II - Emulators and Launch BoxBefore we get started I'd like to mention something of great importance:
ORDERI strongly advice You download all the Emulators You need and ROMs you want to play beforehand.
Construct a clearly labeled and easyly accessable directory of Retro folders so that you can find all your Data swifly when You need it.
The better You do this, the less problems You will have later on. Take your time with it. You will thank yourself later.
A clear file regiment is half the work done.A word on the Emulators themselves and LaunchboxEmulators are privately produced software You use to run your old console games on. They imitate the related mothersoftware and give You an opportunity to enjoy almost any system on pretty much any device that is currently around. Emulation on PC is of course the most common and easiest to do. You can download these programs on the sites of their related creators and often also on places who offer ROM-Files for download.
It is close to impossible to cover every existing Emulator with just one guide, all of them look and work slightly different, but they all have one thing in common: The goal is to play games and most of them work straight out of the box without further instructions needed. You start them up, slap in the ROM and there You go.
For the purpose of this guide I will stick with the Super Nintendo Emulator SNES9X and a piece of free Software called "Launchbox". Launchbox is entirely optional for the use of Emulators, however it will give you the opportunity to equip your ROM Collection with a neat looking overlay that enables You to play your Classics in a connected HUB with the graphical flair of something you can compare to STEAM. With that said, let's get going.
Click here for an illustrated guide > https://imgur.com/a/tJ2P51. Decide what System(s) You want to play.
2. Download all the Emulators, Games and (if you wish) Launchbox.
3. Build a good folder structure for your new files.
4. Unpack all ROMs and install all Emulators You desire.
5. Start Your Emulator, Check the Screen and Sound settings for functionality and Map your Controller (if you have one) or Keyboard buttons, so You can play games. **
Your Emulator Games are now ready to play. Go further ahead to make it look nice.5. Install Launchbox and start it.
6. Launchbox will greet you with a Wizard to install Games for the first time.
Summon this Install wizard via the Tab Tools > Import > ROM Files.
7. Follow the onscreen instructions carefully so You don't mess up.
8. Select a whole Folder OR a couple of ROM Files You want to upload.
Make sure to only add files that are able to run on THE SAME Emulator.
9. Select the Platform You want to play on from the dropdown menu.
For this guide we use the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
10.Choose the Emulator you want to play on. For the guide I pick SNES9X.
If you don't already have the Emulator You need, Launchbox will offer you to find download links for it.
11.Select the directory path to .EXE File of the Emulator of your choosing from Your gaming Folders.
12.If you want you can now add extra lines to the booting commands of the Emulator like "-fullscreen".
13.If your ROM Files are in order, proceed. If they are still in Zip Folders add a checkmark at "[x]Extract Rom Archives before running".
14.Launchbox will now ask you if you want to copy, move or leave the ROM Files of the games you are uploading. Pick what you want.
15.You will now be asked if you want Metadata for your games. This is optional, but enhances the Utility of the Software.
16.Next Up you will be asked How Much Artwork you want for your Library. This is one of the main purposes of this Software. If you have enough Memory Space, proceed. Keep in mind, more checkmarks mean more Download time. All downloads are done automatically, you can change minor errors later via edits. I recommend you download at the very least the Box front art.
17.You will now be offered to upload additional Content from EmuMovies to your Launchbox. This requires a free account and is optional.
If you like Extras as Game Movies or Music consider a look. Otherwise, proceed.
18.Launchbox will now ask you if you want to change any last-minute custom options on your Rom Files before uploading. Read them and decide.The default checks are usually sufficient.
19.You will now get a list of all Games you are going to upload, File directory path included. Look shortly if everything is complete, then Proceed.
20.Launchbox will now upload all your Game Files & Emulators as well as download all Metadata and Art to your Library.
Please be patient. This process can take between a couple of minutes and several hours depending how many Games and much Data has to be handled.
21.Launchbox will send you a textbox with a sound notification when it is finished processing. Do some sample testruns afterwards to see if everything works as intended.
Congratulations!!!You now have a working Retro Emulator Station with HUB on your Computer! Feel free to add as many additional Systems and Games as Your Machine can handle.** If you have a sound Error when starting SNES9X on Windows do the following:
install new directX drivers here
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35OR
go to Sound > Settings > Sound Driver > SNES9X Direct Sound