Thank you for downloading the Livewire HQ Emulator Frontend (AKA the Livewire Launcher).

Please be sure to go through the folder structure and read ALL dir.txt's you come across, and also read config.txt so you have some idea how to set up a second emulator.


LWHQ EF comes pre-loaded with absolutely no roms - you are required to supply your own.  DO NOT ASK ME WHERE TO GET THEM - Google is your best friend.

LWHQ EF is mostly pre-loaded to support Kega Fusion however; to use Fusion with the frontend, download fusion from its homepage (Google!), and extract it to Sega Genesis>EXE.



New Systems
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To prepare LWHQ EF for new systems, first create a folder with the name of the system (NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Neo Geo, etc.).  Then copy the existing configuration file for any system (Sega Genesis.ini comes pre-loaded!), and create a new file with it - name the new file the same as the folder name for the system (so if the folder is Neo-Geo, then the file is Neo-Geo.ini.  If it's Neo Geo without the hyphen, then neo geo.ini).  

Inside the newly created folder, create a folder named EXE (in all capitals).  This is where the emulator must go.

Read config.txt, and replace the arguments, romext, and exe with the appropriate information in your configuration file.

Inside the folder for the system, you'll now need to start making directories for games - each directory MUST contain a rom (in the event you're using MAME, check the end of config.txt - there's some special rules for MAME).  The rom doesn't need to be named the same as the folder, as long as it's extension matches the romext from the configuration file for the system (so if romext=.gen, then the extension on the rom must be gen.)


When in doubt, look at the pre-made Sega Genesis folder structure - that will help you get a handle on where things go.  If you get totally confused, go ahead and email me, however by following the premade folder structure you should be able to figure out where things go.  Spam is not tolerated!



If for any reason you are having problems with an emulator, see the end of config.txt for directions on what you'll need to email me so I can try and make it work.  Some emulators simply WON'T work with the launcher, however I have had success with the following:

MAME
Kega Fusion
Nestopia
SNES9x
Visual Boy Advance

There are likely others for each system that will work as well, but I have tested these and know they work.



That's about it - enjoy, and remember: Player 1 is the best player.  All others are number two or lower.