For those that don't know, Emulators are programs that mimic classic consoles (such as NES, Atari, Sega, etc.) on your PC. Roms are game files of old console games that you play on your PC using the emulator.
What are your thoughts on these? Do you support them, or do you consider having them a crime? Things have drastically changed with old-school games as a result of the Playstation Network, XBox Live and other such services. A few years ago, I'm sure a lot of people's opinions on ROMs were a lot different.
5 years ago, I could honestly say that I believed downloading Roms and Emulators were harmless. I mean, you can download old PC Games that are no longer sold, and no one cares. Old consoles and console games were hard to find (not counting EBay which isn't always reputable), and weren't being produced anymore. In my mind, they were like abandonware. So I didn't feel guilty in the slightest downloading them.
Nowadays, though, you can find many old console classics on XBox Live or other such networks. But you have to pay to download them. So they are no longer like abandonware. They are being produced and sold again to the mass market. Yet at the same time, they aren't exactly the same. Some are tweaked to try and appease younger gamers. And some you can't use the same old cheats and tricks you could before because the hardware has changed.
So my question again:
Do you think it's okay to download roms and emulators in today's gaming market?
Most of these sites are overseas so there isn't much anyone can do, it's like the music sites. So few are in the US that it's hard to get to any of them. Then again you're also more likely to get hit by viruses.
A lot of companies are renewing their copyrights so they can sell the games to run on the Wii so now that they're not abandonware the more ethically inclined sites are taking them down.
A local used game store, before it burnt down, had a machine that played NES and SNES games. Nintendo let the design for the systems go without renewing patents so now you have new machines out.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a ... do-NES-PC/ this is what I'm talking about, I'm actually trying to build one now and you can also get conversion ports for controllers, I mean you can't beat the classic but this is still pretty sweet
I don't know about making able to use the old cartridages, but that sounds like a kick ass case mod I might have to do that if I can ahold of an NES that doesn't work and the money for the parts to make it all worth it.
On the topic of roms and emulators, I don't think you can do a lot of harm with them. A lot of the companies that made the games don't exist anymore or aren't hurtin' for a profit off their current products.
I excuslivy play vintage games. I play NES, SNES, Genesiss, Sega CD and Turbo turbografx-16.
I own each of those systems and own 50+ Snes, 10+ NES, 15+ Sega CD, 10+ Turbo Grafx, 40+ Genesiss games.
I own 2 light guns (NES and the Konmi Justfier ) 2 versions of the Genesiss controler (3&6 button)
None of this stuff is from my childhood. I could have used roms and saved myself hundreds of dollars but roms don't do it for me.
I want the "real" experance. I want to blow on the cartarge before psycial putting in the system. I want the feeling of the oringal controller in my hand played on a large T.V. not some tiny screen.
Roms are a cheap hollow pathtiec way to play vintage video games.
I think its okay, I mean I still have my nes hooked up to my tv with all the games but I mean sometimes games don't work right even though I replaced it with new pins and everything, so thats a plus when using a rom its a lot easier and it gets people to appreciate games where graphics weren't everything and it was the gameplay and the fun of arcade styled that mattered. plus if your smart and you have an empty case you can build an nes computer... best of both worlds
also that reminds me my light gun crapped out on me recently if anybody has one that works hit me up, thanks
I love em... I have all NES games, all SNES game, all Genesis games, and some N64 games on my original xbox... my cousin downloaded some softmod calles Unleashed X or something...
Please wait...
-Nate-
it's not mine, but I've always wanted to do this...
On the topic of roms and emulators, I don't think you can do a lot of harm with them. A lot of the companies that made the games don't exist anymore or aren't hurtin' for a profit off their current products.
I own each of those systems and own 50+ Snes, 10+ NES, 15+ Sega CD, 10+ Turbo Grafx, 40+ Genesiss games.
I own 2 light guns (NES and the Konmi Justfier
None of this stuff is from my childhood. I could have used roms and saved myself hundreds of dollars but roms don't do it for me.
I want the "real" experance. I want to blow on the cartarge before psycial putting in the system. I want the feeling of the oringal controller in my hand played on a large T.V. not some tiny screen.
Roms are a cheap hollow pathtiec way to play vintage video games.
I will never use roms.
Oringal hardware all the way!!!!
also that reminds me my light gun crapped out on me recently if anybody has one that works hit me up, thanks