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
• Emulator configuration
• Artwork and themes
• Settings and preferences

Viewing Systems

The main Systems view shows all your gaming platforms in a grid layout.

Systems Grid

Your systems appear as cards with:

• System artwork/logo
• Game count
• Quick action buttons on hover (Games and Details)

Grid Actions:

• Click a system to view its games
• Double-click for system details
• Hover for quick action buttons

Collections Toggle

Want to see your custom collections alongside systems? Use the Collections toggle button in the toolbar.

When enabled:

• Collections appear in the same grid as systems
• Mixed view shows both systems and collections
• Each collection displays its game count
• Navigate collections just like systems

When disabled:

• Only gaming systems appear
• Collections accessible separately from the Collections menu

This is handy when you use collections as pseudo-systems (like a "Best Of" collection you browse regularly).

Group by Type

Organize the grid by system type:

• Arcade - MAME, CPS, Neo Geo, etc.
• Console - PlayStation, Sega, Nintendo, etc.
• Computer - DOS, Amiga, C64, etc.
• Handheld - Game Boy, PSP, DS, etc.

Click Group by Type to toggle organization. Makes finding systems easier when you have dozens installed.

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

Tell HyperHQ what file types to look for. Only files matching these extensions get imported as games.

Adding Extensions:

1. Go to your system's edit screen
2. Find the Extensions field
3. Type extensions separated by commas (e.g., .bin, .cue, .iso)
4. Save—HyperHQ rescans automatically

Editing Extensions Later:

1. Click on your system in the sidebar
2. Click Edit System (or the gear icon)
3. Update the extensions field
4. Save to rescan with new extensions

Check your ROM folder to see what file types you have—add those.

Start Specific

Only add extensions you actually use. You can always add more later if games aren't showing up.

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"

BIOS Configuration

Some emulators need BIOS files to run games. HyperHQ walks you through this during emulator setup.

When Adding an Emulator:

1. HyperHQ detects if BIOS is required
2. A configuration step appears if needed
3. Point to your BIOS files or folder
4. Skip if the emulator's BIOS is optional

Single-System Emulators (DuckStation, PCSX2, xemu):

• BIOS configuration happens during emulator setup
• One-time setup for all games on that emulator

Multi-System Emulators (RetroArch):

• BIOS is configured at the system level instead
• Different systems can use different BIOS files

Emulators with BIOS support:

• PlayStation: DuckStation, ePSXe
• PlayStation 2: PCSX2
• Xbox: xemu
• Saturn: SSF, Yabause
• Dreamcast: Redream, Flycast
• And more...

If you skip BIOS setup, you can always add it later from the emulator's settings page.

Built-in Emulator Settings

HyperHQ can configure popular emulators directly—no need to dig through config files or open the emulator itself.

Supported Emulators:

Emulator	Platform	What You Can Tweak
MAME	Arcade	Video mode, DIP switches, rotation
RetroArch	Multi-system	Video, audio, shaders, cores
PCSX2	PlayStation 2	Resolution, aspect ratio, audio
Dolphin	GameCube/Wii	Graphics, audio, controller
PPSSPP	PSP	Rendering, display, sound
DuckStation	PlayStation	GPU, display, audio
Xenia	Xbox 360	Graphics, audio settings
RPCS3	PlayStation 3	GPU, SPU, resolution
Cemu	Wii U	Graphics, audio, gamepad
Xemu	Xbox	Video, audio, controller
Redream	Dreamcast	Video, cable type, audio

How It Works:

• HyperHQ reads your emulator's config file
• Settings show up in a simple UI
• Changes write directly to the config
• Skip the emulator's menus entirely

Where to Find These:

1. Go to your system's Platforms tab
2. Click the emulator you want to configure
3. Video and Audio tabs show what you can change
4. Changes save automatically

Per-Game Emulator Overrides

Need different settings for specific games? Configure overrides at the game level.

Accessing Per-Game Settings:

1. Go to a game's details page
2. Look for the Emulator Settings section
3. Configure Video or Audio settings for that specific game

Settings Inheritance: Settings flow down: Emulator → System → Game

• Emulator settings apply to all games using that emulator
• System settings override emulator defaults for that system
• Game settings override everything for that specific game

When to Use:

• A game needs specific aspect ratio (4:3 vs widescreen)
• One game has audio issues needing different latency
• You want special shaders for certain games
• A game performs better with specific video settings

RetroArch Specifics:

• Settings are saved as RetroArch config overrides
• Only affects the specific game
• System-wide RetroArch settings remain unchanged
• Overrides load automatically when launching that game

Live Config Loading

HyperHQ reads your current config file values, so you always see what's actually set—not just defaults.

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.

Pre/Post Launch Commands

Need to run something before or after a game launches? HyperHQ has you covered with Pre/Post Launch Commands.

Pre-Launch Commands

• Runs before the game starts
• Useful for setting up controllers, switching display modes, or other prep work
• Can be batch files, PowerShell scripts, or executables

Post-Launch Commands

• Runs after the game closes
• Good for cleanup, restoring settings, or returning displays to normal
• Same format options as pre-launch

Setting Up Commands:

1. Go to your system's Platforms tab
2. Find the Pre/Post Launch section
3. Add your command or script path
4. Test with a game launch

Launch Command Variables

Use variables to make your commands dynamic. HyperHQ replaces these with actual values at runtime.

Variable	What It Contains
%ROM%	Full path to the ROM file
%ROMNAME%	ROM filename without extension
%ROMPATH%	Folder containing the ROM
%rom.folder%	Same as ROMPATH—game's parent folder
%rom.fileExtension%	File extension (e.g., .zip, .iso)
%system.name%	Current system's display name
%system.path%	Path to the system folder
%emulator.name%	Name of the emulator being used

Example Pre-Launch Script:

echo Launching %ROMNAME% on %system.name%
echo Using emulator: %emulator.name%

Example Post-Launch Script:

:: Reset display settings after game closes
displayswitch /clone

Other Script Types:

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

Unsaved Changes Warning

HyperHQ warns you if you have unsaved changes in the launch commands editor before navigating away.

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

Games 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 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

Steam as Scrape Source Create custom systems that pull metadata directly from Steam:

1. Create a custom system (e.g., "PC Favorites")
2. Set Scrape As to "Steam"
3. Name your game files with Steam App IDs (e.g., 570.txt for Dota 2)
4. HyperHQ fetches metadata and artwork from Steam's servers

How to find Steam App IDs:

• Go to the game's Steam store page
• The URL contains the App ID: store.steampowered.com/app/570/Dota_2/
• In this example, 570 is the App ID

What you get from Steam:

• Game title and description
• Cover artwork
• Background images
• Release date
• Genre and categories

This is great for curated PC game collections where you want Steam's artwork without the full Steam library.

User Profile System Access

Control which systems each user profile can see. Perfect for family setups, party modes, or restricting access to certain content.

How System Access Works

By default, all systems are enabled for every user profile. You control access by toggling systems OFF rather than searching and adding them.

The Toggle List:

1. Go to your user profile settings
2. Find the System Access section
3. You'll see all your installed systems listed
4. Each system has a toggle switch
5. Toggle OFF any systems you want to hide for this profile

Quick Actions:

• Enable All - Turn on access to every system at once
• Disable All - Turn off access to all systems (then enable just the ones you want)
• Filter - Search for specific systems when you have many installed

When to Restrict System Access

Family Profiles:

• Create a "Kids" profile with only age-appropriate systems
• Hide mature-rated or violent game collections
• Keep the full library for adult profiles

Party Mode:

• Create a "Party" profile with just multiplayer favorites
• Hide single-player-only systems
• Focus on games guests will enjoy

Genre Focus:

• Create an "Arcade Only" profile
• Hide console systems for a pure arcade experience
• Or vice versa—consoles only for couch gaming

Managing Multiple Profiles

Each user profile maintains its own system access settings:

1. Systems you toggle OFF in one profile stay visible in others
2. Changes only affect the profile you're editing
3. The default profile shows everything unless you customize it

Start Permissive

Leave all systems enabled, then hide the few you don't want. It's faster than enabling systems one by one.

Refresh Media & Games

Need to rescan for ROMs or grab fresh media? The Refresh dialog lets you pick exactly what to update.

Opening the Refresh Dialog

Click the Refresh button on any system's page. You'll see all your options laid out.

System Refresh Options

Two main toggles at the top:

Refresh Games

• Rescans your ROM folders
• Finds new games since your last scan
• Keeps your existing metadata

Validate Override Media

• Checks custom media you've added manually
• Catches corrupted or missing override files

Game-Level Media

Pick which per-game media to refresh:

Media Type	What It Is
Backgrounds - Game	Game-specific backgrounds
Bezels	Bezel overlays (RetroArch only)
Boxes - 2D, 2.5D, 3D, Back	All the box art variants
Cabinets	Arcade cabinet images
Control Panels	Arcade control panel art
Game Media - 2D, 3D	Cartridge/disc images
Game Theme	Individual game themes
Logos - Game	Wheel/logo images
Manuals - Game	Game manual PDFs
Marquees - Game	Marquee images
Music - Game	Game music files
Overlays - Controller	Controller overlays
Pointers - Game	Pointer/cursor images

System-Level Media

Media for the whole system:

Media Type	What It Is
Backgrounds - System	System background
Logos - System	System wheel/logo
Manuals - System	System manual PDF
Marquees - System	System marquee
Music - System	Background music
Pointers - System	System pointer
System Theme	Full theme package

Main Menu & Video Snaps

Main Menu Theme

• How this system looks in the main menu
• Includes animations and effects

Video Snaps (Premium Only)

• Gameplay clips for each game
• Only shows up if you've got an EmuMovies subscription

Pick Your Refresh Method

After selecting what you want, click Continue. Two choices:

Delete & Re-download

• Wipes existing files and grabs fresh copies
• Use when stuff's corrupted or you want the latest
• Takes longer, but you get clean files

Check Missing Only

• Keeps what you have
• Only downloads what's missing
• Way faster—best for filling gaps

When to Refresh

Refresh Games when:

• You dropped new ROMs in your folders
• Games are missing from your library
• ROM names changed
• You switched ROM sets

Refresh Media when:

• New artwork's available
• Files got corrupted
• You upgraded your EmuMovies tier
• You want higher quality stuff

Be Selective

Don't refresh everything if you don't need to. Pick what you actually want—saves time and bandwidth.

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 paid subscription (Tier 3). They're worth it—gameplay videos look incredible in HyperSpin. Choose from 240p, 480p, or 1080p resolutions based on your storage and quality needs.

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 Games to find them:

1. Go to your system's Games 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.

DOS Games (DOSBox)

DOSBox games work great in HyperHQ. The setup handles the tricky parts like working directories.

Setting Up DOS Games

1. Add a DOS system

   • Create a new system or select an existing DOS system
   • Set file extensions to .conf, .dosz, .exe, .bat, .com

2. Configure DOSBox as the emulator

   • Add DOSBox as the emulator
   • HyperHQ handles the working directory automatically

3. How games launch:

   • Games launch from their own folder
   • This lets them find their data files correctly
   • No need to mess with mount commands for most games

File Extensions

Extension	What It Is
.conf	DOSBox config file (launches directly)
.dosz	DOSBox game package
.exe	DOS executable
.bat	Batch file launcher
.com	DOS command file

Working Directory

HyperHQ sets the working directory to the game's folder before launching. This solves the common problem where DOS games can't find their files.

Example: If your game is at C:\DOS Games\Duke3D\duke3d.exe, DOSBox runs with C:\DOS Games\Duke3D\ as the working directory. Duke finds its data files, and you're playing.

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.

Auto-Import Systems

Got ROMs organized in folders? HyperHQ can detect and import systems automatically based on your folder structure.

How It Works

Click Auto-Import Systems (in Systems or Settings), and HyperHQ:

1. Scans your ROM directories for organized folders
2. Identifies systems based on folder names and file types
3. Shows you what it found
4. Creates systems with correct emulator configurations
5. Imports games from each folder

No manual setup for each system—just point it at your collection.

Best Folder Structures

HyperHQ recognizes common naming patterns:

ROMs/
  Sega Genesis/
    sonic.bin
    streets_of_rage.md
  PlayStation/
    crash_bandicoot.bin
    final_fantasy_vii.cue
  MAME/
    sf2.zip
    pacman.zip

Name your folders like the systems they contain. HyperHQ matches these to its system database.

Running Auto-Import

From Systems Page:

1. Click Auto-Import Systems button
2. Browse to your ROM root folder
3. Review detected systems
4. Select which ones to import
5. HyperHQ creates everything

From Settings:

1. Go to Settings > Systems
2. Click Auto-Import
3. Same process as above

What Gets Created

For each detected system, HyperHQ:

• Creates the system entry
• Sets up ROM paths automatically
• Configures file extensions
• Assigns a default emulator (if available)
• Creates override media folders
• Imports all matching games

Tips for Auto-Import

Organize First Clean up your ROM folders before importing. Consistent naming helps HyperHQ match systems correctly.

Check the Results After import, review each system. You might need to adjust emulator paths or add missing configurations.

Works with Existing Systems Already have some systems set up? Auto-import skips duplicates and only adds new ones.

Subfolders Supported Got ROMs in subfolders within each system? HyperHQ scans those too.

Wii U Support

HyperHQ has dedicated support for Wii U games with Loadiine folder structures and Cemu BIOS configuration.

Loadiine Folder Structure

Wii U games in Loadiine format use a specific folder structure:

Wii U/
  Game Title/
    code/
      game.rpx
    content/
      ...
    meta/
      meta.xml

HyperHQ recognizes this structure and imports Loadiine games correctly.

Setting Up Wii U

1. Add a Wii U system
2. Point ROM paths to your Loadiine game folders
3. HyperHQ detects the folder structure
4. Games import with proper metadata from meta.xml

Cemu BIOS Configuration

For Cemu emulator integration:

1. Set Cemu as your Wii U emulator
2. HyperHQ prompts for BIOS configuration if needed
3. Point to your keys.txt file when prompted
4. Cemu launches games with proper decryption keys

Keys File

Cemu needs a keys.txt file for encrypted games. HyperHQ checks for this during setup and warns you if it's missing.

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 Games 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.