Sin100

I can't really imagin them being illegal but the question really is can you download and play commercial ROMs?

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resj

why wouldn't they be? if you have the console (well, it's what's considered (supposed to) )

sure, google: "system" emulators / roms

stanrc

i've heard various things, that you can use emulators and roms, but only if you own the game. its supposed to be used for "testing" purposes or something. i've also heard that moving the game from one format to another is illegal

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Sin100

hmm, so if i have the Ps2 disk and download a PS2 emulator then put the Ps2 disk in my PC and play it from the official disk is that illegal?

I don't have a Ps2 but know people who have official Ps2 disks.

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korosu

your question is actually two different questions.

emulators in and of themselves are perfectly legal. downloading ROMs off the internet is perfectly illegal.

and guess what, guys? i know i might get a little flaming on this next one:
even if you own a game, it's illegal to download a ROM of it. why? because you didn't make that backup, someone else did, and you're downloading an illegally distributed copy of it.

that one's a little more tricky. if PS2 emulators are anything like previous CD-based emulators i've used in the past (saturn, PS1, etc), then it probably requires some sort of BIOS file. if it doesn't, then by all means, knock yourself out. but if it does, be warned that it might be illegal to download unauthorized copies of that BIOS. best way to approximate legality? if the emulator's website doesn't offer the BIOS file you need, it's probably illegal.

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Murlocke

Emulators are not illegal, however the ROMs they play are.

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Chipp

Not as far as I know. Also, if the emulator in question does not have some form of BIOS emulation (I don't know how far these things have come the last few years) you'll need to rip the BIOS from the console yourself - they are 100% illegal to download.
Correct.

korosu

(usually)

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Sin100

what if you made the rom and uploaded it to your site for download..thats illegal?

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stanrc

if you made the backup (rom) and only you used it, thats ok (i think) but you are not legally allowed to distribute it.

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