'GBA4iOS' Game Boy Emulator Shut Down After Nintendo Files DMCA Notice

[Iconoclysm]

The only legal way to play their old games is on a Wii U. That is just ridiculous.

Or, oh I don't know, a GBA?

----------

I for one have no issue with Nintendo taking this action.

But personally, these types of news bits from Japan are getting tiresome. It saddens me to see companies that once set the standard for technological innovation reduce themselves to IP trolls. We're talking about a country that still buys music CD's like its the 1990s because big business has such an iron grip on copyright and piracy laws. They need to wake up and realize the rest of the world is changing, they need to change along with it. GET BACK TO INNOVATING!!!

Maybe companies like Nintendo & Sony touch a nerve too with Apple fans because they're watching a potential future without a strong leader unfold?

Right, the entire company dropped everything to fight this. They don't have a department dedicated to protecting their IP, instead developers quit working on games and hardware to go fight it in court...halting innovation.

 

[dejo]

The usual Apple fan hypocrisy at its best!

Apple protects its IP - "Well done Apple, take them to the cleaners etc etc"
Nintendo protects its IP - "Hope Nintendo go bust, Stupid move Nintendo etc etc"

Cite specific members who state Apple should be allowed to protect its IP but Nintendo shouldn't. Otherwise, you're conflating two separate groups of posters and giving all of them both opinions.

 

[blackburn]

The problem is that the app allows you to download illegal roms of the internet. I don't even know why the developer put that 'feature' in it.

Still I don't know much about the legality of rom dumping.

 

[Dr McKay]

Taking out the in-app web browser that facilitates rom downloads would have complied with the DMCA. Emulators are not illegal, unauthorized distribution of roms is. The dev is just scared of Nintendo's legal pit bulls.

I never cared for GBA anyway. Someone please release a good NES, SNES, and MAME emulator using this alternative app distribution method. Please!

Emulators can be illegal, considering the emulator is running a copy of the devices firmware/OS.

When I got a PS2 emulator it stressed the only legal way to use it was to use a tool to copy the firmware from an existing physical PS2 I already owned.

 

[tech3475]

If it's true that this emulator linked to ROMs sites or contained the GBA BIOS I can understand the take down, but otherwise I don't see how it could stand since unofficial emulators are otherwise legal.

Or buy a GBA (cheap now). Or whatever system you want emulated.

You must have some deep pockets to contain all these systems.

 

[Lennholm]

The only legal way to play their old games is on a Wii U. That is just ridiculous.

Disregarding the fact that your statement isn't accurate, is it also ridiculous that the only way to use OS X is to buy a Mac or that the only way to use iOS is to buy an iDevice?

 

[richwoodrocket]

The problem is that the app allows you to download illegal roms of the internet. I don't even know why the developer put that 'feature' in it.

Still I don't know much about the legality of rom dumping.

How else would you do it?

 

[the8thark]

Disregarding the fact that your statement isn't accurate, is it also ridiculous that the only way to use OS X is to buy a Mac or that the only way to use iOS is to buy an iDevice?

The only legal way.
Slight but important change. The hackintosh exists for example but it's not legal at all.

 

[sransari]

Of course Nintendo has the right to protect their IP, but what a terrible business move.

Letting ppl play these old school games will absolutely spark interest in new games that ppl will now want to purchase.

Why doesn't Nintendo create an emulator of their own and sell it? There is clearly a strong demand.

 

[blackburn]

How else would you do it?

Through iTunes. At least that's how I transfered my rom dumps to it.

 

[0098386]

You must have some deep pockets to contain all these systems.

I have boxes with them in, a few of them posted here> http://bossbaddiegames.tumblr.com/
I only take the 3DS with me when I go out since that plays retro games too. I'm crazy about games but I've never wanted to take my entire library out with me, I tend to play 1 or 2 at a time until completion.

----------

Manufacturer of what? Hardware consoles? Of course there are going to be a few, but the majority aren't when you look at the entire catalog for a platform.

Manufacturer of the console; Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft etc. Most manufacturers now operate as a publisher rather than developer.

 

[eelw]

I wonder when Iwata finally steps down as chairmen of Nintendo, would the new CEO be willing to develop phone apps?

 

[Prof.]

Nindendo would make so much money if they released classic NES games for iPhone and Android. They're not going to because they're stubborn.

 

[Rice14]

No, this isn't illegal.

Nintendo isn't simply protecting their intellectual property, they have no rights to do what they're doing. It is completely legal to download copies of ROMS that you own, and GBA4iOS DOES NOT EVEN DISTRIBUTE ROMS. The app had an in-game browser with capabilities to download from coolrom, but did not come pre-packed with any games. It should also be noted that the browser included in the app warns users that if they do not own the game, they are committing piracy by downloading the ROM. On what grounds is Nintendo protecting their IP? Also, has everyone forgotten that Nintendo no longer manufactures physical Game Boy systems or games and is in no way losing money to piracy of these games?

To conclude, NINTENDO IS IN THE WRONG HERE!

 

[foobarbazqux]

Why doesn't Nintendo create an emulator of their own and sell it? There is clearly a strong demand.

The reason they don't offer an emulator on non-Nintendo hardware is the same reason why Apple doesn't do things like sell a stand-alone version of OSX that's meant to run on non-Apple hardware or allow iOS to run on non-Apple phones/tablets. They both want the user to have the best experience possible. The way to do that is to control both the hardware and software. About the worst way to play a Mario or Zelda game is on a touchscreen with virtual controls (unless it was a new Mario/Zelda game meant to be played on a touchscreen).

There are plenty of legal ways to play old school Nintendo games that will yield a much better experience than playing them on an iPhone.

I applaud Nintendo for not giving in to the pressure. I hope they stick to their guns and only offer their games on hardware that will yield the best experience possible.

 

[grockk]

The only legal way to play their old games is on a Wii U. That is just ridiculous.

Or on the original console from which the ROMs were pirated?!?

The only way this could be seen as even remotely ok is if you rip your own ROMs with a Gameshark or similar. In which case, it would be no different than ripping CDs or DVDs. The problem isn't the emulator but that most people using an emulator use ROMs from piratebay and not legally obtained from their own private collection.

 

[tech3475]

I have boxes with them in, a few of them posted here> http://bossbaddiegames.tumblr.com/
I only take the 3DS with me when I go out since that plays retro games too. I'm crazy about games but I've never wanted to take my entire library out with me, I tend to play 1 or 2 at a time until completion.

I meant literally having deep pockets for various systems and various games not just those on the 3DS and Vita.

Personally, I like having a variety with me because if I get bored of X or don't feel like playing/watching X I can switch to Y.

Also, I'd prefer to have my Siii with a BT gamepad than a 3DS for retro games, especially since I can plug it into almost any HDTV easily for full screen.

 

[sualpine]

This is exactly like what happened to the music industry.

They kept pushing for physical sales when the free online alternative was kicking their ass.

Personally, I hate seeing Nintendo like this, but sometimes the only way for good change to happen is for them to teeter on the brink.

It won't be fun, but they'll be better for it.

 

[subsonix]

They don't put out their own titles on the Appstore, so why would they be ok by someone else doing it.

 

[grockk]

Nintendo isn't simply protecting their intellectual property, they have no rights to do what they're doing. It is completely legal to download copies of ROMS that you own, and GBA4iOS DOES NOT EVEN DISTRIBUTE ROMS. The app had an in-game browser with capabilities to download from coolrom, but did not come pre-packed with any games. It should also be noted that the browser included in the app warns users that if they do not own the game, they are committing piracy by downloading the ROM. On what grounds is Nintendo protecting their IP? Also, has everyone forgotten that Nintendo no longer manufactures physical Game Boy systems or games and is in no way losing money to piracy of these games?

To conclude, NINTENDO IS IN THE WRONG HERE!

It's not legal to download digital content of physical goods you already own. You can't legally download an ebook just because you own the paperback. Same with CDs, DVDs, BluRay. It may be moral but it is not legal.

 

[cmChimera]

Why doesn't Nintendo create an emulator of their own and sell it? There is clearly a strong demand.

They do. They have multiple models. Wii, 3ds/2ds and the Wii U.

Nintendo isn't simply protecting their intellectual property, they have no rights to do what they're doing. It is completely legal to download copies of ROMS that you own, and GBA4iOS DOES NOT EVEN DISTRIBUTE ROMS. The app had an in-game browser with capabilities to download from coolrom, but did not come pre-packed with any games. It should also be noted that the browser included in the app warns users that if they do not own the game, they are committing piracy by downloading the ROM. On what grounds is Nintendo protecting their IP? Also, has everyone forgotten that Nintendo no longer manufactures physical Game Boy systems or games and is in no way losing money to piracy of these games?

To conclude, NINTENDO IS IN THE WRONG HERE!

You're committing copyright infringement regardless if you own the game or not. It is a misconception that it is legal to download pirated ROMS if you own the game. I assure you, it is still very much infringement. Also, the people that post the ROMs are committing infringement. There is nothing legal about ROM downloading. Making an emulator for the specific purpose of downloading illegal ROMs and then warning people about the law is no different from if the Pirate Bay put up a disclaimer. It doesn't suddenly make it legal.

 

[maflynn]

Why doesn't Nintendo create an emulator of their own and sell it? There is clearly a strong demand.

The same reason why Apple doesn't license OSX, the games are a mechanism to have people buy the hardware.

 

[Lennholm]

This is exactly like what happened to the music industry.

They kept pushing for physical sales when the free online alternative was kicking their ass.

Personally, I hate seeing Nintendo like this, but sometimes the only way for good change to happen is for them to teeter on the brink.

It won't be fun, but they'll be better for it.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the method of distribution but rather the fact that someone distributed Nintendo's IP without their consent. Nintendo now sell all of their games in digital versions on their e-shop and in fact encourage customers to use that distribution channel.

The "free online alternative", i.e. the illegal, is always going to "kick the ass" of the legitimate channels, for obvious reasons. Therefor it isn't even an alternative for people who have any morals.

 

[Dr McKay]

Nintendo isn't simply protecting their intellectual property, they have no rights to do what they're doing. It is completely legal to download copies of ROMS that you own, and GBA4iOS DOES NOT EVEN DISTRIBUTE ROMS. The app had an in-game browser with capabilities to download from coolrom, but did not come pre-packed with any games. It should also be noted that the browser included in the app warns users that if they do not own the game, they are committing piracy by downloading the ROM. On what grounds is Nintendo protecting their IP? Also, has everyone forgotten that Nintendo no longer manufactures physical Game Boy systems or games and is in no way losing money to piracy of these games?

To conclude, NINTENDO IS IN THE WRONG HERE!

Under United States law, obtaining a dumped copy of the original machine's BIOS is legal under the ruling Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc., 964 F.2d 965 (9th Cir. 1992) as fair use as long as the user obtained a legally purchased copy of the machine.

 

[Dookieman]

I would happily pay $60 per console quality Nintendo games on iOS.

No you wouldn't. Mobile games have always been a race to the bottom for price. People complain all the time about $10 games released from Konami, Capcom, or Square.

An iPhone can't reproduce "console quality" games. Touch screens are not conducive to playing games with complex control schemes like all modern games, or any game made within the that 25 years for that matter. They are good for games that use a single input, like a finger flicking or tapping.