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General and Gaming => General => Topic started by: turf on June 06, 2012, 10:32:08 am

Title: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: turf on June 06, 2012, 10:32:08 am
How do you feel about emulation?  Some people love it.  Some people think it causes all the worlds ills.  What do you think?
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: disgaeniac on June 06, 2012, 10:59:40 am
Honestly, I'd put myself directly in the middle of your 'book-ends'.

100%, Smack-Dab in the center.

If it was by alignment = dead neutral.

Simply because, imo, *emulation* itself is neither inherently "good" nor "evil".

It's how (and for what uses/purposes) it's used by different individuals that would determine my stance/opinion on whether or not it was being *Used* or *Abused*.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: jobocan on June 06, 2012, 11:18:37 am
I'm fine with emulation. I actually almost never opened an emulator ever since I started collecting, but I'll occasionally pop one up to play the rarer games I want that I'll probably never get, like Little Samson.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: tpugmire on June 06, 2012, 12:42:35 pm
I've never tried an emulator, so I don't have much of an opinion.  I prefer original hardware though, that's why I rarely download any VC games.  Unless the original is stupidly expensive, (arcade games come to mind) I'd rather have the real thing.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: amauriel on June 06, 2012, 12:48:54 pm
When I was a poor college kid, I did emulate a few things. However, the only game I really played that way is Chrono Trigger, and thanks to a job and a husband, I bought it years ago for the PS1 and he got it for me a few years ago for Christmas on the SNES. Then I got it when it came out for the DS, so I feel like I've paid my dues on it.

If they figure out how to emulate Japanese 3DS games on an American 3DS, I may change my stance slightly. I've imported all my Japanese DS games and have physical copies, but with no region-locking, I didn't have to import another system to play them. I hate that these companies punish people for speaking another language.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: foxhack on June 06, 2012, 05:32:08 pm
I have at least 500 GB of roms.

Is that clear enough for ya? :p
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: pceslayer on June 06, 2012, 06:28:35 pm
I have at least 500 GB of roms.

Is that clear enough for ya? :p
Thats all?

Emulation is awesome! It isn't really relevant for newer consoles except for the Wii so I don't really understand why people get so up in arms over it.

I also like devices like the Retrode that allow you to use the real cartridge on a pc aswell. Who says you have to have a pirated piece of software to enjoy an emulator?

Its so sexy!
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/01/retrode-plays-original-snes-genesis-carts-on-your-computer/
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: desocietas on June 06, 2012, 06:45:06 pm
When I was a poor college kid, I did emulate a few things. However, the only game I really played that way is Chrono Trigger, and thanks to a job and a husband, I bought it years ago for the PS1 and he got it for me a few years ago for Christmas on the SNES. Then I got it when it came out for the DS, so I feel like I've paid my dues on it.

I'm in the same boat as Amauriel.  Back when I was younger, I only played a few emulated games due to lack of owning the system/game, such as Earthbound and Secret of Mana.

I don't really do it now as there are so many other games I own and can play still, and the publishers realize they can still make a buck porting the ones I can't buy/play to a current gen platform that I have.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: madmax on June 06, 2012, 07:20:31 pm
I only emulate games that i have but want to keep safe.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: scott on June 07, 2012, 12:18:28 am
I have a mame arcade machine, it has an extensive library or games. More than I'll ever be able to play. I've played console emulators and have a a NES emulator for the DS. and Saturn emulator on PC to play the translated Shining Force games on.

I don't really see the problem and it let's me try out arcade games I've never heard of before. Or play nes games I may be on the fence about buying.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: htimreimer on June 07, 2012, 02:57:01 am
emulation for me at least is a tool that i can use to see what games i want to buy
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: varkias on June 07, 2012, 03:34:02 pm
^ Isn't that what friends, demos, reviews, previews and youtube are for?  IMO - If the game is no longer available to purchase new then game on!
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: foxhack on June 07, 2012, 04:24:33 pm
^ Isn't that what friends, demos, reviews, previews and youtube are for?  IMO - If the game is no longer available to purchase new then game on!
Friends may not be interested, demos may not be available, reviews / previews may be bought out, and youtube may block it in your country. :P
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: gaiages on June 07, 2012, 06:55:58 pm
Emulation... I only use it when there's an English patch for a Japanese game that wasn't released in America, like Bahamut Lagoon or the earlier Fire Emblem games.  I honestly feel a bit bad that I don't own the Japanese game in question, but importing costs too much for me to handle on my current budget.

Otherwise, I don't use it, but I'm not gonna chastise anyone that does it.  It's nice if the person buys the game afterwards, but... most games emulated are likely from retro systems, and they'd buy the games used, so it's not really hurting the developers unless it's a current gen system, right?
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: bugs181 on June 26, 2012, 03:52:10 pm
desocietas pointed me here, so i'll point you to what I posted before. This topic was about using emulation versus spending thousands of dollars on collectors games.

http://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,1203.msg14594.html#msg14594 (http://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,1203.msg14594.html#msg14594)

If it was by alignment = dead neutral.

Exactly how I feel.

It's how (and for what uses/purposes) it's used by different individuals that would determine my stance/opinion on whether or not it was being *Used* or *Abused*.

This. Completely agreed!

Emulation is awesome! It isn't really relevant for newer consoles except for the Wii so I don't really understand why people get so up in arms over it.

Actually, you're mistaken. Emulation isn't just about emulating video game roms. Emulation goes so much further. They make the x360Key or xKey to emulate the xbox 360 drive to load game ISO files from an external hard drive. Hence... emulation. It's still active even in newer consoles. For a while, the PS3 had the same problem using some sort of USB loader but I believe they plugged that hole for now. It's all a game of cat and mouse for pirates. Did youw know that you can even Emulate satellite television cards to receive free programming? Yes, this still falls under emulation.

I personally use emulators for all my old classic console games - even for the games I own, so they can stay in their packaging.
As my earlier post, it doesn't hurt the developers at all because most of them aren't even in business anymore. IF those companies were to come back in business and release a new game and I wanted it - then i'd buy it. I just don't see the point in spending money on games that don't benefit the company any.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: turf on June 26, 2012, 04:48:24 pm
Funny thing about this topic.  I created it, went on vacation, and forgot all about it. 

My 2 cents is worth just that, 2 cents.  Here it is anyway.  I use it all the time.  I have NES, SNES, N64, and Genesis on my computer.  I use my Xbox 360 controller hooked up to my laptop to play them.  I'm a fan.  Is it going to keep me from collecting? No.  Am I robbing anyone  by playing 20-30 year old games?  No. 
The biggest plus for me is convenience.  It is so much easier to fire up my laptop than it is to dig through all my stuff, hook a system up, and play a game.  Plus, my couch is too far away from the tv.  6 ft cords don't reach.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: pceslayer on June 26, 2012, 04:52:00 pm
Actually, you're mistaken. Emulation isn't just about emulating video game roms. Emulation goes so much further. They make the x360Key or xKey to emulate the xbox 360 drive to load game ISO files from an external hard drive. Hence... emulation. It's still active even in newer consoles. For a while, the PS3 had the same problem using some sort of USB loader but I believe they plugged that hole for now. It's all a game of cat and mouse for pirates. Did youw know that you can even Emulate satellite television cards to receive free programming? Yes, this still falls under emulation.
Yes those are all emulators by definition, but I don't think that's the type of emulator that OP had in mind when they started this thread. I believe it was geared towards console emulation(running apps/games on hardware they were not designed to run on) which is why I answered as I did.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: bugs181 on June 26, 2012, 06:30:36 pm
Yes those are all emulators by definition, but I don't think that's the type of emulator that OP had in mind when they started this thread. I believe it was geared towards console emulation(running apps/games on hardware they were not designed to run on) which is why I answered as I did.

I understand what you're saying. However, from what I got from your statement - you were saying that emulation doesn't affect newer consoles and your just plain wrong. It does indeed affect all sorts of newer consoles. Even the newer hand held consoles. Let me quote you again to refer to the point I was trying to make.

Emulation is awesome! It isn't really relevant for newer consoles except for the Wii so I don't really understand why people get so up in arms over it.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: pceslayer on June 26, 2012, 08:25:11 pm
*googles xbox 360 emulator for pc* nope nothing... I'm not going to argue semantics...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_console_emulator
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: bugs181 on June 27, 2012, 03:35:21 am
*googles xbox 360 emulator for pc* nope nothing... I'm not going to argue semantics...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_console_emulator

Just because you can't emulate the xbox 360 with a computer application doesn't mean you should dismiss it. The topic is about the legitimacy of using an emulator to play games you do not own. The xkey is just one of MANY devices that allows you to do such a thing. My point still stands. You can emulate the disc drive on an xbox to play ISO files. The same concept of using a PC application to play rom files. There is NO difference besides the type of hardware the emulator runs on.
Title: Re: A hot button issue: Emulation
Post by: pceslayer on June 27, 2012, 11:10:15 am
Albeit a completely different form of emulation it is still by definition emulation... which is what your point was to begin with.

So you win.