I would agree that it would be cool to be able to carry one portable with me instead of two. However, how exactly would you get a ROM from a GBA cartridge into your PC so that you could load it onto another system? If it requires special hardware (and I'm guessing it does), how much would it cost, and how difficult is the process?
Also, in a semi-related question, does anyone know the legal status of "format-shifting?" I suspect that the easiest way of getting ROMS for most people would go to #warez-n00bs or whatever (BTW -- it's a fictional channel AFAIK) and download pre-ripped copies of things they already own. On its face, that might seem to be legal: you have the original media, and you have a software copy for your own use. However, since you didn't create the copy yourself, is it actually legal to download that ROM?
I have the same question about other media, by the way. If I own a CD, but download MP3s versions of the songs on that CD from somewhere else, is it legal? If I own a DVD, and someone else has already gone through the trouble of ripping/converting it to PSP-playable form, is it legal for me to download it?
iapetus said:
Emulation doesn't always have to be of things you don't own, you know. I've got a nice collection of ScummVM games that I'd love to be able to play on the go.
That's pretty cool -- never knew that existed.
Jonnyram said:
Also some software houses have provided old games for free use with emulators, so it's not as illegal a field as it is often considered - check out the UK Retro Gamer mag for a start.
Since I don't live in the UK, could you provide some examples of companies which provide these kinds of downloads?