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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.

Adding Paths:

  • Click Add Path to browse for folders
  • Drag and drop ROM directories directly into the path list
  • Add multiple paths if games are spread across folders
  • HyperHQ scans subfolders automatically when enabled

Reordering Paths (New!)

  • Drag-and-drop to reorder ROM search paths
  • HyperHQ searches in order from top to bottom
  • Put most common path first for faster scanning
  • Visual feedback while dragging
  • Changes save automatically

Pro Tips:

  • You can add multiple paths if your games are spread across folders
  • HyperHQ will scan subfolders automatically if you enable that option
  • Drag-and-drop paths to reorder them—faster than using buttons
  • First path is searched first, so prioritize your main ROM folder

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

Custom System Features​

Scrape As Feature (New!) When creating custom systems, you can point them at another system for automatic metadata scraping:

  1. Create your custom system (e.g., "Best Fighting Games")
  2. Set the Scrape As option to an existing system (e.g., "MAME")
  3. HyperHQ uses that system's metadata database for your custom games
  4. Get automatic game info without manual entry

When to Use "Scrape As":

  • Building genre-specific collections from multiple systems
  • Creating custom best-of compilations
  • Organizing games differently than default systems
  • Want metadata without manual data entry

Example: Custom "Neo Geo" System

  • Create custom system called "Neo Geo"
  • Set "Scrape As" to "MAME"
  • Add only Neo Geo ROMs to ROM paths
  • Get full MAME metadata for those games
  • Organize Neo Geo separately from full MAME set

This is perfect for curated collections that pull from larger systems!

MAME Integration​

Want to add arcade games? HyperHQ has a dedicated MAME wizard that makes setup a breeze. It handles everything from downloading MAME to importing your ROM collection with smart filters.

The MAME Wizard​

When you add a MAME system, HyperHQ launches a step-by-step wizard that walks you through the entire setup. No guessing, no confusion—just follow along.

What the wizard does:

  • Downloads and installs MAME automatically
  • Scans your ROM directories
  • Filters games based on your preferences
  • Downloads artwork and media
  • Sets everything up in one go

What you need:

  • ROM files (MAME ROMs in ZIP format)
  • A folder where they're stored
  • About 10 minutes

That's it. The wizard handles the rest.

Getting Started​

From the Systems page, click Add System and select MAME. The wizard opens and you're on your way.

Step 1: ROM Directories

First, tell HyperHQ where your MAME ROMs live. You can add multiple directories if your collection is spread across different drives or folders.

  • Click Add ROM Directory to browse for folders
  • Drag and drop to reorder paths (top paths are searched first)
  • Remove paths you don't need with the X button

Why multiple paths? Maybe you have a main set on your SSD and extras on a backup drive. Or you organize by genre. Either way, HyperHQ scans them all and combines everything into one system.

Step 2: Existing MAME Detected (if applicable)

If you already have MAME installed in HyperHQ, you'll see options for what to do:

Update/Upgrade MAME

  • Update your ROM database with current filters
  • Or upgrade to a different MAME version entirely
  • Keeps your existing system setup intact

Update Game Filters

  • Change which games appear in your collection
  • Apply new filtering rules without reinstalling
  • Perfect for fine-tuning your game list

If this is your first time, you'll skip this step and go straight to choosing a MAME version.

Step 3: Choose MAME Version

Pick which version of MAME to install. HyperHQ shows available versions from the official MAME project.

First-time install:

  • Select any version from the dropdown
  • Latest version recommended for best compatibility
  • Older versions available if needed for specific ROM sets

Upgrading:

  • First, pick your current installed version
  • Then select which version to upgrade to
  • Can upgrade forward or backward as needed

Updating filters:

  • Select which MAME system to update
  • Shows ROM counts for each system
  • Displays current MAME version in use

Step 4: Game Selection Preferences

Now for the fun part—deciding which games make the cut.

Clone Handling

MAME has parent games and clone variants (regional versions, hacks, alternates). Choose how to handle them:

  • Merged: Combines parents and clones into single ROM files (saves space)
  • Parents Only: Skip clones entirely, just keep the main versions
  • Non-Merged: Save each game and clone as separate ROMs (easier to manage)

Pick based on your ROM set type. Most full ROM sets are merged or non-merged.

Region Priority

Which regional versions do you prefer?

  • USA
  • Japan
  • Europe
  • World
  • Asia
  • Others

If a game exists in multiple regions, HyperHQ prioritizes your choice.

Player Count Priority

Some games have 2-player and 4-player versions. Pick your preference:

  • 2 Players
  • 4 Players
  • Any

Step 5: Game Exclusions

Filter out game types you don't want cluttering your collection.

Game Categories to Skip:

Check the boxes for categories you want to exclude:

  • Casino games
  • Mahjong
  • Mature content
  • Quiz games
  • Rhythm games
  • Slot machines
  • Tabletop games
  • And more...

Use Select All / Clear All buttons to quickly toggle everything.

Controller Types to Skip:

Don't have a trackball? Exclude games that need one:

  • Trackball
  • Paddle
  • Lightgun
  • Dial/Spinner
  • Pedals
  • And other specialty controllers

Only games you can actually play will show up in your system.

Step 6: Media Assets

Choose which artwork and media to download. These make your arcade look amazing in HyperSpin.

Available assets:

  • Themes (System, Game, Main Menu)
  • Boxes (2D, 3D, 2.5D, Texture, Spine, Back)
  • Game Media (2D, 3D, Texture)
  • Logos (Game, System)
  • Backgrounds (Game, System)
  • Pointers (Game, System)
  • Marquees (Game, System)
  • Music (Game, System)
  • Manuals (Game, System)
  • Bezels
  • Controller Overlays
  • Cabinets
  • Control Panels
  • Video Snaps (requires EmuMovies subscription)

All boxes are checked by default. Uncheck what you don't want to save download time and disk space.

Video Snaps

Video snaps require an EmuMovies account with an active subscription. They're worth it—gameplay videos look incredible in HyperSpin.

Step 7: Setup Progress

Sit back and watch the magic happen. HyperHQ:

  1. Downloads MAME (if installing fresh)
  2. Extracts and configures the emulator
  3. Generates the game database from MAME
  4. Applies your filters
  5. Creates the arcade system
  6. Imports matching ROMs
  7. Downloads selected media assets

Progress bars show what's happening at each stage. Large ROM sets take longer—10,000+ games can take a few minutes to process.

When it's done, you're automatically taken to your new MAME system, ready to play.

Managing Your MAME Collection​

Once setup is complete, you can make changes without starting over.

Updating Game Filters

Changed your mind about which games to show? Run the wizard again and select Update Game Filters. Your ROM files stay put—HyperHQ just updates which games appear in your system based on new filter settings.

Upgrading MAME Versions

New MAME version out? Select Update/Upgrade MAME to switch versions. Your system setup, ROM paths, and preferences carry over. Only the emulator version changes.

Adding More ROMs

Drop new ROMs in your ROM directories and HyperHQ picks them up automatically on the next scan. No need to run the wizard again.

Tips for MAME Collections​

Start with Parents Only

If you're new to MAME, start with "Parents Only" clone handling. This gives you one version of each game—the definitive version—without overwhelming you with variants. You can always re-run the wizard later to add clones.

Use Filters Liberally

MAME has over 10,000 games, but many are casino machines, Mahjong variants, and quiz games you'll never play. Be aggressive with category filters. A curated 2,000-game collection is way better than scrolling through 10,000 games to find something fun.

Test Your ROM Set First

Before running the full import, make sure your ROMs work in MAME directly. Bad ROM sets cause import issues. If games won't launch in standalone MAME, they won't work in HyperSpin either.

Video Snaps Are Worth It

EmuMovies subscriptions aren't free, but video snaps transform the arcade experience. Seeing gameplay footage as you browse games is a huge upgrade. Highly recommended if you're building a showcase setup.

Where to Get MAME​

Official MAME Downloads:

  • Visit mamedev.org for the latest release
  • HyperHQ downloads MAME automatically during setup
  • Manual downloads available if you prefer

ROM Files: MAME ROM files are separate from the emulator. HyperHQ doesn't provide ROMs—you'll need to source them yourself. Many arcade enthusiasts already have ROM collections from previous MAME setups.

Common Issues​

Games Not Showing Up?

  • Check your ROM paths are correct
  • Make sure ROMs are in ZIP format (MAME's standard)
  • Verify your clone handling matches your ROM set type (merged vs non-merged)
  • Try re-running the wizard with different filter settings

Setup Takes Forever?

  • Large ROM sets (10,000+ games) take time to process
  • First-time setup is slower—updates are much faster
  • Make sure your ROM directories are on a fast drive
  • Close other programs to free up system resources

Wrong MAME Version?

  • HyperHQ shows all available MAME versions
  • Match your ROM set version to the MAME version for best compatibility
  • Older ROM sets may need older MAME versions
  • When in doubt, use the latest version and update your ROMs

Games Launch But Don't Work?

  • This is usually a ROM issue, not a HyperHQ issue
  • Test the game in standalone MAME first
  • Some games need BIOS files or parent ROMs
  • Check MAME forums for game-specific requirements

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.

Option 1: Each Game is Its Own File​

This is the simplest setup—each game is its own executable that runs directly. So if you've got a folder of batch files, each game would be something like RomName.bat and it just runs it directly.

Setup:

  1. Create a system for your games
  2. Set file extensions to .exe, .lnk, or .bat
  3. Don't select an emulator
  4. Point ROM paths to your folder
  5. HyperHQ launches them directly when selected

Perfect for:

  • Steam games (use shortcuts)
  • DOSBox launchers (individual .bat files per game)
  • ScummVM games
  • Native PC games
  • Batch files that configure and launch games

Example structure:

C:\Games\DOS Games\
  ├── DukeNukem3D.bat
  ├── DoomII.bat
  └── WolfensteinRPG.bat

Each .bat file handles everything—setting paths, launching DOSBox, whatever. HyperHQ just runs the file.

Option 2: Single Batch File as "Emulator"​

Now if you're trying to launch games with a single batch file, that's a bit different. You add the .bat as an emulator (or platform) instead, then set up the launch command to pass the game name or whatever that script needs.

Setup:

  1. Create your system normally
  2. Add an emulator/platform pointing to your main .bat file
  3. Configure command-line parameters to pass the ROM name
  4. Set ROM extensions to whatever identifies your games (could be anything)
  5. Your batch script receives the game name and does the rest

Perfect for:

  • Custom launcher scripts that handle multiple games
  • Front-end scripts that need the ROM name
  • Complex setups requiring pre/post-launch logic

Example:

  • Emulator path: C:\Scripts\GameLauncher.bat
  • Command line: %ROM% (passes the ROM name to your script)
  • Your script receives: The ROM filename and launches accordingly

Your batch file gets the game name as a parameter and can do whatever logic it needs—look up paths, configure settings, launch the actual emulator, whatever.

Which One Do I Use?​

Use Option 1 (direct executables) if:

  • Each game has its own launcher file
  • Games are self-contained
  • You want the simplest setup

Use Option 2 (single batch as emulator) if:

  • You have one script handling multiple games
  • You need to pass game names/parameters
  • Your setup requires centralized logic

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.