Introduction:
Classic video games from the Atari 2600 to the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and the Playstation 2 boast an impressive library of game titles offering quality game play with simple graphics and engaging game play. The internet allows users to download applications called ‘emulators’ to run the games from these old consoles on, pretty much, any machine because of the simple graphics and lack of heavy AI, etc. used in modern games. Classic video games also use less controls and don’t require a large investment of time or mental resources to enjoy. Users can also download the games as ROM files to run on the various emulators. Emulators require users to learn through trial and error. There is a learning curve involved, but the reward is free access to playable classic games.
Here are the emulators I will mention in this article:
1. DOSBox
2. Stella (Atari 2600)
3. Nestopia UE
4. Snes9X
5. PCSX2
DOSBox Emulator:
The early PCs in the late 80’s and early 90’s ran Windows on an operating system calls DOS. Game developers made thousands of games for these systems. Many of the titles included educational games, text-based games, and RPG style games (think of Dungeons and Dragons style game play). Later DOS games took advantage of graphic cards and faster processors. Some popular educational games from this period in game development include “Oregon Trail” and “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego”. The early FPS, First Person Shooter, games such as Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, and Quake also came out for DOS systems. The graphics were severely limited, so players had to rely on static images and imagination to enjoy these games. There was some basic 2D platform style games (run, jump, and shoot), but they were very basic. Players often used keyboard controls as game pad controllers weren’t common yet. DOS games were limited to small part of the population of users with knowledge and patience, because the machines and programs required specialized knowledge.
DOSBox is an open-source application continually updated by an online community of coders. The current version allows the user to “drag and drop” DOS game files onto the program icon to run a game. The game ROMs are available for download from many websites. The DOSBox emulator also has a website and support for new users to learn how to navigate and settings so game files will run without any problems.
Stella (Atari 2600) Emulator:
The Atari 2600 was the first game console people could buy and plug into a television. Atari had game developers and games were distributed on cartridges. The system included different types of controllers for different types of games. The Atari 2600 games contained minimal graphics, but it made video games possible in your home, before PCs became common in the 80’s and 90’s.
Atari 2600 games will run on any modern system. Stella is very basic with controller and video options. Some of the classic titles include Space Invaders, Asteroids, and Missile Command. The graphics are laughable by today’s standards, but the game play still delivers.
Nestopia UE:
The Nintendo Entertainment System, NES, made household common in millions of homes. The NES had a better processor, improved controllers, and game cartridges. Super Mario Brothers came out at this time. They also had shooting games that worked with a “zapper” gun. Everyone had a NES in their home. The game catalog is massive.
Nestopia UE is regarded as one of the better NES emulators of the bunch. People have many options, but those options change as support for some emulators change over time. NES games will run on any modern system. Nestopia UE gives users many options for controllers, video, and sound. The internet has two or three main websites for finding and downloading game files, called ROMs, to run on the NES emulator.
SNES9x:
The NES was huge for home video game consoles. The Super NES, SNES, offered the same massive game catalog with much better graphics and more advanced games. The SNES provided new titles using the same characters in updated versions of NES titles.
The SNES9x requires a slightly better system than an NES emulator, but any modern system will run the SNES games smoothly. The options menus are similar to the NES emulators helping gamers set controller options, video options, sound options, etc. easily after using the NES emulators. All the SNES game files are available online. Once someone has all the ‘pieces’ together and figured out how to make the SNES game ROMs run on the emulator, everything becomes fairly automatic.
PCSX2 (Playstation 2) Emulator:
The Playstation 2 elevated home gaming drastically from the SNES. The graphics, sound, game play improved from simple platform games on the NES and SNES to games that reflect modern gaming with larger worlds, internet connectivity, and the engrossing types of games that are common on gaming consoles now. The Playstation 2 became more prevalent than any of the Nintendo systems that came before it.
The PCSX2 emulator requires some effort and reading to set-up to work properly. The much-improved graphics required a better PC to run games without any lag, a slowing of the game during game play. It is very annoying when games lag and too much lag can make a game unplayable. The PS2 has many great games available that are available online and the emulator will run game discs from the optical disc drive, ODD, on your computer. If you have a gaming computer, PCSX2 will duplicate the same experience of playing PS2 games on the console.
Conclusion:
The new gaming consoles, like the Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch, have excellent graphics and engaging games; some of the sports games look like live games. The new gaming consoles are expensive and the games cost lots of money. Game emulators allow people to play the vintage games for free. If people are willing to look beyond the simple graphics, the classic games offer surprisingly engaging game play. Classic games are casual and don’t require a large investment of your time and attention. All of the emulators mentioned in this article offer a save game option; something we didn’t have when the classic video game consoles were first available. If you are willing spend some time on internet searches and reading to learn how to use game emulators, you can find an open-source (free) option to play old games that are still fun long after they were released. Anyone interested can do a google search for the game emulators mentioned in this article to see if they work for them. There are many other console/computer emulators available besides the ones mentioned here.
