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Managing Systems

Systems (also called "platforms") are the backbone of your HyperSpin setup. Each system represents a gaming platform—arcade, console, computer, handheld, whatever you want to play.

What is a System?​

Think of a system as a category for your games. Examples:

  • Arcade - MAME games, CPS1, CPS2, Neo Geo
  • Sega Genesis - Genesis/Mega Drive games
  • PlayStation - PS1 games
  • Sega Saturn - Saturn games
  • Computer - DOS games, Amiga, Commodore 64
  • Steam - PC games from your Steam library

Each system has its own:

  • Game library (ROMs)
  • Emulator configuration
  • Artwork and themes
  • Settings and preferences

Adding Your First System​

Ready to add a system? Here's how:

1. Click "Add System"​

From the main Systems view, click the Add System button. You'll see a form with several options.

2. Choose a System Type​

HyperHQ knows about tons of systems. Pick yours from the dropdown:

  • Arcade systems (MAME, CPS, Neo Geo, etc.)
  • Game consoles (PlayStation, Sega, Xbox, Atari, etc.)
  • Computers (Amiga, DOS, C64, etc.)
  • Handhelds (Game Boy, PSP, DS, etc.)
  • Custom (make your own)

Can't find exactly what you need? Pick "Custom" and name it whatever you want.

3. Set Your Display Name​

This is what shows up in HyperSpin. Usually it's fine to leave it as the default, but you can customize it:

  • "Nintendo Entertainment System" → "NES"
  • "Sony PlayStation" → "PS1"
  • Whatever makes sense to you

4. Configure ROM Paths​

Tell HyperHQ where your game files live. Click Add Path and browse to your ROM folder.

Pro Tips:

  • You can add multiple paths if your games are spread across folders
  • HyperHQ will scan subfolders automatically if you enable that option
  • Use the drag-and-drop file browser—it's faster than typing paths

5. Set File Extensions​

What file types are your games? Common examples:

  • MAME: .zip
  • NES: .nes, .zip
  • Genesis: .bin, .md, .gen
  • PlayStation: .bin, .cue, .iso
Multiple Extensions

Separate multiple extensions with commas: .bin, .cue, .iso

6. Choose an Emulator​

Pick the emulator that runs these games. If you haven't added your emulators yet, don't worry—you can do this later.

Common choices:

  • MAME for arcade games
  • RetroArch for most consoles (it's an all-in-one solution)
  • Standalone emulators for specific systems (Project64, PCSX2, Dolphin, etc.)

Don't have emulators yet? That's fine! You can add them after clicking Manage Emulators from the system edit screen.

7. Import Games​

Once you save the system, HyperHQ automatically scans your ROM paths and imports any games it finds. You'll see them appear in the Games tab.

Managing Emulators​

Emulators are what actually run your games. Here's how to set them up:

Adding an Emulator​

  1. From your system's page, click Manage Emulators
  2. Click Add Emulator
  3. Give it a name (e.g., "MAME", "RetroArch NES", "Dolphin")
  4. Browse to the emulator's executable file (.exe)
  5. Add any command-line parameters if needed

Common Parameters:

  • MAME: Usually just the ROM name
  • RetroArch: -L "cores\nes_libretro.dll" (path to the core)
  • Standalone emulators: Check the emulator's documentation
RetroArch Users

RetroArch needs to know which "core" to use. The core is the actual emulator for each system. Add the core path in the command-line parameters: -L "cores\[system]_libretro.dll"

Setting a Default Emulator​

If you have multiple emulators for one system, pick your favorite as the default:

  1. Go to your system's settings
  2. Find the Default Emulator dropdown
  3. Select your preferred emulator

HyperSpin will use this one when launching games from that system.

Emulator Scripts​

Need to do something before or after a game launches? HyperHQ supports scripts:

Pre-Launch Scripts

  • Runs before the game starts
  • Useful for setting up controllers, displays, or other prep work

Post-Launch Scripts

  • Runs after the game closes
  • Good for cleanup or returning settings to normal

Other Script Types:

  • Pause/Resume
  • Save/Load states
  • Reset
  • Swap discs
  • Exit game

Scripts can be batch files (.bat), PowerShell (.ps1), or any executable. Add them in the emulator settings.

Editing Systems​

Need to change something? Click on a system in the sidebar to edit it.

Metadata Tab​

Edit basic information:

  • Display name
  • Description
  • Platform type
  • Show/hide in HyperSpin

ROMs Tab​

View and manage your game library:

  • See all imported games
  • Edit individual game information
  • Rescan for new games
  • Remove games you don't want

Settings Tab​

System-specific settings:

  • ROM paths (add, remove, or change)
  • File extensions
  • Default emulator
  • Custom settings

Media Tab​

Manage artwork for this system:

  • System wheel image
  • Background artwork
  • Themes
  • Pointers and other visual elements

System Categories​

HyperHQ organizes systems into categories. This helps keep things organized when you have dozens of systems.

Arcade

  • MAME
  • CPS1, CPS2, CPS3
  • Neo Geo
  • Atomiswave
  • Naomi

Consoles

  • Nintendo (NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, Switch)
  • PlayStation (PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4)
  • Sega (Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast)
  • Xbox (Original, 360, One)
  • And many more

Computers

  • DOS
  • Amiga
  • Commodore 64
  • Apple II
  • Atari ST

Handhelds

  • Game Boy / Game Boy Color / Game Boy Advance
  • Nintendo DS / 3DS
  • PlayStation Portable (PSP)
  • PlayStation Vita
  • Sega Game Gear

Custom Create your own categories for:

  • Custom game collections
  • Homebrew platforms
  • Anything else you dream up

System Organization Tips​

Name Systems Clearly Use names that make sense at a glance. "Nintendo 64" is clearer than "N64 v2 Final".

Group Similar Systems Keep console generations together. Put all Nintendo systems in one area, all PlayStations in another.

Hide Systems You Don't Use Got a system but no games for it yet? Hide it in HyperSpin until you're ready. Just toggle the visibility in system settings.

Use Custom Systems for Collections Want a "Fighting Games" or "Best of the 90s" collection? Create a custom system and add games from anywhere.

ROM Scanning​

HyperHQ automatically scans for games when you add or edit ROM paths. Here's what happens:

Automatic Scanning​

When you save a system with ROM paths, HyperHQ:

  1. Searches those folders for files matching your extensions
  2. Creates entries for each game found
  3. Extracts metadata when possible
  4. Shows you the count of games imported

Manual Rescanning​

Added more games to your ROM folder? Click Rescan ROMs to find them:

  1. Go to your system's ROMs tab
  2. Click Rescan
  3. HyperHQ finds new games and adds them

Subfolder Scanning​

HyperHQ can search through subfolders to find games:

  • Enable "Scan Subfolders" in system settings
  • Useful if your games are organized into subfolders
  • Be careful with deep folder structures—it can take time

Multi-File Games​

Some games need multiple files to work (like PlayStation games with .bin and .cue files). HyperHQ handles this:

Separate Each File With | In your ROM entry, list files like this:

game.cue|game.bin

HyperHQ will pass all files to your emulator. Most emulators want the .cue file first, so list it first.

Direct Executable Games​

Not everything needs an emulator! PC games, shortcuts, and batch files can run directly:

  1. Create a system for your PC games
  2. Set file extensions to .exe, .lnk, or .bat
  3. Don't select an emulator
  4. HyperHQ will launch them directly

This is great for:

  • Steam games (use shortcuts)
  • DOSBox launchers
  • ScummVM games
  • Native PC games

Steam Integration​

Want to add Steam games? HyperHQ has special Steam support:

  1. Add a new system and select Steam as the type
  2. Enter your Steam API key (get it from steamcommunity.com/dev/apikey)
  3. Enter your Steam profile ID
  4. HyperHQ imports your Steam library automatically

Games launch through Steam, so all your Steam features (cloud saves, achievements, etc.) work normally.

Common Issues​

Games Not Showing Up?

  • Check your ROM paths are correct
  • Verify file extensions match your games
  • Make sure you enabled subfolder scanning if needed
  • Try manually rescanning

Emulator Won't Launch?

  • Verify the emulator path points to the actual .exe file
  • Check your command-line parameters
  • Test the emulator directly (outside HyperSpin) to make sure it works
  • Check Settings > View Logs for error messages

Wrong Games Listed?

  • HyperHQ lists any file matching your extensions
  • Remove unwanted entries from the ROMs tab
  • Adjust your file extensions to be more specific

System Not Showing in HyperSpin?

  • Make sure visibility is enabled in system settings
  • Restart HyperSpin to reload the system list
  • Check that the system has at least one game

What's Next?​

Now that you've got systems set up, time to work with your games! Head to Working With Games to learn about managing your game library.

Want to make things look pretty? Check out Managing Media to download artwork and themes.