How do people feel about ROMS? (Discussion, not requests)

[Halo]

I can't condone the modern consoles, as you really are stealing off the companies.

Some of the older ones I can maybe stretch to. Butyou can buy those joysticks with around 10 games on.

That isn't emulation though - it's the games reproduced on different hardware. For Intellivision one the games are all ported to NES hardware, and it is never 100%

[?pint]

My argument is that if I wouldn't buy a game normally then it's harming nobody by me downloading roms. Not that I do, 56k being the bitch that it is. But if I was to get an *ahem* copied game (such as Disgaea) and like it enough, I would buy it properly. As I did with Disgaea. Publishers and companies quoting stupid billion-high figures are misleading - those figures are the actual amount of money that it would cost to buy every pirated game, in new, ?40 a pop form. Which just wouldn't happen. Because to be fair, if you had 100 copied games, you would never pay 4 grand for them all, ever.

[Garibaldi Biscuit]

interesting. i have a flash linker and play everything on my gba. to be honest the price of most gba games is ridicous. for a game that you play in the front room with enormous production value i think 30+ pounds is fine - but for a 2d handheld (often of SNES classics) game? i don't think so.

anyway, i am going to continue to happily download gba games as long as they make them...

mario and luigi superstar saga is just divine.

If you must continue to pirate then at least back yourself up with valid arguments. It is so easy now to find the latest GBA releases online for less than ?25, if you can find this forum then you're surely capable of doing that.

Complaining that GBA games are little more than ports of SNES games, and then pirating them, is a nonsensical argument. If they're just ports then why would you want to play on them again? You immediatly veto any right you have to complain about Nintendo's lazy porting practises the minute you pirate, you forfeited that right when you decided not to be a consumer.

Your constant references to 'happily downloading' and 'do people download PS2 and XBox games as well? If so, wow!' show just how new you are to this whole deal, which is probably why it all seems so enticing and exciting right now - I know I certainly felt this way when I got into pirating C64 and Amiga games when I was younger, it's only when you become a little more seasoned that you realise that this really isn't a jackpot machine on constant payout just for you, it is, ultimatly, theft.

With the knowledge I have now, of online gaming retailers and games in general, I don't have to buy another bad game again, ever. I only pay for what I feel deserves my money, and after seeing one of my favourite Development houses of all time, Looking Glass, going out of business due to apathy in general towards rewarding talent, I pretty much determined never to pirate another game that I knew I would enjoy.

[nick_the_judge]

if it wasnt for roms i wouldnt of just purchased a snes and a megadrive again, so i suppose you could say roms are cool, but they aint nothin compared to the real mcoy!!!!

[Che Musashi]

I know what you're saying mate, and I agree with you. Although can't the same point be made against buying a used/import game from someone?

Isn't that revenue still going to the company in question? I don't think Capcom's bottom line was hurt because we all bought viewtiful joe jpn instead of viewtiful joe us/pal.

[Olympichero]

I know what you're saying mate, and I agree with you. Although can't the same point be made against buying a used/import game from someone?

Isn't that revenue still going to the company in question? I don't think Capcom's bottom line was hurt because we all bought viewtiful joe jpn instead of viewtiful joe us/pal.

Well if you think about 2nd hand games then the point is only one copy has been bought so the amount goes to the company once, but it may be sold 2 or 3 times between different people.

I suppose you could argue that you are still detracting from the company because while the money is going to Nintendo it isnt going to the right division (e.g. If all of us buy Jap/US VJ and it hardly sells any copies here then 1. less money is going to NOE and 2. they might decide to release fewer games like these here).

[fluffyrussell]

i have no arguement biscuit dick. neither am i pretending to. i am simply enjoying playing games that i would never have brought otherwise. should i feel for nintendo? because i don't.

[Wools]

Since grtting this spanky new laptop I admit that ive downloaded quite a few roms.

The diffrence here is that although I have a mega drive withs, say, sonic the hedgehog, I dont want to get it down from the loft for just a 5 minute burst of it. So ive now put on my harddrive all the games I own on the Master system, snes, megadrive, nes and neo geo pocket (although Ive put on a few more!)

It is a great thing I admit but I have recently sold my nes, snes and master system as I hardly touch them anymore due to the fact I play all the games at work and when ive loaded up my laptop.

So i doubt vintage rom's will make me want to go out and buy them like a gba or xbox rom would but theres my case!

It's bascially more convienent for me to play them.

[Crispin]

Besides, it would be too much of a hassle to keep connecting and reconnecting the older consoles, especially if they only have a few games each (and they each only usually hold your attention for 30mins at best). The only person making money off second hand games are Ebay, anyway.

[Manta Ray vs Guitar]

My belief is that if a person chooses to aquire a rom via downloading it or whatever its up to them, similarly if a person chooses to download a movie from the internet, thats also up to them, im sick of this holier than thou stance taken by many reguarding this practice. Of course with people downloading roms etc for free there is a drop in profits for the software companies, and many companies are suffering, particularly the smaller ones. But at the end of the day it is a matter for the individuals conscience not other people to choose or dictate for them.

With the help of logic, I was able to naturally extend your argument to include 'stomping on your nutsack' to the list of personal freedoms I should be allowed to practice. Thanks, logic!

[Kirby]

I operate a system similar to Nintendo's very generous Star catalogue.

Every 1st party GBA game i download that i would keep is worth 250 Yaar's. When i have 4500 Yaar's (coincidentally which is how many stars you need for the new 'free' Zelda bonus disc) then i will go out and buy a 1st party GBA game of my choice. I feel that this is a fair system, and although just offering me the game (or bonus disc for example) for sale and me then buying it would be easier, it would also be a good idea which is strictly against my own, and also Nintendo's policies.

Another coincidence is that hunting websites for GBA roms and then downloading them is almost as fun as using Nintendo's extremely well designed website.

[Welrain]

With the help of logic, I was able to naturally extend your argument to include 'stomping on your nutsack' to the list of personal freedoms I should be allowed to practice. Thanks, logic!

Best post ever ;-) Its sound very dilbertish that does.

My personal view is that I dont use roms. Stopped last feb and havent missed them for 1 second (except for Wrestlefest *sob*).

[Crispin]

Another coincidence is that hunting websites for GBA roms and then downloading them is almost as fun as using Nintendo's extremely well designed website.

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic. Speaking from experience, it beats microsoft's Xbox UK site effort. Geez, how hard would it be to make a link on the front page that brings up a list of every Xbox game released and announced with further links? And an easy link to the media section. And making the damn things viewable only in the latest version of media player restricts the no. of people who can watch it. After all, if we had a powerful PC, we wouldn't need an Xbox (just kidding!)

[vic_viper]

i have no arguement biscuit dick. neither am i pretending to. i am simply enjoying playing games that i would never have brought otherwise. should i feel for nintendo? because i don't.

Lets be honest about this. You've not started this thread to encourage a discussion on the rights and wrongs of downloading roms. You've started it cos' you think you're 'cool as ****' for getting one over on big bad Nintendo and all the companies that supply your entertainment. Personally i don't see whats to show off about that your too cheap and pikey-like to buy games, infact i think that makes you a bit of a dickhead...but maybe thats just me?

[Garibaldi Biscuit]

i have no arguement biscuit dick. neither am i pretending to. i am simply enjoying playing games that i would never have brought otherwise. should i feel for nintendo? because i don't.

Call me a dick because I question your reasoning, eh? Nice.

Like Vic_viper, I'm sort of puzzled as to why you started this thread if you're not willing to entertain any form of debate, I'm also leaning towards you only initiating this all in a fit of smug superiority. Your view of pirating is obviously quite a romantic one; sticking it to the faceless, evil corporations, scoring one for the little guy, after all...all they do is churn out ports, right?

Sling mud at anyone else like you did at me and I will believe that you have no interest in constructive conversation, but are merely using this forum as a podium to show how 'l33t' you are. If you really want to know how people feel about Roms then you've got to be prepared to have your own stance challenged, if not then stop wasting everyones time.