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ATARI 2600

How To Run Atari 2600 Games On Your PC - In 4 Easy Steps

     The Atari Video Computer System (VCS) was first released in 1977. Renamed "2600" upon the release of the 5200 system in 1982, this 4-bit console played game cartridges and had both joystick and paddle contollers containing a single button. Stella is one of several great emulators for this system. It's very easy to setup and use.

(This tutorial is for Windows, but same links for Mac.)

(Would you rather play Atari games online without any downloads? Click here.)

 

STEP #1: Download the emulator to your computer:

 

     Go to this website: stella.sourceforge.net/downloads.php and download the appropriate Stella installer (32-bit or 64-bit) for your operating system. (Windows users can determine whether their system is 32-bit or 64-bit by right-clicking "My Computer",  on the desktop or in the START menu, and selecting "Properties" to see all the system details on your PC.)

 

  • Run the Stella installer and the program will be installed on your computer,

  • It will usually end up installing in the directory C:\Program Files\Stella\.

  • Allow the Desktop icon to be installed for easy access in the future.

 

 

 

STEP #2: Prepare the program for use with games:

 

     First, let's make a new folder for your game ROMs.

  • Click on your Windows Start button and select "Documents". (aka: My Documents)

  • Inside your Documents folder, Right-Click the background and select: "New>Folder"

  • Name the new folder "ATARI ROMS" or something similar you can remember.

  • After typing the name, press Enter to save the new folder in Documents. Done!

 

     Now start Stella with your new Desktop icon.

If, by chance, you get an error message like this:

     Just click OK for now (the message will pop up a 2nd time before the Stella program starts, but take care of this before moving on. This is a Microsoft file that often goes missing after common system security issues (perhaps from some previous issue on your computer). It's quick & easy to replace with the appropriate Microsoft installer:

Otherwise, Stella will start and ask you to setup a ROM folder, in which to look for games:

Now you need to get to the folder you just created:

  • We have such a folder, so click OK.

  • Double-Click on "Documents". Now you will see your new folder.

  • Double-Click on "ATARI ROMS" (or whatever you called it).

  • You should now be in your new empty folder:

  • Click the "Choose" button at the bottom to set this folder.

  • Now when you open Stella, it will look for ROMs here.

  • You may now exit the program with the Quit or Exit buttons.

 

 

STEP #3: Get an Atari game ROM to play with Stella:

 

     There are about 470 original Atari games for the VCS/2600, plus hundreds of clones. Any old pirate could use a search engine for "Atari 2600" "Roms" & "game title" after browsing the Complete Atari 2600 Library, but this tutorial will show you how to legally download a free Homebrew ROM created recently and distributed for free, legal use with emulators like Stella.

DISCLAIMER: It is not legal to download or store a "backup copy" of an Atari 2600 game.  Check your local laws for the legality of backup software copies. On the other hand, legislation is not in place to enforce so-called copyright infringement on abandonware. Abandonware is software whose copyright was held by a company which no longer exists. Many Homebrew games area availabe for free and ARE legal to download.

 

Go to this page: Halo for the 2600 Released at CGE! Download the game here!

  • Download the attachment Halo2600_Final.bin.

  • Download this ROM/BIN file to your new folder you created a while ago, or download it and move it there (cut/paste).

  • Done!

 

 

STEP #4: Play your game ROM:

 

From your Desktop, start Stella again and it should open right up to your ROM folder like this:

Double-Click on your new game, Halo2600_Final.bin, and the emulator will start up.

Default controls for your emulator are pretty simple with this game:

  • MOVE - Arrow Keys

  • FIRE - Spacebar or Ctrl (find the gun to shoot)

  • F12 - Snapshot (see TWEAKS below)

  • EXIT - Esc

  • See more default controls in TWEAKS below.

Press the FIRE button to Start game...

 

     That's It! You've done it! Now you know the basics, but there's lots more to know like how to adjust the controls to your preference (or an actual controller), or where the controls are for those 6 buttons on the console like RESET, GAME DIFFICULTY, how to use snapshots, etc. So make sure to check out TWEAKS below, or you can just mess around in the options menu of Stella to get familiar with all of that.

______________________________________________

 

MORE GAMES:

Homebrew Atari 2600 ROMs at PDROMS.com

Zippy the Porcupine ROM (aka: Sonic for Atari 2600)

Princess Rescue ROM (aka: Super Mario for Atari 2600)

Unreleased Activision Prototype ROMs for 2600

Lord of the Rings Prototype ROM for Atari 2600

Atlantis II ROM for 2600 (Special contest version of Atlantis)

Public Domain Atari 2600 ROMs at ArcadeAtHome.com

Top 25 Atari 2600 Games at GamesRadar.com

List of Artari 2600 Games at Wikipedia.com

Startpage - the world's most private search engine

 

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TWEAKS:

 

The common default controls for Stella are:

  • Joystick (P1): Arrow Keys

  • Button (P1): Spacebar, Ctrl (left), Joystick Button 0

  • Analog Paddle (P1): Mouse (left/right)

  • Paddle Button (P1): Mouse Left Button, Spacebar, Ctrl (left)

  • SELECT: F1

  • RESET: F2

  • Color TV: F3

  • B/W TV: F4

  • Difficulty A (P1): F5

  • Difficulty B (P1): F6

  • Difficulty A (P2): F7

  • Difficulty B (P2): F8

  • Save State: F9

  • Change State: F10

  • Load State: F11

  • Snapshot: F12 (see below for an awesome feature using snapshots)

  • Pause: Pause/Break

  • Options Menu: Tab

  • Exit Emulation: Esc

 

     You may want to get into the Options>Input Settings to set any controls or change any others you want adjusted to other keys or joystick buttons if you have a PC gamepad (controller) to use. There are many other controls not listed here that would not be used very often anyway.

 

To Set a New Control:

  • Start Stella

  • Click "Options"

  • Click "Input Settings"

  • Click on the control you want to change/set.

  • Click the "Map" button

  • Press the button, joystick direction or whatever you want to use for that control.

  • When done, click OK to save new settings.

 

USB PC Game Gamepads/Controllers:  PC gamepads (controllers) are great tools for emulators, but if you have an XBOX 360 or PS3, you've probably already got one! All Windows operating systems that came out after the XBOX 360 have the driver for the 360 game controller built-in. Sometimes you can find a USB adapter for controllers like Gamecube, Xbox or PS2. PS3 has support in the form of downloadable drivers. Your local superstore, game shop or electronics shop probably has at least a few controller types to choose from starting around $5-10, with really good stuff starting around $20-25. Anyway, even if you don't have a game controller, using the keyboard or mouse on your PC can still be lots of fun.

More Hints:

PS3 Controller Setup Guide

XBOX 360 Controller Setup Guide 

By the way, many controllers from old console systems are being reproduced and are available now with a USB connector. Just do an internet search on "USB controller" and the system name and you will probably find a result. See the LINKS OF INTEREST page for some links to popular controllers at a real store near you or an internet store.

 

Using Snapshots in the ROM Browser:

     For some reason, this cool feature is not set by default. This allows you to see a snapshot of the game while you are scrolling through the game ROMs in your collection with the ROM browser. (ROM browser is the state Stella is in when the program first opens.) It's just a matter of a few options settings.

Start Stella:

  • Click: Options>Snapshot Settings

  • Click the "Save Path" button (to set a save folder).

  • Click "Base Dir" at bottom of window which takes you to the Stella folder

  • Click the "Choose" button at the bottom.

Now click "Load Path" button.

  • Click the "Base Dir" button at the bottom.

  • Click the "Choose" button at the bottom.

  • Now click the "OK" button which brings you back to the menu.

Click "UI Settings" and switch ROM INFO VIEWER to 1x (640 x 480).

  • Now Click "OK" and then "Exit Menu".

  • Restart the program for the feature to take effect.

You will now have a window for viewing snapshots along with some game info in your ROM browser.

 

How to get Snapshots of your games:

Start Stella and select a game from the ROM browser

  • Start playing the game and take a snapshot of the action by pressing F12.

  • Press Esc to exit the game and return to the ROM browser.

You should now see your snapshot along with some basic info about the game:

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