Apr 1, 2008

How to run a SNES emulator on the PS2

Emulators are instruments of gambiarra by definition. Many people play on the computer, but does not know that you can play games of Super Nintendo in the Playstation 2. Through a program called SNES Station.

The SNES Station is an emulator based on SNES9X, an emulator of Super Nintendo very popular PC, built to run on the PS2 hardware. He does not run very well all game, but you can play many of them, risking say that the majority. The program's website says it is a work in progress, but the latest update is 2003 and the README file that comes with it is dated 2004. So do not expect it to become better than that, just take what already exists.

I will describe here how to mount a CD containing the emulator and games.
What is needed?

You must be thinking that I will tell you where to get ROMs for download. Because at http://roms.net78.net/roms.php?v=snes has several games for download.

In addition to the ROMs that you'll need your Playstation 2 is released to run the emulator. I think that is another way of using such a Swap Magic. But I do not know, then I can not say how, or if it works.

In addition, you will only need a CD recorder and one of those programs to make the recording itself (K3b, Nero, etc). That method of Windows, to drag files directly to CD does not serve.

So, let's put your hand in the mass.
Method of preparation

First, download the program:
http://snes-station.gamebase.ca/files/snes_0_2_3_20040124.zip

Unzip it into a temporary directory any. You'll see some files, but focus on two of them:
SNES_EMU.ELF
SYSTEM.CNF
The first is that the emulator executable. The second is a file needed for the video game knows what run when reading the CD.


Now using a program to start recording a new project of CD data, and place the files SNES_EMU.ELF and SYSTEM.CNF in the root directory. I use K3b to burn CDs (I use Linux) but should not be very different in other similar programs for Windows.

UPDATE: I created a post with instructions to write to Nero Express:
SNES Station - Instructions for Nero


Add to project the SNES ROMs for you. They can be divided into subdirectories, to facilitate the selection. In my own, for example, has a sub-folder for each letter. But it can also divide by gender, or any other division that makes sense for you.


Some settings must be respected, and are different from those of normal data CDs.
Recording mode: it must be chosen "Disc at once" (or DAO, depending on the program)

The speed must be the smallest possible
Datatrack mode: should be "Mode 2" (no self, no Mode 1)
The CD can not be MultiSession


Save the project on the CD. If you use a laptop, using no serious battery charge, only connected to the outlet. It seems silly, but for some reason, the CDs recorded with only the battery does not usually read by the PS2, even if you have correctly recorded and the computer can read.
Using

It is very simple. On the menu, the menu called the triangle of settings, and X chooses the game or enter the folder. After you enter the folder, so out of it is just pick the first item, the "..".

Within the game, L1 + R1 calls the menu, which can be used to save the game, load a saved game or exit the game (back to the screen of choice). Even with recording of "states".

The buttons on the SNES are the buttons corresponding to the same positions on the PS2. L and R are the L2 and R2, and you can either use the D-Pad on the left as the analog directional.
What games work?

Not all tried, of course, only that I love, and my taste is not within the standard. But I can say the side of those who enjoy the same games as me. Small slowdowns happen sometimes, regardless of who is running game, but end up in seconds rather than hinder. Some games work well but the music is strange. It has no way, you'll have to test it.

They work perfectly:
Super Mario World
Super Mario All Stars
Donkey Kong (and it seems, everyone)
Street Fighter 2 (perfect!)
Top Gear 2
Bomber Man (I think all)

Do not work well:
F-Zero (is a little slow, and the music is weird)
Yoshi's Island (very slow and gives some fought long, it does not play)
Megaman X3 (works well, but when you get a sub-locks boss the game and only unlatches when you die; not tried the other series)
There are also other programs for other consoles (Mega Drive / Genesis, Sega Master System, NES, etc.), and I also want to give the recipe for some of them. Some details change, but how to burn the CD tends to be very similar. And it is worth the work, only to be able to play at the TV room of the games that were part of his childhood.

Portuguese version: http://gambiarte.blogspot.com/2008/04/como-rodar-um-emulador-de-snes-no-ps2.html

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