In part two of my series I will cover handheld and arcade emulators. There are only four handheld emulators and two arcade emulators worth covering. Even though they are complete opposite ends of the gaming spectrum I'll group them just because of the limited numbers.
There are two Gameboy Color emulators (Gnuboy GX and RIN Wii) that I am not going to cover. I don't think they are worth covering because Visual Boy Advance GX is where it's at. Visual Boy Advance GX not only does Gameboy Color and original Gameboy but Gameboy Advance also.
I also know there are a few specific arcade game emulators like Pacman Emulator. I won't be covering them at this time. While they are arcade emulators they are specifically meant to run one game. I will cover them in the fourth part.
Just like the first part I will be using the Linux version of Dolphin for screen shots when I can. I will also be using the same 2GB PNY SD. As with all my guides don't ask where to obtain ROMs, BIOS, or game images and try to only ask questions pertaining to the guide.
As with the first I will only be covering basic SD/SDHC/USB install. I will not be covering things like channel installs or forwarders. I'm not covering all of the controls and options because that can all be found on the emulators WiiBrew page and Readme. Also I will only be covering the original versions of the emulators and no unofficial forks with the exception of Neopop Wii. I will break my purist rule in this case because unfortunately the original version doesn't support the Wii remote, nunchuk, and classic controller. It only supports the GC controller. TheStripper Unofficial Version of Neopop Wii supports the Wii remote, nunchuk, and classic controller so that's the version I'll cover. As a reminder most if not all emulators can be downloaded via The Homebrew Browser.
Also as with the first part if you want to save a little room you can either delete or move the readme files to your PC for safe keeping after you read them. I stress the after you read them part...Read them or fail! You can also leave them if you choose to because they wont hurt anything. I'll mention which files you need and don't need with every emulator.
Part 2 of the guide will cover six emulators in all:
Chapter 1 : Handhelds - WiiHandy/SDL, Visual Boy Advance GX, Neopop Wii, and DeSmuME Wii
Chapter 2 : Arcade - SDL MAME Wii and GxGeo
Chapter 1 : Handhelds
In this chapter I will cover WiiHandy/SDL, Visual Boy Advance GX, Neopop Wii, and DeSmuME Wii.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/handy.png http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...ide666/vba.png http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/neopop.png http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...cide666/DS.png
WiiHandy/SDL
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/handy.png
WiiHandy/SDL is a Wii port of the PC Lynx emulator Handy/SDL.
Homebrew Page
Download
Source
Controllers supported:
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...Wiimotesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif
Things you will need:
A softmodded Wii and remote
A Fat16/32 SD (* see notes)
WiiHandy/SDL does not support SDHC or USB devices. (* see notes)
(* Even though SDHC cards aren't officially supported I do own an SDHC it runs on.)
Additional BIOS you will need:
lynxboot.img
File types supported:
.lnx
Compressed file types supported:
.zip
1) Download and extract wiihandysdl-0_3.zip. You will end up with a folder named wiihandysdl-0_3.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Handy-1.png
Inside wiihandysdl-0_3 you will find apps and wiihandysdl.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Handy-2.png
Inside apps you will find wiihandysdl.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Handy-3.png
Inside the wiihandysdl in apps you will find about.png, boot.dol, gpl.txt, icon.png, meta.xml, README, and README.wii.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Handy-4.png
gpl.txt, README, and README.wii aren't necessary to the operation of the emulator.
Inside the other wiihandysdl folder you will find roms and saves. Both folders are currently empty.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Handy-5.png
2) If you don't already have a apps folder on your SD create a folder named apps at your root. - /apps
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...apps-image.png
Copy the entire contents of the wiihandysdl folder in apps into the apps folder you are currently using or just created. - /apps/wiihandysdl
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Handy-6.png
3) Copy wiihandysdl and it's contents (roms and saves) to the root of your SD. - /wiihandysdl (/wiihandysdl/roms, /wiihandysdl/saves)
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Handy-7.png
4) Put your ROMs inside roms (/wiihandysdl/roms).
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/handy-8.png
Put you BIOS (lynxboot.img) in the wiihandysdl folder in apps (/apps/wiihandysdl).
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Handy-9.png
5) Eject your SD from the PC and insert it in your Wii. Fire the Wii up and enter the HBC. Launch WiiHandy/SDL and it will go into an options screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Handy-10.jpg
Choose Load cartridge and it will go into your game list.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Handy-11.jpg
Choose your game and it will launch.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Handy-12.jpg
Visual Boy Advance GX
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...ide666/vba.png
Visual Boy Advance GX is a Wii port of the PC Gameboy / Gameboy Color / Gameboy Advance emulator VBA-M.
Homebrew Page
Google Code Page
Download
Source
Controllers supported:
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...Wiimotesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...rnativesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif
Things you will need:
A softmodded Wii and remote
A Fat16/32 SD/SDHC or USB device (You can only use SDHC on system menu 4.0 or above.)
Additional BIOS you will need:
None
File types supported:
.gb
.gba
.gbc
Compressed file types supported:
.zip
.7z
1) Download and extract Visual Boy Advance GX 2.2.2.zip. You will end up with a folder named Visual Boy Advance GX 2.2.2.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-1.png
Inside Visual Boy Advance GX 2.2.2 you will find apps and vbagx.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-2.png
Inside apps you will find vbagx.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-3.png
Inside the vbagx in apps you will find boot.dol, icon.png, meta.xml, and readme.txt.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-4.png
readme.txt isn't necessary to the operation of the emulator.
Inside the other vbagx folder you will find roms and saves. Both are currently empty.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-5.png
2) If you don't already have a apps folder on your SD/SDHC/USB create a folder named apps at your root. - /apps
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...apps-image.png
Copy the entire contents of the vbagx folder in apps into the apps folder you are currently using or just created. - /apps/vbagx
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-6.png
3) Copy the other vbagx and it's contents (roms and saves) to the root of your SD/SDHC/USB. - /vbagx (/vbagx/roms, /vbagx/saves)
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-7.png
4) Put your ROMs inside roms (/vbagx/roms).
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-8.png
5) Eject your SD/SDHC/USB from the PC and insert it in your Wii. Fire the Wii up and enter the HBC. Launch Visual Boy Advance GX and it will go into your game selection screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/VBA-9.jpg
Choose your game and it will launch.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/VBA-10.jpg
Neopop Wii
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/neopop.png
Neopop Wii is a Wii port of the PC NeoGeo Pocket emulator NeoPop/SDL. I will be covering TheStripper Unofficial Version.
Homebrew Page
Download
Source
Controllers supported:
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...Wiimotesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...rnativesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif
Things you will need:
A softmodded Wii and remote
A Fat16/32 SD (* see notes)
Neopop Wii does not support SDHC or USB devices. (* see notes)
(* Even though SDHC cards aren't officially supported I do own an SDHC it runs on.)
Additional BIOS you will need:
None
File types supported:
.ngc
Compressed file types supported:
.zip
1) Download and extract neopopwii20090203.zip. You will end up with a folder named neopopwii20090203.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-1.png
Inside neopopwii20090203 you will find apps, neopop, history.txt, and neopop.txt.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-2.png
history.txt and neopop.txt aren't necessary to the operation of the emulator.
Inside apps you will find neopopwii.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-3.png
Inside neopopwii you will find boot.dol, icon.png, and meta.xml.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-4.png
Inside neopop you will find roms and saves. Both rom and saves are currently empty.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-5.png
2) If you don't already have a apps folder on your SD create a folder named apps at your root. - /apps
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...apps-image.png
Copy the entire contents of neopopwii into the apps folder you are currently using or just created. - /apps/neopopwii
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-6.png
3) Copy neopop and it's contents (roms and saves) to the root of your SD. - /neopop (/neopop/roms, /neopop/saves)
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-7.png
4) Put your ROMs inside roms (/neopop/roms).
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/.../Neopoop-8.png
5) Eject your SD from the PC and insert it in your Wii. Fire the Wii up and enter the HBC. Launch Neopop Wii and it will go into a license screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-8.jpg
Press 1 and you will go into an options screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-9.jpg
Choose Load New Game and you will go into a screen where you can pick where to load your ROMs from.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/.../Neopop-10.jpg
Choose where to load your ROMs from and you will go into your game selection screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/.../Neopop-11.jpg
Choose you game and you will go back to the options screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6/Neopop-9.jpg
Choose Play Game and your game will launch.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/.../Neopop-12.jpg
DeSmuME Wii
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...cide666/DS.png
DeSmuME Wii is a Wii port of the PC DS emulator DeSmuME.
Homebrew Page
Google Code Page
Download
Source
Compatibility List
Controllers supported:
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...Wiimotesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif
Things you will need:
A softmodded Wii and remote
A Fat16/32 SD/SDHC or USB device (You can only use SDHC on system menu 4.0 or above.)
Additional BIOS you will need:
biosnds9.rom (Optional)
biosnds7.rom (Optional)
File types supported:
.nds
Compressed file types supported:
None
1) Download and extract DeSmuME Wii r185.zip. You will end up with a folder named DeSmuME Wii r185.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-1.png
Inside DeSmuME Wii r185 you will find apps and DS.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-2.png
Inside apps you will find DeSmuMEWii.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-3.png
Inside DeSmuMEWii you will find boot.dol, icon.png, and meta.xml.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-4.png
Inside DS you will find BIOS, ROMS, and SAVES.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-5.png
Inside BIOS you will find a placeholder file named "PLACEBIOSHERE.txt".
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-6.png
Delete the placeholder file.
Inside ROMS you will find another placeholder file named "PLACEROMSHERE.txt".
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-7.png
Once again delete the placeholder file.
Inside saves you will find the last placeholder file "PLACESAVESHERE.txt".
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-8.png
Delete the final placeholder file.
2) If you don't already have a apps folder on your SD/SDHC/USB create a folder named apps at your root. - /apps
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...apps-image.png
Copy the entire contents of DeSmuMEWii into the apps folder you are currently using or just created. - /apps/DeSmuMEWii
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/DS-9.png
3) Copy DS and it's contents (BIOS, ROMS, and SAVES) to the root of your SD/SDHC/USB. - /DS (/DS/BIOS, /DS/ROMS, /DS/SAVES)
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/DS-10.png
4) Put your ROMs inside ROMS (/DS/ROMS).
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/DS-11.png
If you want you use the optional BIOS (biosnds9.rom and biosnds7.rom) put them in BIOS (/DS/BIOS).
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/DS-12.png
5) Eject your SD/SDHC/USB from the PC and insert it in your Wii. Fire the Wii up and enter the HBC. DeSmuME Wii and it will go into a welcome screen where you can choose where to load your ROMS from or press B to see the credits.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/DS-13.jpg
Choose where to load your ROMs from and you will be taken into your game selection screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/DS-14.jpg
Pick your game and it will launch.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/DS-15.jpg
Chapter 2 : Arcade
In this chapter I will cover SDL MAME Wii and GxGeo.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/mame.png http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/gxgeo3.png
I have to add a note here like I did for the fifth gen of console emulation in the first chapter. As I've learned from all of my MAME testing a lot of arcade games will fail due to the Wii's limited memory resources or other unexplainable or unknown reasons. Once again you just have to accept it if you want to play your arcade favorites because it is what it is.
SDL MAME Wii
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...de666/mame.png
SDL MAME Wii is a Wii port of the PC arcade emulator MAME.
(Personal note - I have developed a strong love/hate relationship with this emulator. I love it but it drives me nuts at the same time. If it weren't for my current frustration with it this guide series wouldn't exist. :))
Homebrew Page
Google Code Page
Download
Source
Driver Compatibility List (Based on 0.4 and kind of hard to decipher.)
Compatibility List (Started and maintained by yours truly! :) It's still a work in progress. Based on 0.5 but soon I will begin testing with 0.6.)
Controllers supported:
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...Wiimotesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...eyboardsvg.gif
Things you will need:
A softmodded Wii and remote
A Fat16/32 SD/SDHC or USB device (You can only use SDHC on system menu 4.0 or above.)
Additional BIOS you will need:
It varies depending on the arcade hardware you are emulating. A lot of games run with no BIOS but some may need a BIOS file.
File types supported:
Only compressed files
Compressed file types supported:
.zip
1) Download and extract sdlmame-wii-v0.6.zip. You will end up with a folder named sdlmame-wii-v0.6.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-1.png
Inside sdlmame-wii-v0.6 you will find apps and mame.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-2.png
Inside apps you will find sdlmamewii.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-3.png
Inside sdlmamewii you will find docs (additional info inside), boot.dol, icon.png, meta.xml and README.txt.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-4.png
docs and README.txt aren't necessary to the operation of the emulator.
Inside mame you will find cfg, roms, errors.txt, and mame.ini. roms is currently empty.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-5.png
Inside cfg you will find default.cfg and defualt-lg.cfg.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-6.png
2) If you don't already have a apps folder on your SD/SDHC/USB create a folder named apps at your root. - /apps
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...apps-image.png
Copy the entire contents of sdlmamewii into the apps folder you are currently using or just created. - /apps/sdlmamewii
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-7.png
3) Copy mame and it's contents (cfg and roms) to the root of your SD/SDHC/USB. - /mame (/mame/cfg, /mame/roms)
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-8.png
4) Put your ROMs inside ROMS (/mame/roms). If you are emulating arcade hardware that needs BIOS place the BIOS file in here also.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Mame-9.png
5) Eject your SD/SDHC/USB from the PC and insert it in your Wii. Fire the Wii up and enter the HBC. Launch SDL MAME Wii and it will go into the game selection screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Mame-10.png
Select your game and it will go into a disclaimer screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Mame-11.png
Press left then right on you remote or type OK is you are using a keyboard and your game will launch.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...66/Mame-12.png
GxGeo
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/gxgeo3.png
GxGeo is a Wii port of the PC Neo-Geo AES/MVS emulator GnGeo.
Homebrew Page
Google Code Page
Download
Source
Controllers supported:
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...Wiimotesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...rnativesvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...trollersvg.gif
Things you will need:
A softmodded Wii and remote
A Fat16/32 SD/SDHC (You can only use SDHC on system menu 4.0 or above.)
GxGeo does not support USB devices.
Additional BIOS you will need:
000-lo.lo
sfix.sfx
aes-bios.bin (* See notes)
usa_2slt.bin (USA country file - Only one country file is required to make the emulator work.) (* See notes)
vs-bios.rom (Japan country file - Only one country file is required to make the emulator work.) (* See notes)
asia-s3.rom (Asia country file - Only one country file is required to make the emulator work.) (* See notes)
sp-s2.sp1 (Europe country file - Only one country file is required to make the emulator work.) (* See notes)
(* You can use uni-bios.rom in place of the country file and aes-bios.bin.)
(* Even though you should only need country file of you choice I've found games that want a specific one for some reason. This is where the uni-bios would probably come in handy.)
File types supported:
Only compressed files
Compressed file types supported:
.zip
1) Download and extract gxgeo-20101119.tar.gz. You will end up with a folder named gxgeo-20101119.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-1.png
Inside gxgeo-20101119 you will find apps, gxgeo, and READ.MII.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-2.png
READ.MII isn't necessary to the operation of the emulator.
Inside apps you will find gxgeo.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-3.png
Inside gxgeo you will find boot.dol, icon.png, and meta.xml.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-4.png
Inside the other gxgeo you will find conf, romrc, roms, and save.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-5.png
Inside conf you will find gngeorc.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-6.png
Inside romrc you will find 192 game .rc files.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-7.png
You can delete or move unnecessary .rc files to your PC to save room. GxGeo will also load faster if you do. You only need the .rc files for the games you intend on playing.
Inside roms you will find a placeholder file named "empty".
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-8.png
Delete the placeholder file.
Inside save you will find another placeholder file also named "empty".
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...e666/Geo-9.png
Delete this placeholder file too.
2) If you don't already have a apps folder on your SD/SDHC create a folder named apps at your root. - /apps
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...apps-image.png
Copy the entire contents of the gxgeo folder in apps into the apps folder you are currently using or just created. - /apps/gxgeo
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Geo-10.png
3) Copy the other gxgeo and it's contents (conf, romrc, roms, and save) to the root of your SD/SDHC. - /gxgeo (/gxgeo/conf, /gxgeo/romrc, /gxgeo/roms, /gxgeo/save)
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Geo-11.png
4) Put your BIOS (000-lo.lo, sfix.sfx, aes-bios.bin, and country file of choice) and ROMs inside roms (/gxgeo/roms).
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Geo-12.png
5) Eject your SD/SDHC from the PC and insert it in your Wii. Fire the Wii up and enter the HBC. Launch GxGeo and it will go into the game selection screen.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Geo-13.jpg
Select your game and it will launch.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...666/Geo-14.jpg
Changelog
1/2/11 - Added controller compatibility at the suggestion of robgee. Thank you sir! I though icons would be a nice touch. I also added the emulators HBC icons while I was at it.
1/13/11 - Updated SDL MAME Wii to 0.6. Thanks for letting me know of the update richardsito!
