I should have just asked this question on Facebook, but I have to ask it again; what is the problem with emulators? An emulator is basically that; it is software that emulates something else (go to Wikipedia for a better definition dammit). From what I have seen in my life, they are mostly used to emulate older videogame hardware like NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, etc. to play old games.
Nintendo doesn’t like emulators.
The introduction of emulators created to play illegally copied Nintendo software represents the greatest threat to date to the intellectual property rights of video game developers. As is the case with any business or industry, when its products become available for free, the revenue stream supporting that industry is threatened. Such emulators have the potential to significantly damage a worldwide entertainment software industry which generates over $15 billion annually, and tens of thousands of jobs.
Here’s my problem; how is Nintendo losing money? I understand if people are emulating modern systems and current games. But people are emulating systems and games that are no longer available. I can’t buy a “Nintendo Entertainment System” from Nintendo. I can buy about 80 games from them on the Wii, but what about the other 85% to 90% of the officially licensed games that they had? They only way I can play those games is if I buy it online or at a garage sale or flea market, which means Nintendo still does not see a penny from that sale. They are still not making any money off of their original product. They only saw money on the original sale (and who’s to say the seller even paid for his copy?) The illegal way screws them out of money and the legal way screws them out of money.
But wait a minute, those people at flea markets and on eBay are selling a product that they did not make and are keeping 100% of the money! Isn’t that an infringement of intellectual property? Should we outlaw eBay and garage sales? They’re Black Markets!
I love how the answers progress on the Nintendo page on emulators. Basically, it sounds like a kid being corned in an argument and then saying “because you’re stupid, that’s why!”
Distribution of an emulator developed to play illegally copied Nintendo software hurts Nintendo's goodwill, the millions of dollars invested in research & development…
Emulators developed to play illegally copied Nintendo software promote piracy…
The problem is that it's illegal. (It goes on, but I like how the first sentence of each answer gets smaller with each question…)
One, you might be able to legitimize emulators. Charge a small fee for the emulator and another small fee per game. I'm not sure if that is even possible, but it's just a suggestion. (Or, make every game available for the Wii!).
Second, the “because it’s illegal” argument bothers me. There is no sense of morality. It is like saying the only reason why you don’t drink and drive is because it is against the law. The possibility of you killing someone or yourself should be the reason for not driving drunk.
If you want me to legally obtain the game in which you make money, then allow me to legally obtain the game in which you make money. You cannot claim that you are losing money on something that you are not selling. Again, the only way to obtain the game legally, still gives Nintendo no money. And if you care about intellectual property, then release it! Sounds like a King who patronizes art but then after ten years confiscates the art and won’t allow anyone to see it. People want to see and appreciate that art, so why won’t you let them?
If they are not going to give you any legal way of obtaining the game through them, then emulators should be ok to use. To me it doesn’t sound like an issue of money or intellectual property, just a blind following of the law. Of course I can understand why a corporation doesn’t want to be caught circumventing the law.
Did you see what I had done there? I looked at an issue of morality, found holes in the opposing sides’ logic and came to a conclusion. That’s more than what some people do.
I love the “It’s alright for me to illegally download videogames/movies because they overcharge me to play/see it”. The right price for something is open for debate, but that doesn’t mean you should steal it because you personally think it is overpriced.
I’m reminded of something on Cracked.com. An independently developed bundle of games was put on sale online and you could pay as little as $.01 for it. On average, people paid $9.18 for what should have cost about $80.
~25% of people stole it.
To me, that shows that this is not about takin’ down the man (it was an indie group), or things being overpriced. It’s about hiding behind morality to justify stealing because you feel entitled. It’s like the libertarian tour guides who thought it was an infringement on their rights to pay, take, and pass an exam to prove you knew what you were talking about before giving a tour of Washington D.C.
Bullshit.
They just didn’t want to pay the fee because they are cheap/greedy (although they sued, which is more costly. I guess it WAS a matter of principles. Ha ha, right.) I’ll talk about them more in another post...
Back to the movies/games; Don’t hide behind the “corporations are evil” shit just because you are cheap. If you really do care about the little guy, you’re screwing them more by stealing. If the studios/companies and main stars are taking most of the money and giving little to the crew, stealing means the little guy will see less! Watching a bootleg video means the theater showing the movie (who has to give a certain percent of the profits to the studios each week), means the independently owned theater gets less money! And the crew and other behind-the-scenes people aren't making money!
Hooray! “Screwing the man” actually means “screwing the little guy”! I hope you feel better.
One more example of “Corporations are evil so we can justify stealing” story and then I need to hit the showers. My one friend wanted to become a Residential Advisor and was going through the weeding-out phase. They asked a series of questions about morality. One was about an older couple who stole medicine they could not afford to stay alive. They flee town and make a new life elsewhere. The do a lot of community service for their adopted town.
Years later, they are caught; what should be the punishment?
The group decided that because they had already paid off the cost of the medicine through their voluntary community service, their sentence should be light. I mostly agree with that, but then here comes the kicker…
“Also, because the company could easily afford to sell the drug for a lower price, it was right for the couple to steal.”
Goddamnit.
Let’s refer to Cracked.com again, shall we? Let’s look at the article titled “5 Useful Organizations You Think Are Evil (Thanks to Movies)”. Number Two is about Pharmaceutical Corporations. The site argues that they don’t actually make that much money and that the reason for a high price tag is that millions of dollars of research went into making the drug. Sometimes, millions of dollars are spent with nothing gained and they need to recoup their losses.
It may feel right to claim they are evil and are milking us dry because they are evil (repetition on purpose), but it may not be right. Our morality should be based on facts and rational thinking. If you spotted any flaws in my argument, please let me know. It is the only way I can learn.
Alright, time for my shower.
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