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THE EMULATION DEBATE
Posts
Dark Gaia
3474
Dark Gaia
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CloseSo... I actually got thinking about this just now after asking a friend about emulators.
Do you think it's "bad" to use emulators? And is it wrong to make them in the first place?
I've heard many arguments saying that "emulators are made to be used only by those with the actual console". Now forgive me for saying this, but that is by and large, bull****. xD
If you get an emulator, yes, you may have the console, but the large majority of people won't. They choose the free emulator over paying for consoles. And that's what leads me to this question.
Things like the SNES, Dreamcast, or even the PS1 aren't shipped new anymore. You can only get second hand ones, so the companies that make them don't get profit from them anymore. Therefore, is it still considered stealing by using emulators?
The same goes for ISOs and ROMs of games on these consoles. The games aren't made new anymore, so there's no profit for the respective production companies, so would you still consider it theft?
Me... I'm not sure. That's why I made this topic. I thought it might lead to some healthy debate.
Do you think it's "bad" to use emulators? And is it wrong to make them in the first place?
I've heard many arguments saying that "emulators are made to be used only by those with the actual console". Now forgive me for saying this, but that is by and large, bull****. xD
If you get an emulator, yes, you may have the console, but the large majority of people won't. They choose the free emulator over paying for consoles. And that's what leads me to this question.
Things like the SNES, Dreamcast, or even the PS1 aren't shipped new anymore. You can only get second hand ones, so the companies that make them don't get profit from them anymore. Therefore, is it still considered stealing by using emulators?
The same goes for ISOs and ROMs of games on these consoles. The games aren't made new anymore, so there's no profit for the respective production companies, so would you still consider it theft?
Me... I'm not sure. That's why I made this topic. I thought it might lead to some healthy debate.
myersguy
292
Pfft, everyone pirates music, movies, etc, so why not old console games you can no longer find?
As for the whole "Made if you have the console", I think the idea behind that is if you have the original cartridge/CD, but it doesn't work anymore, you may use an emulator for it. This is a pretty legitimate thing to do. Hell, if Super mario RPG broke, I would be hella pissed (first I would have to own it, I guess...)
As for the whole "Made if you have the console", I think the idea behind that is if you have the original cartridge/CD, but it doesn't work anymore, you may use an emulator for it. This is a pretty legitimate thing to do. Hell, if Super mario RPG broke, I would be hella pissed (first I would have to own it, I guess...)
Dark Gaia
3474
Yes, emulation was intended so that people could play games they own which they lost, broke or just wanted to play on PC, but it is often used to play games downloaded illegally.
To me, it's the video game equivalent of downloading MP3s or burning movies. I feel that it's a great way to play games that for example were released outside your country or are hard to find, but I also think if you enjoy the game so much, you should pay for it and you will enjoy it so much better.
To me, it's the video game equivalent of downloading MP3s or burning movies. I feel that it's a great way to play games that for example were released outside your country or are hard to find, but I also think if you enjoy the game so much, you should pay for it and you will enjoy it so much better.
Thanks to emulation I was able to play many wonderful classics such as Tales of Phantasia, Star Ocean, Rudra, and Bahamut Lagoon. Thanks emulation! You gave me many wonderful childhood memories. There is nothing I love more than snes roms.
myersguy
292
author=Ciel link=topic=3971.msg79660#msg79660 date=1244708954^This^
Thanks to emulation I was able to play many wonderful classics such as Tales of Phantasia, Star Ocean, Rudra, and Bahamut Lagoon. Thanks emulation! You gave me many wonderful childhood memories. There is nothing I love more than snes roms.
Because of SNES roms, I was able to end my search for Super Mario RPG, and just play the old game. God it was fun!
Dark Gaia
3474
author=myersguy link=topic=3971.msg79659#msg79659 date=1244708766
Do you buy all of your games, music, videos, programs, etc?
Well, you got me there. I don't at all. For one, you can't get Chrono Trigger or Cross in Australia.
Lennon
88
I wouldn't emulate a brand new game or anything (For some obvious reasons) when I can go and buy a brand new copy, but theres nothing wrong with emulating a SNES or NES game. I mean it's not like the companies make any kind of profit off of that any more, or for the matter care.
Plus you can't buy old school games in anywhere I've been in Newfoundland. I've seen them in New Brunswick but thats a bit too far for shopping purposes.
Plus you can't buy old school games in anywhere I've been in Newfoundland. I've seen them in New Brunswick but thats a bit too far for shopping purposes.
I emulate old games on my PSP but that's about it in terms of gaming piracy for me. I would never download or hack recent consoles to get the games I want as I find it much more rewarding to play them legit. Even with my hacked PSP I don't download any PSP games for it. Except Brave Story as I knew that game wasn't coming out in New Zealand.
Eike
2708
author=Lennon link=topic=3971.msg79671#msg79671 date=1244716728Some older games are currently being sold via the Virtual Console. Not that it still couldn't be argued that companies don't care, more and more of these games can be procured legally.
nothing wrong with emulating a SNES or NES game. I mean it's not like the companies make any kind of profit off of that any more, or for the matter care.
As for me, I like to have a collection, so I like getting hard-copies. Old games (and especially RPGs) can get quite expensive, though (and I don't have a SNES/NES/Megadrive/anything older than PSX) so I do emulate occasionally. Usually SNES RPGs, or when something never came out in English and there's a fan-translation.
Oh, and DS via supercard, but that's fine because most DS games you play for 10 minutes then the gimmick gets old. Though the situation is improving with more RPGs and games that are more than TOUCH. THE. SCREEN., the ol' supercard was invaluable about two years ago.
Sam
2200
Emulation has a lot of pros and cons. Originally, the argument that these games are no longer sold new by the companies, and that they don't get any profit from second hand copies was a viable one, that is, until old games from these obsolete consoles starting appearing on XBox Live and Wii and PS3's virtual store equivalents.
Also, Blaze just released a Mega Drive in the UK that they sell new, include 15 built in games with, and will actually play old Mega Drive cartridges.
Still, without emulation, I'd have never played Sonic CD, or numerous other games for that matter.
Also, Blaze just released a Mega Drive in the UK that they sell new, include 15 built in games with, and will actually play old Mega Drive cartridges.
Still, without emulation, I'd have never played Sonic CD, or numerous other games for that matter.
Eike
2708
author=Sam link=topic=3971.msg79679#msg79679 date=1244721839Ack, I was quite interested in this at one point as it was even supposed to play games from any region, so even, er... Genesis games, but apparently it's quite poorly made and doesn't actually work all the time. :( Ultimate Mega Drive Collection for PS3 or 360 is probably still the best bet for anyone after a Megadrive fix.
Also, Blaze just released a Mega Drive in the UK that they sell new, include 15 built in games with, and will actually play old Mega Drive cartridges.
The 'classic' games market is in a weird place, though. They'll shove however many games in the Ultimate Mega Drive collection for a budget price, and give you SNES games for about a fiver on the virtual console, but then occasionally you get something popular like FF IV/V/VI Advance, or Chrono Trigger DS, where they just shove in a crap new dungeon and/or some remedial touch-screen functionality and charge you full price. :-\ That's hardly going to prevent people just downloading the thing.
I guess enough people will buy them without thinking for them not to have to worry.
Also I own IV and V Advance and CT:DS before I accidentally admit to this in another topic and someone quotes this and I'm banned for hypocrisy. :(
Darken
3952
Fuck people who say emulators are wrong, I wouldn't be able to play Mother 3 or Bahamut Lagoon if it weren't for them. Hell it's always nice to be able play games you used to own, but don't feel like searching ebay for them. Of course if I feel really attached to a game I'll go out and buy it, not because of morals or any of that, but it's nice to have the actual thing in my hands (savestates are also a bad habit sometimes).
Artheido
0
Emulating commercial games is piracy and piracy is bad. But, most people do not really care. There are many who attempt to argue their reasons for piracy and try to show that they are not in the wrong but at the end of the day, we all know that all forms of piracy is wrong and there's no way to make it right. After all, it's called piracy for a reason. Just accept your bad deeds and get on with that download ;)
Well, it's not piracy if you own the console and own the game. That's the loophole.
Of course, there is no way to enforce this, so...
(Ironically, I usually only play the games on emulators that I owned anyway - I owned them for a reason!)
Of course, there is no way to enforce this, so...
(Ironically, I usually only play the games on emulators that I owned anyway - I owned them for a reason!)
author=myersguy link=topic=3971.msg79659#msg79659 date=1244708766I do except for one program named Photoshop. Some day I am going to buy that as well.
Do you buy all of your games, music, videos, programs, etc?
I don't pirate movies. I buy DVDs. I don't pirate music anymore. Thank you Amazon MP3 store. I don't pirate games. Thank you Wal-Mart/Target/GameStop/etc.
I hate people that try to rationalize their criminal deeds. My biggest hatred: "Well I don't have the money to pay for it". Tough shit, criminal. If you don't have the money, you don't get to play it. That is where the line should stop, but thanks to the internet being filled with twisted dipshits who feel nigh invulnerable, it doesn't.
Thanks for destroying ethics, internet! Rot in hell.
I am totally with WIP here.
Paying for things ensure that people make more of them. That's called economics.
If everyone emulated/ripped/stole everything, they would have nothing to steal.
Pay for shit, you lackeys.
Paying for things ensure that people make more of them. That's called economics.
If everyone emulated/ripped/stole everything, they would have nothing to steal.
Pay for shit, you lackeys.
Since the proliferation of retro compilations and virtual console, I don't really emulate console games on the PC anymore. I did use a PSX emulator on my laptop while deployed last year, because I was craving some 32-bit era RPGs. Also, I use DOSbox for old games that XP doesn't like. I am strongly opposed to piracy, and have only used emulation as a means to play fan-translations, games I own but don't have the hardware accessible to play, or games that are very difficult to acquire. I used to have lots of oldschool ROMs, but my virtual console and numerous Midway, Sega, etc. compilations I have on Wii, 360, and PSP are good enough evidence that I'm willing to pay money if the option is available to me.
Blind
2262
author=myersguy link=topic=3971.msg79661#msg79661 date=1244709044Buy a Wii. =[
Because of SNES roms, I was able to end my search for Super Mario RPG, and just play the old game. God it was fun!
Serious Comment: I am totally okay with using an emulator for games I own or have owned, for the sake of re-playability or ripping sprites/material. However, I am aware that the great majority of people aren't using it for that purpose!
