How many of you are emulation converts?

[Osgeld]

I do like playing genesis games with a 6 button sega layout (which I used a usb sidewinder pad as it has that layout + two triggers, once that gave up I got a usb saturn style controller), otherwise it doesnt make much difference to me and I use my generic playstation type layout

[Flojomojo]

I do like playing genesis games with a 6 button sega layout (which I used a usb sidewinder pad as it has that layout + two triggers, once that gave up I got a usb saturn style controller), otherwise it doesnt make much difference to me and I use my generic playstation type layout

 

I got one of these for that purpose. $3.73 shipped from halfway around the world!!!

 

[Tanooki]

I never had a lot of luck setting up PinMAME as it never went right. I'd love to take a crack at (Williams) Indiana Jones pinball again some day. I really doubt that'll end up done in Pinball Arcade since they haven't been able to get the nod from Lucas (or now Disney) for even Star Wars tables.

[Osgeld]

I got one of these for that purpose. $3.73 shipped from halfway around the world!!!

 

 

The saturn style pads are the 6 button layout but with L and R buttons so they work equally as well for snes similar to the MS sidewinder pads, which even if you do find one are typically worn out by now as they came in both 15 pin and that new fangled usb shit

 

edit, also clicky shoulder buttons are fun for pinball games

Edited January 5, 2018 by Osgeld

[Kombalar]

I never had a lot of luck setting up PinMAME as it never went right. I'd love to take a crack at (Williams) Indiana Jones pinball again some day. I really doubt that'll end up done in Pinball Arcade since they haven't been able to get the nod from Lucas (or now Disney) for even Star Wars tables.

 

Oh man it's so easy now. You only have to run this all-in-one installer and then go to VpinMAME folder and run Setup.exe. That's it.

 

http://www.vpforums.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=11573

 

Let me know if you have issues and I'll help you.

 

Indiana Jones is not for VPX yet but you can play it on VP9. It's included in that same package.

 

http://www.vpforums.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=8506

Edited January 5, 2018 by Kombalar

[Cepp]

The SNES Mini is the first time I've gone 100% emulation with a system. I don't think I'll end up doing that with everything but I'm more open to it in general than I was in the past.

[+x=usr(1536)]

My main concern, at least today, is how to get Daphne to work. Finding the laserdisc data for games like Dragon's Lair is no easy feat. I know it's against forum rules to ask, but if anyone wants to pm me, I'd love some help! I'd even be willing to put money towards it, if I know it's legit (ie, phoenixdownita mentioned mamedvds.com in another thread which looks promising...)

 

So, there's an important thing to understand about DAPHNE on (specifically) the RasPi, regardless of whether or not you're trying to use it standalone, under RetroPie, or elsewhere:

 

It's really broken.

 

I'm not saying that it doesn't work... But there are things in the RasPi build that just don't work which should, at least in comparison to the x86 / x64 Linux, OS X, and Windows versions. See this post for examples of the problems.

 

Another important thing to understand is that the RasPi build of DAPHNE is not one that is supported by DAPHNE's author as the RasPi is not an official build target for DAPHNE. That build is someone else's responsibility, so bugging Matt Ownby about issues on RasPi is not encouraged as he never intended for it to run on that platform.

 

One final thing that you should be aware of: DAPHNE development has been stopped for a few years so that Matt could work on DEXTER, which is a PCB that replaces dead or dying laserdisc players in laserdisc arcade games. Because of this, DAPHNE in general is not exactly a dead project, but it is one that's not being actively maintained. In short: don't expect a ton of activity involving it on any platform.

 

My recommendation to you would be to use DAPHNE on a supported platform where things are known to work properly, or at least as properly as they ever have Oh, and check your PMs.

[+x=usr(1536)]

I've been using emulators since about 1989 or so, courtesy of (oddly enough) the Atari ST. That machine gave me my first real exposure to them, running Atari 8-bit, IBM PC, and Mac software through a variety of hardware and software emulators that were available at the time. Prior to that I'd really only used terminal emulators, which fall into a grey area that kinda does but kinda doesn't count in my book.

 

As much as I love real hardware and believe that an emulator can never truly recapture the sensations and implications of using and interacting with that same hardware, there came a point where (and this is purely a personal observation; YMMV) I realised that I typically received no less enjoyment from using an emulator than real hardware in virtually every case.

 

This insight was brought about by the further realization that I had a huge collection of arcade games, consoles, and computers, and I never had the time to actually enjoy even the smallest percentage of them. We're talking about storage units being rented just to house everything that I owned, and stuff was being bought just for the sake of having it but not having any real interest in it beyond that.

 

Over time I pared down the collection to a much smaller level. I kept things that I had an actual attachment to (like the Vectrex I received for Christmas as a kid) or that weren't usably-emulated (a category which three of the machines I kept still fall into). All of the arcade games except for the MAME cabinet and one other - gone.

 

Both the hardware and emulators have their place, and one can never really substitute for or replace the other. They're different animals, and good at different things and for different reasons.

[Kombalar]

 

So, there's an important thing to understand about DAPHNE on (specifically) the RasPi, regardless of whether or not you're trying to use it standalone, under RetroPie, or elsewhere:

 

It's really broken.

 

I'm not saying that it doesn't work... But there are things in the RasPi build that just don't work which should, at least in comparison to the x86 / x64 Linux, OS X, and Windows versions. See this post for examples of the problems.

 

Another important thing to understand is that the RasPi build of DAPHNE is not one that is supported by DAPHNE's author as the RasPi is not an official build target for DAPHNE. That build is someone else's responsibility, so bugging Matt Ownby about issues on RasPi is not encouraged as he never intended for it to run on that platform.

 

One final thing that you should be aware of: DAPHNE development has been stopped for a few years so that Matt could work on DEXTER, which is a PCB that replaces dead or dying laserdisc players in laserdisc arcade games. Because of this, DAPHNE in general is not exactly a dead project, but it is one that's not being actively maintained. In short: don't expect a ton of activity involving it on any platform.

 

My recommendation to you would be to use DAPHNE on a supported platform where things are known to work properly, or at least as properly as they ever have Oh, and check your PMs.

 

I bought Space Ace, Dragon's Lair and Dragon's Lair 2 "originals" about 10 years ago.

 

Has someone actually bothered to complete Dragon's Lair 2? It's amazingly frustrating and difficult.

Edited January 8, 2018 by Kombalar

[Keatah]

I've been using emulators since about 1989 or so, courtesy of (oddly enough) the Atari ST. That machine gave me my first real exposure to them, running Atari 8-bit, IBM PC, and Mac software through a variety of hardware and software emulators that were available at the time. Prior to that I'd really only used terminal emulators, which fall into a grey area that kinda does but kinda doesn't count in my book.

 

As much as I love real hardware and believe that an emulator can never truly recapture the sensations and implications of using and interacting with that same hardware, there came a point where (and this is purely a personal observation; YMMV) I realised that I typically received no less enjoyment from using an emulator than real hardware in virtually every case.

 

This insight was brought about by the further realization that I had a huge collection of arcade games, consoles, and computers, and I never had the time to actually enjoy even the smallest percentage of them. We're talking about storage units being rented just to house everything that I owned, and stuff was being bought just for the sake of having it but not having any real interest in it beyond that.

 

Over time I pared down the collection to a much smaller level. I kept things that I had an actual attachment to (like the Vectrex I received for Christmas as a kid) or that weren't usably-emulated (a category which three of the machines I kept still fall into). All of the arcade games except for the MAME cabinet and one other - gone.

 

Both the hardware and emulators have their place, and one can never really substitute for or replace the other. They're different animals, and good at different things and for different reasons.

 

I also did similar, I had nearly 3 storage units going, then I put it all in a tiny warehouse. Then it all went bye-bye. I "discovered" I was spending an extraordinary amount of time traveling to/from storage to bring home bits and pieces to play with.

 

My enjoyment level increased significantly when I downsized and focused on a small number of platforms. I decided to keep just some Apple II stuff, my vintage 486 & PIII. Throw Ti-59 and TRS-80 Pocket Computer 1, 2, and 4 in there also. Most of this is stuff I had as a kid.

 

Pretty much the only things I buy these days, for classic computing, are things to round out or enhance my existing platforms. Or perhaps something I really really wanted as a kid, but couldn't afford. So new acquisitions are a trickle and a good portion of that (right now) is Apple II manuals. These are surprisingly nostalgic because they "talk" to you in the language and prose of yesteryear. They capture a lot of the essence and warmth of the 70's and 80's, and the pioneering spirit too. At least they do for me, because I read them cover-to-cover back then.

[Cepp]

I've been using emulators since about 1989 or so, courtesy of (oddly enough) the Atari ST. That machine gave me my first real exposure to them, running Atari 8-bit, IBM PC, and Mac software through a variety of hardware and software emulators that were available at the time. Prior to that I'd really only used terminal emulators, which fall into a grey area that kinda does but kinda doesn't count in my book.

 

As much as I love real hardware and believe that an emulator can never truly recapture the sensations and implications of using and interacting with that same hardware, there came a point where (and this is purely a personal observation; YMMV) I realised that I typically received no less enjoyment from using an emulator than real hardware in virtually every case.

 

This insight was brought about by the further realization that I had a huge collection of arcade games, consoles, and computers, and I never had the time to actually enjoy even the smallest percentage of them. We're talking about storage units being rented just to house everything that I owned, and stuff was being bought just for the sake of having it but not having any real interest in it beyond that.

 

Over time I pared down the collection to a much smaller level. I kept things that I had an actual attachment to (like the Vectrex I received for Christmas as a kid) or that weren't usably-emulated (a category which three of the machines I kept still fall into). All of the arcade games except for the MAME cabinet and one other - gone.

 

Both the hardware and emulators have their place, and one can never really substitute for or replace the other. They're different animals, and good at different things and for different reasons.

This is something I've been wrestling with for a long time now and I don't even own anywhere near as much as that. I still haven't found the sweet spot.

[Inky]

I do both. I just don't have the space or money for full setups of real hardware.

[Keatah]

Going with your childhood and teen favorites or the platform you used the most and made the most "discoveries" with is always a good bet. That and maybe a couple 2 or 3 other favs. It's working pretty good for me.

 

Getting rid of bulky and space-consuming stuff is always another good move. This would include those hulking arcade cabinets - unless you're into those specifically - but then you automatically have enough room already or are living in misery & hoarding. Thing with arcade cabs is they're rather difficult to fit into a neo-modern or rustic country interior design.

[Flojomojo]

I wanted an arcade cabinet for the longest time. It used to be the "silver spoons" unobtainium for the rich people who could afford such a thing. Then it was a fun throwback, affordable but still bulky and needing maintenance. Now they just seem like a big ol albatross, a liability rather than an asset. I lack the skill to maintain old electronics and the space to store them -- but except for cool controls, most of the experience is there in software.

 

I don't feel that emulation is selling out any more than watching a DVD of a film.

[+LS650]

I don't feel that emulation is selling out any more than watching a DVD of a film.

 

I think that's a great analogy - comparing real hardware vs. emulation against cinema vs. home entertainment center.

 

Most of the time I'm happy to catch a flick on the TV, but if it's a movie I'm really looking forward to, nothing quite beats the experience of seeing that movie in a darkened theater, projected up on the big silver screen.

[Keatah]

I wanted an arcade cabinet for the longest time. It used to be the "silver spoons" unobtainium for the rich people who would afford such a thing. Then it was a fun throwback, affordable but still bulky and needing maintenance. Now they just seem like a big ol albatross, a liability rather than an asset. I lack the skill to maintain old electronics and the space to store them -- but except for cool controls, most of the experience is there in software.

 

 

I had a similar progression of desires and wants when it came to arcade games. At first I didn't even know you could buy arcade game cabs for use at home. After all, I never saw them in Venture or TurnStyle. Not even Toys'R'Us had them. The thought to buy them from a distributor (known to me as part of a car back then) or the factory never occurred to my 6 year old brain.

 

You can hook up "cool controls" to MAME pretty easily. You can build custom make things. And you can buy pre-made sticks and other things. So wanting and having authentic controls doesn't mean you HAVE TO HAVE a full-size cab.

 

Assault is a fav game of mine. And nothing less than 2 full-size sticks will do. But, a full-size cab isn't needed - just a weighty solid board with two sticks mounted works well. I've also played it with two numeric keypads, too. It's standard "differential" tank tread controls. But you have two superpowers available. Move both sticks left or right and your tank rolls sideways like a dropped can of soda getting away. Ever notice how the can seems to always hit something on the way down and then runs off? heh! The equivalent of strafing.

 

My favorite one is spreading, aiming high, and shooting it off. You spread the sticks, left one left, right one right, and the tank rears up on the back part of the treads, erecting it's turret upwards. Now you can project your shot through the air in a high ballistic arc. It's almost pornographic!

[Flojomojo]

You're almost pornographic!

 

Virtual On is another fun twin stick game. It's super crazy and while you can play it with Xbox thumb sticks, it's not quite the same.

 

One thing I've been considering is a vertical monitor on a swivel arm, just for MAME games. I'm not there yet, but I'm sure I'll get bored enough to make it happen someday.

[NE146]

One thing I've been considering is a vertical monitor on a swivel arm, just for MAME games. I'm not there yet, but I'm sure I'll get bored enough to make it happen someday.

 

You just reminded me I've been meaning to look into those LED monitors you can rotate 90 degrees back and forth on the fly for potrait or landscape since that's a thing now.

 

Times have changed for the better as that's one thing we always wanted to do (but ended up never doing) back in the old CRT days.

 

<edit> yeah something like this!

Edited January 9, 2018 by NE146

[Flojomojo]

I put my old 19" CRT on its side once or twice for "tate mode" on some Japanese Saturn shmup about 20 years ago. All the color ran to the bottom and it took a little while to recover. Weird stuff.

[Osgeld]

tate ... is it tate like in the english sirname, or tA-taEE like some 16 year old "I learned a whole book of foreign language while in Wisconsin" and now I am a linguist

 

btw I have a rotating LCD at work, its really handy when I have to write a 90 page report, some intern asked me if I liked tA-taEE, and I was like, no diptard, I like portrait mode for my 90 page report, go away (this guy could quote any ethologist, wanted to be an EE, couldn't figure out a battery... also got lost in lowes for 3 hours trying to find metal strapping)

Edited January 9, 2018 by Osgeld

[Flojomojo]

Tate like "I like dem French fried potaters" or as in ORIENTATION and I hope that intern is able to find gainful employment.

[ClassicGMR]

A little late to the conversation but:

 

I used to have a gaming apartment. When I was married my ex-wife and I rented the apartment from my grandmother upstairs. When she passed away my mother kept the house but refused to rent the second apartment to anyone so we took it, paid electric and heat for it and bang! Weekend hangout for friends.

 

At the height of my collecting I had almost every system worth having and I would go out to the flea markets and yard sales every week. I had my Digital Press guide with all sorts of notes and scribbles as well as my Excel spreadsheets in a huge binder. Nothing like standing in front of a guy that looked like he was homeless and an alcoholic trying to decide if I should grace him with my 50 cents for a game until I consulted my lists, spreadsheets, wife and, on occasion, sacrificing a goat for a divination. It was pretty bad. I got to realize that not only was I being a dick about the hobby but I never got to enjoy it. That weekend hangout went to waste for months because I was out buying more stuff for it when I was supposed to be using it. I owned stuff I hated just for the sake of trying to complete a collection.

 

Trouble is when you're INSIDE it you don't see it. It took the divorce and subsequent move to make me realize I had way too much CRAP mixed in with my good stuff.

 

Fast forward to now. Emulation and hardware are so good these days (in my opinion) that I can play what I want on a small selection of hardware. I have one arcade unit running an all-in-one emulation center under GameEx. It uses a gaming tower(true gaming tower not a Craigslist "gaming" system), an X-Arcade tankstick, a USB hub with tons of controller adapters so I can play the systems with the actual controllers and an HD television. In my office I have an Atari 2600, Intellivision, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Gameboy Advance and N64 consoles all with loader carts connected to a nice Sony 22" CRT tv. That's my whole collection and I still feel like it's too much on some days.

 

I am an emulation convert because:

- I can enjoy the games.

- I don't take up the whole house for stuff I don't use.

- My family gets my money rather than my obsession with the hobby.

[Tanooki]

I'm finding it amusing that since the word TATE is based in Japanese I get where you should go with that, but seeing some people sound out how others would say it just comes off so weird like adding added sounds or twang to it just messing the whole thing up.

 

ClassicGMR - Don't blame you, though the money issue isn't one as I tend to part with what I got or find stuff and keep/sell some to get stuff I'd like so I keep it almost entirely off budget so there's thankfully no guilt in that.

[RamrodHare]

My first experience was with an NES emulator. I liked being able to play the games I had when I was younger, plus the ones I never had the money for. I had so much fun with it that I started getting emulators for every system I could, so I could play them on my PC. I even bought a controller adapter that worked with Gamecube, PS1&2, USB and Xbox controllers. I mostly used a PS2 controller. Then I got my Gameboy Micro and a flash cart and went crazy. I was just blown away by all the different emulators there were. Later, I got a PSP, hacked it, and had more systems/games than I could have ever imagined when I was a kid. So, yeah, I like emulators, without them, there would be a ton of consoles/games I might never have known about or ever played. Most emulators aren't perfect, so there's still a place for original hardware, I just have to pick and choose what hardware I like the most and can afford.

[scotty]

I have collected and emulated for many, many, many years. For real hardware I have (I hope I can remember them all) (several) Atari 2600's, 5200 (4 port), 7800 (one with expansion, wone without, both signed by Steve Golson) , 800, 800XL (with Ultimate 1MB), 600XL, Atari Video Pinball, Odyssey 2, Coleco Telstar, Intellivision, Intellivision 2, Colecovision (Coleco and CBS versions), Bally Astrocade, NES, SNES, N64, Wii (black and white units), Genesis, 32X, Dreamcast, PS1 (several) PS2 (Several) PS3, PS4, X-box, X-box 360, Gameboy, GBA, DSi, 3DS, C64, C64c (with original SID), Vic 20, (3) Amiga 500's, Amiga 3000, Classic B&W Mac, Vectrex.... I am sure there are others.... Can not think off the top of my head. Quite a few carts or disks for each system. Also have Ever drives for all above systems that have them made for them, Harmony for Atari 2600, AtariMax for Colecovision and 5200, Sean Ryan for Vectrex, Ulti-Multi for Astrocade, Multicart for 0dyssey 2, LTO Flash for Intellivision, Final Expansion 3 for Vic-20, Ultimate 1541 II+ for Commodore 64's, SIO2SD, Ultimate Cart and SIO2UB for Atari 8-bits, and others I am sure I am forgetting. Basically, I can play almost any game on real hardware. Also have a dual monitor PlayChoice 10 arcade cabinet.

 

As far as emulation. I started in the late 80s. Emulating a PC and a MAC on an Atari ST. Been emulating ever since. Used Mame when Nicola Salmoria called it the multi-Pac emulator. Watched emulation grow from it's infancy in the PC world.

 

Many people argue about the real controller as the reason they do not like emulation. I have 2 X-arcades (1 Tank stick, 1 dual stick). original Bliss Box, Bliss Box 4-play. 2 Stelladapters, and several other (name a controller) to USB adapters. My Windows 7 machine (Oh, it is a Hackintosh BTW...) is connected to a 27" LED, 21" CRT and a 50" LED TV all at the same time. Nothing like playing Mame on a 50" with the X-arcades. Why 2 X-arcades? Tankstick has 4 way joysticks, other has 8-ways. Can also connect both at same time for 4 player games like Simpsons and Ninja Turtles. Also have several Raspberry Pis, Android devices and an iPod. If I hear about a game, I wanna play it! As you can tell, I take gaming seriously.

 

Rom collection takes up several multi TB hard drives.

 

Am I addicted? Yes

Am I a hoarder? No

 

I love playing the pinball simulators like The Pinball Arcade, Future Pinball and PinMame. I must admit that my favorites are the early 80s arcade games. Especially the bootlegs like HanglyMan, New Puck-X, Crazy Kong etc.

 

I plan to start a YouTube channel sometime. Still in planning stage. Anyone who knows me, knows classic gaming and computing is my life. Sadly I work a LOT (gotta pay for this stuff, right? LOL, So I do not have as much time as I like to put it together.

 

The reason for my long post? I live, eat, breathe sleep classic gaming. I love the real hardware, and I love emulation.

 

EDIT: Also have an all in one touchscreen PC to get jukebox and touchscreen games (MAME and others) working on when I get the time. Also forgot to mention, the 27" LED is a pivot monitor to auto switch from horizontal to vertical games on the fly.

Edited February 21, 2018 by scotty