[Cid Highwind]

Originally Posted by hushypushy

PC games seem to exist in a different realm, well in my mind. Supposedly the key helps prevent piracy, but you can easily share a key like you can call up your friend and say some letters.

Actually that is not true in all cases because some games do require you to register to some extend, but those are in a minority. Like with Neverwinter Nights there is no way you will be able to play online with an illegal key, offline it's a different matter though. I like their approach The game is even playable without cd's when you've downloaded their later patches.

Originally Posted by dynamicvoidman

Just wondering if I'll be breaking copyright law if I download a game of a different region than the copy I own. Like if I own Super Smash Bros. Melee PAL can I legally download the NTSC version of it or would I be breaking copyright law since it technically isn't the same software?

I personally pick whatever is morally 'legal'. You paid to play the game, so it's not like Nintendo will be making any losses. It's the same with getting a 'backup' whenever your cd explodes, like my own Baldur's Gate 2. The fact I have bought that game 3 times out of fanboyism is a whole different matter

See where I'm coming from? In a grey area just think for a moment, think what those companies complain about. It's financial losses, which I'm not giving them this way However, for anyone reading this: don't go telling here you are looking support for a DL'd game even if you got it for this reason, cause technically it is still wrong.

Originally Posted by hushypushy

I'll look it up. After reading a couple posts today, it's just been irking me. Especially since NGEmu deals with such a wide global base...based in Germany yet mostly going off US laws that we don't even know that well? Okay well that's harsh. We are mainly taking a "better safe than sorry" approach.


Sometimes it hurts to close a thread or something when I feel like I should be giving them help (but "can't" due to downloaded BIOS or something), but I'd rather have NGEmu stick around than help a few extra people.

The problem here is that the US has got more power than the UN. However, seeing how it is stationed in Germany, Bobbi might want to look into the European guidelines. Which might be less strict and more reasonable for backing things up the legal way.

If Bobbi is willing to take the risk he might want to give the American officials the finger pointing to the EU laws whenever they knock on his door. Though it is probably not worth it getting problems over. NGEmu has been doing fine the way it deals with piracy now. People can easily get support for it if they don't mention it.

If you feel like helping someone out after a thread is closed, just do what I do when in a good mood: Send them a PM explaining why it got closed and a quick solution, most questions are pretty standard anyway. I like to do this whenever a polite newbie 'accidentaly' chooses the wrong words.

Originally Posted by hushypushy

Although, I do need to look up the nature of backup versus original discs, downloading games in different countries, etc.

I mean really, none of these PSX games are in print anymore, it's not like you're hurting anyone. Only when Nintendo comes back with those way overpriced remakes...ugh. The main problem for me is simply the corruption in game downloads, especially with PSX. Other systems, I dunno. Cartridge games can be CRC checked easily, and everyone know's PCSX2's "secret" (and no, I won't tell you, so don't PM me, you freakin n00bs). But PSX games, the elusive mystery...why are so many floating around either completely the wrong format (MDS/MDF? WTF??) or ripped with some sort of errors.

Interestingly, downloading games, movies and music is legal here in the Netherlands, even when using filesharing apps. You do have to disable uploading because providing such material is illegal. The government forces us to pay some fee for every CDr and DVDr bought, which goes to the music companies. It's a really odd situation, cause now you have people order their writable media in Germany which is 2 times cheaper, and still download their stuff. Also the fee doesn't apply to harddrives and compact flash media, and all kinds of portable music devices.

I've also been thinking about the 'they aren't sold anymore' arguement. In the end, I have to conclude it is pure bull****, no offence meant Shopkeepers buy games from distributors, so there has been an investment from their side. The developers and Nintendo/Sony got their money already, so they're safe. But the shopkeepers are stuck with their investment, even if it is an old game. Downloading it over buying means it will be a loss of income to them.

If you'd look at it from a secondhanded pov. You could have bought the game secondhanded, this means you get a legit copy. Now there is no money that goes to the developers and publishers, however, the money the guy has sold it for, might be used for buying a new console and a couple of games. So the gaming industry would still be losing out on money if you had downloaded it.