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In my experience both online, in game stores and through my journalism, I've come to realize there are multiple schools of thought when it comes to retro gaming, and I think it's important to note that they are all valid, just for different people.


Original hardware only crowd:

Games need to be played on the original hardware with original controllers using a CRT, for the "authentic" experience. Nothing less than that is acceptable.

Original hardware only crowd + flashcarts crowd

A variation of the original hardware only, they insist games still be played on the original hardware, but are willing to use flashcarts so long as they work 1:1 with the original carts.

Clone crowd:
They are okay with clones, and might even seek them out, and argue its the same thing since they are still playing their original carts.

Emulation crowd:

They believe that if a game can be emulated, then there are all kinds of advantages. Access to savestates, on the fly button remapping, video filters, and access to free games.

Pay-for-emulation crowd:

Are completely fine with Virtual Console/XBLA/PSN ports of older games. Argue it eliminates the need for a retro console since they could just play their old games on the system they use to play their new games.

Remakes only:

Refuse to play any game made before a certain threshold, usually citing ugly graphics or outdated gameplay. Phrase DuckTales Remastered, refuse to play DuckTales NES.

There are probably more, but these are the general groups I've come across. Personally I belong to many of these to some degree and understand every angle. But no matter what, there will be some people who are squarely in one of the categories and will refuse to see it from the others. As StoneAgeGamer pointed out, some people will never understand the point of flashcarts, some will reject the Virtual Console, others say owning physical copies of games is pointless, and there will be both defenders and opponents of the RetroN5 and devices like it.

No matter what happens, nobody will agree what's the best way to preserve the hobby.