Are Video Game Emulators a Sin?

[Pieman333272]

I have a Commodore 64 Emulator on my Computer I toy with from time to time. Is it a sin to have that, as I have bought neither a Commodore nor any of the game cartridges?

 

[LaFleurDeLis]

I’m not sure I quite understand what you’re saying. If you mean that you illegally downloaded it, then that is a form of stealing and thus sinful.

 

[Alex246]

OK, I’m going to jump in before anyone can bring up “abandonware.” Abandonware is a concept that goes like this: since it’s not in production anymore, it’s automatically OK to download it for free. This isn’t the case; the copyright still remains in most cases. However, there is a possibility that the publishers/developers have released the software for free, which does occasionally happen (I’m thinking mostly of Bethesda Softworks and their old DOS Elder Scrolls games). Thus, downloading the games would be a sin since you are stealing them if they are copyrighted. However, the emulator itself is most likely OK. Some people actually make custom gameboy games with emulators, cartridge writers, and blank cartridges.

 

[PiousTemplar]

As long as you don’t illegally obtain files for it to run via illegal transfers from the console to the computer, or vice versa, I think your good to go.

 

[jimjack]

I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with downloading games that are not being produced anymore. Even if you wanted to obtain it legally there would be no way to give money to the people that actually developed the game. So, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with downloading and playing old video games.

 

[Phiqzer]

I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with downloading games that are not being produced anymore. Even if you wanted to obtain it legally there would be no way to give money to the people that actually developed the game. So, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with downloading and playing old video games.

Here is where it can get ugly, with the law. It is against the law to download something, even if it is no longer available, as long as someone else holds the copyright, be it music, a movie, or a video game. You can no longer buy The Song of the South from Walt Disney, but I have a feeling that if someone released it, they would send a herd of copyright lawyers after then.

 

[ConstantineTG]

OK, I’m going to jump in before anyone can bring up “abandonware.” Abandonware is a concept that goes like this: since it’s not in production anymore, it’s automatically OK to download it for free. This isn’t the case; the copyright still remains in most cases. However, there is a possibility that the publishers/developers have released the software for free, which does occasionally happen (I’m thinking mostly of Bethesda Softworks and their old DOS Elder Scrolls games). Thus, downloading the games would be a sin since you are stealing them if they are copyrighted. However, the emulator itself is most likely OK. Some people actually make custom gameboy games with emulators, cartridge writers, and blank cartridges.

Or that the software development company that made the game has already closed down.

 

[Pieman333272]

OK, I’m going to jump in before anyone can bring up “abandonware.” Abandonware is a concept that goes like this: since it’s not in production anymore, it’s automatically OK to download it for free. This isn’t the case; the copyright still remains in most cases. However, there is a possibility that the publishers/developers have released the software for free, which does occasionally happen (I’m thinking mostly of Bethesda Softworks and their old DOS Elder Scrolls games). Thus, downloading the games would be a sin since you are stealing them if they are copyrighted. However, the emulator itself is most likely OK. Some people actually make custom gameboy games with emulators, cartridge writers, and blank cartridges.

I’ve heard of that before. I think I read somewhere that the controversy with Emulators is uploading proprietary software without permission, but modifying or making games with it is allowed by US law.

 

[Prophesy]

I have a Commodore 64 Emulator on my Computer I toy with from time to time. Is it a sin to have that, as I have bought neither a Commodore nor any of the game cartridges?

As far as I understand, emulators are perfectly legal for a period of 24 hours to try a game (at least in the States) and are completely legal if you own the game (why would you own the game and emulate as well? I like to play Final Fantasy for the NES on my laptop rather than my NES because it works better and my saved file is more likely to stay saved).

I also managed to end up with a Commodore VIC-20, which is cool, but I can’t see games being sold for it still (I think most of the tapes would be pretty worn down by now haha). If you can find a free version of the game (like a flash update) I’d recommend trying that first.

-Prophesy

 

[Bobby_Jim]

I have sometimes used the criteria that if I actually purchased the software years ago, even if I no longer have a machine that can use it (I.e. a 5.25" floppy drive) or the original disks are lost or corrupt that it’s probably ok, although legally it probably still isn’t.

 

[Vulgata]

As I understand it, it’s not a problem to technically break the law if you can reasonably assume that the person whose rights would be violated wouldn’t care (e.g. if your kid kicks a soccer ball into a neighbour’s yard, technically it would be trespassing to go in after it, but unless your neighbour has specifically said otherwise you would generally be OK to go and get it.) In the case of copyright law, you’re dealing with a law that prohibits theft. The Catechism describes theft as “the usurpation of another’s goods against the reasonable will of the owner.” (2453 CCC) In the case of software that is no longer in production, where the owner cannot possibly hope to gain any advantage or benefit from its distribution (as in the case of old C64 games), there is no reasonable grounds on which the owner would begrudge you the pleasure of enjoying the fruits of their labours. In fact, I would suspect that most software developers would rather that their productions be preserved and enjoyed even though they are no longer able to reap any financial gain from them.

 

[theforgiveable]

Yes it is illegal. I’m sort of a computer guru and I’ve been down this road before. Even owning the emulator is illegal. The people who made them ripped the Bios off the system. You could attempt to find a emulator when you get the bios yourself. You would then have to buy the system and find a legal way to rip a copy of the bios of the system (Their is no legal way to do it, it’s against the DMCA) So owning the emulator (with or without bios) or ripping the bios off the a system, or playing it online (unless the game was released legally by the owners, is ILLEGAL and mortally sinful.

Now for the roms. You download, you are stealing, you are committing a grave matter. It doesn’t matter how old they are. There is NO 24 hour rule. It’s not written in the law and it’s not a some unwritten law. gamefaqs.com/features/help/entry.html?cat=24

If it’s not written down it doesn’t exist. Simply find another video game thats legal.

It doesn’t matter how old the game is. ap.nintendo.com/ Nintendo clearly states that they don’t want you pirating their nes roms. The same is for commodore. You realize that when you are pirating those roms you aren’t only hurting nintendo you are hurting the dealers. No one will buy the actual game that collectors are selling if you go around pirating it. Simply put: Illegal and gravely immoral.

 

[Bobby_Jim]

It doesn’t matter how old the game is. ap.nintendo.com/ Nintendo clearly states that they don’t want you pirating their nes roms. The same is for commodore. You realize that when you are pirating those roms you aren’t only hurting nintendo you are hurting the dealers. No one will buy the actual game that collectors are selling if you go around pirating it. Simply put: Illegal and gravely immoral.

I suppose you are also competing against current vendors who may at some point in the future want to put those old games on sale (can’t you get some of the “classic” NES titles for Wii now? and I remember at one time playing on playstation a “bundle” of classic Williams arcade games), or sometimes a classic game would get bundled in as an extra bonus with a current offering. I also remember years ago (like in the 90s) buying bundle CD-ROMS of 1980s DOS games which were previously out of print (and which were hard to run on machines of that era…)

You are also conceivably taking business away from current game developers - by downloading old games, you are hurting demand for new games. Even though the newer games, with all their fancy graphics and sound, often aren’t as good as the classics. In my opinion.

The unfortunate thing is that it is often hard to figure out who legitimately owns the copyright to some of the old classic titles - otherwise I think it would be cool if there was some kind of legal online store where you could download these for $3.99 or something. I would do it.