We all have that one special video game that we used to play when we were growing up. For me, that game was Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis. Now that the Genesis and I have seen a few more years, we spend less time together than we used. It's just too much of a hassle to dig the antiquated hardware out of its box and hook it up. However, about 8 months ago I discovered the solution: emulation. It turns out that old school gamers have been programming console emulators for years and years and I never even knew about it. Emulators are basically virtual consoles that run virtual game cartridges (Rom files ripped from physical cartridges) in order to recreate your favorite vintage gaming system right on your computer. I can play Sonic the Hedgehog whenever I want! Here are a few of my personally tested recommendations:
Fusion - Formerly Kega II or Kega Fusion. This is an emulator that will run Roms from several Sega systems including SegaSG1000, SC3000, Master System, GameGear, Genesis/Megadrive, SegaCD/MegaCD and 32X.
Jnes - Nintendo Entertainment System emulator.
ZSNES - Super Nintendo Entertainment System emulator.
Project64 - Nintendo 64 emulator.
Emuparadise.org - The source of all my Roms.
If you're worried about not having a controller, don't be. All of the emulators above allow customization of the control settings in order to provide users with a gaming experience that is as close as possible to what they're used to. Good Luck and Happy Gaming!
