Emulation vs. real console

[Sandi1987]

Which is better? Console emulator for PC or real console (Sony PS1, PS2...)?

 

[jboydgolfer]

the actual console would be "better" than an emulator, due to the additional issues encountered, when trying to "clone" a device through software. the original is almost always better.

it might be helpful to those answering your question, if you defined what you meant by "better". i interpreted that as meaning more stable, which obviously there is no doubt the console would be "better" , but it could mean more flexible, which an emulator would be, or cheaper , which an emulator would also be.

 

[arroyo]

Emulation!
Mainstream PC + Libretro/RetroArch ... and you can emulate every console from Atari 2600 up to PS3/Wii U!
Raspberry Pi 3 can emulate every console up to PSX/Dreamcast.

 

[natr0n]

Console will always be best. When you want enhanced visuals emulation is where it's at.

Here is my pcsx2 playlist. Will give you an idea of what to expect.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL46OlV6bcxmcngB6lQBRtSJWKjyVRHO8w

 

[arroyo]

I like to have all beloved consoles in my home, but I do not have a space for that.
Also floppy disks from my old Atari 65XE are dead now. My SNES does not work since 15 years.
With Raspberry Pi3 I can have all my memories and my old consoles in a pocket. I just connect it to TV and play. Emulation today is something very different than 5-10 years ago.

 

[londiste]

The answer probably depends on whether you have nostalgia for the actual hardware or not

Emulation is excellent for anything up to and including 5th generation consoles and some from newer generations as well.

 

[IceScreamer]

Depends, if you're just playing for the sake of playing the emulator does the job (mostly) well, and is more convenient. If you're looking for genuine out-of-the-box games, then consoles hands down.
Personally, I'd pick consoles over emulation any day.

 

[DRDNA]

My vote goes to Console emulator for PC for the simple fact you can get better graphics........

 

[Frick]

Console, but emulation is easier by far.

 

[GreiverBlade]

i love my PCSX2 setup ... i still have a PS2 slim but i prefer playing on my rig (disclaimer : i only use ISO from games i own )
i do the same with my Nokia 5 and a MOGA mini pocket with PPSSPP for my PSP games

 

[Capitan Harlock]

Well , if you wanna play on modern Tv's old consoles is going to be very expensive with adaptors and other stuff.
Emulation is the easy and free way to play some old games.
I mean , i have an original copy of Megaman Legends for PS1 and on ebay is worth a lot . Megaman legends 2 same and i'm not gonna spend 80€ or more for an old game even if i'm passionate about it because i can play it for free .

 

[chaosmassive]

console for zero hassle in playing the game, put in disc, or select title from hdd loader and play
emulation for people want more flexibility that console cant offer
for example 'snapshot save' the game anytime you want

 

[Flogger23m]

Slightly off topic, but are there any good Xbox 360 emulators out? I have two 360 games I'd like to play that I got for cheap but never bought a console itself. Really only 1-2 games that I'd want to play on it so I don't feel like spending $150 or so for a 360.

 

[StrayKAT]

Actual console all the way. I still prize my fat PS3 (first 2006 edition with PS2 emotion engine built in) over any measly emulator.

That said, I'm a proud owner of a Pi too. I'm not about to buy emulators for everything. It's mostly disc-based consoles I actually like owning.

 

[hat]

Depends. I still enjoyed my ps2 until recently when I stopped using my 19 inch HDTV in favor of a slightly bigger 1920x1080 monitor. Now I can't use my ps2 anymore. Most TVs now are HDMI only too, so good luck using anything older than a ps3 with that. You would have to have either a bunch of expensive adaptors or the spare room for the antiquated hardware to run those old consoles. Emulation is easier by far and usually works better too than the original console, at least for anything ps2 on down.

 

[StrayKAT]

Depends. I still enjoyed my ps2 until recently when I stopped using my 19 inch HDTV in favor of a slightly bigger 1920x1080 monitor. Now I can't use my ps2 anymore. Most TVs now are HDMI only too, so good luck using anything older than a ps3 with that. You would have to have either a bunch of expensive adaptors or the spare room for the antiquated hardware to run those old consoles. Emulation is easier by far and usually works better too than the original console, at least for anything ps2 on down.

The only thing I gripe about the original PS2 experience isn't the HDMI issues per se, but HD itself. It looked great on old CRT TVs that it was made for. Old 2D games translate well (NES, etc) no matter what they're played on, but some of those PS2 games don't look good except on CRT. For example, original Shadows of the Collosus or FF 12. Same goes for PS1 (Metal Gear). Luckily, Shadows has been remastered multiple times, and if anyone hasn't played on new machines, they are seriously deprived.

 

[MrGenius]

Yeah...I want to spend hundreds of $ on vintage hardware and software. To play games I can download and play, with more features/options, for free. What am I? Retarded?

Been waiting for a good opportunity to use that smilie.

 

[hat]

The only thing I gripe about the original PS2 experience isn't the HDMI issues per se, but HD itself. It looked great on old CRT TVs that it was made for. Old 2D games translate well (NES, etc) no matter what they're played on, but some of those PS2 games don't look good except on CRT. For example, original Shadows of the Collosus or FF 12. Same goes for PS1 (Metal Gear). Luckily, Shadows has been remastered multiple times, and if anyone hasn't played on new machines, they are seriously deprived.

I remember reading that HD and newer TVs really bring out the crappiness in those old games. Back in the day when you had S-Video at best, the blurriness kinda hid how... crappy the game looked, and HD really brings it out.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

I have a large library of games to play via emulation and hell for some you dont even NEED to use an emulator. I have bought many a PS2 game just to emulate it to relive those old school memories. Its much easier than dealing with ancient hardware that tends to crap out due to age.

That said with Game-oldies you can just emulate the games in the damn browser and play. http://game-oldies.com

 

[StrayKAT]

I remember reading that HD and newer TVs really bring out the crappiness in those old games. Back in the day when you had S-Video at best, the blurriness kinda hid how... crappy the game looked, and HD really brings it out.

Indeed. I think it's really a problem with any 3d that attempts even a modicum of "realism". N64 is cartoonish 3D and looks good no matter what, but some of those PS games don't.. despite being from a similar era as the N64.

 

[hat]

Makes sense... like Resident Evil or MGS like you mentioned earlier. FF7 really looks like crap too...

 

[eidairaman1]

If an emulator can mimmick certain hardware features in some consoles say like in the genesis, super nintendo, playstation 2, it be awesome.

Gens is a Great Emulator. Idk about PS1/Saturn/N64/PS2/Dreamcast/XBox.

 

[SaltyFish]

Hardware, as the original, is unbeatable for not only "perfect play" (it's the original source that emulation aims for) but also for nostalgia. There's a special feeling in loading in that floppy or cartridge and pressing the power button (more applicable if you're older like me I suppose). But if you don't care for that kind of stuff and just want to play the game, then emulation is more convenient.

There's a whole market of converter boxes for retro hardware on modern screens. My biggest gripe about modern screens is mucking with the scaling to reduce the display lag. CRTs tend to better than LCDs in that regard; it's why fighting game tournaments still use them. My CRT collection will eventually dry out and die out. Hopefully by then, I'll be too old to notice/care.

Light gun games (Duck Hunt, Time Crisis, etc.) still require the original hardware. EuroGamer wrote a good article about the genre's slow inevitable death due to the end of CRTs.

 

[hat]

My biggest gripe about modern screens is mucking with the scaling to reduce the display lag. CRTs tend to better than LCDs in that regard; it's why fighting game tournaments still use them. My CRT collection will eventually dry out and die out. Hopefully by then, I'll be too old to notice/care.

This is still a thing? I remember reading stuff like this 10 years ago, thought it was a thing of the past...

 

[RejZoR]

Never owned any Nintendo. Did play Mario 64 for a while on PC via emulator. It was quite alright. But those games are rather simple compared to emulation of lets say Gran Turismo 4...