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NINTENDO (NES)

How to run NES games on your computer - In 4 Easy Steps

     The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was released in the US in 1985, 2 years after its initial release in Japan, where it was known as the Famicom. This was the dominant home video game console in the mid-to-late 1980's and brought with it many innovations, like 3rd party game development, games with "save" features and big, open-world adventure games. There are several great emulators out there for the NES, but this tutorial will focus on JNES, a very easy to use and full functioning emulator devoted to this classic console. This tutorial is intended for Windows users, Mac users can get help here.

(Would you rather play NES games online with no downloads? Click here.)

 

STEP #1: Download the emulator to your computer:

 

  • Go to this website: jabosoft.com.

  • Download the latest ".exe install" version of JNES and run the installer.

    • The program will default install to: C:\Program FIles (x86)\Jnes\

    • The install program will add a Desktop icon

(The other version of JNES is a zip file containing the JNES folder you could alternatively unzip and put anywhere.)
(Another great NES emulator is NESTOPIA found under Downloads at this site. Get the latest binary file. Also available for Mac & Linux.)

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STEP #2: Create a new folder for NES game ROMs:

 

  • Click the Windows Start button and select Documents (aka: My Documents).

  • Right-Click the background and select New>Folder from the menu.

  • Name the new folder "NES ROMS" or something like that you can remember.

  • After naming the new folder, press Enter to save it.

 

 

STEP #3: Get a Nintendo game ROM to run in your emulator:

 

     There were about 900 official games released for NES and many different websites online that offer these ROM files for free. Anyone could use a search engine to search the terms: "NES" "ROM" "game title" after browsing a reviewer's Top 100 Best NES Games List, for instance. We will keep it legal by using an NES-compatible ROM that was made recently by an independent freeware developer as an original Homebrew title and a legal alternative to piracy.

DISCLAIMER: It is not legal to download or store a "backup copy" of an NES ROM, usually, even if you actually physically own the game. Check your local laws to be sure of regulations on backup copies of video games in your area. There is no legislation in place to enforce so-called copyright infringement on abandonware. Abandonware is software whose copyright was held by a company which no longer exists. "Homebrew" games are original games for system emulators and legal to download. Keep it legal and have fun!

 

  • Go to the NES Homebrew ROM page at NESworld.com, linked here.

  • Scroll down to the game "D-Pad Hero (V1.1)" and click the "Download File" icon.

  • Save the file: "D-Pad Hero (V1.1)", to your new "NES ROMS" folder (or download it and move it there).

STEP #4: Set your ROM folder and play your new game:

 

  • Start up JNES with your new Desktop icon.

  • Click past the intro message and JNES shows you its ROM BROWSER startup folder. You want to change this.

  • Click "File" at the top to open the File menu and click "Change Directory."

  • If you followed Step #2 above, it should be here: Libraries>Documents>My Documents>NES ROMS

  • Select your NES ROMS folder and click OK. This is where JNES will start from now on.

 

If everything went well, you should see this:

     To check or change controls: click Options>Input to see the controls editor.

Default JNES controls:

Directional Pad = Arrow Keys

SELECT = A

START = S

B Button = D

A Button = F

Double-Click "dpadhero-r1.1.zip" and the emulator will start:

     Thats it! Have Fun! There are some more tips below in TWEAKS.

 

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MORE GAMES:

Homebrew NES ROMs at NESWORLD.com

Homebrew NES ROMs at PDROMS.com

Public Domain NES ROMs at ArcadeAtHome.com

TOP 100 NES GAMES list at Retro-Sanctuary.com

TOP 100 NES GAMES list at IGN.com

Startpage - the world's most private search engine

 

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TWEAKS:

 

GOING FULLSCREEN:

Enter Fullscreen mode by clicking Options>Fullscreen. Exit with Esc.

or

Enter Fullscreen mode with this keyboard shortcut: Alt + Enter

or

Set Fullscreen mode automatically when your games start:

  • Click "Options>Video ..."

  • On the Video Configuration dialog, check the "Go full screen when rom is opened" box.

  • Click "OK" to save this setting.

 

 

USB GAME CONTROLLERS:

Connect an XBOX 360 Wired Controller to your PC.

Connect a PS3 Controller to your PC

USB Adapter for Game Controllers: Gamecube, Xbox, & PS2 - (Amazon.com)

USB Adapter for PS1/PS2 controllers - (Amazon.com)

USB Game Controllers for PC - (BestBuy.com)

USB Game Controllers for PC - (RadioShack.com)

USB Game Controllers for PC - (GameStop.com)

USB Game Controllers for PC - (WalMart.com)

NES Controller with USB Connector for PC emulation - (Amazon.com)

NES Retro Classic Controller USB - (Amazon.com)

 

 

ADD ARTWORK TO YOUR ROM BROWSER:

  • Download the Artwork Pack from this page: JaboSoft.com/articles/83

  • Follow the directions laid out on that page, especially in its comments section (it gets pretty complicated).

If you need a program to open zip files try 7-zip. It's FREE!

 

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