Talk:Arcade Emulators

Comparison grid

See Talk:Jukebox Software, the same thing applies here I think. We can make pages for emulators (perhaps put all the MAME deratives on one page), emulators like System16, Callus, Raine etc. should also go in the table. Basically the question is: what would we need in the table? Felsir 14:37, 15 March 2006 (EST)

Individual Emulator Pages

The same standardization needs to be made for the individual emulator pages to be setup. I'm think the basic details should be listed at the top, as was done with the Jukebox software pages, and then a general question format follows with the information. Any thing else other than what is below?

Example Layout

Emulator Title

• OS: OS
• Cost: Freeware/Shareware
• Homepage: site
• Emulated System: System
• Latest Official Version: x.xx
• Last Updated: xx/xx/xxxx

Images

Logo, Configuration/Options, and/or 1-2 In Game Shots

What is Emulator_Title?

Basic Description of the emulator

What can it run?

link to compatibility list, or brief description on how compatible the emulator is.

What are the Requirements?

System Requirements Any additional files/hardware/etc

How do I set it up?

Configuration and required files or setup instructions

See Also:

additional information or links for the software, configuration, etc

--Liquid8 00:34, 20 May 2006 (EDT)

I guess you are completly right about this one. The only thing is Latest Official Version and Last Updated may need the wiki sites updated often. So for my option, they are not needed. The could been a picture of the console, like we did for the frontend and jukebox software pages.

--Spacefractal 05:13, 20 May 2006 (EDT) Last Updated: xx/xx/xxx

Look on the Zinc page? What do you think? I wait to update the other emulator pages.

--Spacefractal 05:38, 20 May 2006 (EDT)

made a couple modifications on the Daphne page .. this look good for the rest?

--Liquid8 17:08, 20 May 2006 (EDT)

--HowardCasto 01:06, 21 May 2006 (EDT)

Looks great, but I would warn about adding misc changes to pages based on quick looks to the emulators homepage. For example, you added in that bit about also using a laserdisc player. While technically possible, it only works for 2 out of the 17 games in daphne (overlay sprites can't be displayed) and even then it won't display the score. So actually, unless you intend to make a dedicated space ace/ dragon's lair cabinet you CANNOT use a laserdisc player. Even the daphne devs say not to use one. I intentionally didn't even mention it on the daphne page because I figured it would only confuse a user with info they don't need. I only go into detail here so you'll understand why I'm going to take the sentence out (or at least modify it so that it reflects how via using a laser disc player actually is).

--HowardCasto 01:25, 21 May 2006 (EDT)

Also I wonder if the remappble controls entry for games should be more specific. Even for the only two emulators we've done so far it isn't a simple yes or no answer (zinc needs a plugin and it's nearly impossible to remap without help, and daphne shares one layout for all of it's games, even though a few use controls which might require special mappings).

Suggestions on that one??

Thanks for the note and correction, I didn't realize that. Maybe a simple yes/no/config needed (with a link) needed would work. Emulators with specific setups like that will probably end up having a sub page or sub section in regards to the configuration anyways. The two you mentioned are sort of out of the ordinary from the norm of emulators.

--Liquid8 01:43, 21 May 2006 (EDT)

You are right. remappble controls can have some speciel requirement. These can of course added in this entry, instead of just a yes or no. It should have stood: Plugin or such.

Maybe should we have this entry at all, and instead destript in the indepth destription?

--Spacefractal 04:43, 21 May 2006 (EDT)

I think if we intend to list all emulators then it needs to stay. If we are only listing cab-friendly emulators, then it could be removed, with just an explanation for the goofy but configurable ones in the 'How do I set it up?' section

--Liquid8 12:42, 21 May 2006 (EDT)

Personally I think it's important to document as many emulators as possible, even the goofy ones. If someone likes a emu enough they WILL find a way to lauch it in a mame cab. Or at least that's been my observation.

This is really starting to shape up. Perhaps the same layout needs to be applied to the simulators section?

--HowardCasto 02:14, 22 May 2006 (EDT)

There are about 20 emulators (or so on) for NES. Should we really need to list them all? Not, if you ask me.

It a lots better to pick one or 2 emulators (so they can cover Windows and Linux as well) for each console/computer, and guide how to install them to thier cab. Arcadecontrols.com is all about cabinets and not guide each emulators (like example zophar.net does, they have a lots to nearly every machine) on the market. For arcade emulators, this is a another history.

Remembeer arcadecontrols.com does only cover software to cabinet, and how to builds these controls to use them. It simply better to pick cabfreidly emulators, or can been cabfreidly using a wrapper.

--Spacefractal 07:45, 22 May 2006 (EDT)

I dare you.

I think this whole standardizing the content is a waste of time at this point. I dare someone to stop wasting time trying to figure out what the layout should be and instead actually add content first.

Callus is practically empty. Final Burn is completely empty. Modeler is completely empty.... I didn't even bother clicking anymore. I think you'll find that the information and presentation needed for this section of the wiki is not meant to be a encyclopedic answer to what is X. Some of these emulators are worth adding to an arcade cabinet while some of them, it is only useful to mention that they are petty additions to an arcade cabinet.

I have no intention of adding content to any of these other emulators, so I put forth the dare to those who are adding these emulators. The console emulator page is even worse. No one is "Build(ing) Your Own Arcade Controls" using a "Philips CD-i" or a "Xbox 360".

Once all (most? ok, at least HALF?) the content exists - THEN would be a good time to decide what the layout should look like.

07:10, 23 June 2006 Jelwell (You forgot to add your sign)

Yep, you are coeect. But these pages is still work in progress, and a far from finished (did you looked for these work in progress tags?). We are just a bit slow to update them. I need help to get them updated.

Otherway. Xbox 360 may been a future cadidate to been used in a cabinet as a base....

The layout about emulators self should been look like Zinc (but I does have standazied some pages).

--Spacefractal 15:57, 23 June 2006 (EDT)

Import MAME guide from StrategyWiki?

Hi everyone. I was the primary author of the MAME guide over at StrategyWiki (found here), and it occurred to me that both StrategyWiki and BYOAC use GFDL, so the MAME guide can be exported from SW and imported here. The question is, would you like that? I'm happy to do it, if you would like to have it here. My only concern is that if it's updated in one location, I hope that it would be updated in the other. Anyway, just tossing it out there for discussion. I'm proud of the guide, I'm just not sure how much good it's doing on SW only. Procyon 20:27, 9 April 2007 (EDT)

It ok to import it here, but you may not exept I wouuld update 2 wikis as the same time. This would do a lots of work, so maybe you should just link to your wiki instead in the http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/MAME? May add "How to install MAME" or add that in the "See Also" Section?

It completly fine to link into that, so we only have one wiki about the same term.

--Spacefractal 06:25, 10 April 2007 (EDT)