Zidane's Poll of the Week #328

[Zidane]

Just recently I was able to play Earthbound, the SNES classic. However, I used a ROM to do this. My state of mind is, "If they (Nintendo) won't release it in the states, what else can I do to play this game?

Is it still wrong? Give your reasons why or why not.

[Radiant]

The closest for me "Yes, no matter what." Although, I personally won't get onto anybody for getting ROMs of games that were released a long time ago and will never come to the US.

However, I still think it is clearly illegal, and it is illegal for a reason, like it or not. I can not support ROMs for games that have been released over here, ever.

[Mako]

I'm generally not against using ROMs to play older games that are not available anymore. If they are on older systems you can't get anymore how else are you supposed to play these great games? (Virtual console doesn't have everything...)

That being said, I am against people downloading "new" games illegally when they can easily go out and buy them. If they have no money to do so, or if the games are overpriced like they are in certain countries that is a different story...

[Battlestriker123]

I generally have a last-gen rule when it comes to ROMs. GameCube games are impossible to find nowadays, so games that I really want to play like Paper Mario or Billy Hatcher are now only accessible via ROMs. Of course, emulators aren't perfect, so there's always a risk and reward (for example, Mario Golf doesn't work on Dolphin).

[sundin13]

if theres no other way to play the game then sure, go for it...if theres a legal way, then i just cant justify it :/

[mock turtle]

Similar to what others have said, I go about it based on availability. For games that were never released in America to begin with, I think the answer is yes. If it was never released here, there's no sale lost. The only other cases where I think it's appropriate are for games that are out of print. I do NOT want to pay $200 for Mega Man Legends 2; that's insane (incidentally I am soooooo glad I got MML1 when Amazon still had it for like $30 and free shipping). If the product is out of print, and more importantly out of print and unavailable for a reasonable price, I think it's alright. Clearly, the publisher doesn't feel it would be profitable to release any more copies, and retailers have exhausted their stock, so even if I buy the game, the publisher won't see a dime. The same goes for used, but I don't want to buy used because I have OCD and freak myself out over where and where not X game might have been/who it belonged to. :S

Of course, all that having been said, the only game I've played using a ROM is Clock Tower for the SNES. I have over 300 games I haven't played that I obtained legally, I don't need to distract myself with others. Then again, I might snap. At. Any. Time.

[Nintend()\/\/|\|312]

I think Earthbound is a good example brought up by Zidane. You can buy an old SNES on ebay for pretty cheap, around $20, but a copy of Earthbound tends to sell around $200. It is rumoured that Nintendo cannot release the game on the Virtual Console due to legal tie-ups regarding minor in-game references to popular culture, but we do not know for sure because they have not given us an official statement. The fans clearly want it, and Nintendo is doing a terrible job of burying the franchise given how great a presence it has in every Smash Bros. game.

Given such circumstances, I find it very difficult to argue that Zidane is in the wrong, as well as myself, since I too was forced to play an emulated version of the game. However, I guarantee that as soon as Nintendo makes it possible for me to give them my money for Earthbound, I will jump all over it. I'm really tempted to just send Nintendo an envelope filled with $60 with a note saying: "This is for Earthbound. I played the game and could not find any other way of getting this money to you." The game is just that good.

[thresholdXCI]

If it's not been released in my region (and there are no plans to), or has gone out of print then I see nothing wrong with "pirating" it.

Especially with old games. Sometimes the alternative to pirating is finding a used copy, which are often-times ridiculously priced. Paying for it won't benefit the industry any more than it'll benefit you. Just the greedy guy selling the game.

As for imports; if a company won't release it here I'm not going to go through any extra effort finding it to import or pay any extra to get it here. You don't release it in a region, forget about getting sales there. Simple as. Of course I'd always wait if it's just a case of getting a localisation late.

[Carbondog]

To me if a used game is priced high, there is usually a very good reason. More than likely it is a very great game, yes you can call them greedy or whatever but if you want it just keep looking for it! More than half of my game collection I got used and most were under $20 at the time of purchase. Watch ebay, local used game stores and yard sales. You will eventually find most games around $20 tops. There are many great games out there you just got to know where to look and have a little luck.

[thresholdXCI]

To me if a used game is priced high, there is usually a very good reason. More than likely it is a very great game, yes you can call them greedy or whatever but if you want it just keep looking for it! More than half of my game collection I got used and most were under $20 at the time of purchase. Watch ebay, local used game stores and yard sales. You will eventually find most games around $20 tops. There are many great games out there you just got to know where to look and have a little luck.

I can understand that if you want the box or cart as part of a physical collection you're building, but just to play the game I don't see the point in going through all that effort. Either way you're not helping the developers or publishers out because they won't get that money anyway.

[Mirr0rR3flection]

Its wrong if its a game available by some form of needs, but if its unavailable (ex: Mother 3) and theres no plans to ever make it available in the future legally then no its not wrong. (This is coming from someone who has never used a ROM)