things than roms...
  • schizogony, on 10/10/2007, -21/+6This is illegal.
    • blinki, on 10/10/2007, -10/+17not if you own the games.
      • Wargalas, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9I don't know why you're getting dugg down, you're correct.
      • kris33, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10It actually is illegal. Just as downloading music even though you own the CD or downloading a movie even though you have the DVD.

        It may be illegal, but it is certainly not unethical. Just as filesharing.
        • MasteRR, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I don't see how. You are allowed to make one legal backup copy (DMCA be damned) of all media you own. How do you make a copy of a game cartridge? So by downloading you are getting your copy and no one who doesn't own it is getting a copy.
        • MasteRR, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1(to add to the end of my last comment) ...unless it's a torrent, of course.
        • reed311, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1No, its simple copyright infringement, which is a civil matter. A civil matter has nothing to do with criminal law. I'm not saying it's right, it just isn't illegal.
          • Travelsonic, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Amd we are saying that under law, you aren't right.

            Under law, as long as you don't need to crack copy-protection, backing up the games you have on cartridge or CD IS legal (and the person who said the limit is one: Source please, where is the limit?), and as long as the emulators aren't distributed with infringing bios files, IIRC, the emulators are pretty much legal.


            In a nutshell: Emulation in of itself is legal, how you do it may or may not be legal.
          • Wyzard, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Nitpick: civil law is still law. Small-scale copyright infringement is not a *crime*, but it is still *illegal*, because it violates civil law. The copyright owner could sue you and the judge would rule against you.

            Of course, whether downloading a ROM for a game you've already purchased consitutes copyright infringment in the first place is another question entirely. It doesn't seem particularly immoral or unethical to me.
    • mojoel, on 10/10/2007, -2/+15So is jaywalking. So is speeding.
      • Atomic1fire, on 10/10/2007, -0/+152 wrongs dont make a right
        but 3 lefts do
    • ZombieKiss, on 10/10/2007, -12/+0Yea yea take it to the BioShock threads where 4357234098754098237 people have sworn to torrent the game because they feel like their rights have somehow been violated...
      • PlaneLayz, on 10/10/2007, -7/+4Anyone not buying Bioshock because of some minor DRM issues are complete fools and are only going to stop there being either a sequal or another successor to Systemshock. Morons... cheap morons (Oh, the irony as this is an Ubuntu thread - cheapest OS available!)
        • Durrok, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1The activation issue that they don't like is going to be turned off in a few months. So if they don't like that they can buy it then but in all reality the people that were bitching about it where likely to never buy it anyway, at least not until it hits the bargain bin.
        • specialK16, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Dugg down for the Ubuntu comment, troll.
    • opnickc, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Not if you are using homemade ROMs.
    • juicebag, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Not if you make the ROM yourself (which is very possible for some systems).
    • demonstar55, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4ZOMG!!!!!!!! you're talking about roms!!!! I'm calling the police!!!!!


      .....
  • juicebag, on 10/10/2007, -22/+5The good thing about Windows is that I don't need guides like these to do things.
    • TheHydrogens, on 10/10/2007, -4/+14Oh, so you just knew how to do this? Without ever reading any kind of howto ever? So you didn't search for the emulators or anything, you just KNEW how to get them? Logical fallacy FTL!
      • juicebag, on 10/10/2007, -7/+3I didn't need a specific guide. I searched for SNES emulators, downloaded one, clicked install, searched for ROMs, downloaded them, and they worked without any command line or any fiddling like that.
        • MasteRR, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7And somehow you knew what emulation and ROMS were without either being told or without reading something? So you are all knowing?

          Hey guys, Jesus uses Digg!
      • jftitan, on 10/10/2007, -4/+5Your right, he is a genius. I mean he figured out how to use his mouse... I have never met a person who can do the emulation of console games with JUST a mouse. Oh wait, he said he's using Windows. Nevermind. he must be a complete tool because in Windows all you do is install emu, locate rom, configure gamepad/keyboard, and play.

        Its not like Linux, where you have to read a guide to learn more about using your computer to its fullest abilities while saving money, AND gaining more knowledge of how to use your computer other than word processing, and porn.
        • reed311, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Fullest abilities? Like buying a top of the line ATI card and not having it supported? Or having poor game support for your new powerful hardware?
          • Wyzard, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Yeah, my Cray supercomputer really sucks too. It doesn't have a driver for my new ATI video card, and it can't run Bioshock at all! What a worthless piece of junk.
        • specialK16, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2jfitan you are ***** troll and a moron. You have no clue of what you are talking about.
    • deadlikeoscar, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10The guide isn't unlike anything you would see written for Windows. Stop acting like you can do anything you want to on Windows without knowing a thing about it.
    • Vegabondsx, on 10/10/2007, -4/+4If you knew Ubuntu as well as you know Windows you wouldn't need a guide for Ubuntu.
    • takeda, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Sorry, but in the Ubuntu it is actually much easier to install the software than in Windows (where you need to search for the software on google, and get many pages that just talk about the consoles instead getting the software).
      Ubuntu has Synaptic, so you can find most of the software by just searching for the name of the emulator.

      I belive, the only reason this tutorial exists is to be digged up on digg.
    • ArthurSucks, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Don't feed the troll.
  • databoy, on 10/10/2007, -9/+4Try these sites:
    http://www.reinerziegler.de/readplus.htm
    http://fms.komkon.org/GameBoy/Tech/Hardware.html
    http://www.starbatteries.com/gamingmanuals.html
    http://www.gameboy-advance-roms.com/gba_emulator.htm
    http://www.brolinembedded.se/projects/flashcart/
    http://www.ajo.es/gba/
    http://www.hackaday.com/category/gameboy-hacks/rss.xml
    http://www.brolinembedded.se/links.php
    http://n64.icequake.net/
    http://futuretech.blinkenlights.nl/n64.html
    http://www.gbadat.altervista.org/tools.htm
    http://psp-news.dcemu.co.uk/
    http://www.2kgames.com/railroads/railroads.html
    http://home.mnet-online.de/al/usb_gba/usb_gba.html
    http://www.vtemulation.net/emulators/n64.php
    http://ascii.textfiles.com/archives/000454.html
  • nishay, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3yea most of the emulators are easy to use, just install and run the rom file (like snes, GBA, N64...) but for some it takes a lil more. For DS, you will need the DS itself to play downloaded DS homebrew games (as far as i know, it is very hard to play commercial games correctly) Same for ps2. For PSX, its hard but doable. Extract the files from a PSX emu zip u can find anywhere. Then install the pluguns pack and run a PSX iso. I warn you, there may be a lot of problems with it, but it will usually work fine for most games, excluding some rpgs
  • rohan2kool, on 10/10/2007, -15/+8i always love to say this, "It's so easy on windows..."
    • sirhomer, on 10/10/2007, -8/+17It's easier on Ubuntu. Windows lacks a package manager.
      • TexanPsycho, on 10/10/2007, -4/+5Truthfully put, Windows is so much easier. In Windows, you can just Google it and most of the programs will be for Windows. I've tried Ubuntu for a few weeks and my main complaint with it is that configuration is so tricky to get to. With Windows, It's just Edit > Preferences or Tools > Options, etc;. Sorry to all the Linux fanboys out there but I prefer Windows because of this.
        • Travelsonic, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9"n Windows, you can just Google it and most of the programs will be for Windows. "

          That's ease of compatibility, not ease of use.
          • sneed, on 10/10/2007, -5/+3I'd say that it is ease of use, even if it isn't a part of the operating system itself. The greater compatibility in windows definitely makes it easier to use.
        • thecheatah, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Thats ease of getting stds not ease of use.
  • LegendarySock, on 10/10/2007, -1/+23Emulation on a PC is great, but most SNES, NES, even N64 roms work great on a modded Xbox. Its great playing the games on a TV and with a controller. Give it a shot if you have time: Install a softmod (takes minutes), get XBMC (best dashboard IMO), and grab a few emulators off the usual places (xbins).
    • justice7, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9xbox is awesome for emulation -- i second this.
    • hartley, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9My media center pc works just as well. I can play games on the tv that way. Also my computer can play n64, and psx games MUCH better than the xbox. Not to mention any other games that are just too much for xbox.
      But for affordability, nothing beats the xbox.
      • MasteRR, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Your media center PC also cost a bit more than $110 at Gamestop.
    • marx2k, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1My main problem with the Xbox and XBMC/Emulation/X-Port emulators is that X-Port emulators are very hard to set up for SAMBA connections with my Linux ROMs server box. But I do have a bunch of ROM DVDs that work great with my XBox for emulation.
  • bloaty, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7WOW! Great timing!
    I just finished setting up my arcade cabinet with ubuntu fiesty, Wah!Cade, and a bunch of MAME, NES, SNES, PS1, N64, and Linux games Like Forzen Bubble!
    I HIGHLY reccomend Wah!Cade as a fromtend for any arcade cabinet, it is so flexible and has a layout editor as well as easy install and config! It is so flexible i was able to make it launch Frozen Bubble and metal blob solid!
    As for the controler I moded a ps1 arcade style controler to the parallel port and was plesently surprised to find support for it already in the kernel with gamecon. the rest like startup scripts etc. was a snap!

    Ubuntu FTW!!!
  • hartley, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Beginners should also note there are MANY more emulators than the ones listed here in Synaptic.
    But a good list of the best emus that aren't in repos.
    • MasteRR, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3By no means is Synaptic ever going to be complete. But I wouldn't mind seeing your opinion on some better emus.
  • 1mabu77fac3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2so would this work on a ps3?
  • ku16610, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Terrible psx emu ignore this one and go for the more simple compatable and generally better in every way pSX emulator
    http://psxemulator.gazaxian.com/pSX_linux_1_13.tar.bz2
    (note doesnt require thousands of stupid plugins to run games)
  • SkyValley, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1Although I think Ubuntu (or linux in general) is an amazing operating system, console game emulation is a real pain in the arse to run. I only use Windows to play games, and unfortunately in this case emulation is no exception. If we're going to encourage more people to switch to linux for gaming, maybe working a little on console emulation software might be a good start.
    • OrangeTide, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2never had a problem over the past 8 years...
  • cave, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1Cool. I really hope the emulation scene on Linux/OSX becomes more developed. Right now they are just playing catch up with Windows, and that totally blows.
    • marx2k, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1What do you feel is missing?
    • OrangeTide, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I could never get emulation to work well on my Windows machine. The open source emulators that run on linux/etc are still the best in terms of reliability and host compatibility.

      Most closed source Windows-only emu writers are good at writing the core engine but bad at doing the installers, interfaces, and testing against various graphics driver versions.
  • OrangeTide, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Please explain how to legally play roms on Ubuntu? Just owning the cartridge for the SNES/Gameboy/etc is not enough because often it is not licensed to be used in any other form. The copyright holder has free reign over the circumstances you are allowed to copy the protected material, and requires a license for you to do so. Fair use does not really apply.
    • Ratm22, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Some older games are not made any more and have joined the free domain. Those would be legal to play, also roms youve created yourself would be legal. Im pretty sure its legal to rip roms off your cartridge, since you bought them. You have a right to back them up. The plastics are tough but not eternal, you paid for the data on the cartridge why not preserve it for eternity.
    • dgp1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1> Please explain how to legally play roms on Ubuntu?
      @OrangeTide:

      Step 1: Stop caring about following laws that are stupid (and dubiously enforceable). Especially if you DO own the damn cartridge, who are they to try and tell you what system you can play it on?
      Step 2: ???
      Step 3: Fun!
    • Wyzard, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Current US copyright law permits loading a program into RAM for the purpose of running it, (see http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#117), so if you have an emulator that can read the original game media, such as a PlayStation emulator which reads a real PlayStation game CD in your computer's CD-ROM drive, this is legal. There's no issue of what the game is "licensed for"; what you're doing is explicitly permitted by copyright law, so you don't need any special permission ("license") from the game publisher.

      That same section of the law also permits making a backup copy, so if you burn a copy of your authentic PlayStation game and put the burned disc in your computer's CD-ROM drive to use with that emulator, that's also legal.

      It gets hazy when you want to play something that can't be directly read by your computer, such as a SNES cartridge. You need special hardware to access one of those, and you probably don't have it, so you download a ROM file from the Internet, made by someone else who does have that hardware. This doesn't fall under the Section 117 exemption, so it's not explicitly legal. It *might* qualify as fair use, but that would be for a judge to decide, if and when the game publisher decided to sue you. (And the game publisher isn't likely to sue someone for downloading a ROM of a game they've actually bought, assuming they even found out about it.)

      Of course, downloading ROMS for games you haven't bought is certainly infringement, just like downloading music you haven't bought. That's definitely illegal, though many people don't care, and there's valid debate over whether it's moral/ethical.

      (Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer.)
  • devjunkie, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Hahaha, some guy commented "don’t appreciate telling about roms… you should just show the emulators"

    What a *****.
  • LethaLImpuLse, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Nice guide, but www.underground-gamer.com is by far the best torrent site for rom packs.
  • sark666, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I've been into emulation for years and was happy that most of the emu's i like exist on linux. But it's 2007, where's a good c64 emulator. And don't say vice. It has weird x11 fullscreen options which makes it difficult just to get a decent fullscreen
  • thisisnotapipe, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0awwww...I can't find tuxboy anywhere. I was hoping to play Zelda Link's Awakening DX with it :(
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