Poll: Am I a bad person to use Emulators?

[JasonKaotic]

It's not like buying those consoles or games will give the makers any money. So no-one's really hurt by it.
Unless you're emulating newer consoles, that's where it gets iffy. But from what I've heard emulators of modern consoles don't work, so yeah.

 

[BreakfastMan]

If you were emulating a modern console, say an Xbox 360, then yes, you would be a horrible person. But if the game is from the PS1 era or further, then I'd say it's okay.

There's nothing wrong with Emulation, a lot of people are doing it for the Wii and PlayStation 2 since it provides about 10x better visuals and it's not illegal. Provided you own the games of course.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=427321
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=356785

Spoiler

Reminds me of this one time I was talking to this guy about Okami, and he was sad that he couldn't play that because he did not have a PS2. He has a pretty decent PC, so I just told him to buy the game and play it via an emulator. He was totally blown away, had no idea you could do that. XD

OT: Morally, what you are doing I think is okay. Legally? No idea. XD

 

[NLS]

I still use my living room PC for emulation, even though I have a N64 right under my TV. Higher resolution, anti-aliasing and other nice features, plus it outputs in HDMI instead of shitty composite. Some of the older games that feature fixed 2D backgrounds (like Ocarina of Time) don't benefit so much, but full 3D games like Majoras Mask, Banjo Kazooie, Mario64 and so on look so damn crisp in 1080p on a 42"TV compared to the fuzzy thing that was composite connected to an old CRT TV.

 

[Stavros Dimou]

If you visit emulator+rom sites like Romnation,you will find out that not ALL games are available there. If a publisher wants,he can state that he doesn't want his games to be emulated,and as such you won't find these games.

For example you can get many SNES roms,but you won't find Nintendo's own titles anywhere,because Nintendo said they don't want their games to be emulated.
For PS2,the emulator won't work if you don't have a unique Bios transferred to it from your PS2 console,because SONY allows PS2 games to be emulated only if a user have paid them and bought a PS2.

That means that the games you can find in these sites,are games their publishers doesn't care and allow you to download them and play them.

 

[BreakfastMan]

General rules to emulation

1. If you can buy it and supports the developers then buy the game. Do not use the "I can't afford it" excuse. Even I being broke don't emulate new games.

2. If said game is out of your region then it is okay. We miss out on a lot of games that would appeal to us but without translation or porting over to the US market or even the EU market.

3. Use the age of the game rule within reason. Kinda an emphasis on number one but still don't try and make excuses when you can support the developer especially in an age of digital distribution.

4. If you own the game but broken then it is okay. You already bought the game so it is within your legal rights to emulate.

This is a good post. I whole-heartedly agree with all of the rules proposed here.

 

[Trekkie]

Frankly if you cannot buy the game anymore, publishers/developers have no right to complain about you downloading it. supply and demand *****.

 

[zidine100]

well since emulation is not illegal, as long as you dump your own bios (well that depends on the emulator and console and is a lot easier with some rather than others see the ps1 for instance the games are very easy to dump and the bios are relatively easy) and your games you shouldn't feel bad about that.

Downloading games is illegal of course, its understandable with old consoles, hard to get games, and arcade roms mind (good luck dumping those if you ever try...), im not condoning piracy here, im just saying its understandable.

Besides contrary to common belief emulation is not about piracy, while some people tend to think its all about getting new games to run on pcs so they can get it without paying, speak to virtually any emulator author worth there salt and they will tell you its about documenting games making sure there's back ups in the future. In about 50 - 60 years now do you really think there's going to be any c64's left intact, any dreamcasts left working, that's what emulation is about making sure gaming history is left intact for future generations.

sorry im half asleep right now if ive gone on a tangent and sounded like a idiot (hint i probably have but since i made a large post why the not post it anyway) please tell me where to go.

 

[KeyMaster45]

Emulation has been an awesome resource for my gaming while away at school. I found a PS2 emulator and followed the steps to rip some of the games I own on to my PC and BAM, I can play Kingdom Hearts in semi-HD. (and it's fucking glorious btw) Emulation, as I see it, is an invaluable tool for game preservation. It makes classics that are no longer available via proper retail still playable for newer generations of gamers and for the ones that grew up with them to keep their favorite titles alive and well.

 

[Subscriptism]

You aren't doing anything wrong because the people that own the rights to these games won't be getting any money if you buy a copy as the only copies left are not owned by them. You aren't costing the people who own these games any money however as the poll says, I wouldn't quite say that it is "right", it is just not wrong.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I use emulators all the time, but granted I am mostly using them to emulate games I already own or used to own.

 

[Risingblade]

If you were emulating a modern console, say an Xbox 360, then yes, you would be a horrible person. But if the game is from the PS1 era or further, then I'd say it's okay.

They actually sell those ps1 games on the ps network so those would fall under being wrong as well.

 

[DeltaEdge]

I would say that if you are breaking a law to get it, then you are a bad person in that particular aspect. Everyone does bad stuff, but that doesn't make us all worthy of the death penalty now does it? I also kind of don't care really. Not getting it legally because it is too expensive is a pretty weak argument. By that logic, it should be okay for anyone to pirate whatever they want, but don't have the money for.
More realistically though, from my moral perspective, if the people who made it are no longer going to receive any benefit or compensation from it being sold, and the only profit to be made is in second hand dealings, then I don't really have a particular problem with it. I'm not condoning it, but I'm not condemning it and saying that you should be imprisoned for it either.

 

[Applejack]

I have Monster hunter portable 3 on emulator. The game was never released overseas and this way you can use an english patch. I didn't actually go find it because my friend had it an he copied it to my psp. I don't feel bad at all but if the game had been released over here I would have bought it no question.

 

[Aethren]

If the game in question is on a console older than last-generation, emulation is okay.

If the game has been previously purchased once already, such as DS games, emulation is okay.

If the game is so old it requires DOSbox to run on Windows 7, and isn't on Steam/GoG, emulation is okay.

 

[rwllay]

if you own the game, or its no longer 'in print' as it were, its absolutely fine.

other reasons i'd say its acceptable;
the game is otherwise unavailable in your region (i.e the debacle over japenese wii games a little while back, where the developer/publisher has decided they don't want your money)

maybe as a demo, if one is otherwise unavailable, but only for a reasonable trial time (a level, a fight or two, etc),

id maybe accept to experience a version specific feature (unique character, etc) but only if you own a version of the game

also if a remake re-release is available, you may emulate the older version if you buy the new one

other than those you'd need a pretty good reason why you would have to do so, and most of my reasons would be kinda case-by case.

I'll tell you what ever want to know if its ok to emulate something specifically, drop me a line, we'll discuss it over a lovely seafood dinner (your treat)

 

[CannibalCorpses]

I had a little flutter with emulators about 6 months back when my xbox broke and i can see no problems with it, even if you never owned the game in the first place.

Couldn't find a damn copy of Rockman that would work though

 

[Hemlet]

Have you purchased the game in the past? If yes, then you're good.

Is the game no longer sold or available? If not, then you're good.

Was the game released in your region? If not, then they clearly didn't want your money anyways,therefore you're good.