The Ethics of Emulation

[cloud711]

There is nothing illegal about downloading ROMs or using an emulator, as long as it is for a backup of a game that you own. Hell, I could tell anyone I own the game and keep it in storage in my attic. That is, until the the FBI shows up at my door and wants to see them, then I'll say someone stole them all.

As to what I think about ROMs though, I pretty much agree with T.G. Oskar on this one. I don't really think newer systems that companies are still producing games for should be emulated. Just go out and buy the damn game. But systems like the NES, SNES, Genesis, and things like that shouldn't be a problem. The companies really aren't making a profit off of these systems anymore, so why should it be a big deal to play them on your computer? I'm all about emulation, I used to have over 1000 NES roms and close to 500 SNES roms on my computer before I reformatted my hard drive. I'm gonna have to get those back.Same thing goes with ROM hacks. If its really not hurting anyone, who cares?

[awall]

Originally Posted by cloud711

There is nothing illegal about downloading ROMs or using an emulator, as long as it is for a backup of a game that you own. Hell, I could tell anyone I own the game and keep it in storage in my attic. That is, until the the FBI shows up at my door and wants to see them, then I'll say someone stole them all.

I guess you didn't really understand the article then. The point is, it is illegal to download roms; you are downloading a copywrighted work. It's the same thing that makes it illegal to go out and download a movie.

According to my understanding of what I read, there is only one legal way to make a rom image: You own the original game and a rom dumper, and you dump the rom yourself. Note that it is illegal to actually play this rom on an emulator, or on anything else other than an SNES (or whatever platform the game is actually for). This rom may be used only for backup purposes - that is, if the original is lost or destroyed, you may load this rom image back to a cartridge and play it on the SNES.

There is no legal way to play a copywrighted rom on an emulator.

That said, don't worry about defending yourself. It's one of those things like drinking when you're 20 or driving 5 miles over the speed limit... everybody (well, most people) do it, and nobody really cares. I agree that emulating old games doesn't really hurt anybody, and I think it produces more good than harm, so I'm all for it.

[T.G. Oskar]

The fun part is, the videogame industry generates millions in sales each year, and because they still want more, they go and waste a big part of their earnings in setting lawsuits against particular small companies, and to enforce people to buy their games and weep for old-time favorites until they decide to remake it. At least because of emulation we now have revamped games, hopefully fixing bugs left in the original, or giving them a new feel. Surely, if emulation didn't exist, that extra material would be scarce at best. For, after all, the purpose of extra material is to convince people to pay for the original.

I would gladly recommend, to prevent flawed discussion, to expose the differences between the terms of "copyrighted material", "registered trademark", and "intellectual property". That would surely help us on the discussion, increase our intellect, and produce further discussion. For what would the copying or manipulation of a game program would be considered, and which laws protect each.

[Aleks]

That almost brought me to tears. Seriosly.
You'r pretty good in this .

Well, anyways. I have always been playing on emulators. And no guilt. I think emulation should be legal.

You know.I am really interested by the "Ethics of Emulation".I am a gamer who has only recently started playing videogames.Seven years ago I was hooked on Poke`mon and so started it all.I actually didnt have a computer and the only new systems out then were the Nintendo Game Boy,Nintendo 64 and the PlayStation and I had a GBC.Now I am in a frenzy about games and I am quite guilty of emulation....and well I could be guilty of breaking laws even if emulation was legal.I have a good amount of GBA ROMs and I dont really own the original cartridge.Most said that emulation is a form of advertising and I agree.If it were'nt for playing emulators I may have never bought half my GBA games.I played Megaman Battle Network 4 on a GBA very close to its release and simply because the game was so good IMO I went out and bought it (I also bought it because Roll Soul was in the 2nd playthrough 4 u MMBN fans ).

In response to all these facts stated here I would like to say I agree with most especially those from Loco and awall cause I in addition to being fairly new in the VGaming world,I am also a FF fan for only 4 months.I couldnt get myself a NES/Snes or so firstly because it would be too hard to find one,secondly it would be too expensive and thirdly there aint no Ebay or EB games where I live so I cant just up and bid on a sys like SNES/NES in 2005 where I'm hyped about the next-gen systems.I would have never been able to have/play all the FF's if it werent for emulation (and mod chips which would start a totally new thread).

[LocoColt04]

Originally Posted by Dragon KnightKJ

Most said that emulation is a form of advertising and I agree.If it were'nt for playing emulators I may have never bought half my GBA games.

That's why I said it! It really is, if you ask me.

Originally Posted by Aleks

That almost brought me to tears. Seriosly.
You'r pretty good in this .

Thanks, it's appreciated. I've been a journalist for years, and it's not often I get the opportunity to put together an editorial regarding something I'm fairly interested in.

This is out of lines, when i read up there drove me crazy, i mean FFX on NES?? first of all, no one has the right to do this, plus what is the use of that unless they are after something?? i mean they're not wasting their time for nothing, maybe one day they'll just sell it in the stores or something
The important thing is to realize how much people try to make their games the best, i mean look at FF12 for example, Square Enix is putting much effort in it to please the fans, but what if someone recreats it a year later on another console?? of course all of their effort will be gone for nothing, and of course none of us wants that, right??

[ZRO]

One, you need a Valium dose or something. Two, they recreated it on an outdated system format that no one is going to pay for. Three, yes, some people will 'waste their time' for nothing, because to them, the end result is all that matters, whether it makes them a profit in corporeal form or not. ^^

[T.G. Oskar]

Originally Posted by true edge

The important thing is to realize how much people try to make their games the best, i mean look at FF12 for example, Square Enix is putting much effort in it to please the fans, but what if someone recreats it a year later on another console?? of course all of their effort will be gone for nothing, and of course none of us wants that, right??

I assume that when you say "...how much people try to make their games the best...", you refer to graphics, and CGIs, and voice acting? Square Enix does the games so they can sell, beyond anything else. So do the rest of the companies. They have to outdo themselves and the competence so they can attract the fans, and increase their sales. They often go with the flow, and become mainstream to increase their sales. When they reduced the difficulty of the games in North America, and upgraded graphics, and did a massive marketing on game magazines, they wanted non-RPG fans to buy the product. That does not mean that SE or Capcom or other companies want to make their games better, but realize the facts: they are companies, wanting profits. If they did not care for profits, they probably would not care about emulation at all, as long as they do not plagiarize their work. And notice I said probably.

As for the FFX on NES, IMO the reason these guys wanted to do it was because they liked the game, and were tired of hearing some hardcore oldskoolers saying "oldskool is better" (like hardcore newbs often do), so they made it as a response, so as to say "hey, guys, the game is now on your favorite format, so go now and criticize it". That's a possible reason, but not the only one. But surely, they won't sell the product, not even charge for d/ling it because that would get Squeenix on their tracks.

And...you say "what if someone does it on another console a year later?" Well, ask Sega: Phantasy Star Online was released, by them, years later, on the Gamecube. Of course, the developer released it, but anyways, it falls on the "someone's" category, right?

[LocoColt04]

Originally Posted by true edge

This is out of lines, when i read up there drove me crazy, i mean FFX on NES?? first of all, no one has the right to do this, plus what is the use of that unless they are after something?? i mean they're not wasting their time for nothing, maybe one day they'll just sell it in the stores or something

No, it'll never be sold in stores. They didn't do this for "nothing."

Ever heard of a little thing called ART?

Originally Posted by true edge

The important thing is to realize how much people try to make their games the best, i mean look at FF12 for example, Square Enix is putting much effort in it to please the fans, but what if someone recreats it a year later on another console?? of course all of their effort will be gone for nothing, and of course none of us wants that, right??

So, basically you're asking who would want to recreate a game for another console because it's a completely pointless thing, right? And yet, here you are, completely psyched about the IV, V, and VI releases for the GBA. Don't tell me it's different, because I'm going off of what you've written. Isn't that a bit hypocritical?

Oh, by the way, don't tell me my editorial is "out of line." It's a fucking editorial, and it's my right as a journalist to speak my mind.

[King Fenii]

Originally Posted by true edge

This is out of lines, when i read up there drove me crazy, i mean FFX on NES?? first of all, no one has the right to do this, plus what is the use of that unless they are after something?? i mean they're not wasting their time for nothing, maybe one day they'll just sell it in the stores or something

I'd like to comment True Edge about how nobody has the right to port FFX to the NES. First of all, I thought it was a very nice idea. The guys had some serious sack to do that. Second of all, they aren't SELLING it or anything, it's just a project. And it is a very creative project, so you gotta give them some credit at the very least.

And also if someone were to recreate FFXII on another console, they would probably get sued Plus, an editorial can't be out of line. Ever heard of freedom of speech?

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I think emulation is a wonderful way for a gamer to keep gaming and to dig in to gaming history. If you ever get nostalgic, an emulator is the perfect way to bring back memories. It's also very handy to play games that aren't being sold anymore like NES or SNES games. It also seems very logic that if fans alter a game, it is for the good of the game itself.

Every game has its small flaws or cons. A fan of the game can easily recognise that and make it more fitting to the game and perfect it in a certain way. That, I think, is the right of the gamer. You cannot recognise the downsides of the game, if you haven't played it well enough. This means that the developer achieved its goal: to get the game to the gamers.

And as time progresses and people have serious discussions like this, gaming itself will evolve to a next level, and become even greater and better than it already is.....