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On the other side of the coin, if I wanted to play Sonic 3 on my PSP (since it's one of my favourite games) I'd be quite happy to pay a few £ on eBay for an original cartridge so I'm then completely legit in downloading a ROM of that cartridge and running it under emulation.

Can anyone explain to me why this would make it ok to copy/download the game? The original creators do not get any of the money you spent on the used cartridge, so why bother buying a used cart? It would make more sense to me to mail a check for $5 to sega and say, "I'm using sonic on my psp, thanks." That way at least the creators (if sega actually made that inhouse, don't know and it doesn't matter for my point, lets just assume that is the case) get some money out of you. Buying a used cart they get none. Sure the original owner can not play the game so you are "transfering" the right to play the game, but come on, you are paying next to nothing for it and not actually using it at all, so why own it? Whether you buy it or not the orignal company has gotten all the money they can out of it, unless they are remarketing it (see further)

I myself have no problem morally with using roms that aren't available for current systems, it's their fault for not capitalizing on it. Look at midway, they've created some great collections for new systems which I have purchased. Some examples here here and (as you guessed) here. Oh and I shouldn't forget Namco .

Until more companies start doing this people will just download the games, not only is it easier but it makes a lot more sense than tracking down an old cart so you can feel good about downloading the roms. If people want to play old games on the psp the marketing groups of the companies that have all these great legacy games should be taking notice and doing something about it.

On the other side of the coin, if I wanted to play Sonic 3 on my PSP (since it's one of my favourite games) I'd be quite happy to pay a few £ on eBay for an original cartridge so I'm then completely legit in downloading a ROM of that cartridge and running it under emulation.

Can anyone explain to me why this would make it ok to copy/download the game? The original creators do not get any of the money you spent on the used cartridge, so why bother buying a used cart? It would make more sense to me to mail a check for $5 to sega and say, "I'm using sonic on my psp, thanks." That way at least the creators (if sega actually made that inhouse, don't know and it doesn't matter for my point, lets just assume that is the case) get some money out of you. Buying a used cart they get none. Sure the original owner can not play the game so you are "transfering" the right to play the game, but come on, you are paying next to nothing for it and not actually using it at all, so why own it? Whether you buy it or not the orignal company has gotten all the money they can out of it, unless they are remarketing it (see further)

I myself have no problem morally with using roms that aren't available for current systems, it's their fault for not capitalizing on it. Look at midway, they've created some great collections for new systems which I have purchased. Some examples here here and (as you guessed) here. Oh and I shouldn't forget Namco .

Until more companies start doing this people will just download the games, not only is it easier but it makes a lot more sense than tracking down an old cart so you can feel good about downloading the roms. If people want to play old games on the psp the marketing groups of the companies that have all these great legacy games should be taking notice and doing something about it.

On the other side of the coin, if I wanted to play Sonic 3 on my PSP (since it's one of my favourite games) I'd be quite happy to pay a few £ on eBay for an original cartridge so I'm then completely legit in downloading a ROM of that cartridge and running it under emulation.

Can anyone explain to me why this would make it ok to copy/download the game? The original creators do not get any of the money you spent on the used cartridge, so why bother buying a used cart? It would make more sense to me to mail a check for $5 to sega and say, "I'm using sonic on my psp, thanks." That way at least the creators (if sega actually made that inhouse, don't know and it doesn't matter for my point, lets just assume that is the case) get some money out of you. Buying a used cart they get none. Sure the original owner can not play the game so you are "transfering" the right to play the game, but come on, you are paying next to nothing for it and not actually using it at all, so why own it? Whether you buy it or not the orignal company has gotten all the money they can out of it, unless they are remarketing it (see further)

I myself have no problem morally with using roms that aren't available for current systems, it's their fault for not capitalizing on it. Look at midway, they've created some great collections for new systems which I have purchased. Some examples here here and (as you guessed) here. Oh and I shouldn't forget Namco .

Until more companies start doing this people will just download the games, not only is it easier but it makes a lot more sense than tracking down an old cart so you can feel good about downloading the roms. If people want to play old games on the psp the marketing groups of the companies that have all these great legacy games should be taking notice and doing something about it.

In my mind, there's really no question about whether Java itself is useful, or whether it could clean up the development process. It is, and it could. I don't doubt that in the near future, we'll see a game system for which most games are written in Java.

The current limitations are these...

First, using a language like Java, despite all that you hear and believe, demands additional processor time and additional space. Only one or two current game systems are up to the task at present. You won't see a change until all current-production systems are up to the task, because virtually every game development house is leaving the option of a universal port open, if they're not already targeting all three major systems. Nobody likes closing their options.

Second, because game systems have typically been very restrictive in terms of RAM size and CPU power, most game developers are accustomed to working at a very low level. They're used to cycle-tuning. They want complete control over the system. Getting most to even consider C++, let alone something as far removed as Java, is an uphill battle. There's a lot of cultural baggage ("this is the way we've always done things") to shed, as well as a lot of relearning to be done. Eventually, it will probably be imperative that Java or some universal event-driven scripting toolkit is adopted. But for as long as possible, the majority of the individual established game developers - the ones who are usually in charge of complete production teams - will avoid making any fundamental changes to their tools.

Next - we work with the tools we're given. Not a one of Microsoft, Sony nor Nintendo have been pushing Java. Accordingly - most of us haven't even evaluated the possibility. The concept is far enough removed that we still joke about whether being a Java programmer is an oxymoron.

Lastly - who wants to be first? Somebody's going to have to take the plunge. Until someone who's - due to personal preference or financial incentive - just gonzo java-crazy jumps in and makes a well-performing Java-based hit, where's the guarantee that going Java is even safe? It's good in theory... but so was WinCE-based Saturn development, and you saw how many hits came from that approach. (Hint: They all have WinCE startup screens, so you'd know if you ever even saw one.)