Emulation

[Dr. Rated-R]

Okay, over time I've heard different, contrasting opinions over the legalty of emulation. I've heard people argue that it's legal if you own the game, and that it is illegal regardless. Who is right?

[KussenKDogg2]

Okay, over time I've heard different, contrasting opinions over the legalty of emulation. I've heard people argue that it's legal if you own the game, and that it is illegal regardless. Who is right?

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[Skummy]

From what I understand, owning an emulator itself is perfectly legal. It is legal to keep a ROM file if you already own a physical hard-copy of that game, or if you only keep the ROM on your computer for less than 24 hours. Whether that's true or just urban myth, I don't know, but it's the most common answer I've heard.

[Dr. Rated-R]

I'm not worried about anything. It's just something I've always wondered about.

EDIT - Skumfrog, that's the most common opinion, but I've also read that it's illegal to have a ROM period, because of some sort of copyright laws.

Edited February 2, 2005 by veg

[apsham]

That's why people make lame public domain ones that are supposed to be fun. Screw that. [returns to playing Road Rash 3 and Pirates! Gold simutaneously]

[KussenKDogg2]

From what I've heard its legal to have it as a "Backup". But some people, I'll refrain from calling them bad names, say that because its not a copy of your EXACT cartridge, its not the same thing, which is friggin bullshit as far as I'm concerned. One things for sure, that 24 crap is nothing but bull, no one follows it anyway...

[thuganomic]

I'm almost positive that ROMs are absolutely illegal, regardless of whether or not you own the game.

[Guest Pirate Chasin' Booty]

Yeah the 'I own the game, i'm covered' shit is exactly that, its shit, just an excuse by thieves to try and make them feel less criminal.

[KussenKDogg2]

Yeah the 'I own the game, i'm covered' shit is exactly that, its shit, just an excuse by thieves to try and make them feel less criminal.

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[Toe]

I'm pretty sure that "I own the game, so it's legal to have the rom" thing actually applies to having backups of CD's (ie. burning a copy of your favorite CD so the original CD doesn't get wrecked.).

[sirdavinator]

Who the hell cares anyway, I have a few ROMs on my computer, and I don't own any of those games I have. They're usually the only entertainment source I have (lack of games or gaming consoles period)

[Stevie B]

To what extent are we allowed to talk about ROM/Emulation on these boards?

[sirdavinator]

IIRC, it was that you could say you owned ROMs/Emulators, but not say where you downloaded them from or give out links to other people on EWB for places to find ROMs. That's what I could remember.

[Stevie B]

That could also be debated though since the statement brought up is that ROM's are legal, as a resource for back-up purposes. Say if i wanted to make a back-up of Super Mario Kart because my old cartridge is being held together by tape, would i be wrong in asking for a link to a ROM, which i can download, so i can still enjoy playing Super Mario Kart once my cartridge dies?

[Corizzle]

That could also be debated though since the statement brought up is that ROM's are legal, as a resource for back-up purposes. Say if i wanted to make a back-up of Super Mario Kart because my old cartridge is being held together by tape, would i be wrong in asking for a link to a ROM, which i can download, so i can still enjoy playing Super Mario Kart once my cartridge dies?

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[K]

Roms are illegal no matter what. All the rules that say it's ok are bullshit.

You are allowed to say you have and own ROMs, but under no circumstances can you give out links or hint at where you got it.

Same as the other warez rules.

[apsham]

I believe some emulation is wrong, like GBA, PS2 or anything else, but I believe that any systems that the companies no longer profit from, should be able to be emulated legally, as there's a very narrow chance of finding certain games in most areas for these older systems.

The downside I find to emulation, is that you don't fully enjoy the games like you used to, because you have the ability to have so many at once, you move from game to game to game.

[K]

It's too easy to cheat on emulators. I found myself saving on games that didn't originally have a save function.

[Dan]

I don't think people who have ROMs are criminals because...

Most of the roms are for older game systems, and the games are very hard to find and the game companys are not gunna get any profit for the game any more, as most of them are gone.

If they are GameBoy roms, Who the fuck wants to play gameboy roms on their pc? unless its pokemon that is , but gameboys are handheld, the games are meant for handhelds.

Also... I got some good freeware emulators that run on my PS2, snes and Mega Drive (genesis) ones, those are fucking awsome.

Edited February 3, 2005 by Dan

[Steveomac]

It's too easy to cheat on emulators. I found myself saving on games that didn't originally have a save function.

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[Godfatha]

That's how my friend beat Mike Tyson in Mike Tyson's Punch Out. I myself am trying to do it the real method with the NES in trying to survive the bastard.

[oldskool]

I beat Mike Tyson in the NES game. Found it easier than doing it in the emulator, that's for sure.

And personally, I think they need to modify the law against ROMs. I mean, sure, if I make a ROM of some new game and sell it, that's one thing; but they're not SELLING the ROMs, for one, and the game company *cough*Nintendo*cough* isn't making money selling the SNES games...because they stopped making them YEARS ago!

As far as I'm concerned, if you're not making the game anymore, it should become open source. It's stupid to lock people out of really good NES/SNES games because you don't want to make them anymore...the only reason they do it that I can tell is to get people to buy Animal Crossing to get the games.

[EWRFan]

Didnt they make certain roms from certain systems legal a while ago?

I think I heard that all Atari, NES, Master System, Genesis and SNES roms that have not been remade for newer systems are legal now

[Carnage]

I used to be all about Roms. One day, my internet provider, Charter, mailed me and said "You have illegal software on your computer. blah blah blah, we'll cancel your internet if you don't delete these." Anyway, I guess they didn't care that I had roms just all of my Mario games. I deleted the Mario games and kept the rest. Haven't heard from them since.

[apsham]

I used to be all about Roms. One day, my internet provider, Charter, mailed me and said "You have illegal software on your computer. blah blah blah, we'll cancel your internet if you don't delete these." Anyway, I guess they didn't care that I had roms just all of my Mario games. I deleted the Mario games and kept the rest. Haven't heard from them since.

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I've never heard of an ISP doing that before... they went through and looked at what you download?