Can I download XXX game that is from a different region?

[hushypushy]

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.

Well yeah, I know. it's not like sharing your WOW key is going to do anything now, is it? But some games (I remember HL1 back in the day as a prominent example) just need a key to install and they never have to go online. Of course, back in those days, I didn't have a CD burner, either.

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.

Yeah, I was thinking about that last night when I went to sleep (what a topic, I know). I was reading a lot on Hydrogen Audio last night and their rules are VERY strict and VERY clear. Honestly, it's been bothering me lately because NGEmu rules are so blurry and unclear, and I never point anyone to the rules in there because half of the things people do are just...not in the rules. It's a huge community of unwritten rules. I had this thought of rewriting the rules in that format, being very clear. I've had the idea of reorganizing the PSX section and making it similar to the PCSX2 section--by putting the rules as you come in and links to the FAQ and How to Play Games threads. So maybe I'll cook up a basic rules draft and pitch it to the staff? Who knows.

But one thing I was thinking of towards piracy is "better safe than sorry". Some countries have little or no legislation regarding software piracy. And then you have America which has some pretty ridiculously strict rules (no cartridge backups? yikes). I think that Emuforums needs to more strictly enforce (and tout) the same thing it always has: if you've got it, use it. Which means no downloading games--if you own the real thing, then use that to make an ISO. Dump your own BIOS or game cartridge. In other words, we aren't adhering to any specific laws, but we are staying in the safe zone so we don't get caught anywhere. I don't think we need to follow the super strict American policies (we're the country where execs at Apple wanted to throw out the "Rip. Mix. Burn." slogan because they thought that "rip" meant "rip off") and we shouldn't follow the lax European policies or even the extremely lax Asian and African policies (where pirated software is sold in retail stores). Maybe we, at emuforums, being a heavily visited site, can make a statement? Perhaps we can cause some big business to stand up and take notice of our policies?

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

How many shops are still selling PSX games? How about SNES or Genesis games? The only place you can get them on eBay, and those are from private party. There are some businesses selling new games on eBay too, but those are in the minority (at least if you're looking for decent prices). Sony (for example) has already been paid. And the local game store has already been paid. Now it's in the hands of one consumer selling to another consumer. I've bought and sold games to members on this forum. I bought Parasite Eve 2---and it didn't affect Sony or any game retailer at all, because I bought it from a private person. Once things get into the hands of "the people", they have no more financial value to Sony. Unless they want to release it...

Like Street Fighter Alpha 3. PE2 isn't due for a rerelease, so they wouldn't be losing anything by me making 100 copies and sending them out. but SFA3 has been rereleased, so by sharing that game around, it could hurt Sony's sales. Same with Nintendo, that's why they are so sensitive about their older games. Nintendo hasn't been very successful at making new games for about 10 years (debut of the N64) and how many hits have they had in the last 10 years as opposed to the 10 before that? Luckily, they know how to rerelease! That's a huge market for Nintendo! No wonder they get pissed when people download their games. But it still makes me curious why they think they can sell Excitebike on GBA for $20 when you any kid on google can download the ROM and emulator in 2 minutes....

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.

Well, I think then you're just getting into far more complex matters than you should. Who's to say that money will go towards games? I've decided to sell a few of my DVDs. For example, I bought a box set and it came with the movie Moonchild, which I thought sucked. So I'm going to sell it to one of my friends for $10. Now, I totally got this legitimately, I bought it at the store. And I'm going to sell it secondhand. But this $10...am I necessarily going to take it out and buy another movie? And am I even going to buy a movie from the same publisher? Just because I have more money, doesn't mean I'm going to buy more goods. I could use it to buy CDs, or food, or something else that doesn't relate to movies.

I can only speak for myself, but I think that particular issue is something rooted far deeper into the structure of world economics and things than I'd like to delve into.

PS. Did anyone read the title as "XXX games" like, you know, porn games?

[dynamicVoidMain]

yes, I was so thinking porn games for the cube

[firyace]

What? Theres pron games for the Cube!

*runs out to Bestbuy

[hushypushy]

but they're for kids! so it's ok!

[Cid Highwind]

Originally Posted by hushy

Well, I think then you're just getting into far more complex matters than you should. Who's to say that money will go towards games?

True, but in the end it would stimulate economy somewhat better than simple piracy. And with the Wii coming, this is definately an issue concerning roms. Of course this could also be referred to 'milking' And no, I don't like Nintendo's business model concerning their Virtual Console.

Oh and about the XXX factor, I never thought about it, perhaps our local pink hentai ball of fluff did. But I AM longing for playing one freshly released hentai game named Baldr Bullet Revellion, same for Baldr Force Exe Resolutions. Both are related to the DC game.

Edit: I forgot about the hydrogenaudio rules. I personally prefer the NGEmu ones, mainly because they are phrased in a way more simple language. Their selection of words will make members skimp them over, especially for the group that should really read them. If it is their setup you would like to see, that would be a great idea. Putting the rules up as links giving a quick but clear explanation, and when clicked there will be more info on that rule.

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by hushypushy

Yeah, I read that a while ago. It's just Nintendo taking the obvious approach--condemning piracy. Protecting their assets, they say. Oh, I see, so they can release the same NES games that used to be available at Funcoland for 20 cents and sell them for the GBA for 20 dollars.

As far as I know, it's illegal to copy cartridges in the US, but I'm more concerned about CDs. What happens if you make a backup and the original explodes? Do you have to destroy the backup now? Some argue that's the point of the backup, to have it in case the original one explodes. But shouldn't you keep the original in safe keeping and let the backup explode? I don't know. And it goes beyond the US, because many people who browse this site are not from the US. And this site isn't based in the US, so what rules do we have to go off of?

It's a huge grey area, and it's been bugging me a lot lately.

yeah cartridiges last a hell of a lot longer than cd's in most cases. ive never had one explode on me though... ive made backups of every one of my games, both cartridge and cds. legal or not, im not paying 60 bucks for a game only to have it break down on me. as far as downloading goes, im not really for it, but i have done it, however the only game i have ever downloaded was FF III for the nes, it was only released in japan and the only version available that is fully translated is the one on the net. and the fact that the big N is re-releasing it on the DS whenever is proof to your point that they will take these games, add some fancy cosmetics, and put them back on the market for 100x more than their original price. even you guys who are completly against downloading have to admit there have to be SOME exceptions.

[Exodus]

Originally Posted by jonc2006

yeah cartridiges last a hell of a lot longer than cd's in most cases.

Can't say I can concur with that. Cartridges are the ones that like to stop working for no apparant reason.

[JKKDARK]

Cartridges are the ones that like to stop working for no apparant reason.

I have all my master system/megadrive/nintendo 64 cartridges working without problems. About all my CD's, GD's and DVD's, there are some disks that don't work anymore

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by Exodus

Can't say I can concur with that. Cartridges are the ones that like to stop working for no apparant reason.

ive never had that happen. well, maybe once i spilt coke or something on one and it stopped working but that doesnt count

[Hard core Rikki]

Originally Posted by dynamicVoidMain

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?

Aaaaand, back on the tracks, IF you DOWNLOAD a game of your region or another, it's the same. NO, you can't LEGALLY download either of 'em. You're not supposed to.

[JKKDARK]

Originally Posted by Hard core Rikki

Aaaaand, back on the tracks, IF you DOWNLOAD a game of your region or another, it's the same. NO, you can't LEGALLY download either of 'em. You're not supposed to.

What about Direct2Drive?

[Hard core Rikki]

Originally Posted by JKKDARK

What about Direct2Drive?

Please, we were discussing Gamecube and more specifically console games (games you play on TV).

PC games arent region-locked. PC games dont come in NTSC and PAL flavours too. Maybe some DRM here, there and spyware installed everywhere, but that's all...

[hushypushy]

Originally Posted by Cid Highwind

True, but in the end it would stimulate economy somewhat better than simple piracy. And with the Wii coming, this is definately an issue concerning roms. Of course this could also be referred to 'milking' And no, I don't like Nintendo's business model concerning their Virtual Console.

Oh, but of course Money changing hands is good on all levels. Personally, I am a huge advocate of buying used. I buy all my CDs used, and why not, when they are half the price? And it supports my local record store, so it works out.

The Wii better have games like whoa, and on the cheap. None of this crap they pulled for GBA where NES games cost $20. That's ridiculous. These games are nearly 20 years old, and the original devs have made their money back hundreds of times over. Personally I think NES games should be given out for free, but if I had to set a price point for a download, $2 seems logical to me.

Originally Posted by jonc2006

yeah cartridiges last a hell of a lot longer than cd's in most cases.

I think it's the other way around. CDs, when treated properly, are guessing to work for hundreds, if not thousands of years (tests still in progress). Cartridges are less inclined to be destroyed if you leave them out, but there's also the saving issue (battery life) and the fact that many people's NES and SNES games are dead now...probably due to oxidation from years of blowing the dust out of em.

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by hushypushy

I think it's the other way around. CDs, when treated properly, are guessing to work for hundreds, if not thousands of years (tests still in progress). Cartridges are less inclined to be destroyed if you leave them out, but there's also the saving issue (battery life) and the fact that many people's NES and SNES games are dead now...probably due to oxidation from years of blowing the dust out of em.

its always been cd's for me. i guess it varies person to person. the slightest scrach on a cd for me usually means either i have to go out and buy some disk repair stuff or the worst case scenario, a new disk.

[Cid Highwind]

Originally Posted by Hard core Rikki

Please, we were discussing Gamecube and more specifically console games (games you play on TV).

PC games arent region-locked. PC games dont come in NTSC and PAL flavours too. Maybe some DRM here, there and spyware installed everywhere, but that's all...

Oh yes there are pc games that are region locked in a way. I once had a Baldur's Gate Tales of the Sword coast copy tell me that it wanted to be installed on an English OS.

About the durability of cartridges vs cds: I've seen CD's getting scratched by staying in the box, and I never had any cartridge screw up on me. It highly depends on the quality of CD's. The ones that got scratched so easily were from a cheapass 'whitelabel' budget brand. I'd say avoid them like hell, unless you want to know how a cd explodes

And I agree on your Wii pricing point Hushy, NES games shouldn't cost more than an average beer. Because most of them suck and are only played for nostalgic reasons. I would personally find it reasonable if Nintendo would give you a certain amount of credits per Wii game you buy, so that you can get like 2 NES games for free with every game bought. With the option of buying additional NES games.

[dynamicVoidMain]

Originally Posted by Hard core Rikki

Aaaaand, back on the tracks, IF you DOWNLOAD a game of your region or another, it's the same. NO, you can't LEGALLY download either of 'em. You're not supposed to.

why aren't I? If I own a right to play the game I have a right to download it.

[jonc2006]

as far as i know its not legal to dl any game.

[Seta-San]

isn't it legal to download a game/video/music if it hasn't been released in that region?