Are PPC/Palm/iPhone Platforms That Viable for Emulation?

[racketboy]

What are you opinions?
Should anybody really bother with emulators on a Pocket PC, Palm, or iPhone?
Does the lack of solid controls keep emulators from being anything but a novelty?

[Funk, E]

It depends on the system (and the handheld!). On handhelds like the Zodiac, emulators are a dream. On more traditional handhelds (I've got an older ASUS Pocket PC, for example), you have to kind of pick and choose. I run an Atari ST emulator on it, and it's a DREAM for ScummVM--playing The Dig or Full Throttle on my PPC with the stylus is how it's meant to be played, IMO.

[Ivo]

Does the hardware handle it? I was fairly surprised that my N-gage had trouble with emulators (but maybe they weren't very well coded?).

Ivo.

[Brightside]

with my palm treo 700wx, there isnt a lack of buttons and can play anything up to snes, including dos and gameboy advance. Some pocket pc's are perfect for emulation... it's just the lack of buttons on most make it harder to enjoy.

[andymol21]

I use Morphgear on my WM6 Mobile Phone (Blue Angel, XDA IIs for anyone who cares) It emulates Nes, Snes, GB, GBC, Master System, Mega Drive and GBA. Because of the extra face buttons and solid 4-way controller on my phone playing most games is really easy. When I was stuck in my house during one summer I downloaded and completed Chrono Trigger on it, and enjoyed it very much! Also, when I’m stuck on a train I like to get it out and play a bit of Metroid or Kirby for Nes. Don't expect sound on any of these emulators though, not unless your willing to sacrifice speed, responsiveness and overclock your poor little handheld till it melts in you hands.

[fastbilly1]

Zod baby, zod. The only downside is you need to replace the $10 battery every year or two.

[Geshmaal]

Not sure if this counts, but Quake 3 can be run on an iPod Touch, as seen on this video:
Looks a little awkward, but that is pretty sweet! No idea on other iPod Touch emulation functions, sorry.