Difference between revisions of "Mesen"

;
Emulator
Emulates:	NES
Download:	Mesen website
License:	Free (GNU GPLv3)
Developer:	Sour

Latest revision as of 00:16, 24 March 2024

Mesen is a powerful and accurate NES/Famicom emulator that is super easy to set up and install.

Downloads

Download the emulator from the Mesen website
Download the Mesen Bezel pack (v1.5) from Mediafire

Setup Guide

Extract the contents of the compressed file to a folder for your Mesen emulator.

Note: There should only be an executable to extract. (i.e. Mesen.exe)

Open Mesen.exe to start the emulator and run the initial setup configuration wizard.

Select "Store the data in the same folder as the application"

Press the "CONFIRM" button to finish initial configuration.

Mesen Config Wizard with settings set as described in guide

Input Settings

When Mesen loads select "NES" from the "Settings" drop-down menu.
Once the "Settings" dialog box loads you should be guided to the "NES" section of the left task pane.
Select the "Input" tab from the "NES" section.

Access the "NES" section from the "Settings" drop-down via the menu bar.

Make sure "NES Controller" is selected for controller port 1 and click the adjacent "Setup" button to configure the bindings for player one.

Controller Port 1 configuration.

Next, select "NES Controller" for controller port 2 and click the adjacent "Setup" button to configure the bindings for player two.

Controller Port 2 configuration.

Finally, select "Zapper (Famicom)" from the drop-down list for the expansion devices and click the adjacent "Setup" button if you wish to re-configure your Sinden lightgun bindings.

Expansion device configuration.

Set each button to your preference (e.g. Bind "Keyboard Up" to "D-pad Up", "Left Mouse Button" to "Fire", etc.)
Once you have set all the buttons for the relevant controller/device press "OK"

You can leave "Automatically configure controllers when loading a game" checked if you'd prefer the emulator automatically allocate the controller/device types that are used in each controller port/expansion device slot.

If you'd prefer the controller/device types you choose to remain static and permanent then uncheck this box.

Automatically configure controllers when loading a game.

In the left task pane, select "Input" and check "Hide mouse pointer when using light guns."

Note: It's recommended to enable this feature as the mouse cursor on-screen can affect your judgement when aiming.

Enabling this is recommended.

Video Filters

You can apply different filter settings to make the original video output look sharper, more defined, or even close to an original CRT display.

Head on over to the "Video" section of the left task pane and select the "Picture" tab.

Tweak around with these settings until you're satisfied with the results.

More information on display settings can be found via the official documentation here.

Example of the "NTSC (Bisqwit) (NES-only)" filter.

Automatically Hide the Menu Bar & On-screen Messages

These next two settings are optional and are down to preference.

Click on "Preferences" in the left task pane and you should be on the "General" tab.

You can enable "Automatically hide menu bar" if you prefer the menu bar auto-hides when in windowed mode, otherwise, it is enabled by default in fullscreen mode.

Next, click on the "Advanced" tab

This feature can be enabled if you'd prefer not to see the emulator system message during gameplay.

Optional settings.

Run Games Fullscreen

When you load a game it will NOT load full screen, to bring it to full screen you have to press F11 To auto-load a game full screen automatically it is best to launch the emulator and game from the command line.

To this create a batch file that will do everything for you once you click it.

To create a batch file do the following:

Within the Mesen folder right click in a blank space to bring up the menu and then highlight "new" then select "text document" this will create a new text file you can name as you wish.

Load the new text document and then type the following command adjusting the drive/file path to suit:

start C:\*Insert Messen directory here*\Mesen.exe "C:\*Insert NES rom directory here*\*ROM NAME GOES HERE*.nes" -fullscreen

Go to "File" then "Save As", Give the file a name of your choosing but it MUST end with .bat

e.g. gamename.bat

Select Save and you should have a fully executable batch file that will boot the game you have chosen fullscreen

Sinden Border

Mesen emulator requires a 16:9 Sinden border, despite the games being 4:3 aspect ratio.

Launch Script

Example Batch File text:

start C:\NES\Mesen.exe "C:\NES\ROMS\*ROM NAME GOES HERE*.nes" -fullscreen

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 |category = Emulator
 |system = NES
-|download = [https://www.emulator-zone.com/nes/mesen Emulator Zone website]
+|download = [http://www.mesen.ca/ Mesen website]
 |license = Free (GNU GPLv3)
 |developer = Sour
 |gameplayshot = mesen_gameplay.jpg
 }}
-<big>Mesen</big> is a Powerful and accurate NES emulator that is super easy to set up and install.
+<big>Mesen</big> is a powerful and accurate NES/Famicom emulator that is super easy to set up and install.
-==Full Setup Guide ==
+== Downloads ==
+* Download the emulator from the [http://www.mesen.ca/ Mesen] website
+* Download the Mesen Bezel pack (v1.5) from [https://www.mediafire.com/file/e19oe4hvero1pdt/Mesen_Sinden_Bezel_Pack_V1.5.rar/file Mediafire]
+==Setup Guide ==
-First Download the ZIP file from the official site and extract the contents to your hard drive.
+* Extract the contents of the compressed file to a folder for your Mesen emulator.
-Next double click the mesen.exe file to start the emulator and run the initial setup config wizzard.
+<small>Note: There should only be an executable to extract. (i.e. Mesen.exe)</small>
-Select "store data in the same folder as the application"
+* Open Mesen.exe to start the emulator and run the initial setup configuration wizard.
-Press the confirm button to finish installation.
+* Select "Store the data in the same folder as the application"
+* Press the "CONFIRM" button to finish initial configuration.
+[[File:MesenConfigWizard.png|alt=Mesen Config Wizard with settings set as described in guide|none|thumb]]
+=== Input Settings ===
-Now go to the top menu bar, select "options" then "input".
+* When Mesen loads select "NES" from the "Settings" drop-down menu.
+* Once the "Settings" dialog box loads you should be guided to the "NES" section of the left task pane.
+* Select the "Input" tab from the "NES" section.
-on the screen that pops up check the console type is set to "Famicom".
+[[File:Mesen-01-Settings-NES-Input.gif|none|thumb|800x800px|Access the "NES" section from the "Settings" drop-down via the menu bar.]]
+<br>
+* Make sure "NES Controller" is selected for controller port 1 and click the adjacent "Setup" button to configure the bindings for player one.
-Make sure next to player 1&2 in the drop downs "standard controller" is selected.
+[[File:Mesen-02-Settings-NES-Input-Controllers-Port1-Setup.gif|none|thumb|800x800px|Controller Port 1 configuration.]]
+<br>
+* Next, select "NES Controller" for controller port 2 and click the adjacent "Setup" button to configure the bindings for player two.
-Then next to "expansion port" select "Zapper".
+[[File:Mesen-03-Settings-NES-Input-Controllers-Port2-Setup.gif|none|thumb|800x800px|Controller Port 2 configuration.]]
+<br>
+* Finally, select "Zapper (Famicom)" from the drop-down list for the expansion devices and click the adjacent "Setup" button if you wish to re-configure your Sinden lightgun bindings.
-Next click the "Setup" Button next to Player 1, in the new window that pops up simply click on each button input and press the button you wish to associate with it e.g. DPAD Up = Press Keyboard button up etc.
+[[File:Mesen-04-Settings-NES-Input-Controllers-ExpansionDevice-Setup.gif|none|thumb|800x800px|Expansion device configuration.]]
+<br>
+* Set each button to your preference (e.g. Bind "Keyboard Up" to "D-pad Up", "Left Mouse Button" to "Fire", etc.)
+* Once you have set all the buttons for the relevant controller/device press "OK"
-Once you have set all the buttons press the "OK" button.
-Back on the input selection screen select the "Advanced" tab at the top and you will see a tick box to hide the mouse cursor/crosshair if you wish to do so once done again press the "OK" Button.
+You can leave "Automatically configure controllers when loading a game" checked if you'd prefer the emulator automatically allocate the controller/device types that are used in each controller port/expansion device slot.
+If you'd prefer the controller/device types you choose to remain static and permanent then uncheck this box.
+[[File:Mesen-05-Settings-NES-Input-AutomaticConfig.gif|none|thumb|800x800px|Automatically configure controllers when loading a game.]]
+<br>
+* In the left task pane, select "Input" and check "Hide mouse pointer when using light guns."
-If you wish you can apply different Filter options to the screen to make it look more CRT like.
+<small>Note: It's recommended to enable this feature as the mouse cursor on-screen can affect your judgement when aiming.</small>
+[[File:Mesen-06-Settings-Input-HideCursor.gif|none|thumb|800x800px|Enabling this is recommended.]]
+=== Video Filters ===
+You can apply different filter settings to make the original video output look sharper, more defined, or even close to an original CRT display.
-To do so go to the "options" tab in the main menu at the top of the screen then select "Video" you can then navigate to the "Picture" Tab. This will give you a drop down where you can play with filter settings.
+* Head on over to the "Video" section of the left task pane and select the "Picture" tab.
+Tweak around with these settings until you're satisfied with the results.
-Next we want to auto hide the menu bar when we are playing.
+More information on display settings can be found via the official documentation [https://www.mesen.ca/docs/configuration/video.html#picture here].
+[[File:Mesen-07-Settings-Video-FilterSettings.gif|none|thumb|800x800px|Example of the "NTSC (Bisqwit) (NES-only)" filter.]]
-To do so go to "Options" then "Preferences" then towards the bottom you will see a tick box to automatically hide the menu select that.
+=== Automatically Hide the Menu Bar & On-screen Messages ===
+These next two settings are optional and are down to preference.
-Also under the "Advanced" tab you may wish to disable the on screen display OSD and the game selection screen.
+* Click on "Preferences" in the left task pane and you should be on the "General" tab.
-Once you have finished press "OK".
+You can enable "Automatically hide menu bar" if you prefer the menu bar auto-hides when in windowed mode, otherwise, it is enabled by default in fullscreen mode.
+* Next, click on the "Advanced" tab
-You can now load and play games normally with your gun!
+This feature can be enabled if you'd prefer not to see the emulator system message during gameplay.
+[[File:Mesen-08-Settings-Preferences.gif|none|thumb|800x800px|Optional settings.]]
-However when you load a game they will NOT load full screen, to bring it to fullscreen you have to press F11.
+=== Run Games Fullscreen ===
+When you load a game it will NOT load full screen, to bring it to full screen you have to press F11
+To auto-load a game full screen automatically it is best to launch the emulator and game from the command line.
-If you wish to auto load a game fullscreen and not faff around with the menu system it is best to launch the emulator and game from the command line.
-To do so you can create a batch file that will do everything for you once you click it.
+To this create a batch file that will do everything for you once you click it.
 To create a batch file do the following:
-Within the MESEN folder right click in a blank space to bring up the menu and then highlight "new" then select "text document" this will ceate a new text file you can name as you wish.
+Within the Mesen folder right click in a blank space to bring up the menu and then highlight "new" then select "text document" this will create a new text file you can name as you wish.
-Load the new text document and then type the following command adjusting the drive/file path to suit:
+Load the new text document and then type the following command adjusting the drive/file path to suit:<syntaxhighlight lang="bat">
 start C:\*Insert Messen directory here*\Mesen.exe "C:\*Insert NES rom directory here*\*ROM NAME GOES HERE*.nes" -fullscreen
+</syntaxhighlight>Go to "File" then "Save As", Give the file a name of your choosing but it MUST end with .bat
-Then simply go to "File" then "Save As", Give the file a name of your choosing but it MUST end with .bat
+e.g. gamename.bat
-Eg gamename.bat
-Hit save and then you should have a fully executable batch file that will boot the game you have chosen full screen!
-You could also use AHK to carry out this task.
+Select Save and you should have a fully executable batch file that will boot the game you have chosen fullscreen
-==Downloads==
+=== Sinden Border ===
-* Download the Mesen Bezel pack (v1.5) from [https://www.mediafire.com/file/e19oe4hvero1pdt/Mesen_Sinden_Bezel_Pack_V1.5.rar/file Mediafire]
+Mesen emulator requires a 16:9 Sinden border, despite the games being 4:3 aspect ratio.
 ==Launch Script==