MESS (Multi Emulator Super System), which is now part of MAME , has the best support for the Socrates. You will need the specific machine files (usually socrates.zip ).

While the Nintendo Entertainment System was teaching us to rescue princesses, Socrates was trying to teach us math, spelling, and philosophy (okay, mostly spelling). But today, the unit is relatively rare, and the cartridges are even rarer. That is why the hunt for has become a niche but passionate corner of the retro computing world. What exactly was the VTech Socrates? Let’s set the scene: 1988. VTech, better known for making cordless phones and "Laptop" toys for toddlers, decided to enter the edutainment market. The Socrates was marketed as the "Video Game System with a Brain."

I am talking, of course, about the .

You need the original Socrates firmware. This is the hardest piece to find legally. The console won't boot without it.

Unlike NES or Game Boy ROMs, which are a Google search away, Socrates ROMs live in the shadowy corners of abandonware forums and specialized retro-educational sites.