Starting Games

1. The ROM Browser
2. File > Open ROM
3. Recent ROM menu
4. Shell integration

The ROM Browser

This is the generally recommended method of starting games, for many reasons, read about the ROM Browser here.

File > Open ROM

It is possible to use a standard Windows file open dialogue to start games. Go File > Open ROM, browse to your ROM file and double click the file - with the default settings the game will load and emulation will start automatically. If you are using this method, you won't have the feedback provided by the Browser, so you should be sure that you are opening a supported game and be aware of possible issues etc.

Recent ROM menu

Most users will have a small number of games that they play regularly. To make it easy for you to access these games without wading through all your games, Project64 Legacy saves a list of the most recently opened ROMs in the File menu, under "Recent ROMs". Every time a game is started, (unless it's already the most recent) it's added to the top of the list, and the others are all pushed down one place, so the most recent game will always be at the top, the second most recent second in the list, and so on.

By default the list shows only the 4 most recently started games, but this is adjustable

Shell integration

If you have associated your ROM files with Project64 Legacy you can start a game simply by double clicking the ROM file you want to start in Windows Explorer. Project64 Legacy will start and load the appropriate ROM automatically, bypassing the Project64 Legacy ROM Browser.

Stopping & changing games

If you are finished playing and want to leave Project64 Legacy you can simply close the emulator like any normal Windows application (use the X, or File > Exit (shortcut). There is no need to End Emulation etc. before you quit. If you are going to be away for a short period of time you could leave the emulator paused (be default losing window focus or mininimising the window will automatically pause for you).

Project64 Legacy does not prompt you to save and does not save automatically on exit, so do not forget to make a state save if you want to be able to pick up exactly where you left off. You'll probably want to make a named save, so go System > Save As (shortcut) to open the dialogue and type in a path and name you'll remember.

If you want to play a different game,you can go back to the ROM browser to make your selection by choosing File > End Emulation, or you can go ahead and load it directly from File > Open or the Recent ROM menu, even while the old game is running. Project64 Legacy will automatically End Emulation of the old game and load and start the new one (without any promps, be careful!).

Resetting games

In case you are not familiar with the N64 console, it has a reset button. Pressing this is equivalent to turning the power off and back on - it's just smoother and quicker. Of course there is no direct power button equivalent on Project64 Legacy, but the reset is emulated - go System > Reset ROM.

Keyboard shortcut: F1

Some points to note about reset:

1. There is no prompt to reset, so be careful, it happens instantly. Make sure you save your game if you want to, there is no way to go back (undo).
2. On reset, Project64 Legacy checks all core settings, so if you have made any changes to the RDB or general options they will take effect now.
3. After resetting, PJ64 has no memory of any state loads before the reset. In other words, the RDRAM (the game's memory space) is totaly wiped clean. This is significant if you are using hacks/cheat codes or have core errors - do a native save, reset the ROM, and load through the game menus. This is a smart dodge that can save you when your states go bad or a combination of cheat codes ruins your game.