GATEKEEPING In The Retro Gaming Hobby | Emulation VS The Real Thing

[@MSFVIDS]

I really enjoy emulation because it allows me to play many of my favourites very easily without having to buy the console or games; however, I still love the feeling of owning physical games and consoles.

[@PikangsFutaba]

True, while recently is kind of a pain to get physical, I don't care how others play the retro games as long they can play them, for me in my POV, if you enjoy playing the games with the emulators, go ahead (I don't see a problem there... at all), if you like console along emulation, even better (as that says that you can adapt no matter what).

[@layeththesmackdown]

Game hunting is pretty awesome. But im more pro emulation.

[@famouskidvgi]

You really caught my attention.. when you said in the beginning..showing my collection someone and being called a horder ..I was called that ..all my stuff set up nice and clean.. it wild bro .. and I play emulation too .. I love physical media as well as digital.. they both fun but just like you guys said .. nothing can replace the original.. overall we love playing games

[@NESADDICT]

As a physical collector I’m jealous of people who only emulate. I wish I didn’t want all this stuff. But nostalgia always wins for me and I wanna play it the old school way.

[@reggiebuttsmash2321]

I relate so hard to this.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Love this comment! It will always play best physical!

[@NESADDICT]

@@GamingOffTheGrid agreed

[@jdchainsaw1335]

You nailed it-- Physical for home. Emulation for travel + testing rare games.

[@smashmaster13]

I try to advocate for crts because they can still be free all the time if your not super picky and the retro games and movies look great but I love telling people who complain about certain games prices they can emulate if that's what the games worth I try not to pay more than 60$ a game but little Sampson looks great on my Dell CRT PC monitor hooked up to my iMac

[@retrorenovo]

I've found that using modded consoles/everdrive carts works particularly well here... although I do my traveling to places that all happen to have S-Video or Component jacks. Handling HDMI is not pleasant when you have to bring out upscalers and things like this.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

💯

[@Xhalonick]

Emulation for home, emulation for travel. These games are not worth it anymore. Most things that are affordable, are not fun or interesting retro games. Not gonna let some neckbeerds hoarding physical dictate prices on ebay with their inflation. I'll happily emulate with an 8bitdo controller. All these physical purists wouldn't even be able to tell the difference if you handed them a controller and asked to tell the difference between retroarch and an actual console. This entire hobby is doomed, happy I can enjoy these games without having to rationalize in my head how spending $100 on 30 year old 16 bit games is worth it lol it isn't and never will be. Gamers like playing games. Collectors/hoarders/people that play the retro market like a stock market care about physical. Normal gamers do not care at all as long as they can consume games for a reasonable price.

[@Majin_Vegetaisovr9000]

@@Xhalonickexactly

[@Bez2112]

Thanks for not having the click bait title of the retro problem. If you are having fun it is all good.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Having fun is what its all about! 🍻

[@WavesNGames]

The phrase you're looking for is Gatekeep the gatekeepers There's enough room at the gaming table for everyone to enjoy gaming how theyd like. I did my no death run of Donkey Kong Country through emulation so I could stream it. I also have a physical copy that my girls play. We can literally have our cake and eat it to in this new day.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thats awesome man! Great game to no death run! 🍻

[@adamyoung845]

"Brief case and business meeting" two phrases I never thought I'd hear you say!!

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

😂! Only for my job! 🍻

[@classicpctinker5070]

At the extreme edges of the hobby, having compulsive pirates with tens of thousands of roms vs hoarding collectors with tens of thousands of dollars sunk into their library was never going to be peaceful. Great video guys!

[@ps3inquisition441]

Input lag is a major issue, not just with emulation but with cables and wireless controllers too. I’m not going to play NES with 10 frames of lag, it totally destroys the experience. More people need to be educated about input lag and why it’s unacceptable.

[@jackalope8017]

I'd happily have a living room full of actual consoles, but having the PS2 library on my phone to play while I'm out of the house is amazing. These games scale so well to a small screen. Graphics look great at 2 or 3x resolution.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Nice man! Hear alot of people doing that! 🍻

[@VideoGameXDomain]

You guys talk about subjects and think exactly the way I think. I'm 33. Cheers!

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thanks! Glad you agree! 🍻

[@TIDbitRETRO]

Input lag is crazy. Whenever I played a game via emulation I would almost always just think “Yeah, this is fine. I don’t notice any lag.” Then I’d play the same game via a cartridge on original hardware with a CRT and it’s IMMEDIATELY apparent. Lol

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Yeah playing the real thing shows you how evident the lag is! 🍻

[@Patrick-bn5rp]

Can't you just use runahead to invalidate the input lag?

[@cameronoverton4440]

Just joined the patreon… but the reality is… I’m super busy with a job, wife, kids… and y’all are the “damn if I could have a weekend solo” lol send the Venmo and keep it up.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thanks for joining the patreon its much appreciated! 🍻

[@pt87153]

I used to have some GameCube games but I sold them because I prefer emulation. The nice thing about emulators is you can crank the graphics up depending on your PC specs. There are certain systems like the OG Xbox that I'd prefer to have original hardware though. The Steam Deck is a really good handheld emulator btw.

[@jason_mc77]

Lag during MT Punch Out on a Raspberry Pi killed emulation for me for a few years and I bought FPGA clone consoles, OG hardware, and carts/discs. I got back into emulation recently on much more powerful hardware and enjoy it just as much and lag is all but negligible at this point. I needed to downsize and make space so I sold 8 consoles replacing them with one device. Being a 40+yo dad of a 3yo toddler I will say save states are so helpful when I try to get into a game only to get interrupted. My wife played Donkey Country(which she loves) on an RGB modded SNES Jr. and on an emulator, and other than the controller she didn't notice any input latency.

[@DaBigCheeso]

I was collecting for years and had a good size collection from NES to 360 but I never had time to sit and play in front of my TV. I broke down and emulated all the titles I had and being able to take those ROMs with me when I travel was a game changer. Ended up selling my physical collection a couple years ago since it was just gathering dust. I started with SMB on a 13" tube TV, I had that experience, now I'm good enjoying it on a Retroid 3 or Steam Deck where its just more convenient.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thats awesome! Glad you found the way you enjoy it the most! 🍻

[@tomrwills]

The classics are great for save states. I'll play Super Mario World for a level, save, do work, then go back on my lunch and play another level.

[@x24DAVID24x]

You mean save states are great for classics.. man said it backwards and shit

[@carlosrueda9204]

This is why i love my steamdeck

[@x24DAVID24x]

@@carlosrueda9204 can you play all games on steamdeck?

[@raminc55]

They mean don't save a state right before a big problem area because you can't beat that part. Retro games had punishments for dieing too many times so saving outside of the games original saves (if it even had any in that particular game) is basically cheating.

[@carlosrueda9204]

@@x24DAVID24x ive emulated up to ps2 no problem

[@marsbase1357]

Major Score from Garage sales last weekend. CIB n64 $100 . Pokémon Stadium for $10.00 Two nintendo 3DS all in one game for $5.00 . Saga master system With two controllers $50.00

[@skitswithextramayo6371]

People say the golden age of gaming is gone. I can understand this statement because life, in general, is very different now than the 90s/early 2000s. But, gaming has never been better than it is now. We are very fortunate to have virtually every generation of consoles at our fingertips. I think the issue with all of these gatekeepers is that there are spoiled brats on both sides of the aisle: modern and retro gamers. The complaints remind me of when my daughter complains about eating a new brand of chicken nuggets that she doesn't recognize. I tell her she's lucky that she's not going hungry in the first place. Great talk, guys.

[@leviwarren6222]

Like nearly everyone, I started off on physical hardware back in the day. During my middle school years, I got into emulation as it was a free way to play games that I wanted. The fact that I was able to emulate a lot of games let me to purchase crap tons of physical media and consoles. I now have upward of 100 consoles (a few dozen Xboxes, a couple dozen Xbox 360s, a dozen Wiis, a few. WiiUs, a few NESs, etc.) And a wild shot in the dark of about 2,500 games. I'm providing value back to the original buyers by feeding a second hand market, I'm using my knowledge of the second hand market to build my collection, and I still emulate a lot of games as well. For me, the two kind of went hand in hand and I never would have engaged in one without the other, nor would I now if I had never started playing physical media.

[@markkilborn512]

I struggled between emulation and hardware for a while. I wanted the convenience of emulation but the no lag input of original hardware. I ended up getting a MiSTer. It’s expensive, but it bridges the gap very well. It’s my favorite way to play classic games.

[@dauntae24]

I’m an emulation guy but I also only play retro games on a CRT with legit controllers when I can. I also use save states because I have a wife, kid, house and job. I can’t find the time to complete games otherwise.

[@robmalcolm8042]

Crts can be a pain tho. Got a decent one for cheap but orange red color with a box in a game for exampke has this sticking out on the right side effect of it. Not sure if the crt is dying or geometry issues but it's also a problem.

[@8thFromTheSun_]

You guys are right, it shouldn't matter how other people play games. Never understood why people care about what other people do on their free time and how they do it. That being said I am staunchly a physical collector. Getting burned twice on Turbografx16's, im definitely tempted to get that mini though 😅

[@CallOFRebirth1]

Bot

[@8thFromTheSun_]

@@CallOFRebirth1 Beep boop

[@videogamepolak0]

burned? were they broken?

[@8thFromTheSun_]

@@videogamepolak0 Yeah, unfortunately. I purchased one at my local game store and it wouldn't even turn on. I returned it, and happened to find another one from a different location that also didnt work. I guess "burn" is harsh, because I did get my money back both times. Just very disappointing

[@RetroSho]

@@8thFromTheSun_ They prolly just need recaps. Still lame either way.

[@Cavetreasure]

Mister FPGA and consoles like Analogue systems or the RetroUSB AVS have really changed the retro landscape. I place this as a third route to look into. You get accurate representations of games and no input lag. The two big downsides to this are price and time you need to invest into researching. Everdrives are also great if you are into playing on original hardware with the added benefit of save states.

[@RetroSho]

I walk the line between collecting and emulation. Always have! Big time collector and my entire YT channel is based on showing people how to install and run their flash (emulation) carts or play on emulation devices. It's completely irrelevant how you play these games. All that matters is the game session. Collect (and play) if you like. Emulate if you like. Just enjoy the games for what they are! We are truly blessed to have an endless amount of options for playing these retro games. It wasn't like this 10 or even 6 years ago.🔥

[@dashmash2642]

I would prefer to play games on original hardware, but the prices have just gotten to insane on older games. That’s why I go to emulation.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

We definitely understand that! Its about playing the games any way you can! 🍻

[@marioalfonsoarreolaa.flore2882]

For me it is emulation all the way, for several reasons: 1. Space saving/wife approval. Theres no way I could get away with having several consoles connected to the TV and all the games to play. 2. Recycling/repurposing technology. I use old android cellphones paired with bluetooth controllers or android tv sticks to emulate my game collection. Also I have my legally obtained rom collection backed up in a local server and once I buy new games (usually digital) I upload the files once and all my devices sync automatically. 3. My game collection is mostly digital, so it makes sense to emulate. I like to buy digital releases of old game compilations and or mini consoles. So usually after I purchase a game, I go online, and search for the rom or iso file so I can have a DRM free backup.

[@efuntron]

I had a friend show me tons of imports and tough to find games through emulation back when I was a teenager. Not to mention playing Japanese only games with English patches. I always play on real hardware these days, but for some things emulation is the best or only option for most people. The more options the better if you ask me.

[@MatticusFinch1820]

Great video guys. I had a epic video game collection that I sold in 2015 because I was going to go all digital and emulation because I had just gotten a really good PC at the time and I did wind up building quite an amazing emulation rig using launchbox and retroarch and it was great I loved having the entire library of every console and all the little upgrades it did but there was a problem. It left me feeling empty...something about just a gigantic folder full of endless games just bled into each other and it just made it less special. Games just were a name on a list instead of a box with a disk or a cartridge and a manual. you lose the experience of holding that game in your hand and popping it in the system. It's very similar to the streaming issue as well like on Netflix where you just spend an hour looking through endless walls of game icons and not actually playing anything and when you do play something it's only for a couple minutes and then you move on to something else. It makes the experience soulless and it cheapens the experience and value of games. so one day around 2020 little bit before covid I went out and I bought a Super Nintendo again and I got the bug to recollect everything that I had gotten rid of. Of course the prices were not nearly the same as they used to be and I paid about double or triple to get about half of what I had back but it was worth it to me. I even found some really high-quality CRT TVs on Craigslist! At the end of the day playing real hardware in the glow of a CRT with the lights off is just something that cannot be replicated with a giant HDTV and an emulator running out of a gigantic PC. No matter how many CRT filters you put on it's just not the same. And actually owning the game disc and cartridge with the box and manual just adds a level of nostalgia and an experience for each game. I've now got about 20 systems and about fifteen hundred games between them all together and it's stuff that I love and I want to play not just every game from every library where it's just a mass of icons. I do still have my emulation set up on my PC where I have every game but I never even use it anymore even for stuff I don't have. But I understand emulation has its place and it is fun and it's cool to mess around with ROM hacks and all kinds of cool little stuff you can do with it but also people who can't afford to collect it's a good way for people to play games and it's also great for preservation so don't get me wrong I'm not against emulation at all I just prefer real hardware

[@TheDeadman14]

Feel like you guys summed it up best, games are meant to be one thing: fun & enjoyed by all.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Spot on! 🍻

[@brandonscott3423]

I think it’s cool people who collect but as someone who didn’t grow up with these games and may not even like them emulation has helped me explore a lot and made me realize I really want GameCube on switch online 😂

[@jimmypetersen4392]

I agree with both of you guys, personally I’m in the middle. I own a few vintage video game systems but I don’t have the space to collect so Emulation has came in clutch. Keep up the great content, I watch your stuff a ton because I know you guys are down to earth!

[@dvdknight1]

Always enjoy these conversations. I agree it doesn’t matter how you play. 80% of my collection is physical & 20% emulation. Appreciate you guys, cheers!

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thats awesome man! Enjoy the games! 🍻

[@famousyoutuber5406]

Emulation is great for ease, price, and preservation, but nothing beats the real thing. Definitely a place for both.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Fully agree! 🍻

[@Bibliophilo]

Keep the videos coming guys. Always a pleasure to hear you both chat.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thanks! 🍻

[@sgdude1337]

I am happy to see people play games via any method. I personally usually use real hardware with flash carts, ODEs, and other backup methods. Best of both worlds imo: the experience is identical to using original games but you don’t have nearly as much expense of clutter.

[@drewtodd4471]

First off, the Robert Stack shirt is killer. He was Ultra Magnus after all. Second, I didn't know you could mod a Dreamcast! My philosophy? on games is, I want the most people to enjoy the most games as possible. It's a fun hobby to share. I love that. I tend to collect things i don't necessarily need and that's something you didn't address. I put all my movies on an external drive and watch them that way. I used to have so many comics in my apartment i could barely walk. I basically had to clean house. I try not to get too attached to physical objects, but if money and space were no object that would probably be different. I have Super Mario 1 and Tetris Nes carts. No NES. But they mean something to me. That's why i got them. The emulator of your choice might sound a little a bit souless, but if it maybe opens up new things to new people, that's great. Now it's generally pretty easy to buy a game. I searched for years for a copy of Castlevania. Never could find one. Now i have it digitally and can play whenever i want and learn the tricks. In summation it's about enjoyment. Not arbitrary rules someone made up. No. Go play.

[@samfrito]

Emulation is so great and it's not going away. Being able to play a game that is 30 years old on modern displays is awesome. You guys started a great conversation. I own over 2000 8-bit, 16- bit and 32 bit games. I can't afford much more room for this hobby. Emulation gives me a way to enjoy games that never made it here thru patched roms. People need to relax.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

They do! Let people enjoy it any way they want to play! 🍻

[@butterflypooo]

I bought a GBC but I fully intend to one day add a backlight with the option to adjust settings. Nothing wrong w making something better suited to meet ur needs! Hobbies can take a lot of space and as a minimalist I can relate. I like how the GB cartridges (without the box) take up very little space. I intend to only buy games I will really love vs buying for the sake of collecting.

[@robmalcolm8042]

​@butterflypooo another plus to og hardware work around of having too much games is flashcarts and mods. This allows you to have the benefits of emulation while having 100 percent compatibility and basically no bugs.

[@italianreddnek2844]

At the end of the day, it's all about playing games and having fun.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

💯! 🍻

[@bonedryretro3674]

Excellent job of showing both sides, admitting your preferences, but understanding other opinions exist. You guys always offer a balance of objectivity and subjectivity. I think emulation works best for most, as the time, cash, and space necessary to collect are some huge barriers.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Fully agree! Everyone has to read there own mail! 🍻

[@richardheckmann1892]

I love collecting the real games. I do have some mini consoles and they do have a few games that I couldn’t find and this was the best to play the game.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Yeah they are good to help you test out games you might want physically! 🍻

[@therexershow]

The only way people are beating Tyson on emulation is by using “run ahead” or memorizing exact patterns and time and dodging before Tyson even flashes. So the people who have done it are using Retroarch on their mini and setting run ahead on. The best thing to get is a Mister , basically 0 input lag even on wireless. It’s incredible. And it’s not software emulation , it’s hardware emulation. Much better. Good video guys. One pro that I use for emulation is online play , Retro online play can be done with emulation but not real hardware.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

That is very true! We dont get over excited for online but lots of people do this that is a big plus for emulation! 🍻

[@enriquepinero707]

What gets me is that all community efforts are significantly better than commercial of emulation. Even with the best official collection releases (like the TMNT collection), while having great bonus content; they never have good filter and screen ratio options and make it seem like it's impossible or unimportant. If I'm paying top dollar for these collections; they better have screen and filter options better than the emulation community they love to go after with cease and desist efforts.

[@treyprice04]

I “no death completed” Sunset Riders recently. I’ve owned the game CIB for 30 years and never got close to beating it. I used saved states and saved every few minutes. Save states are a great way to actually play those NES hard games.

[@cheesoboy2]

I used to be more anti-emulation bc I'm pretty pro-IP for programmers, artists, etc. but between many older games 1) Being next to impossible to find or run in their original state & 2) The creators not getting $ from acquisition (i.e. they get nothing from resales) I've basically dropped my stance. It's way easier and more convenient to bust out an older game via emulation if I have a half hour to kill. If a game is more modern though I tend to stay away from emulation and try to acquire a legit copy.

[@cheesychester]

It doesn't really matter how people play the games, just as long as people are able to enjoy the games.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

That is very true! Playing the games any means is what its all about! 🍻

[@cheesychester]

@@GamingOffTheGrid - Thanks man 👍

[@zclary923]

I'm a collector and I love physical media because paying money for and owning something tangible is important to me, and the nostalgia and enjoyment I get from having the things I had or couldn't afford as a kid is something I really cherish. That being said I feel like Emulation is also extremely important. We're going down a road where physical media is kind of getting pushed to the side in favor of the conveniences of the digital age. The wheel of change just keeps on turning. Emulation is important in this regard because as prices of retro physical media go up it still allows us to experience these games still without having to spend exorbitant amounts of money. Additionally it keeps a digital archive of all of this history. While cartridges will probably outlast us, there's a little thing called disc rot that worries me about a lot of the disc based retro games and emulation is a way of ensuring these games stay around long after we're gone so they're not just lost to history. I'm also a fan of the saying to each his/her own. If you enjoy physical great, if you enjoy emulating... also great! You do you! Do what makes you happy!

[@angryretrogamer7313]

I've been waiting for you guys to talk about emulation. This channel is in my top 3 favorite video game related channels. I'd like to share my opinion on the subject: Obviously collecting the real hardware is the best. Having the actual console and games is the ultimate experience and the original experience we had at the time we played these games as a kid. But on the other hand if you offer me every retro console and the full library of every one for $40 i just couldn't pass it up. I'm a huge punch out fan and you are right its not the same its harder with the lag i figured that out on my first play through of that game. Its just not the same but on the other hand now they have that run ahead feature that eliminates%90 of the lag i was able to get it playing almost perfectly and was finally able to beat Tyson. Now i have every game i could ever want and playable i think its worth at least trying out. We can't all be so lucky to be able to have huge collections of the real games. I can i actually have a pretty substantial collection for all PlayStation consoles, Xbox 360 and Sega Genesis but after getting my emulator i will probably never buy a Genesis game ever again. The emulation is just so close to the real games now I'm perfectly happy with that. I was also thinking of getting a ps2 with all the games built in but i actually changed my mind and have acquired a nice collection of the real games with book and case instead. Sorry for being so long on the comment but i guess what I'm trying to say is that both options are fun to have and play even for people who collect the real thing having a emulator is worth it to have on top of the real game collection. Let's you try games before buying them and finding games you never heard of before. Anyway i really enjoy watching you guys and i appreciate the content

[@taylorhead9842]

Look into "Run ahead" in retro arch to fix any lag you're feeling. The only negative to emulation is having so many choices that you can't decide what to play. With physical you're committed once you put in the game so you're more likely to play it. Emulation has so many advantages. Frame rates, resolution, load times, slow down and be fixed(NeoGeo games). Some games in 4:3 can be played in true widescreen(not all games work, but a lot do) Retroachievements are way better than the trophies/achievements we have for modern games. You can play in Hardcore mode(save states disabled) so you get double the points for earning achievements. Save states are so good for saving in games that don't have saves, or to practice a really tough area of the game. Heck games that when you were a kid were so difficult to beat being able to save state and play an area over and over again until you beat it you can slowly progress in a game you would otherwise not have the time to play. Games with unskippable cutscenes can be fast forwarded. Then you have an improvement on controls. Games can be mapped in a way that play better. FPS games during n64, ps1 gen can be mapped to the 2nd stick so you get way better controls.

[@Camille_Boomer77000]

You know what... I must admit I buy a lot of my games in double. One physical copy (from original system, re-release, or remastered or all 3) and then I buy a digital copy when it's on sale. I love the collecting aspect on both side as well as the convenience to experience the original experience with the original controllers etc and then have the peace of mind that if my console or game dies, I can still play the game no matter what.

[@Hawk_Eye_Retro]

Great topic and discussion. Here's where my playing has settled out. I enjoy physical for everything that I originally had, but I use emulation for consoles that are pricey that I don't know much about. I'm all about playing the games as accurately as possible. I'm sure you've heard of this but I would recommend utilizing FPGA hardware emulation for your emulation needs. I currently use a MiSTer FPGA for rare arcade boards, TG16, and handhelds to play on the big screen and this is the way to go - if you are using a CRT or a flat panel! After getting frustrated with software emulation, I'm so happy that FPGA is an option. Keep on gaming guys! Cheers!

[@douglasw6881]

As far as emulation goes, i remember one of the biggest rumors about the 7th gen nintendo console(which ended up being the wii) was that the console was going to come with every nintendo game to date(at the time) already downloaded onto the console. That was one of the biggest things i was looking forward to. But then that didnt happen.

[@TechnoWaffol]

I appreciate how objective you guys are, another great video. I agree on all points. Also nice touch with aquatic ambience at the end, it's awesome to recognize the game tracks you use. I prefer the real thing, emulation sometimes has technical issues (e.g., water effects in Rockman & Forte or even getting the rom to work in the first place) that can offset the convenience of it. Thanks for pushing the conversation, looking forward to the next vid.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thanks for watching! Real thing will always be the best but sometimes its unattainable for a reasonable price so we wouldnt blame people emulating it! 🍻

[@TumoFiji]

GotG busts down the gate like Van Damme to a toilet stall! Killer coverage of all sides of the gatekeeping BS one way or the other. Agree completely regarding "beating" with save states and your breakdown of real-deal pros and cons. Cheers.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thanks brotha! 🍻

[@Spartan77]

Great episode guys. Video games are art, some games have become ridiculously expensive because of rarity. Emulation gives many the opportunity to experience and enjoy games that are financially out of reach for many. If the games are no longer on the market, or under a copyright, emulation does not take anything away from anyone. Imagine if "the Mona Lisa" or "David" were to be locked away from the rest of the world because there was no longer a way to squeeze a dime out of them. It is an injustice to the creators of retro video games; they poured their heart and soul into their creations only to have their endeavors cast into obscurity. I maybe wrong but I do feel that the better way to honor their work is to keep on appreciating their creations. Thanks for the video, CHEERS!

[@cultivatedgamer]

I use emulation. I purchased all the mini consoles that are available to me in Canada (NES, SNES, Playstation, Genesis, C64, and even the Atari by AT Games). They are excellent because of the HDMI connection and they all come with many games. I added games to all of mine except the Atari one.

[@supermiguelYT]

The only way I emulate it’s if I can’t buy the game because of how pricey or if it’s in a mini console like you guys mentioned, emulation is not the same as just getting the original game and turning on the original console, shit i don’t even like using fake controllers lol, great topic guys. I just love how you guys drop videos in my lunch brake.

[@johndiggle4229]

I'm a physical collector but I always emulate an expensive game on an everdrive to make sure I like it

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Its nice to be able to try them before you buy physical! 🍻

[@robmalcolm8042]

You don't emulate on a everdrive that's the silliest statement ever lol all the drive does is be the physical cart with the rom on it. Same thing as a actual gamecart.

[@johndiggle4229]

@@robmalcolm8042 dude you know what I meant 😂

[@robmalcolm8042]

@@johndiggle4229 right your a physical collector so I guess that was your slang you know anything outside of a actual gamecart is emulation lol jk

[@kingnacho69]

For me, I am using an Everdrive or hardware modded OG hardware. The only system I collect for is PS3 because I never really got to play it so every game I get on there is new to me.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

PS3 is a hammer! You will enjoy it! 🍻

[@kingnacho69]

@@GamingOffTheGrid Yessir! 🍻

[@aiodensghost8645]

Physicals look great, and I love collecting/displaying them, but one of the most important things you can do as a gamer is keep the tapes running.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Yes preserving them is very important! 🍻

[@jkemp6791]

I was cracking up during your save state segment. About 13 years ago, I “beat” Kid Icarus on a softmodded Wii. I convinced myself that I didn’t use save states THAT much and told all my friends that its reputation was overblown and it really wasn’t that hard. Then I bought a legit copy and played it the NES. And got murdered over and over and over. Lol

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

😂 it makes a bigger difference than people think! Glad you beat it once though! 🍻

[@robzo87]

Never really messed with emulations, but I definitely burned quite a few Dreamcast titles and they play incredibly well still to this day. At the end of it all, whatever floats your boat…we’re all still gaming in 2023 and beyond (physical/digital copies or emulating)! Thank you for another awesome episode fellas. Cheers guys!

[@robzo87]

Also I’m currently going back through Rockets Knights adventure, TMNT: The hyperstone heist, and, Ghouls’n Ghost on my Sega Genesis Gen 2 console and these games are kicking my ass still to this date😅

[@Septer_Sever]

I use emulation for things i wouldnt otherwise have access to. I have a Pi hooked up to my D-Series CRT that I only use for Neo-Geo games. Then I have a Pi hooked up to a vertically oriented VGA CRT that I only play 3:4 aspect ratio arcade games. That's what is awesome about emulation!

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thats awesome man! Emulation is nice to have for those reasons! 🍻

[@-RH80-]

I collect but preffer emulation than having a bunch of cables or multiple TVs. Ive been playing since Atari 2600 , I lived all those generations, no need to relive everything perfectly, preffer the convinience of emulators on pc and now also steam deck. Might be a little of input lag maybe, if there is still not a big deal. I KO Tyson over 30 years ago on the 2nd rd and beat Ninja Gaiden back in the days, I have nothing to proof to anyone, just enjoy my nostalgia.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thats awesome! You been there done that so we see why you like having emulation! 🍻

[@steviebhoy25]

OG hardware for the authenticity and emulation for the convenience, I love my mancave but in my previous job I travelled a lot so a hdd loaded with emulators was the answer for me. That and with emulation you get to smooth out and hi-res those early 3D games to something a bit more pleasing to the eye. PS1/Saturn/N64/DC etc all benefit massively from emulation.

[@cornbreadcody]

Saying you "beat" a retro game like Ninja Gaiden with save states is like saying you read a book but really just listened to the audiobook. However, I love the ability to have save states in these old games, such a time saver.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

It is! Pretty awesome feature! 🍻

[@MegaNancyLover]

My two cents is I only ever consider save states as a crutch if you abuse them. For instance, slowly pecking at a boss' health bar and constantly save stating to ensure you never die or get hit. Or using them in the middle of levels if you miss a jump or die along the way. Stuff to that effect. But let's say you created a save state at the beginning of a dungeon in Zelda. If you die without using save state, you start with only 3 hearts and you must invest time to stock up and heal up. A lot of NES games require you to start from the beginning if you lose all your lives. Zelda 2 is like that if i recall correctly. I think these are fair reasons to use save states. Not to mention avoiding having to put long passwords.

[@JEFFALITY]

Sadly my primary way is Wmulation to play. Im a full time worker and dad to an autistic son. My wife has trouble working through anxiety and my youngest is incredibly clingy and constantly needs me. My phone and Switch are my primary ways to play these if i want any chance of getting even an hour to play on my own. I know this because even though they were all behind me rebuilding my sega genesis collection with a boobtube at the end of our bed to play but I never have time 😢 Emulation is my savior and i can atleast customize my digital collection and my frontends to make it feel better.

[@RetroJunkie808]

Love your outlook on gaming, it's all about having fun no matter how you prefer to play!

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

💯

[@segastardust8836]

I used to be a shelf collector until i realized I had thousands of games and I was only consistently playing a few dozen of them. I decided to sell the majority of my collection off to fellow collectors that I knew would appreciate them and I've been using Retroarch ever since to play my favourites. The thing about emulation, is that it's always getting better. The community supporting Retroarch and its many cores is incredibly dedicated and the options to reduce latency are there, even if it can never be eliminated entirely. Also, attempting to use an external scaler with original hardware also introduces lag. I think the best option is FPGA, but that has a while to go before it's as approachable as Retroarch. I agree wholeheartedly about save states, you should limit yourself to using them only at moments like a password screen or a Game Over prompt with a continue option. Otherwise, try to get through the entire game in one sitting. One place where emulation really shines is playing coin-op titles. Collecting arcade boards and playing them with a Super Gun is a viable option, but it's very expensive. I've been able to play so many great Arcade titles that I had only heard about before. We're very fortunate to have so many options.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Awesome man! Glad you found the way you are happy to game! 🍻

[@spiderbuzz1404]

I'm pretty much the same I prefer the physical media myself but emulation is becoming more common sure it may not be perfect but it's nice to have those games on an emulator instead of having to take the console with you all in one which is great

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Yes when you travel its a gamechanger! 🍻

[@NegativeGamer418]

Emulation is awesome to demo retro games before i commit on buying it. Before i was using a retrotink 2x pro to play on my modern TV and i recently decided to try out a CRT and now I'm over 9,000% sure that this is the best way to play retro games in their original format. Now the most important thing is the games, play them however you can and decide later if you want to get OG with them.

[@philipadams3325]

I appreciate all the options we have today to experience videogames, movies/tv and music. We have just a wealth of options to be able to play the games and experience the media we love.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Yes we do! It is nice! 🍻

[@videogamepolak0]

some people see it as a wealth of options, which I do...others see it as a wealth of money.

[@squidwardtentacles2736]

My main reasons for Emulation 1. if you have games you're wanting to preserve then rip it and play iso file etc. don't have to worry about disc/cartridge getting wore out. 2.upscaling games and playing in HD. Any console that doesn't natively have HD I emulate because getting the picture right is too much work and money for me. as much as I love ps2 graphics, once I played upscaled with anti-aliasing I can't unsee native games on ps2 and again not paying money to try out all these different converters etc. when i can emulate. 3. cost. I can demo a game and if I like it I will buy it unless the cost is crazy. if game is bad expensive but is available via pc then I'll buy pc version, and if not then I'll emulate. For instance Haunting Ground Id never pay that much for a game and it's not pc so I'm emulating. 4. emulation is easy to play games outside region, play games with translation patches, and play hacked/homebrew games. Conde/Physical Games -if console provided unique experience that is difficult or too much work around to emulate then I'm gonna have physical console i.e. Wii, Wii U, Vita since they use touch screen and motion as part of game experience. i have hacked PS3 so I can play ps1-3 and try games and if they're really good I'll also have discs, minus ps2 I have to rip the isos but still I'll get physical if price is reasonable. A hacked console is one of best inbetween emulation and original because you still can have experience but also demo games the way there meant to be played. Wii U is awesome way to experience their games plus 2D/3Ds games all in one. I use xbox 360 also for og xbox games. I use this method of thinking to have as little consoles as possible but experience as many games on original consoles. And with pc emulation you can buy usb controllers to feel like you're using original controllers.

[@agroed]

For me I like the real thing over emulation because I know I'm getting the perfect experience that's guaranteed to work as intended. Same reason I prefer console over PC. If I have to fiddle with a game for a couple hours before I can even play it, that really sucks a lot of the joy out of it, but with a console you stick it in, boot it up, and it just works. That said there's also the lack of room to house a large collection that's becoming a problem and the sheer expense of it all. I don't think I'll ever fully switch to emulation, but I can see myself selling off my collection and switching to ODE modded consoles. That's kind of the best of both worlds in my book.

[@robmalcolm8042]

You aren't lying at all. I usually been a huge emulation enthusiast but been going with a bit of native hardware and it can really make a difference sometimes despite the convenience of emulation. The consoles probably biggest weakness if their older is capacitors. Always have to keep an eye on older electronics but other than that many handhelds and consoles are pretty bulletproof to the point are even some pcs and phones going to last as long?

[@JPepperL]

I agree 100 percent on the save states. I remember just a year or two ago trying to beat super mario bros 3 on an emulator on the psp (I was born in 96 so i didnt beat a lot of nes games) and the save states were immensely helpful when learning or to just pick up where i left off. When i finally sat down to do it all in one sitting on a real nes it was a whole different situation lol. The input lag was better but theres more to lose if you screw it up so by the end of it, you have to deal with anxiety and adrenaline and sometimes you're just ready for it to be over. It does feel like a much bigger achievement when you're done though.

[@wojtczak1984]

I say collecting physically is fun and great. To have the game in your hand will always be preferred and to maintain a collection is always good. But emulation is the ultimate in preservation. To have back ups digitally in my mind is good for the longevity for future generations to enjoy these games.

[@BKDDY]

I used to be a big time collector 10+ years ago when things were cheap and found all over thrift stores. Of course with so much stuff I never could play it all and most things just sat on the shelf. I thought it was silly to do that plus I found out about retroachievments which some emulators support and thought that was awesome. All I collect now are brand new games for Switch.

[@Vvewa]

I have a mister for ps1 and below and neo geo. Other arcade games that aren't on those I pc emulate, imagine playing $2k+ per game per pcb they can go for. Another bonus for the mister is rgb output on those older systems without having to mod those consoles $$$

[@GedH-316]

I just recently started looking down this route, definitely something I'll invest in the future

[@Vvewa]

@@GedH-316 It's a big outlay upfront but it all works and the most accurate to real hardware, it's always being updated with new cores. I still have a sega saturn with a fenrir (not playing inflated game prices) to get my original hardware fix, I only got this as I missed out on it during this era and wanted to experience the real deal.

[@GedH-316]

@@Vvewa yeah I understand the cost but it'll save you in the long run if you were going after the original hardware and games separately. I still have original hardware and rad2x cables bit I think this could be a good investment and let me play some PC games at the same time

[@josephmanzella7456]

My favorite NES games are Mario Bros 3, and Super Tecmo Bowl. The physical copy of the game is where it all started, the original, the history of the title, the enduring charm. To me it's like buying the originall painting with the original code of paint from the original artist versus buying the remakes. The remakes helps everyone appreciate and enjoy the art, If you are passionate about the art, then maybe you go to the museum to look at the original.I feel that it's much the same with the appeal of physical media.

[@Japan_Changed_My_Life]

I totally agree. 80's kid here and I love it ALL... but emulation is perfect for anything pre PS3 even though PS3 emulation has gotten much better there is still the issue of disc image size which makes me avoid PS3 emulation for the most part. As for physical games, I'm loving the switch physical games and I also have a bunch of PS4/5 physical games but can enjoy hundreds digitally on PS+ and Switch Online. Nostalgia is a powerful drug and must be taken with caution as there is a black hole that can swallow the unwitting and those with addictive personalities... as I have gone down that bottomless hole a few times myself having an addictive personality trait.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Yeah we have been in that same nostalgia black hole! 🍻

[@richardmacaulay783]

My feelings are the same- if it means more people are enjoying games and retro games in particular then it doesn't matter if the way they play games is different as the community as a whole is greater. While I tend to purchase physical games as I have never used any consoles online- I do have a few mini consoles and the Super-Retrocade and find they are very good ways of playing arcade games and games hard to buy within a budget. Also consoles like the PC Engine Mini/TurboGrafx 16 mini which in the UK are more accessible as they were imported to PAL regions when they were released in the 80s and 90s

[@mystacles]

Compared to 10 years ago the whole gate keeper aspect has pretty much been killed with emulation an mega drives I collect saturn an when I started back in the day there was no other way to play those games with out modified consoles..I really feel like today is the best time to play!! Awesome topic..keep kicking ass guys

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Fully agree! Thanks brotha! 🍻

[@walkout85]

Emulation honestly is a big part of keeping the history of video games alive. I don't think "retro" games would be as popular without it. I do agree though that having the physical media is nice also.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Very good point! Emulation will be so important in the future! We get that! We as collectors will always lean more toward physical if we can! 🍻

[@CraigJackson87]

As someone that loves Physical media, it gets STUPID Expensive. I'm personally at the point of moving to a MISTer for my classic games and keeping my games on the shelf, especially since the hardware is failing. The amount of systems that are beginning to fail is getting a little scary, especially lasers for a lot of our disc-based systems.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Yeah they wont last like cartridge based systems do! Alot of times they are fixable but we completely understand what your saying! 🍻

[@josephbradshaw6985]

I'm more of a player than a collector, so emulation is just fine. I still pick up an old cart once in awhile, but limit my media collection to one large shelf. Books, movies, music and games all go on the one shelf.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Nice definitely makes more sense for you to emulate! 🍻

[@JimMorrisonsBathtub]

Good to know I'm not the only one that gets called a hoarder all the time for having a lot of video games (and records and comic books too but mostly for the video games for some reason)

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Yeah we hear it in our comments most of our videos 😂! 🍻

[@douglasw6881]

Id much rather have it physically as well but man is it ever stressful. My collection is worth $33,000 as per price chart. If a water pipe breaks or your house catches on fire or gets blown away by a tornado, there it all goes. Homeowners insurance to compensate for that is roughly $35 per month.

[@Ghostviperz]

Collecting is awesome if you have the room I can imagine guys with a man cave feel fantastic walking into their dedicated fun room. Emulation is fantastic because now a days you will be able to play games you would have never had access to foreign games and arcade game that would be lost to time. If you really love the game you can always track it down the real thing

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

For sure! Its all about playing the games! 🍻

[@bradenalthaus2167]

I love both physical and emulation. I personally lean more towards the SNES Classic Edition and Genesis Mini because they are legit consoles from the original manufacturer and it's a far cheaper way to own a lot of the Super Nintendo games I had and also get more into the Genesis like I've always wanted to. The SNES Classic I only use save states as opposed to writing down passwords for Mega Man X and Castlevania 4. Other than that I use the actual way to save only because that's what I wanted to do to make it as much like back in the day as possible. The Genesis though I do use the save states for Sonic so I can actually enjoy making it through the game instead of dying and start from the beginning. It's my personal preference and to me it's no different than using the Game Genie on the Genesis. I'm glad I recently found your channel. Keep up the great work guys

[@jimmymac2292]

At 35, I want way less stuff. Decluttering my material possessions has really helped Declutter my mind. All my games fit on one little hard drive and I can easily play them on my phone or steamdeck. It's a great way to compromise on nostalgia.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Thats definitely understandable! Everyone has to read there own mail on the subject! 🍻

[@ryandireda9455]

I made my first digital purchases on the Wii U eShop from some games y'all recommended. I bought a lot of rare/expensive games for different consoles because there was no way I could play or find some of these games. Saved me thousands!!!! IMO downloading rare and expensive are the way to go because there's more value in it. 🍻

[@Adamchevy]

I grew up playing the Nes. I was born in 1981, and remember fondly beating Super Mario Bros 3 many times. I can confidently tell you that there is no difference between my Analogue NT Mini Noir V2, my Mister FPGA, and my Gaming PC that has a 4090 in it when it comes to lag. I also have beaten Mike Tyson's Punch Out many times and I don't find any difference. Now I am picky and use corded controllers on each device that I play on. I even go so far as to test the lag. I really enjoy your guys channel and I appreciate you addressing this topic. It is a heated one for sure. I think as long as your having fun that it doesn't matter where or how you play.

[@robmalcolm8042]

I like both emulation and native hardware. For emulation if it's older systems with game types like platformers it seems retroarch is the best bet cause it easily has input lag options that make it feel like your playing the real console. Compared mario land first on a standalone android gameboy emulator that is supposedly accurate with a retroarch gb core like gambatte and input lag had a big difference the retroarch core played just like my 3ds and gameboy version of Mario land. Of course I was using a wired usb controller with a usb to type c adapter wired to my phone so that also makes a big difference.

[@SolSeal]

Even though I’m not right… this is what I feel about it. If I had to choose the way I play retro games it would be on real hardware. But if the only tv that you have is lcd type… it’s not worth it. It’s the same as emulation. The input lag, the mismatch frequency, etc. breaks the intended “accuracy “ . Might as well go all out with emulation. I have an original Megadrive and Psone. The only reason I didn’t buy a whole lot of other consoles is because my 4 crt’s are broken.

[@REAPER-1xxx]

I play on CRT’s with original hardware, I play modern consoles on HDTV’s, I play on mini’s. I have tried the clone console route but sold that. Right off the bat in all cases of emulation the sound suffers. Whether it’s a top notch job by M2 or a poor job on a random core. Strongest example to me is a Genesis Model 1. It fills the room with an intangible quality that really increases my experience. Similar to a guitar tube amp. Emulation has a flat quality that matches the pitch and tone but does not fill the room. Some game types are not affected by emulation. Like a Zelda game. You just walk around and explore. But others are reactive type gameplay and the experience is ruined. Punch Out, Mario 3 or Shmups, run’n guns etc. unless it is well done like a M2 released version. Then the hardware your using can gain you a frame or two. Switch shmups are 5 fps of lag, Xbox is 3 or 4 for the same game. Everdrive is best experience for playing roms imo. Real sound and gameplay from real hardware but money saved not buying ultra rare and expensive cartridges. An example of a game I have beat on master difficulty with lots of time on is Killer Instinct Gold on N64. I cannot beat the Rare Replay version on normal though on Xbox. Plus the sound is flat. Some methods of playing I end up not enjoying as much as others in certain cases. But they all have their place. I do wonder if not everyone has the same ability to perceive minute differences. Side note - some examples of real hardware also ruin the experience. SNES is so slow. Didn’t enjoy it in the early 90’s and still have the same issues today with it. I can speed run Mario 3 on NES but will die constantly on the All-Star version trying to play it the same way. I have to slow right down to play it. Buzz kill. Same with shmups on it. Those games are mostly not enjoyable for me. Space Mega Force feels good though. Compile knew what they were doing I guess.

[@marccaselle8108]

I emulate on my pi for convenience and saving thousands of dollars on games I'll never be able to afford. I set the TV to game mode and leave all the settings on the RetroPie as normal, no shaders etc. I have zero input lag and I use USB controllers.

[@BasicSneedEducation]

I do both and like both. I would only advise people to collect if they enjoy it and have the funds for it. Emulation is good for the convenience and cool features. Lots of handheld devices such as the steam deck make the whole emulation thing great for when you’re traveling.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Spot on! 🍻

[@rbatesmotel]

So many ways to emulate these days. Best of both worlds to me is modded OG HW or everdrives to use on OG HW. I also enjoy the recent rash of "retro" handhelds for portability. Physical is great and if its affordable or I already own it, great. But thats not always the case. As a gamer first, collector second, emulation is a godsend to play games you cannot always acquire physically. Not to mention the convenience. Nothing cooler than scrolling thru my modded OG Xbox/DC/Saturn/PS2 and having my pick of hundreds of games on the fly.

[@randygilbert7286]

OG physical games are what I prefer to play. I try to avoid virtual consoles or downloads if possible, but I do have some exclusives or titles that are too expensive for me to own physical copies. Emulation does have its place though, for me its all about that portability. I Love the PSP for some emulation on the go, or the Retroid pocket.

[@ReinMixTape]

There are many speed runners who opt for doing their runs on OG hardware because input lag in emulation. It's not just input lag though, emulation with capable hardware can lead to games playing faster than they would normally. When I was emulating my PSX Tomb Raider games on PC (it has no disc drive to insert them into), if I didn't manually edit the settings - Lara and the world would go by at 9000 kph rendering it unplayable. Even with the edited settings, the timing of things was still off in a noticable way with the FPS etc manual cap edits. And as for 'taste testing' a game before buying it, I watch a bit of a play through of it through YT/Twitch/etc.