Classic Gaming Vs Emulation

[Baloo]

The controller is the most important thing for me - I can play NES half the devices in my home, but can only use the controller in a limited few of them.

Emulation's biggest curse is the what I call MP3 syndrome - so many games, so little effort, and no desire to stick to one title. "Aw dammit died again." = Savestate, toggle game, come back to it later (maybe)

I just can't stick with games that way. Which is why I hit next on my ipod way too much.

That's a very interesting analogy, and it actually fits really well. When you buy a CD or a game, you play it, read the manual, many times over to get a true feel for the game. And sometimes even if you don't like the game or song at first, you might end up liking it later. For emulators, you merely grab one single rom (or in music, some mp3) and play it once or so, either liking it or not liking it, but you miss out on everything included with that song or game if you had bought it new. It's just not the same.

I'm pro-hardware all the way.

[JSoup]

That's a very interesting analogy, and it actually fits really well. When you buy a CD or a game, you play it, read the manual, many times over to get a true feel for the game. And sometimes even if you don't like the game or song at first, you might end up liking it later. For emulators, you merely grab one single rom (or in music, some mp3) and play it once or so, either liking it or not liking it, but you miss out on everything included with that song or game if you had bought it new. It's just not the same.

It's not just that, it's that the game mean theoretically less to you as a ROM than as it would as a physical copy. Mostly because you spent money on the physical copy, so you'd best try to like it. Whereas ROMs are free, if you don't like a single aspect of a game, who cares? Toss it and get a new one.

[Berserker]

I'm confused at that. Windows-wise, I've never had a problem finding an emulator that supports run-of-the-mill USB controllers. Compatibility was never an issue really. The hard part is finding decent USB gamepads.

I feel the same way, which is why I ended up getting a Smartjoy Playstation-to-USB adapter back when Liksang.com was still around. Best $10 I ever spent. I know some folks aren't too fond of the dpad on it, but I've found that the Dual-Shock 2 has just the right combination of controls to where it's extremely adaptable to every emulator I've ever thrown at it.

[BetaWolf47]

Emulation wise, I prefer to use gamepads with a floating dpad. The Logitech controllers turned me off at first since they looked like clones of PS2 controllers. However, the button response and dpad design is perfect. Plus it's very durable too. It's strange, because even ripoffs of that specific gamepad aren't as good as it. I got one by SteelSeries that looks exactly like it, but it's not nearly as good.

Thrustmaster used to have pretty good gamepads too. Not sure which of their pads are still any good.

[JSoup]

I think I need to look into getting a USB controller. For the most part, my emulation is done through the Wii these days, but PS1 modding is rather challenging and requires a bunch of shit. Whereas PS1 emulation, such as it is, is easiest on the PC.

Wanna get my Dragon Quest 7 on.

[Arkhan]

to hell with emulators. Use em to test out potential buys, but jesus, they are always crap. All of those 2xSaiUberEagler9er filters make the game look like someone in photoshop had a stroke.


I much rather prefer playing them on a nice CRT TV, with the sound routed out to an amp/speakers, with real controllers in hand.

doing it on PC, with a USB controller, etc, always leaves something to be desired.

and im not about to buy expensive adapters to plug an NES controller into a PC, when I can just use the thing on a real NES, and get the real deal.

[kupomogli]

Whereas PS1 emulation, such as it is, is easiest on the PC.

PSX emulation is easiest done on PSP I think. Instead of having to download the emulator, bios, etc. All you have to do is rip each game and turn it into an eboot file. Then the PSP is pretty much a PSX controller without R2 and L2. Very few games use all the buttons so those few games just edit the controller to what would work best.

[Arkhan]

PS1 emulation is easiest on a PS3 w/ backwards compatibility.

deeeuuhhhhh

[Rickstilwell1]

PS1 emulation is easiest on a PS3 w/ backwards compatibility.

deeeuuhhhhh

uhh all PS3s even the new ones have PS One backwards compatibility. PS2 is the only one they removed later on. It's not really the same kind of emulation much though as you still need the real games for that and can't used a burned copy.

[JSoup]

Super nitpicking, but PSX =/= PS1.

Regardless, PSP modding is way hard. At least, I found it to be way hard (granted, the last time I actually had a PSP was four some odd years ago).

[bartre]

PSP modding isn't that hard.
took me maybe 45 minutes to mod mine.

as far as ps1 emulation, even then it tends to be a pain, mostly for the fact that you've got to figure out which version of the loader to use.
I still haven't gotten a FF8 to work from beginning to end with one plugin.

[Berserker]

as far as ps1 emulation, even then it tends to be a pain, mostly for the fact that you've got to figure out which version of the loader to use.
I still haven't gotten a FF8 to work from beginning to end with one plugin.

Yeah, I'm not too fond of the whole plugin approach that seems to be prevalent in PS1 and N64 emulation. I'd rather have 1 option that does work over 10 options that might work.

[skaar]

For anyone who wants to go that route, dealextreme.com still sells a bunch of PS1/PS2 to USB (or PS3) converters for cheap. I picked up a bunch and do most of my on-the-go emulation with an original PS1 pad (no analog)

Works great.

Also, PS1 and PS2 emulation on my PS3 are by no means perfect - DDR and Space Channel 5 have horrible lag I wasn't able to overcome.

[BetaWolf47]

Why do people insist on buying USB adapters for PS1 controllers for emulation? Really, they don't beat Logitech and some Thrustmaster controllers, perhaps Saitek too.

[Baloo]

It's not just that, it's that the game mean theoretically less to you as a ROM than as it would as a physical copy. Mostly because you spent money on the physical copy, so you'd best try to like it. Whereas ROMs are free, if you don't like a single aspect of a game, who cares? Toss it and get a new one.

Exactly. And you don't really give the game the chance that it deserves.

[Enigmus]

To me, it all depends on the system. I set a copy of Project 64 up with no filtering and a widescreen aspect, and holy shit, Super Mario 64 looks like Van Gogh in 1080i!

So, if you need to give a system a chance, emulation is your pal. If you prefer holding a pad, just eBay yourself a system. It's your choice. I'm just the middle ground guy here.

[Eyedunno]

Why do people insist on buying USB adapters for PS1 controllers for emulation? Really, they don't beat Logitech and some Thrustmaster controllers, perhaps Saitek too.

I've had some really bad experiences with both Thrustmaster and Saitek. Logitech is probably better, but at the time I bought my PS2 controller and adapter, I was through with chancing it; I already knew from experience that PlayStation pads were good and reliable, and besides, I wanted to emulate some FFVII. :P Though presently, I prefer either a USB Saturn pad or an SNES pad through my Super Smart Joy.

[pato]

As many have mentioned, I too prefer playing games on the original console. However, I do have an original xbox modded with a 500gig hd. Got all my xbox games installed along with emulators of consoles I own. Since it is not convienient for me to have all my systems hooked up, I often play games on my xbox on an actual tv with either my xbox controller or my ps2 controller with an adapter. Not to mention I can use my Xbox and PS2 arcade sticks as well. I prefer my emulation this way over playing games on my pc.

[Zing]

Emulation's biggest curse is the what I call MP3 syndrome - so many games, so little effort, and no desire to stick to one title. "Aw dammit died again." = Savestate, toggle game, come back to it later (maybe)

I always referred to this as the "MAME syndrome". Having a complete MAME rom set. Playing an old favorite for about five minutes before moving on to the next.

[BetaWolf47]

I'm starting to have trouble on Master System emulators. I tried both Fusion and Regen, but both had a good bit of lag between the time I pressed a button and when something happened onscreen.