>keep tinkering with crt shaders. don't actually play anything
Tinkering with CRT shaders actually made me finish almost all of my backlog because I want to see how the games will look after each little change I make, so it keeps me playing, just so I can marvel at how different it looks when stuff is blended properly.
Do not download full romsets.
Do not bother with fancy front-ends like Hyperspin.
RetroArch is probably going to be your best choice for 5th gen and earlier.
Pick out a game by browsing the internet, reading old magazines, or talking to people irl.
When you pick out a game download the instruction booklet for it and read it completely before ever starting up the game.
Print the booklet out if you wish and keep it as a memento.
Look up some ads, flyers, and commercials to get a sense of the game's marketing campaign.
Read retro reviews and previews of the game to get a feel for the atmosphere surrounding the game's release.
Use a good, comfortable controller and chair.
If possible play on a different set-up than your desktop PC.
Consider purchasing a new controller to coincide with a playthrough of a much-anticipated game to make it feel more special to you.
I don't recommend playing console games on a handheld but to each their own. If that is what is most comfortable for you then go for it.
Do the research to get your software configuration set-up for the game and go through the process of emu config methodically. Expect it to take an evening if you are going in blind. Read the emu documentation.
Set aside time mentally for gaming. Tell yourself this is not a "waste of time". Life isn't about trying to be productive every waking moment.
Eat some decent food before gaming, junk food makes you lethargic and perform worse in action games.
When you beat a game purchase a small keepsake related to the game to put on your shelf.
You sound like me, I came to this same idea of getting the whole experience and rewarding myself for beating it by getting a memento. Anyways I got into original hardware and coomlecting and it all went downwhill from there, now I have a shitton of consoles and games, and I don't play them. Best of luck to you chap.
Find a game you like. Git gud at it.
Go for 1cc clears, then no death runs and or scoring.
I suggest
Vasara 2
Blazing Star
Batrider
D&D Tower of Doom and D&D Mystara
Rayforce
Sōkyūgurentai
Cotton
Dodonpachi
Pocky & Rocky
Strikers 1945 II
Raiden DX
Gradius 2, 3, 4
G-Darius
Metal Slug 2 and X
Mars Matrix
Mushihimesama
Sengoku Ace 1 and 2
Gunbird 1 and 2
A joystick with a proper, clicky, Sanwa mechanical lever and buttons. I gutted an 8bitdo wireless one and put that stuff in it and it's pretty cash.
Magic-NS adapters so you can use pretty much any controller you want from Nintendo, Sony, and MS.
A VRR capable monitor or TV. These tend to be newer and have lower lag anyway, but VRR really cuts lag down if your games are below your max refresh. RETROARCH and run-ahead and shaders, you'll find that it's more fun to configure shit than play as an adult anyway.
I have the PlayStation version and it's surprisingly excellent. The D-pad is very similar to a Saturn pad, maybe a tad looser but still really nice. The buttons are top notch, very thick rubber membrane over an actual microswitch. Triggers are just ok. Very comfortable to hold. Surprisingly chunky, but ergonomic, just about the perfect weight.
However, I got mine dirt cheap, about £11 on clearance. At that price I immediately bought a second. If it were full price at £50 I'd be worried about reliability, though, lots of people have said they have problems, especially with the d-pad. I'm not sure I believe them (fighting game mongs tend to brag about practicing 25 hours a day and gripping their controller like their mom's wiener), but it's still a concern.
>keep tinkering with crt shaders. don't actually play anything
Tinkering with CRT shaders actually made me finish almost all of my backlog because I want to see how the games will look after each little change I make, so it keeps me playing, just so I can marvel at how different it looks when stuff is blended properly.
Just remember how shit real hardware is
Wear period correct clothing while doing it!
This. Correct hairstyle will be required as well.
That's why I switched to real hardware.
Do not download full romsets.
Do not bother with fancy front-ends like Hyperspin.
RetroArch is probably going to be your best choice for 5th gen and earlier.
Pick out a game by browsing the internet, reading old magazines, or talking to people irl.
When you pick out a game download the instruction booklet for it and read it completely before ever starting up the game.
Print the booklet out if you wish and keep it as a memento.
Look up some ads, flyers, and commercials to get a sense of the game's marketing campaign.
Read retro reviews and previews of the game to get a feel for the atmosphere surrounding the game's release.
Use a good, comfortable controller and chair.
If possible play on a different set-up than your desktop PC.
Consider purchasing a new controller to coincide with a playthrough of a much-anticipated game to make it feel more special to you.
I don't recommend playing console games on a handheld but to each their own. If that is what is most comfortable for you then go for it.
Do the research to get your software configuration set-up for the game and go through the process of emu config methodically. Expect it to take an evening if you are going in blind. Read the emu documentation.
Set aside time mentally for gaming. Tell yourself this is not a "waste of time". Life isn't about trying to be productive every waking moment.
Eat some decent food before gaming, junk food makes you lethargic and perform worse in action games.
When you beat a game purchase a small keepsake related to the game to put on your shelf.
You sound like me, I came to this same idea of getting the whole experience and rewarding myself for beating it by getting a memento. Anyways I got into original hardware and coomlecting and it all went downwhill from there, now I have a shitton of consoles and games, and I don't play them. Best of luck to you chap.
>now I have a shitton of consoles and games, and I don't play them.
sell em'
Fun list. The number of youngsters who try to fire up a retro game without reading the manual is quite high.
>When you beat a game purchase a small keepsake related to the game to put on your shelf.
ya like a physical copy of the game.
I've told you over and over anon.
i'M NOT BUYING no STINKING arcade PEE CEE BEEs.
>junk food makes you lethargic
I've been blaming vegetable oils for a few months.
Sunflower, safflower, olive, etc.
Unplug your internet after you start the game.
Play at 74fps
Open a hex editor and blindly corrupt a ROM for lulz. When the game crashes more than the devs intended, it's a success.
play on original hardware on a crt
use older inaccurate emulators for glitchy good times
Don't use X360 controller for sidescrollers. Took me long time to figure that the D-Pad is not great for precise axis movement.
Play rom hacks.
Find a game you like. Git gud at it.
Go for 1cc clears, then no death runs and or scoring.
I suggest
Vasara 2
Blazing Star
Batrider
D&D Tower of Doom and D&D Mystara
Rayforce
Sōkyūgurentai
Cotton
Dodonpachi
Pocky & Rocky
Strikers 1945 II
Raiden DX
Gradius 2, 3, 4
G-Darius
Metal Slug 2 and X
Mars Matrix
Mushihimesama
Sengoku Ace 1 and 2
Gunbird 1 and 2
Metal Slug 2 is the only game I will play on your list.
Just play in full screen mode with a controller and you'll forget it's emulated.
Nice pad but what is with the geek holding it? Is this a representation of us?
it's more attention grabbing than a bare controller in a void
Have some cute gravure playing on your second monitor.
A joystick with a proper, clicky, Sanwa mechanical lever and buttons. I gutted an 8bitdo wireless one and put that stuff in it and it's pretty cash.
Magic-NS adapters so you can use pretty much any controller you want from Nintendo, Sony, and MS.
A VRR capable monitor or TV. These tend to be newer and have lower lag anyway, but VRR really cuts lag down if your games are below your max refresh.
RETROARCH and run-ahead and shaders, you'll find that it's more fun to configure shit than play as an adult anyway.
can't shill this vid enough
The dude knows his shit.
How's that controller in that picture?
I have the PlayStation version and it's surprisingly excellent. The D-pad is very similar to a Saturn pad, maybe a tad looser but still really nice. The buttons are top notch, very thick rubber membrane over an actual microswitch. Triggers are just ok. Very comfortable to hold. Surprisingly chunky, but ergonomic, just about the perfect weight.
However, I got mine dirt cheap, about £11 on clearance. At that price I immediately bought a second. If it were full price at £50 I'd be worried about reliability, though, lots of people have said they have problems, especially with the d-pad. I'm not sure I believe them (fighting game mongs tend to brag about practicing 25 hours a day and gripping their controller like their mom's wiener), but it's still a concern.
Start by picking out a game and playing it.
retroachievements dot org
Use an appropriate controller, either 100% accept inaccuracies or play on console (don't play games that are fricked up in a way that bugs you)