Should You Use Emulation? - Retro Bird

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Games played: Battletoads Arcade via Rare Replay (0:00), Battletoads via Rare Replay (0:25), Saturn Bomberman (0:40), Ghouls n' Ghosts (1:30), Jetpac via Rare Replay (1:50), Ms. Pac-Man via Namco Museum Vol. 3 (3:20), Zombies Ate My Neighbors (7:20)

[@etchatails]

I'm really thankful that Retro bird does these things for us

[@mikem3431]

Yes!

[@TehPwnographer]

Hello Mr Gaming, what is your favorite weapon in Zombies Ate My Neighbors?

[@METALFAN2486]

I'm a huge Scott the woz fan and I highly suggest the Scott the woz episode Eek! Emulation! Why is emulation and roms/iso's wrong when game collections like Sega genesis classics,Sonic origins collection and the castlevania advance collection is legal?

[@lldjslim]

Emulators suck

[@brisingr14]

Mister Wallet always encourages me to emulate.

[@robhulson]

Mister I'd-Like-To-Physically-Control-My-Collection encourages me as well. Yes, that includes the physical hard drives my ROMs are on.

[@PyromancerRift]

There is a third way. It is not always possible but crack/hack enable you to use the original hardware with almost free software.

[@brisingr14]

@@PyromancerRift I do that with most of my systems. I only emulate the arcade, 8bit, and 16bit games.

[@Marmite101]

okie dokie brokie

[@elwinroyale]

I dump my original games so i can play them on emulator

[@itsdeonlol]

Yes Emulation is great. It's the only way for certain people to experience these amazing older games. Sometimes it's harder to find or afford these older games.

[@loboneiner1034]

Especially International only games, prototypes, unlicensed games and mods

[@ps-lover8380]

True Buying these older games cost so much

[@HollowRick]

As a pal gamer Emulation is the way as otherwise I'd have to import NTSC systems or mod my PAL systems it's just not worth the hassle imo as we got shafted with Unoptimsed 50hz or games just didn't release here the SNES is the worst offender imo The games that Americans rave about on the SNES earthbound, chrono trigger, final fantasy 6 hell even super mario RPG never got PAL releases

[@shanenice5380]

It helps poor people to enjoy

[@holddamayo7474]

@@shanenice5380you don’t have to be poor to not wanna waste hundreds of dollars on a 30 year old game, that just sounds like common sense more than anything.

[@scotthelgert6473]

I subscribed because I know you work hard for your Nanners.

[@nmnate]

But can you emulate a nanner? 🤔

[@ckminty603]

But the real question, are emulated nanners an acceptable alternative?

[@justbenelson]

Considering I used to own some of the most desired titles for the SNES back in the 1990s like EVO, Mega Man X3, Chrono Trigger and several others before I sold them to Funcoland for crappy N64 titles? Yes, I will happily emulate them to save me the burden of having to buy them all back.

[@loboneiner1034]

This

[@leeartlee915]

I didn’t even sell my collection and I use emulation… because it’s so much easier to access.

[@chriskoschik391]

My friend let me borrow X3 back in the 90s and then his family abruptly moved with no warning, leaving me with the game lol. Still got it!

[@leeartlee915]

@@chriskoschik391 Must not have been that close of friend if he moved without warning.

[@chriskoschik391]

@@leeartlee915 nah, just some kid that came over from time to time lol. He was cool and we had fun. Not sure what happened to him lol

[@NerdENerd]

When MAME first came out I was blown away. All these arcade treasures from my childhood were all of a sudden playable on my PC. It didn't have sound yet but that didn't matter, I could play the original arcade Donkey Kong on my PC. Then when the first version with sound came out the flood of nostalgia those sounds invoked was amazing. I knew exactly where I was when I first experienced these games. I was actually surprised how much the sound triggered emotions and nostalgia more than just the graphics. I was back in the roller skate arena where I first played Donkey Kong, I was in that ice cream parlour on holidays where I first play Pengo. Emulation is fantastic. I have been in love with emulation since I first discovered it and these days with the MiSTer FPGA project the golden age of video games is available to all.

[@markastoforoff7838]

I used to use MAME a lot because I love the old school arcade games, I felt no guilt seeing as how I spent countless quarters on the games when they were in the arcade. Not to mention you can find pretty much any old arcade game without having to hunt them down.

[@tonyp9313]

Yeah that's very true. I used to waste a lot of money in the arcades. Mame is awesome.

[@TheJadeFist]

Not only that, in the case of arcade games, it's damn near impossible for most people to collect them, not even just for the cost, but like where the hell are you gonna put the arcade machines at? They aren't exactly known for their convenience and space efficiency.

[@ShinryuZensen]

To add to this point of view, if someone were to create an arcade alley with lots of old school arcade games, I think that even Emulators fans would visit them to play and contribute to its existence. Most of the time, the problem is availability and price.

[@anonamatron]

Why do you need to feel guilt? The internet has enabled information to be passed around freely. You don't need to feel bad for utilizing that resource. If you feel like you benefitted from a game you've played and want to give the rights holder something you could go buy their other products or maybe try to give them a donation or at least spread the word about their work.

[@Marmite101]

Frank paid the coin op manufacturer and was making money to recoup his investment - that is business.

[@zweihander7465]

Retro gaming is getting expensive and crts are drying up, emulation is honestly gonna be the future of retro gaming.

[@kaio0777]

yup

[@rockguitarist931]

CRT's were literally everywhere 10-15 years ago, now they are almost rare.

[@Marmite101]

​@@rockguitarist931ossc ... retrotink ... hell use some pound cables 😂

[@HollowRick]

CRT shaders along with black frame insertion look pretty damn good In retroarch

[@Zawmbbeh]

@@HollowRickbut that requires using retroarch

[@elodvezer1790]

6:22 SOOOOOO feel you on that one!!!! and THE most SOLID point for emulation!!

[@markracer3281]

I have personally invested $1K+ on EverDrives (NES, SNES FXPRO, N64, GBA, MD PRO, SMS) to play my favorite cartridge based games. And considering retro game prices these days, this has been money well spent. Plus I'm using FPGA tech on original hardware to boot! Thanks for the vid!!!

[@powerfulech0356]

This right here. hefty upfront price tag but can play anything, including fan translations of foreign only games on original hardware

[@KingC89]

Emulation is the only way to experience allot of the games I missed out on or never finished as a kid.

[@ben501st]

I've, allegedly, used emulation on games I own so I can have multiple save states. Sometimes you want to relive becoming the very best like no one ever was without saying goodbye to you capsule buddy who's been with you for 20+ years.

[@jtothebell]

Emulation is great, and I hope we keep seeing more emulated retro game collections get released so more people can play retro games without hassle, and while legally compensating the rights holders. I have to shout out the great Napoleon Dynamite reference @8:40, that gave me an extra good laugh tonight

[@jjmini]

I barely hook up my original systems these days and just resort to emulation outside of the Wii and DS. The controller is very important to making the emulation feel more legit. PS1 usb controllers, gamecube to usb controllers, SNES mini with the og controllers etc etc make it so much more fun

[@josephbradshaw6985]

Same. I need the controllers for sure.

[@Laz3rCat95]

Agree I think Wii and DS are the outliers since those consoles provide different gameplay experiences that are harder to replicate without the official hardware.

[@McRcFly]

Super console x

[@supernoob17]

i wish more emulation devices supported outputting proper 240p to a crt without having to shell out the arm and the leg for the mister or something like that. thats why i use my wii so much to this day

[@gamingwithhope4139]

Me too, homebrew

[@AwesomeBrock]

8:41 Wonderful Napoleon Dynamite reference! I always enjoy watching your videos as the topics are very good conversation starters and your random humor just makes it fun to watch! Keep up the good work!

[@kevinmccartney4906]

I laughed at loud at his "Yes!" with the fist 😂

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thanks! Glad you caught the reference :)

[@thebestgeekever]

Glad I wasn’t the only one😭😭 I basically do the same with with my old gamecube games

[@remakeyourself]

This just might be the best video on the internet about emulation.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Why thank you!

[@Dorelaxen]

Do I want to own an original copy and hardware of a game I want to play? Yes. Will I emulate it if I don't? Also yes.

[@a3f32r2]

100%. Most people don’t emulate because they want to steal games. It’s a service issue. The creators of these games don’t sell them anymore, so there’s not much of a choice.

[@nickatmacomb8965]

"Half my day drinkin and tinklin". That made my night

[@Sneakyturtleegg]

I've gone the route of FPGA consoles. I can play my original carts and discs plus take advantage of the jail break firmwares. Some consoles give me the option to play on either a CRT or modern television. I like blending the old and new.

[@MorbidLyre]

You can never understate the joys of playing Front Mission in the bathtub. The true crowning glory of emulation.

[@joma9468]

Yes. I will not take out another mortgage, e.g. to play little samson or neogeo

[@Marmite101]

you clearly missed that cheap ticket ship its sailed

[@lunsj]

I used to collect old consoles and 8-bit computers. When the ebay prices started getting kooky I decided to go all in on emulation and I've never regretted it. I mostly play on a Raspberry Pi 400 and it plays pretty much everything I want. For Gamecube and later I can emulate them on my main PC.

[@halcyo]

Been slowly grabbing Everdrive flash carts for all my old systems. Kinda the best of both emulation and original hardware.

[@Majin_Vegetaisovr9000]

Better than buying individual carts, but still dumb. Emulation on PC is FREE

[@madmax2069]

@@Majin_Vegetaisovr9000 nothing dumb about it

[@Majin_Vegetaisovr9000]

@@madmax2069 you’re still spending money tho. Emulation on pc is free

[@Majin_Vegetaisovr9000]

@@madmax2069 yes there is. It’s dumb to spend a ton of money for an old dying hardware. Emulation is free and does wonders lmfao

[@madmax2069]

@@Majin_Vegetaisovr9000 if I have original hardware I have absolutely no reason to use emulation, I'll use a flash cart, simple as that.

[@nightsquats]

Don't hate, emulate!

[@joe-edward]

If people wanted emulation so just they could play free games, 30,000 people would not have signed a petition asking Nintendo to localize Mother 3.

[@jeffb.6642]

I haven't the money or the space to collect consoles or games, so it's really my only option

[@sloppynyuszi]

I think that’s most people. I can’t justify or want to turn my room into the man caves other people do. I do like playing old games though 🤷‍♂️

[@VoyagerReview]

If its fun to play, whether on original hardware or emulator, I say fine sir, PLAY ON!

[@axipher]

Since I have the room for a 27" CRT TV and room for consoles, I will always opt for original hardware first as long as it doesn't cost more than $200 CAD for a fully working console and less than $50 CAD for a game. But when costs are inflated by "collectors" or "just because it's retro" then I'm sorry, but I will use a Flashcart on an original console, or full on emulation. Also to note, I am personally against emulating current generation systems, but do support being able to rip games for BIOS for game preservation in the future.

[@altonb.1396]

Whats your opinion on emulating current gen games that you own?

[@mariogirod6195]

And by using flash cartridges for the overly expensive games, you avoid adding to the demand and driving up the prices even higher.

[@axipher]

@@altonb.1396 Well first off, I definitely don't support emulating games you don't own from current generation when they are available at MSRP. I would make the exception that if a game costs twice as much to import or obtain a copy, then I might be a little more willing to emulate, or if a game just never released in your region for you console and the only way to play it would be emulating it. At least in that last case, you aren't costing the game company anything since they never provided you a way to purchase the game legally anyway, so they didn't lose money and got an extra fan of the series that might tell their friends or support a future release. I can't really see a good reason to emulate current gen games though personally, since I would first want to own that console and would buy a game for that console because I want to play it on there. I know there are arguments for playing games at actual 30 FPS, or proper 4k like lots of Switch games and I don't want to discount that as a valid use for emulation as long as they own the console and a copy of the game. But personally, with the Switch as a great example, the games that I buy for my Switch are games that I like playing games on-the-go on my Switch. Higher fidelity games that I want to play in greater detail, I will normally just wait for a version on PC like Bravely Default II and FF IX Remake. I can't really talk to current Xbox or PlayStation though since I haven't owned one since the PS2 and Xbox 360.

[@axipher]

@@mariogirod6195 Yeah, there are some games on my GBA, DS and GCN that I never owned when they were current consoles, but finding a current working version of the game is 2-4x MSRP + shipping. And it's not the game developer making that money, it's a regular person profiting off the game developer in the second-hand market and I don't want to support demand based pricing on retro games or scalping.

[@acerimmer8338]

Emulation is the only way to play many fan translations and hacks. It allows things like overclocking and scaling options. Things like savestates, fast-forward and tons of other things really make it a wonderful way to enjoy classic games better than original.

[@scatered1]

I can feel the momentum of this underrated channel gaining ground!

[@karimcheese7257]

The simple answer is YES!!!

[@througtonsheirs_doctorwhol5914]

helped me discover Dusty Diamon All star Soft ball circa 1998-99. And i bought a genuine cartridge for about 75$US in 2021...

[@Majin_Vegetaisovr9000]

@@rickandmorty4-ever61ikr lol! Cope harder lol 😂😂😂

[@Ichabod_Jericho]

The better answer is, When emulation gets better, yes😉

[@Ichabod_Jericho]

@@rickandmorty4-ever61enjoy ur fucked up system clocks, bad collision detection, annoying controls or remapping for 20 minutes each game, crashing, ROM’s with virus’ or compression that ruins other aspects of the game, every other kinda game glitch that gets worse when you emulate. Authentic hardware, authentic software, authentic joy everytime 🤷‍♂️

[@Majin_Vegetaisovr9000]

@@Ichabod_Jericho cringe. You know, not all roms contain viruses. Also, be smart with what you download. All you need to do is map the controllers once, save the configuration and store it In a safe place lol. It’s not a big deal lmfao

[@redeemer5628]

Would be cool to hear you touch more on flash carts / everdrive carts considering the experience is "the convenience of emulation but with the authenticity of hardware."

[@samza9233]

The only retro console I own and use is my original N64. I still play games from the 80s till now, with anything up to the 2000s I emulate. Wii virtual console introduced me to so many classics and modern emulation frontends like RetroArch are amazing to play classic games looking and playing as good as ill ever need them to be.

[@koolaid33]

I think you should definitely use both! They both have a place in the retro videogame community, and are equally as useful and great. Whereas original hardware is awesome, and not only gives you the most authentic / pure experience, but likely the least input lag or bugs, emulation is only slightly worse in those areas and provides the convenience of playing all your favourite game consoles on the same device, or even on the go! Original hardware is faulty, I mean your a collector, you know the pains of getting the NES to read a cartridge, and when it finally does read the game it's been 20 minutes and your no longer interested in playing said game! I'd rather boot up my laptop, or if you want an official emulator, the Virtual Console on my Wii or 3DS, and just play NES games there. I get a better experience, with none of the hiccups of fighting the NES to just do what it was designed to do. Don't take this as a sign that emulation is always the option though. Many consoles past the 4th generation have emulation problems, between the PS1, N64, and ESPECIALLY the Sega Saturn, among other systems of the era like the 3DO and the Atari Jaguar, and more recent hardware like the Xbox, PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, DS, PSP, etc. all have frame problems, input lag on certain titles, and a list of games that just aren't compatible with them (for technical reasons, accessories, or something else). In these cases, the best experience would still be the console even if it's fairly expensive. The big advantage that emulation has over original cartridges, discs and hardware is that the original stuff is temporary. Eventually those consoles will die, discs will completely have rotten away, and cartridges will stop working. Emulation is more of an enigma that transcends time instead of slowly dying till it fizzles out. It can't, because it's all files and data, there's typically no physicality with emulation. Those files can just continue to be passed down further and further for the rest of time, decades after the originals released, stopped working, and were forgotten. Does this mean you should ignore retro game collecting, because in 100 years some of the oldest things in your collection may not work? Absolutely not! There's still an incredible joy to collecting, and if anything knowing this should inspire you to want to play on original hardware more, since there's only so much time in that consoles life that you CAN play that game on that old system before it's impossible. The death of this stuff is also still very far away, gaming is still largely in it's infancy, the home console market has only been around for a little over 50 years, and while it seems like there's a large gap from the Magnavox Odyssey to the PS5, in reality there really wasn't that much passage of time. Music had been around for thousands of years before it evolved into the genres like Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, etc. and films were essentially just operas many, MANY centuries ago back in ancient Greece times. So to conclude: both emulation and original hardware should be used. They both have strengths and weaknesses over each other, and they will both be around for a LONG time (likely longer than we will live). Enjoy both mediums!

[@thomastripp9002]

Well said!

[@vasilas432]

FPGA is the way to go, without lag or bugs. Fpga and real hardware

[@DannerBanks]

DRINKIN AND TINKLIN - HELL YEAH BROTHER!

[@MastaShredduh]

This man is a national treasure. He's the last bastion of a youtube we actually like. Protect this man at all costs. May he never become a "brand".

[@BNWilliamGaming]

I love emulation as it allowed me to play games that would’ve otherwise been too before my time. One of my greatest gaming memories was emulating Donkey Kong Country with my sister. We had a blast. Over the course of a year, when we got home from school, we’d pick up our controllers and play Donkey Kong Country until bedtime. Let me tell you, the rewind function got a lot of use from level 1 to King K. Rool. That’s another benefit. It makes games more accessible. And to think without emulation, it would’ve never happened. I honestly only own one physical game from before 2000 because I just emulate all of them. If you were wondering, that one game is LEGO Island. Anyways, I have, and will continue, to emulate games for the rest of time, whether it be through RetroArch or official means.

[@jonnyblanka]

Newcomer here! I've been binging your videos daily and loving them! Paused for a drink of water, thanks Retro Bird! Can't imagine when the day comes and I have to actually wait for your Friday videos damn! Greetings from scorching hot 35 degrees Cyprus xD Edit: My thoughts... So I've came full cycle.. from a kid with a bunch of consoles and games from NES all the way to Dreamcast, to the cool kid at school who brought in a Super Ghouls and Ghosts rom + znes emulator on a floppy disc, to a hardware collector again... AAANnd now I'm back to emulation for convenience. When I emulate it has to feel authentic since I'm so used to the real deal so a crt filter and real controller hooked up via usb is the way to go. I love collecting but it does get expensive and hard to deal with when you move.. Honestly as long as these games are being played and enjoyed, and can be discussed and loved/hated/debated.. then it doesn't matter where and how they're played. :)

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad you're enjoying the videos and welcome to the channel!

[@Bijuklich]

yeah, that's what i'm talking about....i love games so much, i just wan't everyone can experience what i experienced in my 30+ year of gaming...and emulation is perfect way to do that, not to mention that is also perfect for preservation, at least with emulators that evolved enough

[@JS32986]

I use original hardware when I can but I'm not about to pay $300+ to play the Onimusha trilogy again. Emulation definitely has its place.

[@lile3164]

Hell ya one of my favorite series

[@BreathFreeAndRemainNameless]

The Onimusha games look awful on a high definition TV

[@ArmaBiologica35]

Emulation is not just used to play or preserve old games. It's a research tool used to understand how these games and old consoles function.

[@macaroni745]

It is used for those things as well tho

[@Marmite101]

lol

[@Woobuggy848]

It is for the best and the way.

[@Blankult]

For real, a lot of our understanding of old game's code came from emulation

[@ShamrockParticle]

The debuggers included are rather impressive

[@jaysistar2711]

I worked for GameTap in the late 2000s. We licenced and emulated games, and we payed Sega, SNK, Atari, and DOS game authors. It was eventually bought, and they weren't able to keep up the licences, since they changed so much about it, but it was great while it lasted.

[@DwayneChrest]

Yes ! With emulation i can relive my childhood gaming, cheat/beat games as needed (lotsa arcade games to see the end), adjust graphics (wii in 4K?!?!?!), and feeds me retrobirdgaming videos and ideas and lotsa fun.

[@dudejo]

Another big reason to play this way is 3rd party aftermarket support. For example, the original Final Fantasy game got bug fixes and quality of life enhancements. No such thing was ever offered on actual consoles or re-releases.

[@DA-fn4ss]

I have a strong desire to give money to creators. I have a stronger desire to preserve what I have left of my mental health. I try to balance those two factors as well as possible throughout my life.

[@jack54guy]

What do you mean by mental health preservation?

[@Luftwaffe_JG52]

Well said. I have original hardware for just about everything and not everyone has the room or the money to have all of these things. Unfortunately as far as the future has in store for us it's best to not have all of our eggs in one basket which is why emulation is a welcome option.

[@BeardTech]

I've emulated since 2003 on zsnes, and have played and discovered some of the greatest retro games ever using emulation. I only ever emulate incredibly hard to find games, and have used it to discover and play platforms I never had the chance to growing up without enough money to purchase those systems. Psp, saturn, and the almighty PS2. The interfaces have gotten better, the Android integration is superb now, and my childhood game collection I stupidly sold years ago can be reclaimed and played using emulation. I think of it as an awesome time capsule and preservation of retro games some people will simply never play otherwise. And it's awesome

[@jnero79]

I sold most of my retro physical collection and just play that stuff on emulators without looking back.. I actually play more retro games nowadays considering I don’t have to hook up systems and get up to change games anymore

[@cultivatedgamer]

There are so many aspects to this subject. When you talk accuracy, I find that if the emulation is good (like the classic mini systems), it is nearly impossible to tell the difference. My Nintendo mini slows down in the same rooms in Zelda as the original game does. I was blown away when I first experienced this. Another good video.

[@joeyfarris2543]

Yeah Retro bird's mention of Denver Colorado is awesome 👍👍

[@wills2652]

Since I am a college student and don't have the money or space to emulate older games. Because of that I bought a Miyoo Mini+ which is great and I play lots of games that I wouldn't have been able to with an actual system cause I can't afford it. I think emulation is the future of retro gaming.

[@SIMOTES7]

Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield has Cadillac and Dinosaurs. I was playing it about a month ago. They have everything there.

[@CrispysCollections]

Quick little story for ya. When I moved to a new state out of high school (actually the Denver, CO area thanks for the mower) I did not have access to any of the games I grew up with. As such I lived off emulators on my laptop for school with Project 64 and the Snes. That really kept me humble until l was able to build my collection back and get all my games from home. Super happy PC’s can do that so if you don’t have access it’s perfect

[@hackerx7329]

Some emulators can now use all the extra CPU power of modern computers to emulate ahead of what the player has done in multiple paths and then seamlessly display only the output that matches the actual input from the player resulting than even less input lag than real hardware. Another advantage is multiplayer over the internet for games that only had local multiplayer allowing you to go back and play a game with a childhood friend who now lives far away. You can also have vast improvements over the experience of some games on the original hardware. You may fondly remember some games but nobody has fond memories of the load times of games on early optical media or especially those that were on floppies and tapes.

[@mydadsacop123]

Just recently got into mesenhd packs for nes games, truly amazing what people have done with old games and emulation

[@inceptional]

I truly loved my original SNES, but my SNES Classic Mini has become a wonder for me. It not only plays all the included SNES games, but, because I hacked it, it also play a whole load more SNES games, along with a bunch of Genesis, PC Engine, Arcade/Neo Geo, Master System, NES, etc., games too. And the thing that I really love is that it still largely feels as pure and simple as that original SNES too, once I got passed having to hack it to add those additional games of course. I just turn it on, wait a few seconds for it to boot up, select a game, press Start, and I am away. I wish all modern gaming was so quick and simple. And, more than that, I love the fact there's no user accounts to setup, no online accounts to create and log into, no patches to have to install regularly, no worry of viruses, no insidious EULA's, no "social" media integration, etc. It's just pure, simple, gaming bliss. :D

[@seanfish3065]

For those who are curious - The Faxanadu password is AGF4AAkQAMBO. That's a lowercase k, not a wierd looking R.

[@brianhatcher2799]

Those letters and numbers were really unique, weren’t they? It could be really easy to mess up those passwords. Here’s a nice little Faxanadu reference for you: Don’t have negative thoughts. Remember your mantra. 🙂

[@Imaminimonstertruck]

I don't feel bad for emulating games, especially games that have never gotten a re-release. Screw the profiteer for price gouging games. Also the company already made their money years ago, and the developers team no longer work with the company, so they're not receiving any money from the games that they made anyway.

[@ben501st]

Emulation is what allows us to have new games on old consoles as well as modified games. I'm bummed I could t afford Halo 2600 when it can out but am thrilled I can always emulate and play it should I choose to.

[@cicabeot1]

I smelled a Napoleon Dynamite reference when you put the SNES cartridge in!

[@jasonbrock2681]

Just found your channel. Loving the content. Thanks.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad to have you here!

[@grgmj1980]

I will do what I must!

[@wastelander138]

I've been emulating for 20 years now. I got my first PC at 16. It was basically my way of ripping off every form of media I was interested in. I had music, TV shows, Films. So, why wouldn't I rip some games? I had a SNES and a SEGA MD emulator and two folders filled with ROMs on there and a cheap USB controller that was like a Wild Catz Dualshock controller. I thought this was awesome, 16 year old me dug it. I kept thinking, if 8 year old me could have seen this it would have blown his mind!

[@dcruze]

I've used emulation since getting a PC in 1997 or so, mostly good experiences - but there's outliers like Parappa the Rapper that you need original hardware and a CRT to overcome the strict timing issues (zero lag)

[@s-zz]

As someone who is younger, I didn't get to grow up with retro games as a kid. Emulation gives me a chance to experience the games I didn't get to play growing up. I'm honestly glad I discovered it, because since I did I've been introduced to some really cool games. That and retro videogames are so damn expensive to buy.

[@complete-mayhem-x64]

I definitely prefer to play games on original hardware any time I can. I find it really surprises a lot of people to find that my live streams are played from original hardware. The original feel is just better to me 99 times out of 100! Now that being said, my Analog Pocket plays SNES and Genesis games pretty darn well!

[@ReinMixTape]

I use emulation sometimes to play retro games I own, for different reasons, like wanting a video capture or when I don't feel like physically powering that setup on in the other room.

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

same here

[@ReinMixTape]

@@TheKayliedGamerChannel-KZbin Ya, emulation is super helpful for content creation purposes. Oh and it seems like you've some good videos too, so I'll check them later today when I have time :)

[@DirtyFrigginHarry]

I would argue that emulation is really the only feasible way for one to get into retro-gaming without a substantial investment of time, research, money, and storage space, and many people are unwilling or unable to make that investment. I still collect and have a ton of original hardware and games, but I would not be able to retro-game nearly as easily or often without emulation.

[@BKDDY]

Yes, emulation is great and with many emulators supporting retro achievements it makes it super fun to play these old games trying to get all the achievements for it

[@LegionOfWorldWarriors]

100% yes and especially avoiding the prices from scummy resellers and not being confined by dated hardware, upscaling to 4K and overclocking!

[@donovansantaella7861]

I've had a pretty long run of both emulating games and playing them on real hardware over the years. I initially went the real hardware route because I didn't have my own computer back then, and heck if I knew where to find ROMs back in the day. It was a real point of pride for me. But over the years after getting my own laptop, I really wanted to play Sonic 3 Complete, and so I started going down the emulation rabbit hole. I'd fully commit to it when I first got to play Popful Mail, a game that had intrigued me for years up to that point that will probably always be out of my price range. It was really hard for me to go back to regular collecting at the time because I was able to play so many amazing games I never got the chance to before. It was still amazing even if it meant I missed out on a good few years of pre pandemic prices. That isn't to say I didn't get any older games during that era. I'm glad to get Monster Rancher 4 and Monster Rancher DS at that time, and I even got real into the Neo Geo Pocket Color around 2019. But cut to 2021, and I wanted to get into the PaRappa series. Only to find out they're pretty tough to emulate properly. Leading me down to tracking down physical copies for the games. That's not even mentioning how much I grew to appreciate what a CRT brought to retro gaming around that time. So at that point, I saved the collecting for games I was really passionate about. Although for a bit I was afraid to get too far when emulating a game at that point, because I didn't want to make that physical copy seem worthless to get before buying it. I've certainly come to buck that mentality as well, as I tend to go both routes pretty often, Heck, I fully beat The Guardian Legend months before I could get my hands on a copy with a price I was satisfied with, and it didn't change how much I enjoyed beating the game again on real hardware in the slightest! I think one of the biggest contributing factor to my current approach with emulation (besides convenience) is the fact I've started to stream games for my friends a lot a few months back. I don't have a capture card, so how else am I able to clearly show my Zelda 1 skills? I've just chilled out a lot on it while still highly valuing that original console experience with a real nice CRT and all that. They're both methods of game playing that can easily coexist in my eyes.

[@GamingintoEternity]

Great video Sir!

[@matthewheupel8960]

I personally don't emulate, other than a few compilation discs, but I absolutely understand why people do and I'm glad it's out there. I enjoy the nostalgia of original hardware, but I admit it can be costly, cumbersome and takes up a lot of valuable space. Top reason to emulate though; avoiding the cord jungle behind the TV. I guarantee there are a few wild animals living in mine.

[@stormykeep9213]

Some emulators now also allow save states for your games. No more having to worry about writing down massive passwords in a notebook (and hoping they actually work) or rage quitting on some of my favorite games like Castlevania 3...

[@RicardoRandom691]

While nothing beats original hardware on a CRT for responsiveness and accuracy, emulation is a perfectly viable way of keeping these games available to all. There's only so many physical copies left, and no new CRTs are being made, so emulation will become more important as the years go on. Ethically speaking, I believe in compensating the creators, so if a retro game is available commercially, I'll pay for it. But I'll usually continue playing my dirty dog ROM, because I don't want the modern enhancements, just the original game.

[@Superb_Owl80]

I've really been enjoying my AVS, and the aspect of collecting physical carts for it. Its definitely helping me reconnect with childhood. Something that I never missed, was the lack of saving on NES. I think going forward, I'll get an Everdrive, but only put roms of the games I've physically purchased on it (or hacks/homebrew that wasn't physically available.) I'm mostly interested in it for the save states.

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

As a rule of thumb I see most game collectors rarely illegally emulate as they enjoy the tactile feel of genuine stuff.

[@symphony137]

Great video! I'm personally in-between. In a perfect world I would use original hardware and CRTs for every single older system but it's just not feasible for me and I don't have the space for so many consoles. So I made a compromise, I use original hardware for everything from the PS1/Saturn generation on and newer, as typically that's where emulation can get a bit wonky depending on the system. And as a bonus I can use my GameCube for the whole GB/GBC/GBA library thanks to the Game Boy Player. For older stuff I mainly use a MiSTer FPGA paired with original controllers and I love the experience! It's as close to original hardware as I can get without dealing with a bunch of old consoles which may require mods and all that jazz. I also have an Analogue Super Nt but the MiSTer largely replaced it, I only tend to use it occasionally with the SGB2.

[@lindsayforbes3100]

I enjoyed your discussion. Some very valid points. I prefer ports and official emulation provided through a console or PC storefront Now....time for an episode of Chip n Dale to get my Saturday morning going.

[@originalsleepyjon]

This is exactly why I love my Analogue Pocket. It allows me to play my extensive collection of portable cartridges with the modern conveniences of save states and USB-C charging. It also allows pretty darn good FPGA emulation ❤

[@TheSocialGamer]

If Nintendo has anything to do with it, they will recharge you for the same games every generation.

[@jacobd1825]

I prefer playing with original cartridges, hardware, and tvs made to support the games, however emulation is great. It allows us to play games that are pricey or difficult to find. Everdrives are one of my favorite ways to play retro games now.

[@wallyrocket87]

Great video! Emulation is a great option. I still like physical copies, but emulate some games as well.

[@idxman01]

Big props for mentioning Faxanadu. Until next time, I’ll be drinkin and tinklin.

[@AllyC_Rhythms]

Emulation is a necessity for preservation

[@DragonQuarter]

Personally speaking, I like using PC emulators mostly for research and creative purposes; i.e. capturing GIFs/quick footage, creating save data for use on hardware, booting something up to examine a particular moment or gameplay mechanic, etc. I used to use it more for actually playing through games when I had considerably less income to spend, but nowadays I see it more as a good tool for other purposes, and not so much for actually playing and finishing games.

[@mjdf122]

I’ve seen all from 1980-Now I do both have all NTSC consoles and tons of games physically and through emulation all game console generations from the 1st to Now with the exception of ps5 and xbox x/s with my set up

[@Nukemann64]

I personally, 100% support emulation! I have used and still use emulation throughout my adult life, and i don't see anything wrong with it at all. I have a fairly sizeable retro game collection that i've kept from the time I was a kid clear to now, at 38 years old! I love playing on the original NES / SNES / GEN, etc.... but you cannot beat the convenience factor of just clicking an emulator, and being playing in 3 seconds! : ) What would be really nice, is if companies would go back, and make these abandonware titles available on current consoles/PC/ Steam so that we CAN legitimately purchase them and enjoy them there. But, i don't see that happening anytime soon, so emulators and roms, here we come! Love your channel Retro Bird!

[@Laz3rCat95]

For older games I think it's totally acceptable to emulate them. Makes them more accessible, and I don't see a point in paying a fortune for the original hardware and software when the original makers are not even profiting off it anymore anyway.

[@cd5sircoupe]

I've given up on owning original copies of certain games, unless I get a stroke of luck like I used to back in the day with second hand sales. I fully stand behind emulation with the way the market is. I have modded Dreamcasts, PS2s, PS3, PSPs, Vitas, DS, GBAs, Genesis Mini... yeah that about covers the systems I've worked on so far. Eventually I'll get around to one of my Saturns, and Sega CD if there's a solution for that one. If you can spot the trend above, I prefer a nuanced approach to emulation that uses original console hardware (or close to it). I just don't like emulation on PC. Oh yeah, another neat thing emulation gives you access to: rom hacks and translations. I just played through a Final Fantasy Tactics mod on my PS3 this month... my god just the sheer amount of QoL additions, bringing in the new content from the WotL psp/mobile version, etc. I went a step above & beyond and replaced like 90% of the original sprites with far more badass fan made sprites as well. That experience the mod provided was exactly what I needed, I've already beat the vanilla game probably 20 times by this point in my life, and this dedicated community put together a product that improves on the original in every way.

[@ArchangelRG09]

Or pawn shops, i found twilight princess and wind waker for gamecube both together under 20 bucks cib

[@saysbadman]

Buying second hand gives the IP holders the same amount of money as if you downloaded the ROM for free. Anyone that put in work on emulators for the masses to use are a dang saint in my book. Yes, I do own a ton of real retro systems and games.

[@roberttodd4195]

I used to be a staunch original hardware guy, but with FPGA devices like the Analogue Pocket playing games so accurately and the cruel, relentless effect the mere passage of time has on old hardware, I’ve since changed my tune. I still keep the old systems and games displayed in my game room, but I don’t have to worry about wearing them down with use.

[@ikee5687]

I used to emulate everything through my wii. Even got nes and snes controllers to plug into the wand. But it still wasn't hitting "the spot". So I found me a crt, started collecting and watching this channel, lol

[@robintst]

I play as much on original hardware as I can, I still have most of my original consoles and games and I did my aftermarket collecting in the early/mid 2000s before the prices got out of hand. My recommendation now to others is emulation and to try to get the real controllers for a few specific machines with USB adapters or modern remakes of them if they exist. Like if you wanted to play N64 games, the C buttons do not translate well to being mapped to a right analog stick for every game, you need some form of the real controller layout for a lot of the library. It's a pultry amount of money to spend versus trying to buy everything needed for the original experience and worth it in my opinion.

[@TyGuy9001]

Frank Cifaldi has some great GDC talks on KZbin all about emulation. I highly recommend giving those a watch! We ABSOLUTELY need emulation for game preservation! Old consoles and games are going to go bad eventually, Emulation is the only real way around those issues in a long term standpoint. There are literal tens of thousands of games that we cannot purchase now and emulation is a necessity for keeping those around for future generations!

[@pigs18]

Also of note is the study conducted by his Video Game History Museum where they found that less than 20% of games were available to consumers by any other method.

[@xamislimelight8965]

Once my cousin told me "emulation is bad" until he saw he could play the original Star Fox at 60 fps. So, now I point to the fact emulation can also have preformance benefits.

[@wes773105333]

I agree 100% with you on this one. Awesome video, probably the best one on this topic from the point of view from someone who just wants to be able to enjoy games. Original hardware is best, but it won't be around forever. Consoles , Cartridges, and CRTs are degrading as they age. Emulation has some drawbacks such as inaccuracies and input lag, but it gets the job done in most cases. I currently use a Raspberry Pi02W with the CRT-Pi filter and it really makes a difference in how the games look. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done for me. I would love to get a mister and a CRT, but it's out of my price range for now.

[@brianhatcher2799]

Man, I feel your pain about that arcade game never being ported. Growing up I used to play a ton of that Simpsons Arcade game and always felt like it was such a missed opportunity that it was never ported to the Genesis or Super Nintendo. I’ve only beat it once and that was with a friend in a pizza diner. We pumped countless quarters into that bad boy!!

[@keithjohnson4420]

I came here to say yes before watching the video , but also I’m going to watch the video .