@iaLgan Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I understand, software emulators themselves are not illegal. It's the distribution of ROMs, disc image files and BIOS that is.
Do you have any information to suggest that Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have a good track record of implementing emulation, from an accuracy perspective?
Although Microsoft's backwards compatibility feature with Xbox and Xbox 360 titles seems to be well-regarded, can it not be said that this is not accurate emulation, given that the titles have been recompiled and modified and in same ways, not behaving as they were originally intended?
Also, it cannot be emphasised enough that these companies tend to do the bare minimum in matters such as this. You have to ask yourself, if they're truly interested in preservation. I do not think so, as their sole reason for existing is to sell services and products to consumers. Does video game history matter to them? Does accuracy and preservation matter enough to the consumers for there to be a large enough demand?
There is something important to consider here though: Emulation is really, really hard and quite resource intensive if the aim is for near-perfect to perfect accuracy. As of right now, the most accurate software emulator for a home console is Higan.
If game preservation is the goal, then Microsoft will have to strive for something on the same level as Byuu's work. From an accuracy and preservation perspective though, I see FPGA-based solutions, rather than software emulation, as the way to go.
Comments 3
Re: Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Calls For Industry-Wide Support Of Game Preservation Via Emulation
@iaLgan
Well, we are certainly in agreement there on the matter of Nintendo's worsening N64 emulation.
Re: Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Calls For Industry-Wide Support Of Game Preservation Via Emulation
@iaLgan Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I understand, software emulators themselves are not illegal. It's the distribution of ROMs, disc image files and BIOS that is.
Do you have any information to suggest that Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have a good track record of implementing emulation, from an accuracy perspective?
Although Microsoft's backwards compatibility feature with Xbox and Xbox 360 titles seems to be well-regarded, can it not be said that this is not accurate emulation, given that the titles have been recompiled and modified and in same ways, not behaving as they were originally intended?
Also, it cannot be emphasised enough that these companies tend to do the bare minimum in matters such as this. You have to ask yourself, if they're truly interested in preservation. I do not think so, as their sole reason for existing is to sell services and products to consumers. Does video game history matter to them? Does accuracy and preservation matter enough to the consumers for there to be a large enough demand?
Re: Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Calls For Industry-Wide Support Of Game Preservation Via Emulation
There is something important to consider here though: Emulation is really, really hard and quite resource intensive if the aim is for near-perfect to perfect accuracy. As of right now, the most accurate software emulator for a home console is Higan.
If game preservation is the goal, then Microsoft will have to strive for something on the same level as Byuu's work. From an accuracy and preservation perspective though, I see FPGA-based solutions, rather than software emulation, as the way to go.
Good luck to Microsoft.