Emulation vs. Original Hardware

[thetwaz]

I would love to do original hardware if I had the space, money and patience to acquire it and set it all up - but also you do increasingly need to have a basic level of electronic expertise (or to know someone who does) to be able to do original hardware. Capacitors that are 30-40 years old may well need replacing, but also knowing how to do basic internal cleaning of older units without wrecking the thing is essential.

That's before you get to the wear and tear on the CDs and Cartridges themselves, let along the space to store them all, and also if you're being really accurate a CRT TV to play it all on - or a TV with the right sort of connections, or adpaters or mods to the console... It all just adds up.

I do like the idea of Everdrives and flashcarts though. I'm toying with getting a GBA with one to give the concept a try (that seems relatively low stakes). I also have a PS2 that I'm toying with creating doing a mcFreeboot mod for.

Until then, I'm happy with emulating games through my Steam Deck; I've had very few problems and the sorts of things that people complain about (milliseconds of delay with BT controllers or through processing time) aren't really a massive issue for the games I play.

 

[Maximecool]

Both, but speaking only about retro games, considering the second-hand market prices for retro games like PS1, PS2, and GameCube, it’s completely ridiculous. There’s no way I’d pay €60 or €100 just because it’s “retro.” Fifteen years ago, the same game would typically cost between €5 and €20 on platforms like the PS1 and PS2 (eBay),The same games nowadays are now many more expensive.

For me, it’s about playing, not collecting. Back then, I preferred physical copies, but with these prices, it’s no longer possible just because some idiot decided that games from the 32bit and 128bit generation should cost a fortune, even when they’re not necessarily rare.

Because of this, I now spend almost all my time emulating, even though I still have a CRT.

 

[Raziya The Seeker]

I'd love to play certain games on original hardware. Heck, it's probably the only was I could conceivably play a beloved XBox 360. Alas, I am poor something of a minimalist, and I don't like when stuff sits around and collects dust. Even if it's something I like, I would prefer not having clutter.

 

[SeeroftheNight]

I hate that I'm like this but I vastly prefer original hardware to emulation. Having the whole setup with a CRT and everything really gets me into the mindset to enjoy old video games as much as possible. I've spent too much money on games and hardware...

I do still emulate sometimes too, for convenience or if what I want to play is otherwise unobtainable for whatever reason.