bevinator: The weirdest thing about Nintendo's stance on emulators is that their webpage assumes that you'll only be emulating things you've already pirated. They virtually don't even address the possibility that you're emulating games you legitimately purchased, except to say "well that's probably illegal too, or something!"

SirPrimalform: The Virtual Console is emulation so they're clearly fine with it in principle, it's piracy of their games that they're not ok with whether it's in the form of bootleg games or ROMs.

orcishgamer: The DSLite probably still has the best library of titles available and it's the last handheld without region lockout, so yep, you can import games on it if you like. However certain types of games are probably better played on something like a PSP or Vita, still, DSLite is probably the easiest to recommend due to its massive library, extremely low price, good battery life, and lack of required extras (though I'd recommend a second charging cable and a carrying case that zips up and holds a few games).

dovahcore: I second this.
But don't forget that the PS Vita is region free too.

bevinator: The weirdest thing about Nintendo's stance on emulators is that their webpage assumes that you'll only be emulating things you've already pirated. They virtually don't even address the possibility that you're emulating games you legitimately purchased, except to say "well that's probably illegal too, or something!"

orcishgamer: I doubt Nintendo will ever be content until we pay them literally each time we want to play their games, if not for every damned session of play.

SirPrimalform: My theory is that what they're actually referring to is DS flashcarts and they're just completely misusing the term emulator (I've heard plenty of other people call DS flashcarts emulators so it's not that far fetched).

SirPrimalform: I don't see Sony offering downloads of PS1 games that you already own on disc. :P

orcishgamer: Not impossible, but even that is an asinine attitude. If I want my kid to use a flashcart so she doesn't have to lug around 1000 dollar in purchased games... umm, yeah, screw them?

orcishgamer: Are you seriously talking about them transferring your virtual console titles forward? Wouldn't that be better termed, "letting you download the game on the same 'account' on different hardware, the same game they've managed or tried to sell to you 3-6 times already?"

You're not gonna get me on board with Nintendo's generosity on their old shit, they are most definitely not and consistently had the worst digitally purchased game policies out of ALL the major platforms.

SirPrimalform: No, I'm talking about the fact that they don't do the same thing for N64 games on the VC. What are you talking about?
They *do* let you transfer VC games forward from the Wii, just not forward from your cartridges.

McDon: No one word answers!
ehem...I mean, please explain your choice, thank you.

orcishgamer: I'm not even demanding that they are required to take the initiative to help us with future proofing our old games, but complaining about them, in general, bitching about it when gamers do it themselves. I believed you were countering with the example of them letting Wii purchasers keep using their purchases on WiiU as an example of their general magnanimous nature in this regard, which struck me as ludicrous, apparently I misinterpreted, sorry.

Snickersnack: The PSP is a nice handheld. It has a lot of meaty console style games. With custom firmare (now trivial to install), games can be easily ripped and run from 32GB memory stick (games are 1.2GB or smaller). The PSP features a nice PSX emulator by Sony (using non-PSN games requires custom firmware and is a little fiddly) and a competent Genesis/Mega Drive emulator in Picodrive. It can be a little uncomfortable to hold stock, but a set of 'monster hunter' style grips makes it pretty nice IMHO. The PSP is not very pocketable with possible exception of the PSPGO.

The PSP is now starting to get competent emulators (this may never happen for the Vita or 3DS). As such, an investment in a PSP library is unlikely to become worthless when PSPs become unobtanium 15years from now. 5 years from now, a common cell phone may be powerful enough to exploit its library of portable core games.

PSP UMD prices are crattering (with the exception of some low print jrpgs). They should be cheap for the next couple years before people start becoming nostalgic.

The PSP has access to cheap PSOne classics on PSN (some originals go for crazy money these days). They are unfortunately encumbered by Sony DRM however.

Archetype00: The PSP has very few AAA titles, though. Emulation, fine. But legally, it sucks.