What Is It With Emulation??

[CRTGAMER]

Agree nothing beats the original Arcade, but sometimes the original is hard to come by. Anyone see a Space Wars cabinet in the Arcade anywhere?

Mame
Emulation is not always a bad thing. Sometimes custom controls can be utilized. Not a surprise here right? Custom controls are a taken for granted option in Mame. But actually this one is a Hidden Discovery thru the TAB DIP Switch Menu. I couldn't get my mouse to work in this game, even though Mame had the option.

Imagine my surprise when I went to the in game Service Menu.

PUZZ LOOP Service Menu.JPG (124.8 KiB) Viewed 1467 times

The Arcade game Puzz Loop is a Stick type game. Hidden inside the Dip Switch Service Menu allows for a Knob Controller. The Mouse or a custom Spinner can be utilized! The Arcade I played had a stick, Spinner versions I didn't know about until I discovered this with the wonders of Mame Emulation.



Perhaps there are other "Hidden Gems Controls" waiting to be discovered.

[wootcube]

I don't get it either...games just really loose their appeal for me when not on the original hardware :/

On the other hand, I have friends that are the exact opposite - as long as they can play it, they're happy.

[DAAAAA!!]

emulation is simply "okay". but sometimes there are games i could never afford or are in a language i don't understand so i have to emulate. i also use emulators with really really hard games so that i can save right before the boss that always kills me.

[Anayo]

If emulation replaced the originals, no one would be able to sell the originals for any money.

[GSZX1337]

It seems that the main problem is being hinted at, but not really said out-right. The main problem is that when you emulate (even if you're using Virtual Console/XBLA/Steam/PSN) all that you have is a file. Yeah, the file is what's important but the PCBs, the plastic, the stickers, etc. are what make a game feel worth it. You can spruce it up with Front-Ends and use controller adapters but you sill have a file. Retro Compilations like the Mega Man Anniversary Collection makes things a bit better by having a disc (or cart) and a manual.

[Thierry Henry]

I don't get it either...games just really loose their appeal for me when not on the original hardware :/

A while back I got myself one of those EverDrive flash carts. So I'm still using the original hardware (in this particular case for my SMS, Genesis and 32X games). Convenient and very cool.

[themeliorist]

Having a tangible quality makes a huge difference to me. A huge library of roms can be overwhelming because it's just a list of filenames to the eye. Even an equally huge library of physical games would be less so because the objects themselves have memory-triggering shapes, artwork, and textures.

Seeing a file named supermariobros3.nes in a folder on a computer makes me think, "Yup, that's a great game," on an intellectual level but I would probably not play it right then. It's not enough to get the imagination working. But seeing the cart on my shelf with the yellow label and flying raccoon Mario that I remember being so excited about when I was 9 makes me think, "Oh man, I love this game!" And then I have to play it.

[aaron]

i love you. did you know that?

[RBT]

For me I use emulation as a way to try before I buy, I'm more of a gamer than a collector so I only like to keep games that I know I will play at some point I prefer to have 20 great games for a system than 100+ with most of them being average.

[Weekend_Warrior]

For me I use emulation as a way to try before I buy

Oh absolutely! I used this method last year with Nester on the DC. I tried every NES game on my ROM disc, and then compiled a list of games that I had never played before and thought were cool/interesting. So now I can remember to keep an eye out for these games when I'm out at the pawn shops or whatever.