Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Downloading an emulator
• Part 2 of 3: Downloading a ROM for use with an emulator
• Part 3 of 3: Opening the ROM in your Game Boy / DS emulator
• Tips

Since it was introduced to the gaming world in the 1990s, Pokémon has always been exclusive to Nintendo consoles, especially the Game Boy and Nintendo DS. Whether you're a hardcore fan or just a gamer looking to try out the game, you can play Pokémon without having to buy a separate game console. You probably don't need more than your good old (or new) PC!

To step

Part 1 of 3: Downloading an emulator

1. Find an emulator for the Nintendo DS or for the Game Boy. Emulators are programs that mimic the functions of other programs. Emulators for Nintendo reproduce the functionality of Nintendo devices so that you can play games on your computer that are otherwise only playable on DS or Game Boy devices.
   • Includes Visual Boy Advance from http://www.emulator-zone.com/doc.php/gba/vboyadvance.html and Neon DS from http://www.emulator-zone.com/doc.php/nds/neonds .html are emulators for Nintendo that you can download.
2. Download and install the emulator on your computer. Run the emulator installer to extract the file and wait for the installation process to complete.
3. Open the emulator once the installation is complete. Double-click the icon on the desktop, or select it from the list of programs installed on your computer, to open the emulator.

Part 2 of 3: Downloading a ROM for use with an emulator

1. Look for websites where you can download ROMs. Although emulators act as the game console, ROMs are files that contain the copied data from a game for a game console. Basically, ROMs are the virtual counterparts of game cartridges, and just as a game console needs a game cartridge to run a game, emulators need ROMs to work.
   • There are several websites on the internet where you can download ROM files for free. One of the sites where you can get ROMs for Pokémon is Cool ROM (http://coolrom.com).
2. Search the site for a Pokémon game that you like. Since ROMs are made by individuals and not by the game's publishers, some games in the Pokémon series will not have a ROM counterpart (this is especially the case with games released recently), so you may find that you have to wait a while before a ROM version can be found.
   • Once you find the ROM of the Pokémon game you are looking for, you need to download the file from the website and save it to your PC.

Part 3 of 3: Opening the ROM in your Game Boy / DS emulator

1. Click "File" in the main menu to open an explorer window. Most emulators have the same user interface; a basic window with a menu bar at the top.
2. Go to where the ROM file you downloaded is located and select it. Do this through the explorer window. Click "Open" to open the selected ROM in your emulator.
3. Wait while the emulator downloads the game. Once it has finished downloading the ROM file, the game will start automatically. Now you can just play it on your PC.

Tips

• Just like when playing on Nintendo consoles, you can save your game using an emulator.
• Since Pokémon games are played on devices you hold that have smaller screens, the emulator may not be able to play the ROM file at the same resolution as your computer's screen. The screen of the emulator will be adjusted to the default settings for the resolution of the game consoles. This means that you may have to play the game on a small screen. Increasing it can result in blocky graphics.
• Your computer's keyboard will act as the controller of your game console. The keys you use to play the game will vary depending on the type of emulator you have downloaded.