Emulation

[Darth Darthy]

Contrary to popular belief, downloading any ROM without owning the original game is illegal.

Most sites claim you have 24 hours to play and then delete the ROM. This is incorrect. It's quite logical - if you own the game then legally you’re entitled to a backup. If you don't, then your not.

However - most games are obsolete and no longer available at retail, many of the corporations and developers are long gone. Many have been bought out by larger corps. No longer interested in the license but they will not release the source as freeware.

A good example is Super Mario 1, 2, 3, Mario World, Kart and a Link to the Past. 10 years old but because they're just as playable now as they were then, they've been re-released at full price on the GBA. As the owner of all these carts (and a bazillion more) I shall never buy a GBA but I won't lose any sleep over downloading these "updated" versions.

At the end of the day, whether legal or not, these companies are not losing any large sums of monies.

Long live emulation.

[Saranac]

nooooooo think of the children, won't someone please think of the children style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Emulators can be used in different ways.
They can be used as trials so that you can tell
whether you like the game.
If you like, then you go to a GameStop store near you
and by the game (if they have that one in particular).
GameStop is probably one of the only places to find cheap
and good condition SNES consoles and SNES games.
And anything else.
I got my Refurbished N64 there for $29.99.
And I'm planning to get a GameCube for $89.99 in
September.

Most of the Roms I download are ones that I have,
but they belong to my sister, and she doesn't let anyone
borrow her Super Nintendo style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif
I also get games I don't have and just play them all day
until the end of the 24hrs.

I just downloaded a SEGA Genesis emulator. And got
"Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition" and of course "Sonic: The Hedgehog".

The only Emulator I wouldn't download would
be GameCube and PS2. I think they are illegul period.
The systems are not old enough.
They are hard to find on the net, but they are available.

[Krogenar]

I just, just started in the emulation scene (I was playing Shinobi and Space Harrier this past weekend) and I don't entertain any notions that what I'm doing is legal in any way. Downloading game ROMS is just like downloading pirated MP3's.

You're infringing on the intellectual property rights of the original creators of the game. But, some of these games are long since off the market. The official line from the people who develop the emulators is that they do what they do for historical purposes.

Are some of these old games worth conserving, protecting, archiving?
I think so. I won't download a game ROM that I think is still available on the market. Atari 2600 games, for example, aren't really on the market anymore, so I don't feel any guilt pangs by emulating Pitfall.

[Saranac]

It's not the corporations that are hurt in the end it's the children and their little teddy bears style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif ??? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crying.gif

[Darth Darthy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Are some of these old games worth conserving, protecting, archiving?
[/b][/quote]

Yes, they're also worth playing, even today. Nobody is losing out if your downloading such games because they're not making any money on the machines nowadays anyway. The last time Shinobi or Outrun sold was over ten years ago - but the sequels will be out soon. It's good marketing to allow us to have a good bash at the originals: I can't wait for the new Outrun, it looks ferking wicked!

[Trilogist]

I've also heard the argument that if you actually own the game cartridge then it's okay to download the corresponding ROM. Would that be legal? Since we're dealing with information -- ones and zeros -- then we're talking about the exact same thing between cartridge and ROM.

By the way, the copyright laws pertain to the ROM files themselves, not to the emulators, which are separate creations.

[Darth Darthy]

Owning a ROM and the cart is one in the same. The cart is the hardware requied to transfer the ROM (software) to the console/board. Your legally allowed to own ONE backup of every piece of software you own for single use only.

Emulating hardware is exactly that - emulation. The AMD chips are reversed enginered INTEL chips which in turn are legal.

[Krogenar]

Originally posted by Trilogist@Aug 18 2003, 10:47 PM
By the way, the copyright laws pertain to the ROM files themselves, not to the emulators, which are separate creations.
Sure, but who wants to 'play' an emulator? Without the ROM's there's no point in downloading a ROM.

[Trilogist]

Well the reason I brought that up is because there are some "custom" ROM games made by fans out there. Totally legal, though probably not very good quality at the present.

[darthmikey]

i think that the people should have the right to preserve their games by emulation
[/QUOTE]

[Lobot]

I say why debate it. If the game is old enough, and you can't even buy it new anymore (in that form, like original NES or SNES games), then just download it. I can tell you nobody at Nintendo is losing sleep over how many people are downloading the original Mario or Metroid.

ROMs of newer games is a different territory.
Emulation rules!

*Lobot

[Trilogist]

I believe the newer a game is, the less worthwhile emulation is. From my experience the only games worth going the emulation route are the old classics.

[Ka'Leh Cim]

I believe that, if the game is not for sale anymore and the game is very dated,you can download them.

[Darth Darthy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>From my experience the only games worth going the emulation route are the old classics. [/b][/quote]

Virual Boy is a good example as to why that statement isn't entirely correct. When I get enough money to throw away on the overpiced GBA I'll buy one. But £60 for a hand held snes isn't what I'd call a good deal.