Why does emulation garner so much hate?

[Herschie1]

Emulation definitely helps cut down on wires and space needed for my umpteen retro consoles.

[weallmissedme1]

Vexer, it's a good comparison. People were saying "I don't see the problem with emulation. Because it's not like they gain revenue from it anymore!". Well, that's it. THEY don't see anything wrong with it. Same way I didn't see anything wrong with me buying my Glock 18 (or my other automatics, for that matter) without a Class III license. I didn't see anything wrong with it. HOWEVER, it IS the law. Yeah, I could've bought my Glock or Uzi illegally and hid them, with noone up top knowing about it, but it's still illegal. Same way having ROMs on your PC without anyone up top knowing about it is still illegal. I think it's a fair comparison.

[PinMike86661]

I think some dislike emulation due to collectors' mindset of it not being exactly the same as the official game, which I disagree with as there are multiple emulators, USB devices (for controllers), and flashcarts (for ROMs to be playable on consoles) out there that will work to make the games play exactly like their official counterparts. Another reason I think enthusiasts turn against emulation is due to save states that restore progress that make the games too easy to beat; the majority of emulation videos online are known as TAS (tool-assisted) run-throughs of the entire game, but I think it's a moot point due to save states being completely optional.

Personally, emulation is fantastic since it gives every gamer the opportunity to play games that they would have never come across due to hiked game auctions and lack of availability. I feel without emulation, gamers would have never gotten Virtual Console games, downloadable arcade, and console ports. However, game compilations were released before emulators like MAME existed such as Namco Museum and the Arcade's Greatest Hits series, but I think emulation actually increased the demand of older arcade and console ports getting released in the modern generations. In addition, without emulation, gamers would never be able to play translations of games that never made it ashore beyond the origin country.

The only opposition I have to piracy is pirating consoles that are still in production such as the 3DS, PS Vita, Xbox 360, etc.. My opposition also applies to PC games wether it be major or indie; however, I like PC gamers being able to modify the games since there are PC ports of console games that were rushed, such as Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition.

[Tron1]

[QUOTE=Dogtanian]
Personally emulation encouraged me to not truly appreciate the games I was playing. In theory it's fantastic that you can download the entire NES library in a matter of minutes and explore it until you find a game you like, but what actually happens is that you browse through them like TV channels. If you are playing Castlevania for the first time and die 10 times on a boss, why not just move on to another game?[/QUOTE]

Indeed.

Another problem I've run into is cost consideration. As a child when my mother got me Top Gun on the NES and paid over $40 on it in 1987 I sure as heck had better try and enjoy it no matter how bad it sucked. Now in 2014 I pick up a good NES game like Karnov for $5, play it for an hour and move on to something else. I mean why not? I've got tons of other games I can get on the cheap.  

[nesfan1]

I hate emulation for two reasons. 1. It's not authentic. I collect games. I have zero interest in non-physical media and I love playing games on the original hardware.
2. I hate playing on a keyboard. Especially for platformers and fighting games. It's near impossible to control. Sure, I could buy a gamepad for my computer but I'm not going to do that just to play a bunch of games that I'd rather play on the original hardware.
That said, I really don't care if you or anyone else plays on an emulator. I won't judge you. I only have a problem with me playing emulators.

[bronZfonZ1]

Two words: save states

Not that I have any problem with them, but from a purist standpoint, especially from hardcore speedrunners/no-hitters who like to broadcast their achievements on YouTube or similar, save states taint the achievement of such things or even completing the game at all.

For one thing, I'd never beat NES Ninja Gaiden without save states.  I give a standing applause to those who did without using any aids.

[Herschie1]

I also like how an NES game won't come to an abrupt end when the dog bumps up on your PC, unlike when he does the same to your NES. 

[Astrosmasher1]

I have Stella and I play it.  I also have a 7800 and loads of games but it is time consuming getting them all out.  I still love the 2600 as it was my first machine back in the day.  Also critic gets out there and talks about it occasionally.
So I quite like it.  Halo on the 2600 anyone?

[ptdebate1]

[QUOTE=Ken]I always hear people complain, frown, and just generally put down any type of video game emulation, why?[/QUOTE]

For purists, emulation is inferior to original hardware. That's because cycle-accurate emulation is extremely difficult to achieve and inaccuracies manifest themselves in various, although mostly imperceptible ways. For those attentive to details, though, it can result in a subpar experience. I don't think anyone really berates emulations and those who use them, however. They certainly have their place.

[scotland]

I am of two minds on this topic. I appreciate an authentic experience, but scarcity, price, time and other factors make emulation attractive.

I hear a lot about purity and how emulation can never be good enough for purists. I think purists are trying to recapture a pure old experience so strongly they forgot even their best efforts cannot recapture everything. Its as much recreation as creation.

I have a boatload of old tech. One spot looks like I am running a retirement home for Pong consoles. There was a time those pong units were somebody's Christmas present, but now sold off without a thought. I too like to play on original hardware, and spend time and money trying to keep it going. I value the authentic too, but there is a limit. A time limit for one, and money limits for another.

If you really want to play authentic Hang On you need a time machine to go to a 1986 arcade. And be a teenager. Failing that, you could find an arcade machine with a sit on bike in 2016, but even then, 30 years on you and video gaming makes a difference. Hang on will never be cutting edge again. Yet you can still enjoy Hang On in many ways.

It has never been reasonable that individuals own arcade machines, so we have home console ports. We don't toss out every home console port as inauthentic. We may note the differences, and cheer how close they are, but then we accept them, and enjoy them as they are. The 2600 and NES have fun arcade ports that differ, to different degrees, the arcade orignals. Emulation is porting evolved.

Emulation can never be a time machine, but it can be a time capsule. It will never be perfect, but even playing on perfect retro hardware is not pure because its retro now, not cutting edge, and the player has aged too. Striving for authenticity is fine, but be realistic to its limits, and see the good in emulation too.