Installing and Using Console Emulators – Part 3

Gaming
This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Installing and Using Console Emulators.

In part 1 of this series, I introduced several console emulators and provided a link to a website where they can be downloaded; this also covered an emulator for the NES. Part 2 continued with information about an SNES emulator. For part 3, we’ll look at using a Sega Genesis emulator called Fusion.

Fusion

As with the previous two emulators, installing Fusion is simply a matter of unzipping the files to a folder on your hard drive. I’d recommend putting them into a folder called “Sega” to separate them from your other emulators. Once the files are extracted, run the Fusion application.

This emulator does not have many display or video options, but we can set up a few defaults. In the program’s menu, go to Video > Full Screen Resolution and set this to your primary display’s native resolution (this is usually the highest setting available). I also check to make sure that the Fixed Aspect (Fit) option is enabled and the Filtered option is enabled (these should both have a check mark next to them). This will prevent the emulator from stretching the image and smooth over the low resolution image so it looks better in full screen.

Fusion - Video Configuration
Use these settings for the Video Configuration

Next you should set up the input configuration (Options > Set Config > Controllers tab). You can use the keyboard as your input device, but I highly recommend a gamepad. I use Logitech gamepads, but any gamepad compatible with Windows® should work just fine.

To setup two controllers, you’ll need to choose each controller from the drop-down menu for each port, then assign buttons on your gamepad to each control. To assign buttons, simply click the Define button for each port, then press the button on your gamepad that you want to use for the control listed in the bottom of the configuration window. As you press each button on your gamepad, Fusion will save that setting and prompt you for the next control automatically. Repeat this process for both ports. You can also select the 4-Way-Play option near the bottom of the configuration window and set up four ports instead of two, but I have not tested this function.

Fusion - Controller Configuration
Assign your gamepad buttons to the controls for the emulator

Finally, you’ll want to set up the directories configuration (Options > Set Config > Genesis tab and Extras tab). This tells the program where to put save states, screenshots, etc. Your ROMs directory will be set when you go to File > Load Genesis / 32X ROM and browse to the folder where you keep your Genesis ROMs. The program will remember this location when you open subsequent ROMs.

Fusion - Folder Configuration
Setup directories for save states, screenshots, etc.

I leave all other settings at their default values, but feel free to experiment. The program includes a readme.txt file with some helpful information on using the emulator, so be sure to look it over.

This emulator also supports other Sega consoles like the 32X, Sega CD, and more. I have not experimented with any emulation other than the Genesis, so feel free to try those out on your own. If you have any luck, post in the comments!

In part 4, I’ll go over Project64 for the N64. Stay tuned…


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