demonization of emulation

[ible]

the ROM file for Super Mario Bros. currently distributed on the Virtual Console sports an iNES file header, a format that was first developed for an emulation project in the mid-'90s. By far the most likely reason that header is in an official Nintendo product, Cifaldi says, is that the company downloaded a copy of its own game from the Internet. "Nintendo is pirating its own ROMS and selling them to you!" he said.

I think there is a typo and it should be : 'By far the most likely reason that header isn't an official Nintendo product'

no it's correct, it's just a long sentence. "the reason that the header is in the file, is probably because Nintendo pirated the game."

 

[levi]

Indeed; the virtual console release is an official Nintento product, just one that came from a community source.

 

[Jumpman]

I love emulation, it's the best thing since sliced bread

Chris

 

[Klumpen]

no it's correct, it's just a long sentence. "the reason that the header is in the file, is probably because Nintendo pirated the game."

Proving once more that we have to thank the ones refered to as "the bad guys" for their preservation efforts and not the companies which abandon everything as soon as they think there's no money to be made with it anymore.

 

[Mr_Loon]

no it's correct, it's just a long sentence. "the reason that the header is in the file, is probably because Nintendo pirated the game."

Thanks, reading it correctly it does indeed make sense

What makes less sense is that there are plenty of people here who take more care than Nintendo when it comes to sourcing Roms, i.e. dumping/ripping original media rather than downloading via the interwebs.

 

[dgame]

 

[comradekingu]

The only thing the current industry gets to demonize is itself.
I still think of myself as the good guy, thank you very much.

 

[WizardStan]

Your analogy is flawed: While Blu-Ray re-releases of a movie/show have more available data storage than the VHS release and use it a lot (most times better resolution, often more bonus content etc.), re-releases of old console games via Nintendo's Virtual Console have no enhancement other than what can be deduced from the originally released data (and an emulator that's inferior to what you can download legally for free).

No, that's completely irrelevant to the argument. There do exist DVD re-releases which are literally just direct copies of the VHS, and I could argue that being able to play on bigger, higher quality screens with more comfortable controls is an enhancement anyway. Either way, the analogy is still accurate whether the re-release is being used to its full potential or not, because whether there is additional stuff or not has absolutely no bearing on this: in order to watch the movie on modern system you must purchase it again. Period. That is the extent of the analogy. There is no flaw there. If the virtual console doesn't add anything then that's on Nintendo not making use of the medium. Whether a movie comes with more stuff or not, you are still paying for something that you already own in order to play it on the new medium.

As Agricola says, when I buy a Bluray of something I already own on VHS, I'm trying to get closer to the original 35mm (or whatever) film.

Also irrelevant. You're still paying for something you already own, which is what you were complaining about. The fact that you're getting more out of it doesn't change that fact. Are you saying that if a VC release came with a behind-the-scenes video you'd be perfectly ok paying for the exact same game again?

 

[HelenF]

There are a good number of old console games I'd happily buy if they were sold as a DRM-free copy of the original that I could play on any emulator. This includes some that I already have on old media and would be buying again. But I'm not really interested in playing them in the current walled gardens. I bought a few NES/SNES games on the Wii download shop and was not really happy with the experience. I want to have control over what device I play them on and how I play them. If I want to save more than I'm supposed to, change the speed or whatever, that's my business. And with these walled garden systems, I'm worried I'll have to buy things again-again someday.

 

[levi]

Also irrelevant. You're still paying for something you already own, which is what you were complaining about. The fact that you're getting more out of it doesn't change that fact. Are you saying that if a VC release came with a behind-the-scenes video you'd be perfectly ok paying for the exact same game again?

Well, I have rebought DVDs to fix widescreen issues and to gain access to special edition features, and books to get matching spines. But it's fair to say I've upgraded very few of my DVDs to Blu-ray because DVD is good enough for me. And I'd only rebought about a third of my VHS tapes as DVDs before I chucked them out.

But it is fair to say I sometimes do rebuy things for supplementary added features. Just that more often I realise that i don't actually need that film in my life and let it slide.

 

[rygD]

Just rip your movies and get ROMs from your old games (or copy the disk image, or whatever).

That was really the point of the article: while the film industry (and probably music industry, with music) was quick to release a film in a new format, based on the same original film, regardless of extra goodies and resolution, the game industry has been slow to do that, and it still isn't very common.

Yes, I used Nesticle back in the day, too. That was during the period after I went out on my own but before buying all the consoles. I still prefer real hardware for many of those games, but emulation is better than nothing. I wonder what will happen in the next few decades with all of this.

 

[Hồng Thất Công]

I can see the next ultimate console is a computer. PS4 and Xbox one are just computers in fancy shells. No emulation needed for PC games

 

[thatgui]

in order to watch the movie on modern system you must purchase it again.

What about the equivalent to a romdumper: analog-digital video converter/capturer > You have to buy additional hardware once, but not the game/film itself ?

 

[WizardStan]

What about the equivalent to a romdumper: analog-digital video converter/capturer > You have to buy additional hardware once, but not the game/film itself ?

What about it?

 

[thatgui]

What about it?

Wether this counts in your argument, that you need to purchase some type of media again in order to use it on a modern system , or it does not count, as you need an additional mechanism

 

[WizardStan]

Wether this counts in your argument, that you need to purchase some type of media again in order to use it on a modern system , or it does not count, as you need an additional mechanism

It's identical either way though: you can find a VCR and a capture card to rip your VHS tapes, and you can get something like the retrode to rip your ROMs. You can simply use a VCR to play the tape directly on your TV, and you can dig out your NES. Actually, both of those are still false, you'd still likely need some kind of coax->HDMI (or at least component) converter to work on the latest and greatest TVs, but regardless, point is they're basically the same situation.
It kind of breaks down because it assumes there's some new VCR you can get for the ripping to contrast with a retrode, but the fact that it doesn't actually exist doesn't mean it can't and wouldn't fit the analogy. Actually I guess something more real-world would be vinyl records, since there are new players with laser readers you can use for the ripping (or playing), no need to hunt down old technology.

 

[PowerGod]

As far as I know, when copying a VHS (or every other analog supports) you will loose quality from the original, while for every digital things you can obtain a 1:1 copy

 

[WizardStan]

That's true but I don't think that's really relevant to the point: if you want to watch a movie, listen to a song, or play a game from yesteryear in a modern format you need to either rip it yourself (with whatever equipment and setbacks that may entail), repurchase it legally, or download it illegally from someone who did one of the first two things already.
Besides, emulating games can't obtain a 1:1 conversion either; playing a game on a 4:3 CRT with sharp-cornered controllers after wearing yourself out blowing into the cartridge is distinctly different from playing it on a 1080p widescreen LCD with ergonomic grips and a system that just always works. Whether this is an improvement or not is entirely a personal choice.

 

[levi]

Actually I guess something more real-world would be vinyl records, since there are new players with laser readers you can use for the ripping (or playing), no need to hunt down old technology.

Have you got any links to information about those? Last time they tried it, all the microscopic dust on records made the playback almost unlistenable, as unlike on a conventional player, the laser stylus doesn't push dust out of the way. In the end they needed so many extra stages of friction based cleaning, that actually it was no better for the health of your records than the traditional diamond stylus. But maybe there's a new approach I've not heard of.

But anyway, there are still good quality traditional turntables being made new, so there's no need to go to untrusted new tech just to play records, and these days companies are making decent preamps with USB audio out for those that want to digitise their collection, for not a lot of money.

 

[WizardStan]

Nah, I just remember a tech article talking about them and how they work, and why you'd want one. I don't actually have need of one so didn't bother to look for reviews, but I would guess that dust could cause a problem. Interesting.