Best Online Emulators for Classic Console Gaming
You can’t any engine into another make or model of car and expect it to work, but in the world of old school video games, you can play your favorite games without the original hardware.
A video game emulator allows games to be played on systems they were not built for. In other words, a tech-savvy gamer could install an emulator on their computer and play just about any game they wanted without having to purchase the console the game was originally meant to be played on. This technology is used by contemporary video game developers so their games can be played on multiple platforms, which boosts their bottom lines. Bob Parsons of GoDaddy has utilized this technology in response to some of his company’s products not being consistent between different web browsers. Old school gamers can now get their fix with some of the best emulators on the web for classic gaming.
Apple
Macintosh emulators vary from console to console, depending on what games you want to play. Virtual Apple is one of the best emulators out there for those classic Apple IIe games like Oregon Trail and Number Munchers. Virtual Apple emulators work on both PCs and Macbooks, and are compatible with all the major browsers. MAME, which is also known as the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, works with Mac OS to bring arcade classics like Space Invaders to Donkey Kong to your desktop. Bannister.org is Richard Bannister’s personal website. He has created several video game emulators for Mac, making him one of the more respected names in the business.
Atari
Atari U.S. filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, but that has not dampened the enthusiasm for those classic Atari 2600 games. The games never have and never will win any awards for their primitive graphics. But the entertainment value and nostalgic aura keeps people searching for Atari emulators. The Stella emulator is considered one of the best in the business, and his compatible with Windows, Mac OS and Linux systems. Ataroid is an Android-specific emulator that brings Pitfall, Missile Command, Yars’ Revenge and virtually every other Atari 2600 game right to your smartphone.
Nintendo
While Atari blazed the trail, Nintendo built the foundation for the video games of today. Super Mario Bros., the Legend of Zelda and Metroid brought better graphics and gameplay; and spawned copycats like Sega and Xbox soon after its release. The FCEUX emulator is one of the best for Windows. Not only does the FCEUX allows you to play all your favorite Nintendo classics, it also offers tools for de-bugging and rom-hacking for advance users. Macifom is a good option for Mac users. One of the better features of Maciform is its support of USB joysticks and gamepads. Android can run NES games with the Nesoid emulator, while NES.emu is the choice for iPhone and iPad.
