Configuring emulators on linux

[Pickle Girl Fanboy]

I run Linux Mint Isadora 32-bit (I started with the Gnome DVD), which, according to the release notes, utilizes Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx, Linux 2.6.32, Gnome 2.30 and Xorg 7.4.

My problems:
*Visual Boy Advance skips and lacks debugging utilities - no memory viewer is especially annoying.
*PCSX has no debugging utilities, dies when trying to load a save from a memory card, and always screws up when resetting or loading a save state.
*Snes9x skips (unless sound is muted), and quits if I make any changes in preferences after I load a game. Lacks debugging tools too.
*I have no idea how to get pSX to work.
*Same with ESPXE. Google provides no deb.

I heard somewhere - and this may be BS - that pulse audio can screw up an emulator.