site banner

Small-Scale Question Sunday for March 10, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

2
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

I would wager it's because most old games you would need to emulate are de facto abandonware. The studios might have dissolved, who holds the IP might be unclear, and even companies like Nintendo are often lazy about making their cold cuts available to customers.

As opposed to music or movies, at least examples that aren't ridiculously niche.

And emulators are not necessarily illegal, endless DMCA litigation and baseless lawfare aside. A clean-room implementation would be entirely above board, and some of the more popular emulators, especially for more recent platforms, take pains to keep it that way.