
Disk images are also commonly used to create virtual installer disks that can't be modified by the user. This provides an easy way to make exact copies of CDs, DVDs, and hard disks. DMG file (Mac) can be mounted on the desktop, which makes the operating system view the file as a physical disk. While ROM files are used to emulate game cartridges, disk images can be used to emulate optical media and physical hard disk. Therefore, instead loading a physical cartridge, video game emulators simply load ROM files from the computer's hard drive.Ī third type of emulation uses a type of file called a disk image. Games for these emulators are saved as ROM files, which are exact copies of a game cartridge or disk. The Visual Boy Advance emulator allows users to play Game Boy Advance games on Windows or Macintosh computers. An emulator is a computer program attempts to make one computer system work like another by translating or interpreting the computer code of the system. The program ZSNES, for example, allows Super Nintendo (SNES) games to be played on a Windows or Unix machine.
#What is an emulator software
These applications are collectively referred to as software emulators, since they emulate different computer systems.Īnother popular type of software emulation allows console video games, such as Nintendo, Sega, and PlayStation games, to be run on a PC. Sun Microsystems' xVM VirtualBox allows multiple operating systems to be run on Windows, Mac, and Unix platforms. For example, programs like Parallels Desktop, VMware, and Apple's Boot Camp allow Windows and other operating systems to run on an Intel-based Macintosh computer. Often people confuse a simulator with an emulator and vice versa. It allows users to run software designed for this specific system (Sytem A) on a totally different computer system or architecture (System B). One of the most common types of software emulation involves running different operating systems in a virtual environment. An emulator is a computer program that mimics the internal design and functionality of a computer system (System A).

However, since hardware is expensive to reproduce, most emulation is done via software. This can be done using hardware, software, or a combination of the two. Nowadays, there are many Xbox 360 emulators for Android.
#What is an emulator for android
Therefore, computer emulation is when one system imitates or reproduces another system. An Xbox 360 emulator for Android is an Android application that emulates the Xbox games on Android Smartphone. The term "emulation" comes from the verb "emulate," which means to imitate or reproduce.
