IPS files

[Former user]

This may sound like a silly question, but is there anyway to run .ips master system files? Some homebrew or GG2SMS games only come in this format and I have no idea if they can be played.

[Eke ekeeke]

IPS files are patch that must be applied to ROM files, they cannot be played by emulators as they only contain a few bit of diff data, you need the original ROM and apply the IPS patch using some external program (IPS patcher)

See http://www.completeroms.com/tutorial/how-to-play-rom-hacks.php (first google result fpr "IPS file")