GameLoop is an emulator for the original Game Boy. It's not the best emulator when it comes to accuracy, but it's fully playable for me and many other people. 

This guide will attempt to cover everything you need to know to get started.

The guide will assume you are familiar with terms like "ROM" and "ISO", as well as the organization of folders on your computer.

Also, while I will try to be as clear as possible, many steps are incredibly similar to each other. I will try to make it as easy as I can, but no guide can be perfect.

For a more "accurate" emulator, check out BGB. It's not as forgiving as GameLoop, but it's more accurate.

System Requirements: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 Computer with a good graphics card (2GB or better)

Step 1:First Things First

Download GameLoop from the official website and install it.

Step 2: Get Your ROM

A ROM is a file containing an image of a game, usually from a cartridge. You can buy your own and dump it using a special device or you can download games from the Internet.

You'll want to go to a ROM site and download your ROM. If you want to buy cartridges, I recommend retro-video games . They have pretty good prices and will even give you a free gift if you spend $50 or more.

Next, you'll want to open GameLoop, which will prompt you to locate your ROM.

You'll want to browse to the file you downloaded and then select "open".

On the left, you'll see the name of your game, the status of the game, and the memory used.

The memory is the "VRAM" of the game, and it shows how much space the game is taking up. Unlike most emulators, GameLoop uses the same amount of memory as the game itself.

Step 3: Configure Your Settings

If you don't like the default settings, you can change them.

Go to "Config -> Settings" and you'll see the following screen:

The first thing you'll want to do is change the "Video" settings.

On the left you'll see the name of your computer, followed by the name of the emulator, and then the dimensions of the screen.

If you read the "Video" section, you'll see that GameLoop is designed for old CRT televisions.

My television is 16:9, so I'll select that one. Next you'll see an option that says "Cropping".

The cropping option will allow you to force the image to a widescreen or 4:3 ratio. I prefer to play my games fullscreen and in their original resolution, so I'll leave this alone.

If your television isn't widescreen, you'll want to select the appropriate option here.

The next section is "Detail".

The detail option controls the "quality" of the picture. By default, it's set to 8x. I find that 8x looks awful, so I leave this at 1x.

Next you'll see a "Misc" section.

The "Advanced Options" section is where you can change the accuracy of the emulation, which "Accurate" will do.

You'll want to uncheck the "Dual Core" checkbox.

In the "Paths" section, you can change the directory where GameLoop looks for things like BIOS files and saves.

In the "Misc" section, you can change the keys you use to control the emulator.

Lastly you can change the name of the emulator, which is the name that appears on the top left corner of the emulator.

After you've made your changes, you'll want to go to "File -> Save".

Step 4: Run Your Game

To run your game, you'll press F5.

On the left you'll see your game's name, a list of controllers, and the option to load or save a game.

If you'd like to load a game that you've already saved, you'll want to press "Load".

On the right, you'll see the "File" and "Controller" options.

The file option will allow you to load or save a game. You can change the save directory by going to "File -> Change Save Location".

The controller option lets you change the controls. If you want to use your keyboard, you'll want to select "Keyboard" and press "OK".

Step 5: Play Your Game

Now that you've run your game, you need to play it.

To start playing, press F5 again.

You should see the title screen of your game.

To start the game, press F5 again.

Once you've started the game, you'll notice a few things.

The first thing you'll notice is the stats on the left.

GameLoop keeps track of your game and displays it here. By default, it will display your score, your highest score, and your total time playing.

The other thing you'll notice is the time and the battery.

The battery is the "life" of the game. As you play, the battery will slowly decrease. If the battery dies, you'll lose your game.

You can play a little here if you'd like to test the controls.

Once you're ready to start playing, press F5 to start your game.

You'll notice that the buttons are displayed in the bottom left corner.

The numbers from 1-4 correspond to the buttons you'd use on a Game Boy. The X button is used to go back to the title screen and the M button saves your game and returns you to the main menu.

You can also use your keyboard. The arrow keys are used to move and the Space, Enter, and Backspace keys are used to interact with the game.

Enjoy your game, and thank you for reading!