The Guide to ROMs and BIOS Files for Retro Handhelds
If you’re a fan of retro handheld gaming, then you’ve probably come across the terms ROMs and BIOS files. These are essential components that make your vintage gaming experience possible. But for newcomers, these terms can be a bit confusing. Don’t worry, this article will break it down for you in simple terms.
What Are ROMs?
ROMs stands for "Read-Only Memory." In the context of retro gaming, ROMs are digital copies of video games. These copies are extracted from the original game cartridges, discs, or other storage media and stored on your computer or other devices. Think of ROMs as e-books for games; they contain all the data and instructions needed to play the game. Emulators, which are software programs, read these ROMs to allow you to play classic games on modern devices.
Different gaming platforms have different ROM formats. For example, NES games from Nintendo have a specific ROM format, while Sega Genesis games have another. These formats are determined by the hardware architecture and storage media of the gaming consoles.
What Are BIOS Files?
The Relationship Between ROMs and BIOS Files
ROMs and BIOS files work together. The BIOS file initializes the hardware when you turn on the console, and then the ROM file loads the game. When you use an emulator to play a retro game, the emulator first loads the BIOS file to set up the hardware, and then it loads the ROM file to start the game.