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'Super Mario 64: Ocarina of Time’ is the perfect Nintendo mashup
Super Mario 64 is considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time. Its large, imaginative levels and increasingly difficult challenges have defined the 3D platformer genre since its release on the Nintendo 64. Similarly, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — the first in the franchise with 3D graphics — is considered a classic with a record 99 rating on Metacritic. Both have been celebrated with portable re-releases and a deluge of fan movies, artwork and soundtrack remixes. But never have the two games been combined in a fan-made ROM hack like Super Mario 64: Ocarina of Time.
Google snaps up the creators of a game-focused Android emulator
You can already run Android apps on a Chromebook, but would you run games and other intensive mobile apps on it? Probably not. However, Google might be taking steps to make that practical. The creators of LeapDroid, an Android emulator that specializes in games, have revealed that they're joining Google just months after releasing it to the public. The team isn't discussing "specific plans," but they're halting both development and support for LeapDroid. You can continue running the latest version, but you won't get anything more than that.
Lost Japan-only 'Legend of Zelda' game is available to play
Even the biggest Nintendo fan out there might not be familiar with Satellaview. It was a Japan-only peripheral for the Super Famicon (the country's version of our Super NES) that broadcast games via satellite -- one of which was a remixed version of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Now, as reported by Kotaku, fans outside of Japan can give The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets a shot for the first time.
Virtual Boy emulator digs up VR's embarrassing past
The Virtual Boy is often considered a bit of a failed experiment for Nintendo, but an intriguing collector's item for gaming enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it's never been comfortable or enjoyable by any means to actually sit down and play one unless you want to invite eye strain or other physical irritants, until now. One crafty Reddit user has brought the Virtual Boy catalogue to Google Cardboard and the RetroArch emulator.
Windows 95 on an Apple Watch is wonderfully impractical
The quest to put Windows 95 on seemingly everything just achieved one of its biggest -- or rather, smallest -- feats to date. Nick Lee managed to get Microsoft's classic operating system running on an Apple Watch by modifying a WatchKit app to load his own code (in this case, the Bochs x86 emulator) instead of Apple's usual foundations. The interface is incredibly miniscule, of course, but it works. While you don't have a true mouse pointer, you can use the touchscreen to navigate the Start menu and open apps.
Sega to support modded Genesis games on Steam
Sega's Mega Drive console (or the Genesis, depending on where you lived at the time) still boasts an impressive library of 16-bit games. Many of those are now available on Steam and Sega, hoping to attract some new collectors, has developed a virtual playground for them called the Mega Drive Classics Hub. Notably, this also comes with Steam Workshop support, allowing PC players to share "modified versions" of their favorite games from the early 90s. That's pretty unusual, given most developers and publishers are opposed to fan-driven emulation and modification of classic games -- no doubt because of its relationship with piracy.
Game Boy mod plays nearly any classic Nintendo game
It's trivial to play vintage Nintendo games if you're not picky about what devices you use. But what if you miss the look and feel of the original Game Boy? Wermy has an answer: build a Game Boy that does it all. His Game Boy Zero modification uses a Raspberry Pi Zero, a modified game cartridge and a whole lot of drilling to emulate classic NES, SNES and Game Boy titles (up to the Game Boy Advance) while preserving most of Nintendo's original look and feel. On the outside, the only concessions to modernity are the 3.5-inch color display and the stealthily integrated buttons needed to play some newer titles.
Run 500 hard-to-find Apple II programs in your web browser
Sure, it's easy to find ways to run classic Apple II programs like The Oregon Trail or Prince of Persia. But what about that obscure educational title you remember using as a kid? Is it doomed to be forgotten? You might not have to worry. The Internet Archive has announced that its web-based emulation catalog now includes over 500 relatively tough-to-find Apple II programs that might otherwise have disappeared forever. If you remember using the likes of The Quarter Mile or The Observatory, you can fire it up without having to dig your old computer out of storage.
Windows 95 on a Nintendo 3DS is as strange as you'd think
The trend of putting PC software on wholly impractical devices isn't stopping with the new year, folks. GBATemp fan Shutterbug2000 has managed to get Windows 95 running on a New Nintendo 3DS XL thanks to both DOSbox emulation and some ingenuity. You won't be doing a whole lot with this right now -- Microsoft wasn't designing for touchscreens and analog sticks two decades ago -- but it really does work on a basic level. It looks more than a little odd, too, between the tiny desktop and the emulator status on the second screen.
'Halo: Reach' runs poorly on the Xbox One
The Xbox One's backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games has largely worked as promised, but there's now one glaring exception. Microsoft has confirmed reports that Halo: Reach (aka one of the 360's biggest titles) runs much slower than you'd expect. While talk of it being "unplayable" is extreme, Bungie's shooter fell from a largely steady 30 frames per second on the original hardware to the mid-teens -- enough to throw you off during intense action scenes. Others report audio glitches, too.
'Half-Life' barely runs on a smartwatch
We were getting a little tired of playing Doom on every household appliance known to man, office printers and even inside the game itself. That's why it's a nice change to see that it's now possible to play Half-Life on your Android smartwatch, thanks to software modder extraordinaire Dave Bennett. He's been able to squeeze SDLash3D, an open-source emulator for some of Valve's early titles, onto the LG's first generation G Watch. Unfortunately, playing the title from your wrist is problematic, since the frame rate can dip down pretty low and the small screen doesn't leave you a lot of room to use the soft controls. Still, anything's better than having to bum around Knee-Deep in the Dead for the millionth time when we're bored on a bus.
You can play 2,400 classic DOS games in your web browser
If you're a PC gamer of a certain age (cough), you've probably lamented that many of the titles you played as a kid are hard to use on modern systems without downloading emulators or waiting for special re-releases. Well, it just got a lot easier to relive your gaming glory days. The Internet Archive's growing collection of web-based retro games now includes roughly 2,400 MS-DOS classics -- you can now play cult hits like Gods or Tongue of the Fatman in your browser. This won't quite recreate the experience of sitting at the family computer, of course. The project's Jason Scott warns that you can't save your progress on the web, and that some games could still "fall over and die" despite attempts to include only those programs that are likely to work properly. But look at it this way: even half-functional web emulation could prevent a much-loved game from fading into obscurity.
[Updated] iOS 8.1 kills exploit that allowed installation of game emulators
[Update]: Riley Testut has published a new post on his personal blog adding some additional detail to this saga. It's definitely worth a read. Everyone loves retro game emulators on iOS -- well, almost everyone -- but the ability to easily install them looks like it's about to meet an end thanks to Apple's upcoming iOS 8.1 update. According to those who have tested the soon-to-be-released software, the update blocks an often-used exploit that many emulators use to allow installation on non-jailbroken devices. The trick involves changing the date within the iOS settings prior to installing the emulator apps in question. Riley Testut, a longtime iOS emulator aficionado and one of the creators of the beloved GBA4iOS app, offers a succinct summary of how the exploit works. "If the device's date was off by a certain amount (approximately 75 minutes in our testing), iOS would fail to perform a security check on the launched app," Testut explains. "Rather than defaulting to preventing the app from opening (as we would assume), it instead defaulted to allowing the app to open, possibly as a fallback to prevent a normal user's officially obtained apps from not opening under certain conditions." In short, it was Apple's own failsafe that allowed the unofficial apps to be used in the first place. Now that the hole has been plugged, and the apps will no longer open simply by default, it could spell an early end for the iOS emulator scene on non-jailbroken devices. There is, of course, always the possibility that Apple will reverse the change, though as Testut himself admitted to me, the chances of that happening are quite slim. So where do we go from here? Emulators will of course continue to thrive on jailbroken iPhones and iPads, and anyone who doesn't update to iOS 8.1 will still be able to utilize the date exploit to install apps like GBA4iOS. Unfortunately, with Apple adding hotly anticipated features like Apple Pay in impending updates, refusing to install new iOS versions is tough stand to make. As for GBA4iOS specifically, development will push on. Testut promises that version 2.1 is still on its way and notes that the open source nature of the app and others like it will allow anyone dedicated enough to compile it themselves will still be able to install it manually on their own devices. So for now, don't call the iOS emulation scene dead, but it might be on life support.
Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 offers an 8-bit Madden alternative
With Madden NFL 15 now on store shelves, most virtual football fans are busy enjoying EA's latest simulation, but for those who prefer a more classic, pixelated game of football, comes Tecmo Super Bowl 2015. Thanks to the dedicated Tecmo Super Bowl fans at TecmoBowl.org, Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 combines the game's classic, NES-era pigskin action with modern rosters, offensive schemes and all 32 current NFL teams. As a hack for an NES game, Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 can be played on any platform with a viable NES emulator. The game's website offers would-be gridiron greats a detailed walkthrough on how to get the game up and running, and even a listing of various mods for those who prefer a more customized take on American football. Full details on how to set up Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 can be found at TecmoBowl.org. Of course, downloading the ROM file needed to play the mod isn't precisely legal. Something to keep in mind if you really need that up-to-date retro football fix. [Image: Koei Tecmo]
The 25 best Game Boy games to play on your iPhone
Nintendo's Game Boy turns 25 today, making it legally old enough to start worrying about retirement. In honor of its epic achievement as a pioneer of mobile gaming, here are the 25 best Game Boy games that you can play on iOS. Don't have your phone set up for emulation? No worries -- check out our handy emulation guide to get up and running in just a few minutes. 1. Pokemon (Red/Blue) - The games that sparked a multimedia franchise. Fantastic stories and laid back RPG gameplay. 2. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins - One of the best platformers on Game Boy, with legendary levels that demand to be played. 3. WarioLand: Super Mario Land 3 - This Mario title doesn't star Mario, but that doesn't stop it from being charming and epic. 4. Kirby's Dream Land - Dream Land is everything you love about Kirby in a compact form. 5. Mega Man V - If you're a Mega Man fan, this is the Game Boy version you need to play. The rest are good, but this one is great. 6. Metroid II: Return of Samus - Not quite as mind-blowing as the SNES darling Super Metroid, this sci-fi adventure is still a treat on mobile. 7. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - You've already beaten it a dozen times, but one more playthrough wouldn't hurt. 8. Dr. Mario - Remember when Nintendo made amazing puzzle games? This one will remind you. 9. Yoshi's Cookie - Remember what I said in #8? That goes double for this one. 10. Donkey Kong Land - Nintendo's Game Boy translation of its then-new Donkey Kong platformer franchise was surprisingly great on the small screen, and still is. 11. Final Fantasy Legend III - By the third game, this franchise really started to take off with a great story and engaging combat. 12. Contra: The Alien Wars - All the fast-paced action of the original in a stunning two-color format. Also, super difficult. 13. Tetris - The game that made the Game Boy a must-have. 14. Adventure Island II - The classic side-scroller puts your wobbly-legged adventurer on a tiny screen with big goals. 15. R-Type - Futuristic space shooting was never so much fun. 16. Mystical Ninja - A top-down action game with large environments and lots to explore. 17. Golf - Ignore the simple name -- this was one of the best time wasters of the early 90s and it still holds up today. 18. Samurai Shodown - A great fighting game with adorable characters who can kick some serious ass. 19. Bomberman GB - Bomberman looks amazing in his Game Boy debut, and the graphics are still pretty impressive today, not to mention how great the gameplay is. 20. Harvest Moon GB - A relaxing farming RPG that will charm the pants right off of you. 21. Super Mario Land - It's not as pretty as the later Mario titles on Game Boy, but it's one that you absolutely need to play at least once. 22. Kid Dracula - One of the first Game Boy action games to really nail the "big character on a tiny screen" style that later became the norm. 23. Dragon Warrior Monsters - A charming RPG that will challenge both your skills and your ingenuity. You can even capture, train, and breed different monsters for added replay value. 24. Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters - Lots of childhood memories with this one, and a great action game to revisit. 25. Micro Machines - Everyone had Micro Machines as a kid, so racing tiny cars and boats around household items was a blast on the Game Boy.
How to turn your iPhone or iPad into a retro game console without jailbreaking
The iPhone and iPad are already super-capable gaming devices, with thousands of quality titles spanning all genres and tastes, but sometimes it's nice to take a trip back to yesteryear... and sometimes you want to see those games on the big, beautiful HDTV screen in your living room. Here's how to do it. What you'll need A capable iOS device - Anything starting with the iPhone 4s should do fine. With older hardware you risk some serious performance issues with certain games and won't be able to use AirPlay. An A/V adapter w/HDMI or Apple TV - The cheaper route here is to use the official Apple A/V adapter (either for Lightning or the older 30-pin connector), but using AirPlay along with an Apple TV allows you to go cordless and, depending on the emulation software you choose, AirPlay may provide a more responsive, lag-free experience. Emulation software - We'll go over the options here in a little bit. An MFi game controller (optional) - If you prefer real buttons, several emulators allow you to use these accessories for a more tactile experience. The Software Once reserved for gamers willing to jailbreak their devices, game emulators can now be downloaded straight from the web. You'll almost always have to to some trickery with your device's date and time settings in order to get the apps to install correctly, but it's not too much trouble. GBA4iOS - A Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance emulator, GBA4iOS version 2.0, was recently released to much acclaim. It supports MFi game controllers as well as built-in AirPlay functionality that puts the game on the big screen while you use your iPhone or iPad as the game controller. Game downloads can be handled from within the app, with no file management required. NDS4iOS - This Nintendo DS emulator features the same AirPlay and controller support as GBA4iOS, with the added bonus of splitting the DS's twin screen between your TV and iDevice, the latter acting as the console's bottom touch screen. Similarly, game downloads require no file management. MD.emu - A fully featured Sega Genesis / Mega Drive emulator, MD.emu (find on this list) is a bit more demanding in that it doesn't allow you to simply download game ROMs directly to the app itself. Instead, the app lets you browse your iOS file system in search of the games, which you'll have to download and place in the app's "Documents" folder via iTunes and then sync your device. There's a persistent bug with how the gamepad overlay appears on screen, but it's still playable, and MD.emu does not support MFi controllers. SiOS - Like MD.emu, SiOS (find on this list) isn't quite as streamlined as the "4iOS" emulators, but it's still entirely capable of offering a great Super Nintendo (SNES) gaming experience. It includes frameskip support, saves, and a few other nice features, but the most important thing is that the emulation is nearly flawless. You'll need to use iTunes to add ROMs to the app. Does not support MFi controllers. Setting up Once you decide whether you want to go the wired or wireless route, getting things set up is fairly straightforward. If you decided to go with the A/V adapter and HDMI cord, simply plug your iPhone or iPad into the adapter and then connect it to your TV via HDMI. Start up your emulation software, load a game, and enjoy the action on the big screen. AirPlay through the Apple TV is even simpler, letting your wirelessly toss your iDevice screen onto your HDTV. Regardless of which method you choose, be sure to put your HDTV into "Game Mode" or something similar, to cut down on lag between button presses and on-screen action. Adding a controller If you have an MFi controller handy -- like the SteelSeries Stratus, MOGA Ace Power, or Logitech PowerShell -- you have the added option of tactile control with a couple of the emulators available. There are tradeoffs to using each one, however, so keep these in mind: SteelSeries Stratus - The only wireless controller, the Stratus is perfect for kicking back on the couch, but it also introduces a tiny bit of lag that makes fast-moving games hard to play. Platformers and racing games are rough with the Stratus, but RPGs and other, less twitchy games are ideal. The Stratus is also the only MFi controller you can use without having an Apple TV. MOGA Ace Power & Logitech PowerShell - Both of these require the iPhone, so iPad gamers are left out, but on-screen button response is nearly perfect when compared to the wireless Stratus. However, because both of these controllers cover the Lightning port on your iPhone, you'll need to use the AirPlay option instead of the wired A/V adapter. Note: The use of emulators to play game ROMs is a topic that has sparked many an argument, and that's not likely to change any time soon. Some feel that emulating software you already own -- or dumping your own ROMs from your own copy of the original game -- adds some grey area to the issue, but as the ESA notes, using ROMs will almost always run afoul of user licensing agreements. Read up on the effects and potential consequences of game emulation and proceed at your own risk.
R-Type 2 coming to iOS and Android soon from Double Dragon Trilogy publisher
French retrogame porting studio DotEmu announced today that it plans to release Irem's classic arcade shoot-'em-up R-Type 2 for iOS and Android devices "soon," following up on its recent launch of the mobile brawler compilation Double Dragon Trilogy. Released in arcades in 1989 (and later semi-adapted for the Super NES in 1991's Super R-Type), R-Type 2 improves on its predecessor's horizontally-scrolling formula with new power-ups, weapons, and screen-filling boss battles. Veterans of 2009's XBLA compilation release R-Type Dimensions can attest that R-Type 2 is a far more difficult game than the original R-Type, and DotEmu's upcoming port is likely to inspire new waves of agony and and teeth-gnashing worldwide. DotEmu plans to offset R-Type 2's difficulty with an optional auto-fire feature, along with an "unlimited" mode that offers players infinite lives. The new mobile port also features unlockable achievements, worldwide leaderboards, and support for Bluetooth controllers.
Internet Archive starts preserving classic game consoles on the web
Many gamers won't load a console emulator for much more than a brief nostalgia kick. The Internet Archive has loftier goals, however. It's expanding its Historical Software Collection to include the free-to-play Console Living Room beta, which recreates classic '70s and '80s systems on the web for the sake of the historical record. The initial library includes hundreds of games for the Astrocade, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, ColecoVision and Magnavox Odyssey. There are gaps in the catalog, and sound isn't working; the CLR isn't yet a match for a conventional software emulator, let alone the real thing. The Internet Archive promises to address both problems in the near future, though, and it shouldn't be long before its collection delivers a complete vintage gaming experience... minus the old-fashioned tube TV.
An SNES emulator disguised as a file manager hits the App Store
A simple file-sharing app called Remote File Manager holds a dark secret: It can boot up and play Super Nintendo games via built-in emulation software, TouchArcade reports. The *.smc files that hold SNES games aren't actually on the list of supported file types that the app claims to be able to manage, but it certainly handles them just fine. The most interesting thing about this particular emulator is that it allows you to play games stored in a Dropbox account, so you never have to actually move the software to your iPhone or iPad in order to play it. Pretty nifty, even if the practice of emulation crosses into some shady moral and legal territory. As of the time of this writing, Remote File Manager is still available for US$0.99, though it'll almost certainly be pulled very shortly.
Oculus Rift already has a Virtual Boy emulator
While the Oculus Rift is currently the world's great hope for a future lived inside digital spaces, it's not the first stereoscopic box developers have asked us to cram our faces into. For most of us, that honor goes to Nintendo's Virtual Boy, herald of vectorized headaches (in 3D!) to 700,000 or so hopeful people with $180.If you're one of the lucky people with an Oculus Rift development kit, however, you can now recreate that ol' black-and-red magic with VBjin-ovr, a freeware Virtual Boy emulator for the Oculus Rift. As seen in this video from YouTuber Cymatic Bruce, wherein VBjin-ovr is used to play the obscure first-person survival horror game Insane Mouse Mansion, the Rift primarily functions as a head-mounted display, as Virtual Boy games have no use for the device's various bells and head-tracking whistles.Still, the experience seems about as accurate as one could hope for without the real deal. Is there an Excedrin emulator out there?
