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How to Play SNES Games on Your PlayStation 2

Playing video games that are made for one console on a different one is possible with emulation and porting. Porting is the changing of code to run on a different environment than the one it is originally intended for. Few games are ported, especially in the case of an older system like the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) to a newer console like the PlayStation 2 (PS2). Because of this, many gamers turn to emulators to play their favorite older games. An emulator simulates the environment of the original console on a different platform, such as an SNES on a PS2.

Things You'll Need

SNES Emulator
SNES ROM game files
Modded PS2
Computer

Instructions

- 1
  Find an emulator capable of running on a PlayStation 2. The only real option for the PS2 is SNES-Station, a version of the popular Snes9x emulator made for the PS2.
- 2
  Gather one or a few SNES ROMs to play the games on the emulator. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory and they are transferable files you can use on emulators. Most SNES ROMs come in a ".smc" format. Store them by using a cartridge flasher, a device that you can plug game cartridges into and that allow you to flash them to a computer in ROM format. Save them anywhere on a computer to make ROMs of any cartridges you may own.
  
  If you don't have a cartridge flasher or SNES games, you will need to download the ROMs. Note that downloading SNES ROMs of copyrighted games is illegal, whether you own the original game or not.
- 3
  Transfer the emulator and ROM files to your PS2 using any method you prefer. Refer to the emulator's instructions. You can only transfer files and use emulators on a modded PS2. A modded, or modified, PS2 is one where the hardware or software has been altered to allow you to take advantage of the hardware other than the way the manufacturer originally intended.
  
  To mod a PS2, you can send it in to some websites at your own risk, hire a professional or try to do it yourself using manuals available online. You can also purchase premodded systems from websites or game vendors, but any modded system voids the manufacturer's warranty.
- 4
  Set up the emulator by mapping the SNES buttons to your PS2 and change any video and audio settings to your preference. Most emulators allow this by using a graphical user interface, or GUI, to change settings.
- 5
  Locate the ROM file on your PS2 using your emulator and run it. Your PS2 files should be organized similar to a computer, where you can look at folders on various drives. It is easiest to make a folder labled "roms" or "games" and put them in the root of your emulator folder for easy access.
  
  If everything is in order and you have a good ROM copy of the SNES game you are running, you should have no problem playing the game with little to no change to original gameplay.

PlayStation 2