Poll: Do you emulate or use real hardware?

[Ziggy]

I know some people are near or at 100% emulation, while others are the extreme opposite, with everything in between. There is no wrong or right, either way has pros and cons. I'm interested to see if there's a majority one way or the other, or if it's just a complete mixed bag. Feel free to discuss the reasons behind your choice.

The grey area would be something like Nintendo's Virtual Console, or a compilation, which are emulated games but on a gaming system. But even though VC is emulation, you're playing it on real hardware, so isn't it both? Let's count that as a wash and not go down that road. For the sake of this poll, consider emulation only to be an app that you download on your computer, phone, tablet, et cetera. Or something you set up like a Raspberry Pi, MISTer, or MAME cabinet or similar. Stuff of that nature.

Do not get caught up in semantics and say, "But the Virtual Console is emulation, so if you use it then you technically emulate!" While this is true, it's not in the spirit of the poll. The poll is asking if you use real hardware, or not. If you use a Wii, then you're using real hardware. You might say, "Well what's the difference between VC and setting up a Retro Pi?" The difference is that you bought a Wii, a retail video game console, and one would assume that you play retail game releases on it. The Virtual Console games are only a bi-product of the Wii, not the main focus. If you set up a Retro Pi, you did so specifically and solely to use emulators to play games. You can only say the same thing for the Wii if you only got one to put emulators on and never intend to use it to play Wii games.

[MrPopo]

I go a step further than just being on hardware; I don't take advantage of BC. So I play PS1 games on my PS1 and PS2 games on my PS2, not on my launch PS3.

[Ziggy]

I'm pretty much 100% real hardware. I do occasionally use emulators, but usually only to test things out. I never really every PLAY games in emulators. I have once or twice in the past, but it's a rare case.

I go a step further than just being on hardware; I don't take advantage of BC. So I play PS1 games on my PS1 and PS2 games on my PS2, not on my launch PS3.

I don't like to use BC on console whenever possible. I mainly stopped using BC so I would put less wear and tear on my consoles, but I continue not to use BC because I like having that authentic console experience. I can play PS1 games on my PS2, but then I wouldn't hear that awesome baaaaaaaaaaaamm, buuuuuuuuuumm PS1 splash screen. Currently, my only exception is that I will use my Wii to play Gamecube games on my HDTV because it's easier (cheaper) with the component AV cable. Gamecube games that are 480p and/or have a widescreen mode seem better played on an HDTV. Though I do have a PAL Gamecube so I can output RGB to my PVM, I got it mainly to use the GB Player with but I was impressed with how well Gamecube games look on it.

[fastbilly1]

For me if it is on a CRT its original hardware most of the time, if it is on anything else, its emulated. I have two 24 inch CRTs in my basement with a atleast a dozen consoles hooked up at all times.

Graphic packs and user made fixes makes emulation superior in some ways. For example, I was recently playing Metroid Prime Hunters First Hunt upscaled to 1080p with mouse/keyboard on a dual monitor setup and it was like playing a lost UT99 based game. I had beaten it previously on the DS, but being I am left handed, the game is a bit painful. Using alternative controls the game was not only playable, it was a joy. Or things like the AI upscaled assets for N64 and PSX games (Moguri FF9 and ERSGAN upscaled N64 games by Gaming Revived) which is the reason I went back to play so many N64 games this year. Be forewarned, those upscaled assets are gigs per game.

[marurun]

I think this distinction we should make is whether a digital re-issue is something purchased from a publisher or rightsholder and is thus a fully legal commercial release. The Neo Geo games on Steam, for example, are clearly just emulation, but at the same time, they are official, commercial, supported releases by a legal rightsholder of those properties. There is no legal gray area. They are an official re-release. The same for the little mini consoles by Nintendo, Sega, and Konami. Sure, they run an emulator, but they are an intentional commercial release.

I'm leaving this here because I don't want to just delete it, but I do need to clarify I wasn't paying enough attention and thought I was replying in a different thread. I was in space. I don't think this in relation to THIS specific thread topic.

[o.pwuaioc]

The legality of it is a separate issue from the experience. Emulation, whether officially sanctioned or done through ROMs (which can themselves be legal) is a very different experience than original, physical media.

I voted no, and I don't emulate at all, even via Steam, Wii, etc. I've considered it lately, but at the moment I'm all original hardware all the time.

[pook99]

I'm mostly emulation on my rg350 and laptop.

In terms of og hardware:
Wii, xbox 360, ps3, ps4, wii u, xbox, switch, n64, and 3ds I play exclusively on original hardware, same with pc games which goes without saying

I recently started collecting for the nes again and alternate between that and emulation.

I have a fairly large GameCube, ps1, and ps2 collection, but I am 100 percent emulation with those systems, even though I own most of the games I want to play

Every other system I play I emulate and have complete romsets for just about every system

[opa]

I'm basically 50/50

The Wii is my retro emulation box for NES, SNES (NA), Master System, Genesis, Sega CD, GBC (clear carts), and GBA. But I also use the Wii for GameCube and Wii games so that's technically 'hardware' even though I rip games to get better video output and controller options.

GB/GBC (black carts) - playing on a GBC or Super Famicom

Atari 2600- I only emulate when I want to try a game before I buy an actual cart.

Intellivision... I have a decent collection but my system is finicky so I sadly opt for the PS2 compilation more often than not. One day I'll spring for an Intellivision model 2.

99% of the time I play PS1 games on a PS3 for the wireless controllers and better video options. However, I'll occasionally I'll hook up an original console so I can use the original controller. The PS1 controller sans the analog sticks is probably my favorite controller ever. I wish there was a wireless version.

PS2- I just hook up a system. My PS3 is a slim so it won't play the games. If it did I'd never hook up a PS2 again.

N64- I just hook up a system. No reason to emulate when you need that blasted controller... and I usually play multiplayer games anyway.

[Anapan]

I'm mostly going for the best experience possible. For PS1 & PS2, if it's mostly 3D, I use emulation to get better resolution. On older consoles, I usually use original hardware through a CRT or through a scanline filter on my plasma TV. Older handhelds (GBC, Game Gear, WSC, NGP, etc) I prefer to use original for most games - I like the passive matrix screens. On newer handhelds (GBA and later) I'll usually emulate.

[Note]

Luckily, I have a 25" CRT setup with most of my consoles so I'm able to play most systems I want to on real hardware, and definitely prefer that setup. Every once in a while I will test games out using an emulator on my Mac laptop, and rarely I'll play through games using emulation and ROMs. I do need to get a new PS1 console though, or get my original 1001 model repaired, as the laser lens no longer reads discs. I also prefer to play games on their original systems, as opposed to using the backwards compatibility features.

My USB controller for my computer is a bit older and doesn't have a great d-pad, so it's not the most comfortable to play games with anymore. And, in the past when I tried to play games using emulation on the computer, sometimes I'd tend to get distracted and start surfing the web. That's another reason why I like playing games on original hardware, I feel like it helps me just focus on the game and disconnect for a bit, as opposed to emulating on a computer, where I can easily get distracted because of the multi-tasking abilities available on the machine.