Do you guys find it less boring or less exciting playing the classic games on PC compared to playing with the system itself? My other question is do you guys know where I can buy like an adapter that i can plug my nes/sega Genesis/ Super Nintendo into which is plugged in a USB port and play my games? Is there one that exist?

If you're talking about powering the console from your PC using the USB connection, it wouldn't be possible.

USB spec is 5volts, no more than 500mA.

And I'm sure all consoles very well exceed this.

However, if you're talking about using your SNES/NES/Genesis/etc controllers on your PC, there are/was adapters for them, hell I believe you can build an adapter for SNES -> Parallel port connections.

Also, I believe someone on the ZSNES boards built a 9-pin serial -> Sega adapter.

first of all i really do hate playing roms as opposed to the real game, but that is partly because of using a keyboard, its really hard to playan n64 rom with a keyboard or a joypad without an analog.

and in resonse to your second question i wouldnt know.

Being that I legally own an Atari 2600 and a few other old consoles that people have sold/given to me (mostly so I can be legal with ROMs/games) I have gotten the chance to play these games on the computer.

Here's what I've found:

Joysticks: Most Atari 2600 joystick games seem a bit easier on the keyboard. I use a strange combination--left, down, and right go the appropriate directions but I use the option key (Alt on a Windows computer) as my up button. Up arrow is my fire button. I'm the only person I know of who uses this.

Paddles: The mouse is easier for me than the actual paddle.

Keypads (on an old Nintendo or something): Again, much better with the keyboard. I use my unique layout again with Shift as my "B" button (up is "A"). On a Super Nintendo I use up for "B", shift for "Y", control for "X", and space for "A", with option/alt continuing to be up and the other three directions corresponding to the arrows.

If a friend tries my laptop for a Nintendo game he will always get puzzled by my layout and slam the computer back at me, saying that I have really weird tastes in key layout.

But one fact remains--if it's a newer game, I will be lousy at it no matter how it's controlled. I still haven't beaten Super Mario 2 and I've tried beating it since 2001!

My brother tried it once. He connected a playstation 2 to a TV Tuner on a PC. It nearly worked but, i wouldn't advise it. If you have the emulator, you can just buy a USB Gamepad Adapter to connect the Playstation 2 controller to the PC. You can now use the Playstation 2 controller with any emulator by just going to the controller config in the game options. Super Mario 64 played verry good using the Playstation 2 controller with Project64.

well, i've gotten this cheap ass controller from the net for gaming, so i use it to play emulators on the pc...
it works great, i've had these emulators as well as its roms for quite a while so i'm never downloading oldskool games to any of my consoles so i've pretty much gotten almost all the games for the nes,sega, etc. i'm not wasting wii points to get those games again...well maybe i'll get a few games possible some 64 games, but only a few...

I'm used to playing games using the keyboard.

I was also used to playing games with the keyboard, untill i was introduced to Mame32. It was just to hard to get Ken to do a dragon punch. Now, it's much easier to do with the Playstation 2 controller.

I've found no problem using a regular gamepad when using an emulator. I use an Xbox360 controller on my PC so I can pretty much play any system without too much fuss. However I've only used Atari, NES, SNES and Sega emulators.

Oh and as a person that knew the cramps that you get when playing an Atari 2600 for an extended time, having a 21st century, ergonomic gamepad is definitely better!

I also find it just as fun to play on a PC as I would on the original system. Of course nothing can replace the experience of the real game system, It is just more convenient to be able to take a break from work, open a game and play.

The consoles are great but, I really hate it when you have to clean the games just to play them. The emulators loads the roms the first time, every time. With the emulators also, you can get to see the game better on your monitor, than on a standard TV. With the emulators, if you get sick and tired of playing a game, you can simply switch to a next one easily, without having to search through a pile of carts.

I've noticed that when I play on the emulator, I have an overall shorter attention span ingame, especially for games I've already played on the real deal. Most likely, it's territory I've already revisited before. For games I've never played, I don't put in as much time or effort to complete them.

I opt to use a gamepad instead of the keyboard since the gamepad is more familiar. I've gone through the motions with the gamepad before, so it's no surprise that playing a familiar game on an emulator with the gamepad comes closer to the original experience.

Baron--you are right about those displays.

An Atari 2600 connects with the RF Modulator. Personally, I cannot stand the low quality put out by those. When I played around with the Nintendo on the TV, I bypassed the RF modulator and used a few extra RCA cables to connect it.

The one exception to Ataris with RF mods--if the TV is really old it won't make a difference. My 2600, still in operation, is on my mom's bedroom TV (which she used to have it on--it was her system in the day). The TV is a Zenith made in 1979. With its woodgrain trim and push button channel selector it's really the ultimate Atari TV if you want a throwback and don't care about quality.

Also, my old set (before I got the Sony I have now) was an RCA that I got used for nothing off my folks in 2001. It was a 1994 model and had a great picture but the tuner was broken. If I were to put an RF mod on there, it wouldn't work because channel three was too low. The TV got tuned through the VCR and the only change in channel I would make was to the second set of inputs, which I used for the Nintendo 64 (the first being for the VCR).

Yep, I still remember those days. How about when you wanted to get a clear picture the first time you played a game, you had to get your brother or sister to move the RF Converter around and then yell, Hold It Right There! Man those were the days.

Still do that on the old Atari 2600 that's on my mom's TV...seems as if they also get bad with age, it has more flickering now than it did a decade ago!

Try this web site: http://www.retrousb.com

They have NES, SNES, Genesis, Atari, etc USB controllers made for emulators.

Thanks peteybug, this is exactly what I wanted.

cheers

i use a playstation PC clone controller for emulators on my PC.

I would prefer games on a system then using a rom with emulator on the comp. Not because of controller issues, but it gives that more nogtisgla feel then just playing it with a keyboard and rom. Unfortunately, because finding NES (or SNES) games is either hard or expensive nowadays, I'm forced to use the latter. When I get my Wii ill download the classic games like there's no tomorrow.

As I have entire sets of ROMs, as well as excellent hacks (go to www.romhacking.net for more info) that just aren't out in cartridge form, I prefer playing the old stuff & GBA on my PC with a good emulator (and a good ergonomic controller, of course).

For semi-old stuff like PS1, Saturn, & Dreamcast, it definitely has to be the original console. Mostly because PCs can't emulate stuff like Saturn & DC that well yet, as well as the fact that the DC can easily play backups without mods. I'm pretty much guaranteed no slowdown on these original consoles, so that's another plus.

You can build adaptors for parallel or even USB that will run your old controllers on your PC , if you need them. There's someone online selling either USB adaptors or actual converted controllers online for up to 50 USD. I qould suggest just getting a PS1 controller & an adaptor at RadioShack or similar game or electric store if you want good SNES & NES performance.

Def. alot more fun playing with the controller on the system as opposed to on an Emulator. For example, Super Castlevania IV isn't as fun on the PC as it is for SNES. You have to use like your X Key to jump, and your Z to like hit (action button). I like using the controller, you know?