Getting Started Practicing - soft/hardware needed?
4 years ago
California, USA

tl;dr - what basic software and hardware would I need to practice with savestates?

Hi all-

I'm new to the site and just discovering the Speedrun community. I had a lot of fun for a few months back in 2008 speedrunning through Super Mario Bros. on the Wii Virtual Console.

My interest is renewed, and I want to practice from some savestates that I've been reading about.

My question: what's a basic setup for practice? My guess is PC, fceux emulator, an SMB rom (that I saw a sticky thread for), and an nes controller that would go into the PC.

Is that accurate? Are there other items?

Also, any recommendations on an NES controller for the PC?

Thanks in advance.

Lul_ecks_dee likes this
New Hampshire, USA

Yeah, emulator is the easiest and cheapest way to use savestates. But if you don't want to use emu, then buy an expensive everdrive or powerpak. And get put a rom onto the cart.

California, USA

Thanks, emu was my thinking on how to get started too.

Anyone have a rec on an NES controller to use with an emulator?

New Hampshire, USA

A USB controller. You can find them on Amazon or Ebay.

bobbyjonesrocks likes this
California, USA

Actually A better recommendation Is to buy an Original Nes Controller And Buy A USB adapter with it

Alot of usb nes controllers like the dogbone style one i have are really bad and made cheaply especially with the d pads

Québec

And there's me, playing with a xbox 360 controller LUL

Florida, USA

I would recommend an 8bitdo classic style controller, I have an sn30

You can also use a keyboard like me and Tecate do, I would say a controller is a preference thing that can make it feel a little more like the real thing.

warpedclip and Novawolf like this
Game stats
Followers
7,784
Runs
8,790
Players
1,781
Latest news
Requirements for High-Level Any% Runs

Any% (NTSC) runs below 4:57.000 must now fulfill additional requirements in order to be verified.

  • The run's full session must be included in the submission description.
  • For emulator runs below 4:57.000, some form of input display must be visible for the duration of the run. A hand-cam or input
3 months ago