RF Generation Message Board

Since I don't do emulators here's the method I use for capturing screen shots. It's an old Macintosh Performa with AV inputs. The screens are captured with a program called Apple Video Player. It does a pretty decent job.

Those little tables look dangerously unstable with the monitor on top of it.

Wouldn't it be easier to use an emulator, and instead of doing a "pretty decent job" do a great job?

OD

Good point.

no.

that setup does look pretty sweet den.
i've heard of the Apple Video Player, wasn't it on OS9?
does it do video capture too?  (like movies i mean)

yeah, that's what it is a video capture program. I'll be able to get screens for the VHS based games like Viewmaster Interactivevision, Action Max and Captain Power. I can do any system with AV hookups. I can do screens for any non-emulated system. I've already done all my Pico games. I've also done some CD-i and PS1 games. Sega CD is another one I'll be able to do. I don't think there are emulators for the current systems, I don't know for sure since I'n not into the pirate scene. I have done a bout 50 Game Cube screens.

The only thing that's tricky is I have to play the game using the controller AND still be able to click the freeze button with the mouse.

that's a nice setup den.  can't you make a shortcut for the screen shot tho?

not sure what you mean.

Pretty cool.
As for not using EMUs it is understandable.

I want some Mountain Dew now...

In what way is it understandable?

OD

In my reasoning it is because they are still illegal and I know some people who got them from "reliable" sites and ended up with viruses.

But personally i have gigs and gigs worth.

You must be pretty stupid if you get a virus with that. Den is way too wise for that.

I'm not worried about viruses. I just don't believe in emulation... for me. I know a lot of you guys are into it and it's a great way to get screen shots. that's fine, I just want no part of it myself. strictly speaking it is piracy. all the talk about it's okay to have back ups of games you already own is a bunch of hooey. I mean who that has roms has roms that were actually made from their games? not many I expect, they just downloaded them. and who that has roms ONLY has roms of games they own? not too many either.

I just don't agree with it so I'm not going to do it. Is that understandable?

Semi-understandable.  I'm of the opinion that, honestly, a price tag of more than $20 for a video game is completely unreasonable.  A DVD movie costs $20.  Why would a game be more expensive?

Having said that, most games you would want screenshots of are almost impossible to find anywhere (at least for  TG16 stuff).  And it's hardly effecting the game manufacturers any as they are no longer producing these games, so they are not losing money.

Now tell me, do you believe in open-source?  There are a lot of open-source products that do what licensed products do - would you rather not use open-source apps or games because it's morally wrong?  I know it's not the same thing, just curious.

Den, after re-reading my posts: it's not my intention to insult you or your method of capturing screenshots.  Please don't mistake my meaning.  I think you've got an ingenious (though somewhat cluttered) thing going on there.

OD

Amen brother!

backing up you're own files like Word docs is totally different. it's something you created and you backed it up yourself. like I said, how many people backup their own games?

give me an example of open source. I've heard the term but I'm not sure what that is.



that doesn't make it okay to just pirate them.



piracy debates aside, on this subject I guess I'm a purist. I prefer the real thing over convenience. Playing Pitfall with a dual shock on Activision Anthology just isn't the same as that clunky old Atari 2600 joystick.



true. but who just downloads roms for the sole purpose of making screen shots?

look it's not like I'm morally offended by emulation. I wouldn't be here if I was. I'm sure I'm in the minority as someone who doesn't do emulation. I know it's huge in classic gaming circles. It's often the only way some people will ever get the chance to play some of those games, be it lack of availability or lack of funds to get the originals. It's just not for me that's all. Piracy is part of it but so is the collecting/gaming experience. Sure I can have the entire NES library on my PC, but to me that's not as cool as the 500+ carts I've got stacked in my basement. And I'd really rather play Mario 64 on my N64 than my XBOX.

just for the freeze button, cant you hit a key shortcut... like control z or something?

I 100% agree with you here Den.
I would much much rather play the original than a ROM on my PC. Plus i think it is much cooler to have all of the carts in real life. It shows that you put effort into getting them and that it is something you do enjoy.
That and they are visible.
I like things that are tangible. More than things that can dissapear relatively easily. Like files on a computer.

To me it is just not nearly as cool to say I have every game for 10 systems. It only took me a few days to download them all.


Just thought that i would add...
The roms i use are kind of a try it before you buy it.

I do plan on buying many many games so ROMs give me a chance to see what kind of game it is going to be before i pay for it.
I also only get roms for older consoles. I don't get PS2 GCN or Xbox roms or ISOs.
Actually i never have gotten any ISOs.

ah, got ya. good point. I bet there is a keyboard short cut. Some programs even let you make your own by assigning a command to one of the "F" keys. That would be easier than trying to jockey a controller and a mouse.

btw, I hadn't intended to turn this into a debate about emulation. I really just wanted to show my old Mac setup.

Well, I've been into emulation since I started using the Internet (around 8 years ago).  At first, it was very much 'oh my god, you can get this game for free and run it on your pc, wow!', but then it most definitely became a thing of convenience.  I have a TV in my room, and it would be possible to set my consoles all up quite easily, though I dislike tying up my TV, and the inconvenience of having to mess around with cables.  

I do agree it's more of an enjoyable experience playing on the original setup, though some games (such as ones I get for BBC emulators) are far and away more accessible on a regular keyboard, that doesn't have a mashed up 'Return' key from playing too much Positron in your younger days, or having to reset the system configuration EVERY TIME you turn the thing on because the lithium battery has died.  Yes I realise I could replace these things, and I probably should, but again I think I'm just a bit of a convenience whore.

As far as emulation & collecting goes, I agree it kinda takes some of the charm out of the whole thing when you can just line up all the roms on system x and download them in a short period of time.  This is why, what I generally do these days is download roms ONLY of the games I actually physically own, for the systems I'm collecting for, I find it more rewarding this way.

@ den:  ever think of taking short gameplay movies for rarer games (maybe some games that not everyone has seen in action)?
i think that would be pretty cool on the site.
maybe even a short .gif on the screenshot page would be cool.

it does record video. only saves them as quicktime movies though and the files are huge. I'll explore that further. it would be kind of cool.