DOS Games Discussion

So, uh, should such a category be added? No roms, just links to emulators for various systems. (When I say emulators I don't mean like DOSBox. I mean like ZSNES or MAME.)

I'm thinking adding an emu category would boost traffic. To keep with the theme of the site, I'd list only DOS-based emulators.

Opinions?

Sure darren !!!!

I could suggest a few!

Meka.
nesticle
no$GMB

I say no, because I want to steal this idea

Got nothing against it.

Nor do I. Just remember all: Emulators ONLY. ROMS are still 'illegal' and therefore, won't be posted.

-Richard-

I'm indifferent to it (almost never use emulators) but it would widen the user base and attract more people. My only problem is that it seems to lessen the individuality of the site. There are many, many emulator sites out there (or at least a good deal of very popular ones) but the idea of a DOS based gaming site is relatively unique.

I said no. Emulators may turn some users away (Those religious type). Although they aren't illegal, they will be frowned upon by any anti-piracy groups, and they will look for a reason to shut down the site.

Dos Games are simple. Stay with those.

I don't think they should be added.
You won't attract visiters if you don't have ROMs (emultors aren't exactly hard to find). Visters will demand ROMs and open up a whole new can of worms.

I like DOS Games to be just DOS games.

For the record, I am one of those "religious types". Well, depending on what you mean by that. But lets not get off topic here

Yea, I thought about the legal issue ... I would be kinda worried some day my server would get shut down 'cuz some idiot thought emulators=illegal ...

emulators = legal
roms= legal for 24 hours or less but most users ignore that

I voted no, DOS GAMES should be for anything related to dos games. I have been to a few emu forums and there is alot of traffic coming to them just asking for roms.

Posting porn would boost traffic too!

The best retro sites are the ones that are usefull.
You can add a hardware section with descriptions of the most popular gaming devices, how to set them up, and even have a driver section for those cards. User reviews of the games would be nice. Show screenshots for the commercial games you dont have for download. Start a walkthrough section so people can learn how to get past levels in the games. A nice section on memory management using memaker from dos and QEmm 7.5 would help quite a bit. An expanded section on how to use Win2k and XP to run your old games with graphics etc. The problem with all of these is that your bandwidth usage will go up and your server will need quite a bit more space for the graphics files and driver downloads. The more usefull the dosgames website is the more people who will join the forum.

There are probably as many older people who like setting up their retro DOS computers are there are your kids who like to play the classics on their dads Windows XP machine.

EDIT: Nevermind.

Well if there's not going to be any discussion about ROMS as well, I'm not going to even look at the forum! I don't see how there could be enough discussion about just the emulators to establish a forum for it.

Either emulators AND roms, or then no new forum at all!

Emmzee: He's referring to those who follow the rules of the various antipiracy organizations (like the ESA) as if they were a religion.

Core_12 wrote:Well if there's not going to be any discussion about ROMS as well, I'm not going to even look at the forum! I don't see how there could be enough discussion about just the emulators to establish a forum for it.

Either emulators AND roms, or then no new forum at all!

Well SOME roms are legal but however some roms arent. It isnt anyone elses choice but darrens to keep this site legal or not.

Wally*Won_Kenobie wrote:emulators = legal
roms= legal for 24 hours or less but most users ignore that

I sound like a broken record...

ROMs are ILLEGAL. The 24h or less 'rule' is BS. It's a myth, one so popular MANY believe it. Unless the law has changed in the last year or so, ROMs are still a grey area, and in all technicallity, they too are abandonware, and, therefore, should reside under the abandonware laws.

The only LEGAL ROMs are the one's that people made in their own time. Not 'ripped' copies of existing games.

-Richard-

wardrich wrote:

Wally*Won_Kenobie wrote:emulators = legal
roms= legal for 24 hours or less but most users ignore that

I sound like a broken record...

ROMs are ILLEGAL. The 24h or less 'rule' is BS. It's a myth, one so popular MANY believe it. Unless the law has changed in the last year or so, ROMs are still a grey area, and in all technicallity, they too are abandonware, and, therefore, should reside under the abandonware laws.

The only LEGAL ROMs are the one's that people made in their own time. Not 'ripped' copies of existing games.

-Richard-

The 24hr rule came about during the BBS days because it was enough time to allow bbs operators to check the uploads directory for warez and delete it.

Rusty n Edies BBS one of the largest in the country was never busted for warez because they only let it stay around in uploads for a week or 2 before deleting it and then moving the other files to the long term archive. You can prosecute somebody if they havnt had the apropriate time to discover if an upload was warez or not (unzip the file and scan the contents).

Even today you can put any old warez you want on a website (and call it abandonware) and wont be prosecuted by the program owners if you take down the material when asked to by a spokesperson/lawer of that company. Dont try this with any new releases because you will be prosecuted.

So you're saying I should hurry up and Delete that GTA 3 install file from my Kazaa shared folder.

He got you there wardrich

Thunderdog wrote:So you're saying I should hurry up and Delete that GTA 3 install file from my Kazaa shared folder.

Do what I do, burn the cd and delete the file

I have lots of games that are sitting on the shelf that are from the net. I check the game out before bothering to buy it, and yes I do buy the good ones.

And sooner or later companies will start extorting money or start prosecuting everybody who uses those P2P networks just like the music industry is cracking down. Unlike private ftp sites that are invisible to the world, P2P users are visible to everybody who wants to look.