Emulation Ethics

For those who don't already know, there are free video game console "emulators" available for your computer. Emulators mimic the programming of old consoles such as the NES, Game Boy, Dreamcast, or even the XBox 360. They allow you to play any console game you download (called ROM's). The newer they are, the more illegal they are and harder to find. By now almost every published game for the "first wave" home gaming console is available to download legally or virtually legally online. This means Atari 2600, Coleco, etc. NES games and emulators are also pretty easy to get a hold of. This is usually because most of the copyrights have either expired or so much time has passed that the publisher no longer cares to take legal action.

This raises the question- is it ethical to use emulators? I say- as long as the game is out of print, the hardware is no longer supported, and the game is more than 10 years old, why not? Also, it is important to make sure the games aren't being SOLD by a third party. If the publisher is no longer making a profit, the people who still enjoy the old games should be able to play them. Now, I completely understand the argument that they are intellectual property. But what harm is done by a gamer playing an old game? Developers should be flattered to know their dated works are still being played. That's the way I would feel as a game developer, anyhow.

If you're interested in Atari, Coleco, NES, Commadore 64, and such emulators, check out this site called www.theoldcomputer.com