Using a Keyboard
All keys are configurable in the user interface from the Configuration Menu. This list shows the default keyboard configuration:
Main Keys
- 5, 6, 7, 8
- Insert coin (players 1, 2, 3, 4)
- 1, 2, 3, 4
- Start (players 1, 2, 3, 4)
- Arrow keys
- Move Joystick
- Left Control
- Button 1
- Left Option
- Button 2
- Space
- Button 3
- ESC (Escape)
- Quits the game
Button 1 usually represents a game's primary action, like "Fire" or "Jump." Button 2 is the secondary action, like "Thrust" in Asteroids. Button 3 is used for "Hyperspace" in Asteroids. Some games won't use any buttons, while others (such as Defender or Street Fighter) will use many buttons.
Games which use two joysticks simultaneously, such as Karate Champ, Robotron, Crazy Climber, or Battle Zone, default to using the E/S/D/F keys for the left joystick and the I/J/K/L keys for the right joystick
Other Keys
- Tab
- Toggles the Configuration Menu
- ~ (Tilde)
-
Toggles the On Screen Display. Use the up and down arrow keys to
select which parameter to modify (global volume, mixing level,
gamma correction etc.) Use the left and right to arrow keys to
change modify the value. Some parameters adjust with finer or
coarser control if you hold down the CTRL or SHIFT keys while
pressing the left/right arrows. Use the ENTER key to reset a value
to its default.
- P
- Pauses the game
- SHIFT+P
- While paused, advances to next frame
- F1
- Toggle crosshairs for games that use them
- F2
- Service Mode
- F3
- Resets the game
- F4
-
Shows the game palette, decoded GFX, and any tilemaps. Use the
ENTER key to switch between the three modes (palette, graphics,
and tilemaps). Press F4 again to turn off the display.
- F7
-
Load a save state. You will be requested to press a key to
determine which save state you wish to load. Note that the save
state feature is not supported for a large number of drivers. If
support is not enabled for a given driver, you will receive a
warning when attempting to save or load.
- SHIFT+F7
-
Create a save state. Requires an additional keypress to identify
the state, similar to the load option above.
- F8
- Decrease frame skip on the fly
- F9
- Increase frame skip on the fly
- F10
- Toggle speed throttling
- F11
- Toggles speed display
- SHIFT+F11
- Toggles profiler display (debug builds only)
- F12
- Saves a screen snapshot