An Idea about Console Emulators !!

[Rexali_]

I know using Console Emulators is piracy. A couple months ago, the Nintendoo emulator was supposed to be released on Steam, but it was removed due to Nintendoo's request.

But what if we pay for the games we play on the emulator? For example, There are a lot of PS2 games that I want to experience on PC, such as THQ WWE games, GTA Vice City stories, and Liberty City stories.

What if Steam releases a PS2 emulator on Steam, but Steam users pay for what they want to play on that emulator? For example, if I pay for GTA Vice City stories, I can run them on that emulator.

Can this be legal if Steam makes a contract with Sony for the PS-2 Emulator ? Is there a possibility to make an agreement about this?

[peppermint hollows]

Steam/Valve isn't going to actively seek out a contract with Sony or any developer for an emulator. If they want to make a game available to play, they will, and they will put it on Steam if they so choose.

Some developers already use emulated versions of older games when they re-release them on modern software. For example, on the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo released Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy in a bundle. All 3 of these games are actually being emulated rather than true ports for the Switch.

[Cathulhu]

Up to the owners of those IPs to do that.
Right now that is already the case. There are several games on Steam that are effectively emulated. It's ok if the actual owner of the IP does it.

Sony is irrelevant, they didn't make GTA Vice City.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1546990/Grand_Theft_Auto_Vice_City__The_Definitive_Edition/

Which has a PC version you can play.

[Rexali_]

Publicado originalmente por Cathulhu:

Up to the owners of those IPs to do that.
Right now that is already the case. There are several games on Steam that are effectively emulated. It's ok if the actual owner of the IP does it.

Sony is irrelevant, they didn't make GTA Vice City.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1546990/Grand_Theft_Auto_Vice_City__The_Definitive_Edition/

Which has a PC version you can play.

GTA Vice City stories and GTA Liberty City stories are different with the ones you know dude... These two games never came on PC... They are the prequels of Vice City and Liberty City, if you google search VC stories and Liberty City stories then you will see those games...

[Cathulhu]

Doesn't change the rest of my post then. It's fine of Rockstar decides to put them on Steam and run them through an emulator if they want to be lazy at porting it.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Emulators themselves aren't illegal.

[Start_Running]

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

I know using Console Emulators is piracy. A couple months ago, the Nintendoo emulator was supposed to be released on Steam, but it was removed due to Nintendoo's request.

COnsole emulators in of themselves are not illegal. The case with dolphin is that it was using siome proprietary code that is patented by Nintendo. Once the developers figure a work around that bypasses the need for that proprietary code, the emulator will be back up.

But as for paying for the games.. that's already a thing. The KOnami collections, the Namco Collection. The Sega Genesis X megadrive collection, the megaman collections. This are literally just inhouse emulators.

ANd if you want proof about the emulators thing. Just look art retroarch

[Spawn of Totoro]

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

I know using Console Emulators is piracy. A couple months ago, the Nintendoo emulator was supposed to be released on Steam, but it was removed due to Nintendoo's request.

But what if we pay for the games we play on the emulator? For example, There are a lot of PS2 games that I want to experience on PC, such as THQ WWE games, GTA Vice City stories, and Liberty City stories.

What if Steam releases a PS2 emulator on Steam, but Steam users pay for what they want to play on that emulator? For example, if I pay for GTA Vice City stories, I can run them on that emulator.

Can this be legal if Steam makes a contract with Sony for the PS-2 Emulator ? Is there a possibility to make an agreement about this?

Problem with the one that was removed, is they used code from the Nintendo Console to do so. It wasn't removed because people could use it for playing said games, otherwise RetroArch wouldn't be on Steam (a multiple console emulator).

Adding games for official use would be up to each developer/publisher and/or copyright holder of the game, so not something Valve can decide to do.

[Brian9824]

Yep as already said emulation is perfectly legal as long as you aren't using propietary code. There is already an existing emulator on steam for many systems - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118310/RetroArch/

Also as stated its on a per dev basis, nothing Steam can do about it.

[Haruspex]

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

I know using Console Emulators is piracy.

Not necessarily, but that's how it's most commonly used.

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

A couple months ago, the Nintendoo emulator was supposed to be released on Steam, but it was removed due to Nintendoo's request.

Right.

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

But what if we pay for the games we play on the emulator? For example, There are a lot of PS2 games that I want to experience on PC, such as THQ WWE games, GTA Vice City stories, and Liberty City stories.

There are console games on Steam running on an emulator that are available to pay for and play today. Titles like "Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Collection", "Namco Museum Archives", "Castlevania Anniversary Collection", "Contra Anniversary Collection" and plenty more.

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

What if Steam releases a PS2 emulator on Steam, but Steam users pay for what they want to play on that emulator? For example, if I pay for GTA Vice City stories, I can run them on that emulator.

I like where your head is at, but you're not the first to say this. Ultimately, such releases would be entirely at the discretion of the rights holders of those individual games. Historically, those rights-holders would much rather they remain in control of their games, and they would rather not put that control into the hands of the gamers. So if you do see emulated releases of such console games, expect it to be a packaged sort of "boutique" thing, like the previously mentioned collections already available on Steam.

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

Can this be legal if Steam makes a contract with Sony for the PS-2 Emulator ? Is there a possibility to make an agreement about this?

Like I said, it would entirely be up to the rights holders of the individual games. Lots of Playstation titles are not owned by Sony. It would be exceedingly difficult to obtain some kind of blanket license for all the games available on an old console, and so unlikely to happen as to consider it impossible.

[nullable]

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

Can this be legal if Steam makes a contract with Sony for the PS-2 Emulator ? Is there a possibility to make an agreement about this?

1. If both parties were interested in such a scheme they'd have done it already.
   
2. If either one of the parties isn't interested, then it's a no-go.
   
3. If neither party is interested then there's nothing to even talk about.

Old games, old consoles, and emulators aren't things that Steam, Sony or Rockakstar (for example) have forgotten about. Option three seems the most likely to me, option two would be next, and option one obviously hasn't occurred yet.

[Start_Running]

Publicado originalmente por nullable:

Publicado originalmente por Rexali_:

Can this be legal if Steam makes a contract with Sony for the PS-2 Emulator ? Is there a possibility to make an agreement about this?

1. If both parties were interested in such a scheme they'd have done it already.
   
2. If either one of the parties isn't interested, then it's a no-go.
   
3. If neither party is interested then there's nothing to even talk about.

Old games, old consoles, and emulators aren't things that Steam, Sony or Rockakstar (for example) have forgotten about. Option three seems the most likely to me, option two would be next, and option one obviously hasn't occurred yet.

On the contrary, 1 is the most common. Many developers have been releasing emulated versions for sometime now.

[nullable]

Publicado originalmente por Start_Running:

Publicado originalmente por nullable:

1. If both parties were interested in such a scheme they'd have done it already.
   
2. If either one of the parties isn't interested, then it's a no-go.
   
3. If neither party is interested then there's nothing to even talk about.

Old games, old consoles, and emulators aren't things that Steam, Sony or Rockakstar (for example) have forgotten about. Option three seems the most likely to me, option two would be next, and option one obviously hasn't occurred yet.

On the contrary, 1 is the most common. Many developers have been releasing emulated versions for sometime now.

Well that's a slightly different subject than what OP is suggesting, and I'm specifically responding to OP's suggestion. I'm not claiming emulation is never used under any circumstance, obviously.

All the console games included in Nintendo Switch Online are using emulation.

And I suppose the Capcom Arcade Stadium is probably using emulation for its arcade games. But again, it's not something developers and IP owners have forgotten about. If they want to do it they will, and if not they won't.

But since most console/arcade games aren't published on Steam I'm not sure how you say 1 is the most common.

[Crashed]

Like every we want XYZ on Steam topic, ask the IP holders as Valve does not actively approach game developers for listings.

[Start_Running]

Publicado originalmente por nullable:

Publicado originalmente por Start_Running:

On the contrary, 1 is the most common. Many developers have been releasing emulated versions for sometime now.

Well that's a slightly different subject than what OP is suggesting, and I'm specifically responding to OP's suggestion. I'm not claiming emulation is never used under any circumstance, obviously.

All the console games included in Nintendo Switch Online are using emulation.

And I suppose the Capcom Arcade Stadium is probably using emulation for its arcade games. But again, it's not something developers and IP owners have forgotten about. If they want to do it they will, and if not they won't.

But since most console/arcade games aren't published on Steam I'm not sure how you say 1 is the most common.

The arcade station, the beatem up bundle, their megaman collections. etc.

[McFlurry Butts]

Using emulators isn't piracy, a lot of games like X-Com UFO defense and X-Com Apocalypse use DosBox. The problem is using emulators designed to emulator consoles games. I really despise how these debates have turn public opinion into "emulators are illegal" because it might set the public opinion to make them illegal.

People are still going to do what they are going to do regardless, the internet isn't exclusive to Steam. The emulator is not illegal, if they own the game, it's questionable if they have the rights to do the emulation. Steam is just dodging a legal battle.