Emulating Classic Games As A Profession? 28
jvm writes "Jeff Vavasour has been working on commercial emulation of arcade games at Digital Eclipse since the mid-1990s and Curmudgeon Gamer just posted an extensive three-part interview with him. The first part is for gearheads, delving into the origins of commercial emulation and the issues emulation vs. simulation. The second part is about the business of emulation, and describes a crisis of confidence in the late 1990s not unlike what the recording industry now faces. (Note, the emulation industry overcame their fear of downloadable ROMs!) The third part asks some personal questions, looks to the future of emulation, and reveals that some long-awaited arcade games may actually receive professional, commercial emulation attention. (Anyone remember I, Robot?)"
if you like this story ... (Score:1)
Porting Games From Binary [slashdot.org]
There is an arcade game.. (Score:2)
Re:There is an arcade game.. (Score:3, Insightful)
part 2 annoyed me (Score:2)
Interesting interview. However I personally would have walked out in the middle of part 2. It is obvious the guy has no real interest in MAME, and other than they compete doesn't have anything to add to the subject. Yet most of the questions are strongly related to MAME as if he can add something to the subject.
Re:part 2 annoyed me (Score:1)
Re:part 2 annoyed me (Score:1)
Re:part 2 annoyed me (Score:1)
Re:part 2 annoyed me (Score:1)
Probably because it would be illegal (in terms of the MAME license) to sell MAME...
Memories... (Score:3, Interesting)
Excellent (Score:1)
I think emulation (and, on a different plane, virtualization) has a massive part to play in computer science over the next couple of decades, and if emulating old computer games is how we can get people to study the topic, so be it!
After all, writing an emulator is writing a virtual machine.. and there are a few of those around.. the JVM, Parrot [parrotcode.org], and the
Re: (Score:2)
Hobbyist crossover (Score:4, Interesting)
Maybe we're finally starting to see a rationalisation in the development of gaming products. An understanding that you can't just create entertainment product in isolation from your audience. Another example could be Bioware's encrouagement of NWN modules. Given that computer games operate in "Internet Time" it makes sense that they're the first entertainment industry to adapt.
speaking of I, Robot (Score:2)
"The game was a complete flop at the time, players were really unable to cope with the surrealism and "newness" of the graphics."
How bizarre! I loved that game, and the arcade where I played at the time "The Fun Factory", always had a bit of a waiting time for it, it was so popular. I don't recall anyone being unable to cope with anything about the game.
By the way, I can kick your ass at Karate Champ.
Yes, I mean YOU.
Antique games and history (Score:3, Interesting)
Other games have been bastardized to extract the last drop of juice from the paying crowds without employing developers who truly feel the obsession with the original titles. Think of the sequels to Price of Persia, Monkey Island etc. Some companies who survived the dotcom bust can now drive their trademarks forward like Sierra and id Software, but the vast majority of the games cannot even be bought anywhere. Downloading ROMS become justified here.
A new booming business has been developing java games for cellphone companies. However developing yet another version of tetris, snakes or pacman just feels too redundant. Emulators like kgens have shown us how all the hard work can still be enjoyed on a desktop, even a palmtop, if only companies saw the potential. An average PDA has enough power, and sufficient space to run Atari2600, Sega Genesis, NEOGEO, 386(DOS) etc games on it, but the two things that have stood in the way have been the unwillingness to develop emulators and the licensing issues of the games whose trademark owners are unknown (who do you talk to, to gain the rights for River Raid in Atari2600?).
If one company can bundle good emulators, plenty of the original titles, the chicken n egg problem of game codebase for consoles is solved. Such a company could beat GBA sales pretty fast. Some people would pay a lot to play the games they played when they were 8... and the trademark owners shouldnt mind making extra bucks.
Re:Antique games and history (Score:1)
Other games have been bastardized to extract the last drop of juice from the paying crowds without employing developers who truly feel the obsession with the original titles. Think of the sequels
As long as you guys are around, DE... (Score:2)
DE did the port of Phantasy Star Collection for the GBA. I wasn't terribly impressed upon encountering the save-game glitch for the first time. I gave up after the fiftieth time.
I certainly hope Phantasy Star 4 gets debugged, at least, before it's released.
Not a new thing... (Score:1)
Oops...I meant this is another instance... (Score:1)