Nintendo: A Worlds Worst?
Nintendo has recently dodged any horrible moves. Sony, on the other hand, seems to be stumbling to get any footing PR-wise.
Nintendo has yet to get one of my Worlds Worst in Videogames Awards (although they have gotten near one with my March 28 entry on Metroid). However, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has recently listed one of Nintendo's own patents to be one of the most dangerous (story: http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,64038-0.html).
If they have actually sued over the patent over emulators, then I would given them the Worlds Worst award. Emulators don't just exist for videogames, they can emulate any kind of program. Mac owners, for example, have to emulate Windows one way or another to get Windows programs. Even some older Windows programs or games require emulation.
Sony has even gotten into emulation, with the announcement of a PS1 to PSP emulator (although no other announcement has been made as to how the game-roms will be distributed). Heck, Microsoft has to emulate their original X-Box games for the 360.
I can see why Nintendo decided to patent emulation, since the Wii's Virtual Console hinges on emulation. However, emulation has been around for a long time, and often exist for research purposes. If Nintendo decided to, they could wipe out the 360's backwards compatability or the PS1-PSP emulator.
Luckily, I have yet to see any evidence that they have taken any negative actions about this. I did a quick google search which turned up nothing on even one Nintendo lawsuit (some still wonder how Nintendo avoided the Immersion patent lawsuit). While it has the potential to deal great harm, I just can't give them a Worlds Worst in Videogames award until I see that harm. As such, they will get off with a warning.
Nintendo has yet to get one of my Worlds Worst in Videogames Awards (although they have gotten near one with my March 28 entry on Metroid). However, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has recently listed one of Nintendo's own patents to be one of the most dangerous (story: http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,64038-0.html).
If they have actually sued over the patent over emulators, then I would given them the Worlds Worst award. Emulators don't just exist for videogames, they can emulate any kind of program. Mac owners, for example, have to emulate Windows one way or another to get Windows programs. Even some older Windows programs or games require emulation.
Sony has even gotten into emulation, with the announcement of a PS1 to PSP emulator (although no other announcement has been made as to how the game-roms will be distributed). Heck, Microsoft has to emulate their original X-Box games for the 360.
I can see why Nintendo decided to patent emulation, since the Wii's Virtual Console hinges on emulation. However, emulation has been around for a long time, and often exist for research purposes. If Nintendo decided to, they could wipe out the 360's backwards compatability or the PS1-PSP emulator.
Luckily, I have yet to see any evidence that they have taken any negative actions about this. I did a quick google search which turned up nothing on even one Nintendo lawsuit (some still wonder how Nintendo avoided the Immersion patent lawsuit). While it has the potential to deal great harm, I just can't give them a Worlds Worst in Videogames award until I see that harm. As such, they will get off with a warning.
posted by SeanM at 8:28 AM
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