Are emulators more popular them the latest comp./video game hardware and game software?

Question

I ask this because going by the stat's given by leading websites focusing on classic gaming, 'retroputing' and emulation, they seem to be getting 100's of 1000's if not millions of hits a day

I am assuming that the majority of visitors to these types of w/s (websites) are mainly there to download their favourite computer or game system emulator and supporting games images (albeit Atari, CBM, Speccy, Amstrad, sega, nintendo etc etc)

Now, given that it takes about a week of the equivalent modern computer/video game hardware and games software to sell in the same numbers

Now, whilst i accept that the majority of downloads on the above type of websites are free, even if these websites started charging for their downloads, according to the same stats, that would only reflect a very minimal decrease (less then 5 p/c) in website visitors/downloads

I reckon that if these website's 'commercialised' emulation, then the emulation market would superceed the current games and h/w mkt

Answer 1

The major problem is getting the original manufacturers to release the required code for the emu writers to do the job legally. Most of the emulators will carry a warning stating they are not affiliated with the hardware or software vendors (manufacturers) so to charge for their wares would effectively be copywright theft. As for the original manufacturers supporting said sites, its a tricky one, the main thing holding them back would be supporting the emulators into the future, the manufacturers have moved on too and are'nt interested in supporting 20 year old platforms.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

There are so widely released, p2p programs would just share the files and no one would pay.

Answer 3

Emulators are too slow.

Answer 4

try p2p programs