Nintendo 64 Emulation

[dgdgagdae]

What is the state of N64 emulation today? I subscribe to Console Classix, and they use 1964. Most games are either too choppy to be playable, or they just crash. Project 64k looks to be the most current, but it explicitly states that it doesn't work with many games; and I don't care about netplay.

It doesn't look like Project 64 or Mupen 64 have been updated in years.

Is N64 emulation just not up to par?

[Compute]

I forgot what I used to run, but Pilotwings ran fine whenever I played it.

[A Black Falcon]

What is the state of N64 emulation today? I subscribe to Console Classix, and they use 1964. Most games are either too choppy to be playable, or they just crash. Project 64k looks to be the most current, but it explicitly states that it doesn't work with many games; and I don't care about netplay.

It doesn't look like Project 64 or Mupen 64 have been updated in years.

Is N64 emulation just not up to par?

You're entirely correct, N64 emulator development pretty much seems to have been completely abandoned several years back, and I've seen no signs of that changing either... and it is indeed really frustrating, because there are still a LOT of games that the emulators can't play. Really annoying. PJ64 is probably the best emulator, but its compatibility leaves a lot to be deseired as well.

[badinsults]

I know some devs who complain about the state of N64 emulation. As was stated, most emulators are completely abandoned, and incomplete.

Your best bet if you really want to do homebrews or hacks would be to get a flash cart.

[JSoup]

One of the best N64 emulators available at the moment is the Nintendo Wii.

[dgdgagdae]

One of the best N64 emulators available at the moment is the Nintendo Wii.

I didn't realize that the Virtual Console had N64 games, but I see that now. How playable are they though, without a real N64 controller? If they work with the classic controller, do they play well that way?

[JSoup]

I didn't realize that the Virtual Console had N64 games, but I see that now. How playable are they though, without a real N64 controller? If they work with the classic controller, do they play well that way?

They play well, the Classic Controller is a great all around controller.

If you happen to have a modded Wii, there are a few downloadable (beta) N64 emulators that basically run the ROM through the Wii's internal emulator. I haven't played with it myself, but I've read that it's near perfect.

[rkotm]

It's odd i think that N64 emulation kinda got the short shrift. I was playing Zelda OOT on an emu, and it crashed after completing the beginning part, post sword. I really wanted to play it, too. And meanwhile the Saturn and PSX are perfectly emulated (plus some, have you seen the shaders and plugins for PSX??). I dont really see N64 emulation resuming until it's (GULP) 20th year anniversary in 2016, when nostalgia will probably prompt some programmers into reviving the emulation of it.

[JSoup]

Saturn emulation has gotten better? Last I looked into it, there was only one Saturn emulator and it ran like a mud clogged engine.

[BlastProcessing402]

Kinda sad how N64 emulation has fallen through the cracks. Even Wii seems to have a better emulator (Dolphin) than what's out there for N64.

[sheath]

I have played Mario 64 , Zelda 64 and Mario Kart 64 with a Saturn pad (gen 2) without any trouble in Ultra 64 or whatever. I couldn't figure out how to configure the same for GoldenEye, but that was about it. FPSs are better with analog sticks to be sure. Everything else on the N64 is fine with a digital controller.

[jb143]

I have played Mario 64 , Zelda 64 and Mario Kart 64 with a Saturn pad (gen 2) without any trouble in Ultra 64 or whatever. I couldn't figure out how to configure the same for GoldenEye, but that was about it. FPSs are better with analog sticks to be sure. Everything else on the N64 is fine with a digital controller.

I seem to remember reading 10 years ago or so(or whenever it was that N64 emulation was at it's peak) that most emulators were pretty much programmed to play Mario 64 and Zelda 64...so any other game working would more than likely just have been a serendipitous perk.

[kedawa]

I seem to remember reading 10 years ago or so(or whenever it was that N64 emulation was at it's peak) that most emulators were pretty much programmed to play Mario 64 and Zelda 64...so any other game working would more than likely just have been a serendipitous perk.

All I know is that Ocarina of Time ran beautifully on my friends PC less than a year after the game was released for N64, and yet most other games run like garbage 13 years later.

[NEOFREAK9189]

get nintendo 64 and everdriver 64

http://stoneagegamer.com/everdrive64_deluxe.aspx

[Aussie2B]

All I know is that Ocarina of Time ran beautifully on my friends PC less than a year after the game was released for N64, and yet most other games run like garbage 13 years later.

Yep, those were the good old days. I remember not long after Final Fantasy VII and Ocarina of Time were out, the Nintendo fanboys were emulating PS1 to play FFVII, and the Sony fanboys were emulating N64 to play OoT. And of course, way back then, when the games were still practically new no less, the emulation was complete crap, and they used the emulation flaws as fodder for their attacks on the games. But I guess the emulation must've improved a good deal shortly thereafter.

[nickerous]

N64 emulation is the biggest selling point for these newer Chinese knockoffs. I'm trying to decide between the Yinlip, JXD S7100, and JXD S601. I'm pretty much decided on the upgraded version of the Yinlips, although there are not that many out there to see reviews of. The S7100 looks to emulate the N64 the best, but I don't want to try and control it without shoulder buttons.

[Rickstilwell1]

Saturn emulation has gotten better? Last I looked into it, there was only one Saturn emulator and it ran like a mud clogged engine.

You have to have a high end PC with lots of ram for it to run at the correct speed. Otherwise yeah it is very slow. My Toshiba Satellite A505 with i3 core is enough to run it, but I am experiencing a second of freeze up here and there no matter what emulator I use. I wish I could figure out what is wrong with my computer because it didn't act like that on day 1.

[Jorpho]

It doesn't look like Project 64 or Mupen 64 have been updated in years.The new beta version of Project 64 has had some updates, and I think 1964 was updated not very long ago too.

As with PSX emulation, it can be a matter of getting the right plugins. What games are you trying to run?

[dgdgagdae]

The new beta version of Project 64 has had some updates, and I think 1964 was updated not very long ago too.

As with PSX emulation, it can be a matter of getting the right plugins. What games are you trying to run?

I'd just like to run some common games. Super Mario 64 and Donkey Kong 64, for example. Paper Mario would be good, too.

[Jorpho]

And you say they're "choppy" ? Maybe your system just isn't adequately powerful.

Paper Mario is definitely one of the trickier ones to get going, but it can definitely be done. The very latest 1964 does a fine job, I'm told.

The (last?) patch for PJ64 is at http://www.jabosoft.com/ .

[dgdgagdae]

And you say they're "choppy" ? Maybe your system just isn't adequately powerful.

Paper Mario is definitely one of the trickier ones to get going, but it can definitely be done. The very latest 1964 does a fine job, I'm told.

It could be the version of 1964 that Console Classix uses then (1.0, when 1.1 is current), or maybe the plugins they're using. I'm not sure how that whole plugins business works.

I installed Project64 1.6 (not Project 64k), and I've tested it with Super Mario 64. As far as I can tell, it seems to run at full speed. I have an N64 controller (knockoff, not original) with a USB adapter, which I think is a must for N64 games.

[JohnnyA]

I used to play Paper Mario using emulation on my PC back in 2002 or so, so it definitely should be easily accomplished today.

[Jorpho]

I used to play Paper Mario using emulation on my PC back in 2002 or so, so it definitely should be easily accomplished today.Eh, things have advanced a little, but not much, really. Were you playing with sound at the time?