FinalBurn Neo – Neo Geo Emulator

Step 1: Downloading FinalBurn Neo

1. Go to the official FinalBurn Neo GitHub repository: Visit the GitHub releases page of FinalBurn Neo.
2. Find the latest stable version
3. Download FB Neo: Scroll down the release page and download the appropriate version you require.
4. Extract the file: Once downloaded, extract the file to a folder of your choice for easy access.

Step 2: Initial Setup and Launch

1. Launch FB Neo: Open the emulator from the folder where it was extracted.
2. Agree to the terms: Upon the first launch, you will need to agree to the terms of service.
3. Ignore the initial ROM scan: FB Neo will automatically scan for ROMs but will not find any since the ROM folder is empty. You can safely ignore this for now.

Step 3: Configuring Emulator Options

Before adding your ROMs, you need to configure a few emulator settings:

1. Change the blitter option: Go to the emulator’s graphics settings and switch to “experimental” mode. This gives you access to advanced rendering settings.
2. Select your rendering method:
   • You can choose from different blitter options:
     • Basic: No effects or simple scanlines.
     • Soft Effects: Upscale filters like XBR.
     • Experimental: Offers DirectX9 options with filtering choices like point, linear, or cubic.
   • For the best arcade experience, try cubic filtering and enable scanlines for a CRT-style look.

Step 4: Adding ROMs

To play games, you’ll need to add arcade ROMs compatible with FinalBurn Neo.

1. Search for a compatible ROM set: Look for the romset that matches your version of FinalBurn Neo, for example, FB Neo 1.0.0.2 ROM set. Ensure it is a full non-merged set for the highest compatibility.
2. Configure ROM paths:
   • In FB Neo, go to Miscellaneous Options > Configure ROM paths.
   • Select the folder where your ROMs are located.
3. Scan your ROMs: Once the ROM path is set, FB Neo will scan and list all available games.

Step 5: Loading and Playing Games

1. Load a game: Go to Game > Load Game. You’ll see a list of all the ROMs recognized by FB Neo.
2. Filter your game list: Use the tree menu on the right-hand side to filter game categories and display specific games.
3. Select a game: For example, choose Street Fighter Alpha 3 or any other game from your list.
4. Adjust the blitter settings if needed: Revisit the blitter settings to ensure the game is rendered as you prefer (e.g., with cubic filtering and scanlines).

Step 6: Configuring Game Inputs

1. Map your controller: Go to Input > Map Game Inputs.
   • Ensure your controller is connected to your system.
   • Double-click the action box for each button and press the corresponding button on your controller.
2. Save your input configuration: If you play multiple games with similar control layouts (like fighting games), you can save this configuration as a preset for future use.

Step 7: Adjusting Display and Audio Settings

1. Display options:
   • FB Neo allows you to adjust the aspect ratio and fullscreen mode.
   • Try toggling between normal aspect ratio (4:3) and full stretch mode depending on your screen and preferences.
2. Audio settings:
   • Under the audio options, you can enable a low pass filter to enhance the bass and smoothen the audio.
   • This is optional and can be customized depending on your audio setup.

Additional Tips:

• Experiment with different blitter settings to find the one that looks best for your games.
• If using older ROM sets, be aware they may not work as well with FB Neo, so stick with the most compatible version if you are new to emulation.
• Save your controller presets for different types of games, such as fighting games or shooters, to avoid remapping inputs for each game.