Is it OK to download old ROMs?

[ríomhaire]

I don't want links to ROM sites or anything like that in this thread.
Now that that's out of the way, do you think it's OK to download ROMs of games that would be near-impossible to get nowadays. I must admit I have downloaded NES ROMs and N64 ROMs that I do not own the original copy of.

 

[Saketi]

whats with all the is it ok to download xxx threads?

My advice download all u want, just dont brag about it

 

[Uriel]

Go Banana!

 

[The Brick]

whats with all the is it ok to download xxx threads?

My advice download all u want, just dont brag about it

XXX? Ofcourse it's ok to download XXX stuff

 

[Saketi]

XXX? Ofcourse it's ok to download XXX stuff

lol i was refering to xxx as in all the threads, ah never mind, u sauage

 

[PimpinPenguin]

legally no cause they are still copyrighted.
Although i must admit i still download ROMs cause there old and it's not like they will still make money from them and some of those games are so rare nowthere hard to find.

 

[ríomhaire]

legally no cause they are still copyrighted.

I'm not talking about the legal side of things, I'm talking about the moral side of things.

BTW, how long does it take for a video game to be in the public domain (I imaging that so far there are none)

 

[Asuka]

Yes

If i could buy them i would but ya. They dont sell that shit anymore so what am i suppose to do not play the game at all?

 

[Vegeta897]

Morally? Well, there's no universal set of morals, so that is a moot point right there.

He's asking for opinions, and possibly a discussion/debate on the morality of it.

 

[ríomhaire]

In the eyes of the law it is wrong, but for all intents and purposes, it isn't. Nobody's gonna care if you download a ROM of Super Mario Bros. or Final Fantasy III, even with their more recent re-releases. Morally? Well, there's no universal set of morals, so that is a moot point right there.

Yes, everyone has their own morals, what'd you think the poll's for? So we can see what people's morals on this subject are.

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

I think if you are out downloading roms, it's because you either don't have the money or patience for current games, or you are a nostaligia freak.
I fall under both categories.
I think it's ok. It doesn't harm anyone.

Public domain: I tihnk there is a standard set time of 75 years for intellectual material. Either that or it's 75 years after the creators death.

 

[eraser]

Well, if you can't buy it anywhere, I don't see a problem with getting the rom.

 

[ríomhaire]

Public domain: I tihnk there is a standard set time of 75 years for intellectual material. Either that or it's 75 years after the creators death.

Just think, our grandchildren will be able to play HL for free! By then computers will be so advanced that load times will be -1 second. And computers will have paradox cards so they will be able to resolve this impossibility.

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

 

[Anthraxxx]

I've found an original Chrono Trigger cartridge for the SNES. I was tempted to buy it... those things are hard to find. It was still 50 bucks.... Oh well. I have a rom of it.

 

[Bad^Hat]

It's fine until Wii comes out ^_^

 

[CyberPitz]

I've found an original Chrono Trigger cartridge for the SNES. I was tempted to buy it... those things are hard to find. It was still 50 bucks.... Oh well. I have a rom of it.

I lost my CT cardridge...I was so sad. Mommy bought it for me for $60 from a rental store.

 

[EEngi]

It's okay to poop in a toilet too!

 

[Sui]

weirdly, it's perfectly legal to download ROMS if A) you already own the product or B) you only have it on your computer for 24 hours. So yes, it's okay to download old ROMs. But not if you keep them for more than a day

 

[Murray_H]

weirdly, it's perfectly legal to download ROMS if A) you already own the product or B) you only have it on your computer for 24 hours. So yes, it's okay to download old ROMs. But not if you keep them for more than a day

That's not true, although the chances of you being prosecuted for having ROMs is as likely as me waking up with an apple up my arse. What do you mean, "Quite likely then?", you cheeky little ****!

 

[Bad^Hat]

Heh, I remember seeing that 24 hour rule on a rom site somewhere...

Also, the "Wooo" link in your sig creeps the f*ck out of me, Murray.

 

[Slacker]

I love how everyone in this thread pretty much said yes.

Anyway, yeah, I do. I have a good amount of ROMs or so on my computer, and I don't intend on changing that. I don't have an SNES, and even if I did, I'll be damned if I have to spend 100+ bucks on eBay to get them.

 

[Raziaar]

It's not okay, but I do it anyways. My x-box is loaded with thousands of roms... Sega, SNES, NES, even nintendo 64 and old arcade/atari games.

 

[Anthraxxx]

Your name isn't James is it? I know a guy who has a modded xbox with a shitload of roms on it....

 

[Raziaar]

Your name isn't James is it? I know a guy who has a modded xbox with a shitload of roms on it....

Nope... But my x-box does have a modchip in it, and is modded with shitloads of roms :monkee:

 

[VictimOfScience]

I own the originals of most of the ROMs I have anyway, but its just a pain to hook up all of my old systems. The ones I don't own are usually weirdo Japanese/alternate versions that aren't available in this country/time period.

Morally it may be wrong, but it depends on your set of morals.

 

[bliink]

It is more important that the foundations of gaming history are remembered for their artistic merit and historical importance, as well as a milestone in game creation and technique, rather than protecting a copyright.

The law isn't always right. If you want some old genesis rom from 15 years ago, go for your life.
Anyone who would litigate over that is just trying to squeeze more cash out of something that has long since died out.

At some point, you need to see beyond the dollars.

I think, morally, the law is wrong. If I were a developer right now.. in 2006, who had created a sega genesis rom, I would be more than happy to have people downloading it and playing it today.

To have someone go to the effort of finding/installing an emulator, and finding a copy of some ancient code I wrote just because its they want to play it again.. after however many years, and in the day of super graphics/physics simulation... it would be worth more to me than the $0.025 royalty cheque, just to know it was still alive.. not forgotten, and forever a part of things.

 

[Reaktor4]

I have a ton of roms, but the only ones i play are games which i had for the original consoles. The only reason against downloading i can see is if the developer wants to start selling the game again, like i think nintendo are gonna do with the revolution. But even then if you already paid for the original i dont think its wrong to play the rom.