I was wondering if emulators for PS1 games, N64 games, etc... are legal. Are they?
The emulators itself are probably legal, but since you download roms for them, it's illegal.
Not like anyone would care.
From what I understand, it's only legal to emulate software/games that you yourself own.
But in truth, if you already own the game and the system, you don't need to emulate, thereby you don't break the law by using it. So in theory, anyone who does use an emulator to play games is indeed breaking the law.
The emulator is legal, but once you play a game on it you don't own, its illegal.
Like for instance, if you use a N64 emulator so you can play Goldeneye on it, and you own a cartridge of Goldeneye, you're good. But if you don't own the cartridge and play Goldeneye on the emulator, its illegal.
hmm... but for the N64 case, how would one hook up a cartridge to a comp? I don't know about your computer, but mine has a flashdrive spot and a USB spot. I've not seen one with a massive hole sticking out the side to put one in....
Actually, most emulators don't provide ROM files from the system - this is like the "internal code" to the system which you're trying to emulate.
The emulator in itself isn't illegal - but using the ROM from a system you don't own is.
Also, playing games you don't own.
Also keep in mind this basic principle: if you have a serious doubt that something might be illegal, then the chance of it being illegal is probably ranging in the very very high.
>>6
How do you think roms get dumped???
I don't know how that is done either, thus the reason why I need to ask.
Why do you think I needed bother ask?
>>9
Well, there are adapters, that you hook up to port on your pc (com in the old days, now usb or firewire). Then you plug the cartridge in the thing, and just dump the ROM. Same goes for the cartridge writers - you take the ROM on your PC, and dump it on the write-enabled cartridge memory.