Consoles or emulators?

[Matt the Bat]

In my younger years I was a big video game collector. However, these days I use emulators more often since I'm always meddling at my computer. It's nice to sit on your bed and play, but my room is too messy and cluttered enough as it is! I can't stand having one more cord or console to walk over, and with emulation you never have that problem. I lost interest in collecting most older (pre-N64/PSX) games in physical form, particularly SNES, NES, and Genesis. The cartridges and boxes take up alot of space (with the exception of Turbografx: the games being little cards in CD cases was awesome!), and emulators usally have many benefits! Some would argue that emulation isn't 100% perfect and thats often true, but they have improved alot over the years and getting better all the time.

Alot of the major companies would argue against unauthorized emulation, but even with Wii's Virtual Console, there are still advantages to emulation. There are still tons of games that probably won't appear on the VC anyway, and it allows me to have access to games from obscure consoles, like the Wonderswan, FM Towns Marty, etc.

To be honest I've never owned that many SNES cartridges at once despite all the years I had one (not counting emulation) because I mostly just rented the games when I was younger. It had alot of gems, yes, and I was tempted recently to get Earthbound and try it out on the original SNES, but I'm not sure if I want to spend $60+ on that cartridge, then pull out, hook up, and plug in the SNES just to play one game infrequently. Genesis, on the other hand, had an awful A/V and looks tacky nowadays on your TV unless you mod it for S-Video or something like that. NES always had dust problems.

So the question is, do you still use the consoles to play the older games, or emulation?

[themuzicman]

I only have a PS/2 and a N/64, so we use those.

Michael

[Alucard]

For older games? Emulators all the way, though I wouldn't pass up on a cheap old-school console. I wouldn't mind actually playing Chrono Trigger on a TV screen for once.

[Meta Knight]

Well, I have a SNES, and I play a couple of games on that (Super Mario RPG for the most part), but I mostly use emulators.

[Silver Hand]

I have my old SNES. Ideal for playing Secret of Mana and Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Until recently, I had an NES from 1985. However, the cord connecting it to an antenna ripped. Given the fact that it's 23 years old, it can't be replaced.

I found a decent classic NES emu and roms for most of my old cartridges. Also, I had always lusted after Sega as a kid, but stupid Mom never saw the point of having two platforms. Now, I've built up a nice collection of Sega goodness.

[Chaotic Void]

I'm an emulator junkie, when it comes to older systems. Mostly because great Japanese-Only games like the Fire Emblems and the awesomeness that is Star Ocean were on that system...

I've also found that the Translated Japanese versions of some games are actually harder than the English versions they sent over [FF4, for instance] which is nice for someone who enjoys a challenge like I do.

ETA: I've also found that at some stores they sell these 'retro' gaming consoles that enable you to play your old SNES/NES games. Which for me is great, considering that I can't find any half-decent/working NES/SNES consoles/parts.

[Silver Hand]

ETA: I've also found that at some stores they sell these 'retro' gaming consoles that enable you to play your old SNES/NES games. Which for me is great, considering that I can't find any half-decent/working NES/SNES consoles/parts.

Gee,

Wish I considered that before chucking all of my old NES cartridges...

[Meta Knight]

I'm an emulator junkie, when it comes to older systems. Mostly because great Japanese-Only games like the Fire Emblems...were on that system...

Hmm...looks like Froggy got to you, too.

[Chaotic Void]

Gee,

Wish I considered that before chucking all of my old NES cartridges...

My mother said that too, when she found out about those.

Hmm...looks like Froggy got to you, too.

Actually, Tlalynet beat him to me.

[Matt the Bat]

ETA: I've also found that at some stores they sell these 'retro' gaming consoles that enable you to play your old SNES/NES games. Which for me is great, considering that I can't find any half-decent/working NES/SNES consoles/parts.

Gee,

Wish I considered that before chucking all of my old NES cartridges...

Gee,

Wish I considered that before chucking all of my old NES cartridges...

Don't lose sleep on it. Alot of the 'famiclones' as they call them are actually very tacky. Some are more compatible than others, but they all have emulation issues with the cartridges. I've own(ed) a few.

I recently got a RetroDuo, which is another one of the famiclones. It is one of the most compatible clone systems, that simultenously plays NES and SNES cartridges (it has dual cartridge slots), and is small and compact. Like many famiclones, it has emulation issues, but this is mostly in regards to the NES emulation on it, which is in fact is better than some (since it plays Castlevania 3 fine, one game that has had alot of problems even on PC emulators for some reason), but again, not perfect.
The SNES emulation on it is, however, almost as good as the original system, and can even play Super FX games very well like Starfox, Stunt Race FX, and some of the more technical games like Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario RPG (the Made in Mexico copies, not the Made in Japan-made ones, as they contain anti-piracy ROM revisions). So for the SNES side of it, I would definately reccomend it, since it allows both RCA and S-Video!

However, it seems the one I recieved in the mail might be defective, as the colors don't show properly for the SNES, so I'll see if I can get it replaced. (Don't worry in case you're getting one though, because most people I know who have one, haven't had this problem :\)

[Meta Knight]

Actually, Tlalynet beat him to me.

I see. Well, given the chance, he WOULD'VE gotten to you. And I would know.