So. I finally managed to find a Linux-based Ubuntu emulator that emulates all Nintendo consoles:

* NES
* SNES
* Gameboy
* Gameboy Color
* Gameboy Advance

I was using Visualboy Advance, but it would NOT recognize my gamepad input. I have an old ass Logitech Rumble Pad 2 USB controller. After installing Joystick:

In Terminal just type:

sudo apt-get install joystick

Then enter your password. Respond to any prompts. This will install the GTK interface for a Joystick configuration utility. This will allow you to plug in your USB gamepad and see if it’s detected by Ubuntu to see if it works. It should install an icon to your launcher bar so you can test it out. Sometimes you may want to plug in your gamepad before you start your PC and boot into Ubuntu though to make sure it works, so be aware of that.

Mine did, but in Visualboy Advance it would NOT accept joypad input; only keyboard. Other emulators also gave me issues. This is because, I have learned, that in Windows the way that ALL applications accept input from gamepads is standardized. In Linux that isn’t necessarily so! This can cause headaches.

I Googled again and again and finally found out that, in Linux, this is a COMMON ISSUE.

What I found to work:

An emulator called Higan. If you go into Ubuntu Software Center you should be able to search for "higan" and install it.

You should be able to go to advanced configuration and see if you can configure joypad/gamepad input based on your controller. Higan worked like charm with configuring the controller schemes for the various Nintendo consoles.

The only hitch I encountered that was a bitch was trying to play GBA (Gameboy Advance) games.

Higan does NOT ship with the GBA BIOS. You must download this file separately. It’s EASY to find.

Refer to the Higan userguide. It should be named, in Ubuntu:

/usr/share/doc/higan/higan_user_guide.html (in this file location)

It will tell you exactly how to rename the GBA bios file (may be named anything at all) and how to copy it to the appropriate folder.

YOU MUST rename the GBA BIOS file to what they tell you and move it to the correct directory before you can play GBA games.

Works like a charm now!

The only snag I’ve run into is that I run Xubuntu on my old Netbook, and in the Ubuntu Software Center repository "higan" isn’t available. You must go to the Higan emulator page, download the source, and compile from source to install it and get it working. I haven’t actually DONE this yet. I’m waiting until I’m really bored. I mainly play on this desktop, but now that it’s hot as shit humid NJ summer I’d like to do this soon so I can bring my very portable Netbook downstairs to the basement where it’s super cool any time to do retro gaming.

Once I actually compile from source I’ll let you know if it works. It should.

Higan works GREAT on standard Ubuntu though.

HIGAN IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR MAC OSX (Only 64 bit)

Here is the homepage for Higan emulator:

http://byuu.org/higan/