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Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

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Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They probably have bad memories of their last indie store on Xbox 360 which, if you visited it, was full of tutorial games and dating apps...

And Microsoft couldn't employ a few people to curate and administer this service?

It was community peer reviewed. As long as the 'game' didn't break in any obvious ways it was allowed on.

Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#32
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So do "Virtual Consoles" which are releasing more and more past games on different platforms and charging for it. I'm guessing if emulators weren't so rampant on the PC then companies like Nintendo would have or would think about creating a Virtual Console on PC for NES/SNES/N64, etc.

Commerically released emulations of older games almost always just package up whatever open source emulator, usually some old, broken version, with limited rom selection. No thanks, ill stick to the latest versions I can actually get games im interested in for.

[deleted]

Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#33
post #7

I guess in 10-20 years we will be telling our grandchildren about the old days, where you can do whatever you want on your computer, limited only the abilities of the hardware* . And they won't believe us. *Simplification, of course.

This really only affects distribution through the Windows Store, correct? I don't anything saying the execution of console emulation software is now impossible on Windows 10.

While it is possible this is a slippery slope that leads to the case you are referring to. It's still not clear if it will ever reach that state.

Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#34
post #10

I don't know about XBox, but does anybody actually use anything from the Windows Store? The only app that I have gotten is the SlingTV app, except I ditched it for the older native app, because the UWP Store one was so hideously broken and slow.

I use the Windows Store for media apps, specifically Twitch and YouTube, because I find their UI and UX much better than the original websites. Plus I like the notifications and live tiles.

I think my favorite Windows Store app is KeePassReader* though, which adds Windows Hello authentication to my KeePass database. It's a very simple app, and isn't exactly easy on the eyes, but I like being able to swipe my finger or just look at my camera whenever I need to open my KeePass database.

* https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/keepassreader/9nblgg...

Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#35
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So do "Virtual Consoles" which are releasing more and more past games on different platforms and charging for it. I'm guessing if emulators weren't so rampant on the PC then companies like Nintendo would have or would think about creating a Virtual Console on PC for NES/SNES/N64, etc.

…why would Nintendo port their old games to the PC? They develop almost exclusively for their own platforms.

...why not? I'm not saying it's the correct business decision and there are pros and cons. But if Nintendo released an official Virtual Console for PC, Android, iOS, etc. (not their own platform) it'd sell like hotcakes if implemented and priced correctly.

One of the reasons they wouldn't do it is because emulators and ROMs are already rampant on PC and mobile (less so). So the idea of all of a sudden releasing a bunch of classic games in your pocket is heavily diminished.

Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#36
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

…why would Nintendo port their old games to the PC? They develop almost exclusively for their own platforms.

...why not? I'm not saying it's the correct business decision and there are pros and cons. But if Nintendo released an official Virtual Console for PC, Android, iOS, etc. (not their own platform) it'd sell like hotcakes if implemented and priced correctly. One of the reasons they wouldn't do it is because emulators and ROMs are already rampant on PC and mobile (less so). So the idea of all of a sudden releasing a bun…

> One of the reasons they wouldn't do it is because emulators and ROMs are already rampant on PC and mobile

Then why do many other game developers and publish make PC ports of their old titles which use emulators?

Why is Nintendo different?

That you can emulate old titles for free isn't stopping people paying for them, clearly.

Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#37
post #7

I guess in 10-20 years we will be telling our grandchildren about the old days, where you can do whatever you want on your computer, limited only the abilities of the hardware* . And they won't believe us. *Simplification, of course.

No one has to put up with this though. Use free software and gain control over your computer again.

You still have control over your computer in this case, just not their distribution service. You can even install Nesbox's UWP app, if you want, without using the Windows Store, as UWP is not actually a locked down system.

Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#39
post #7

I guess in 10-20 years we will be telling our grandchildren about the old days, where you can do whatever you want on your computer, limited only the abilities of the hardware* . And they won't believe us. *Simplification, of course.

Not sure why the parent is being downvoted. Perhaps people don't like the read the truth, perhaps they are too young to remember a time of more computational freedom and openness. The majority of "computers" people own are already locked down, and it seems clear that things will only get worse -- hardware is increasingly opaque and designed to do things against the interest of the user (or, to say the least, without…

I would wager that more than likely it's because it's a fairly insubstantial sarcastic post, and quite a few posters on HN prefer that posts have content that drive the discussion related to the topic as opposed to comments like the parent.

From my point of view, the parent is somewhat incorrect in that we've always had companies trying really hard to lock down what we can and cannot do - since the NES/SNES days Nintendo was doing copy protection and restriction of their hardware, I believe the other players at the time did as well.

Your comment is much more substantial in that it provides a point of discussion, despite the somewhat condescending "...perhaps they are too young to remember..." part. But ultimately entirely rhetorical comments usually are disapproved of, even if the consensus is that the idea behind it is agreed upon.

Re: Microsoft formally bans emulators on Xbox, Windows 10 download shops

#40
post #7

I guess in 10-20 years we will be telling our grandchildren about the old days, where you can do whatever you want on your computer, limited only the abilities of the hardware* . And they won't believe us. *Simplification, of course.

I don't follow. There's a store now that sells a subset of software. All other methods still exist. You can still do as you please, including installing another OS.

Am I missing the part where they're taking away anything that was possible before?

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