Converting from physical to digital

SuavePeanuts

SuavePeanuts

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I've been a collector for many years now but recently I've come across issues where games seem to vanish into the abyss. I've been struggling with this for a while on deciding if I should sell my collection and re-buy every game on its respective Virtual console.

What are your opinions on this?

I've tried everything to make sure I don't lose another game and I have absolutely no idea where they could of vanished to... I've even struggled with trusting my own family on this...

Have any of you converted to digital? If so how is the quality of the old games on the virtual consoles?

 
If you don't mind the lack of authenticity, then sure. Officially released Virtual Console games only work with that Classic Controller, which doesn't feel right when you're playing NES and N64 games. I tried a few back when you could WAD your Wii, and I didn't feel the need to buy them over again because they didn't feel right.

Probably the most gameplay-authentic way to convert to digital would be to buy a Raspberry Pi, which is a very small Linux system, and then buy the USB controllers (they have ones styled after NES, SNES, Mega Drive, etc.) and emulate all your games from an SD card. Model B+ has more USB ports and a better board configuration, and it's only $35 at Newegg. It's not the most legal way to do it, but at least you get controllers that FEEL like the originals.

 
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Blade said:
If you don't mind the lack of authenticity, then sure. Officially released Virtual Console games only work with that Classic Controller, which doesn't feel right when you're playing NES and N64 games. I tried a few back when you could WAD your Wii, and I didn't feel the need to buy them over again because they didn't feel right.

Probably the most gameplay-authentic way to convert to digital would be to buy a Raspberry Pi, which is a very small Linux system, and then buy the USB controllers (they have ones styled after NES, SNES, Mega Drive, etc.) and emulate all your games from an SD card. Model B+ has more USB ports and a better board configuration, and it's only $35 at Newegg. It's not the most legal way to do it, but at least you get controllers that FEEL like the originals.
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I have been thinking about doing this. Made a few trips to Microcenter in the past and have been passing by this thing every time. I'm not very technical, so this might be an interesting challenge.

My creepy roommate has one of these and has been messing around with this for like a few months now. I doubt he's been using the device for emulators since he has a desktop I have seen him playing retro games on.

 
anotherpoorgamer said:
My creepy roommate has one of these and has been messing around with this for like a few months now. I doubt he's been using the device for emulators since he has a desktop I have seen him playing retro games on.
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The other day i sat next to my games for over an hour debating if I should sell my games... Its pretty hard to do but I know that I would eventually feel better if I had ALL my games on 1 or 2 systems (legally because I like supporting video game companies.)

What would you guys do in my situation? On one hand the extra cash would be awesome..

 
SuavePeanuts said:
The other day i sat next to my games for over an hour debating if I should sell my games... Its pretty hard to do but I know that I would eventually feel better if I had ALL my games on 1 or 2 systems (legally because I like supporting video game companies.)

What would you guys do in my situation? On one hand the extra cash would be awesome..
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I would get rid of them but, i can't stand having stuff around that I don't really use anymore

 
I've been debating this but for different reasons.

I usually play through a game and then will never play it again, so I've always been one to sell or trade in my games right away.

What's been keeping me from going digital is that you can't resell them and the deals that you can find on Amazon etc. soon after release usually don't translate to the digital stores.

I can usually buy a game for $40-50, play it a few weeks, and then sell it for $30-40, having only actually paid about $10-15 to play it. I can't justify paying $60 for a game, playing it a few weeks, and then just having it sit on an account collecting virtual dust.

Blade said:
Probably the most gameplay-authentic way to convert to digital would be to buy a Raspberry Pi
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I have an Android Minix Mini-PC that I use for my emulator games. They're more expensive than a Raspberry Pi, but easier to set up and much more user friendly, imo. It also has Bluetooth and there are apps available to use Wiimotes and PS3 controllers wirelessly.

 
LiquidTech said:
I have an Android Minix Mini-PC that I use for my emulator games. They're more expensive than a Raspberry Pi, but easier to set up and much more user friendly, imo. It also has Bluetooth and there are apps available to use Wiimotes and PS3 controllers wirelessly.
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Interesting... I have been wanting to do an emulator machine on the RPi but it's too weak to run most N64 games smoothly, and based on some initial research the Minix x8 appears to be pretty powerful.

Any experience on your model with N64/PS1 games? And does it support multiple controllers?

 
Vinny said:
Any experience on your model with N64/PS1 games? And does it support multiple controllers?
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N64 - yes, PS1 - no.

I have the Minix Neo X5 and I can run the N64 games ok, not great though. There's some quality loss and screen tearing, but playable for the most part.

Retroarch emulator plays all the older stuff minus N64 and PS1 very well. NES, SNES, Genesis, MAME, etc. - all run great on it.

The X5 only has a dual core cpu and quad core gpu though. I think the X8 doubles each with a quad core cpu and octa core gpu, so I'd imagine the N64 stuff would run much smoother. I was debating an upgrade myself.

As long as the emulator you're using supports multiple controllers you're fine. Works with bluetooth or usb contollers too.

Plus you have access to apps that run on Android. I use mine with Netflix, Pandora, Google Music, etc. There's even an android version of XBMC, but I haven't really messed with that. I have it mounted on the back of a 24" monitor and use a wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse. Nice little all-in-one type setup.

 
I say stick with the physical copies. Because there's no saying how long your digital library will last either. You could have a HD error one day and every single game could get corrupt or deleted. So I prefer physical copies as digital is unpredictable. 

I look at it this way. 20 years from now, what is more likely to work? A HD with many games or the actual physical game? 

 
I typically convert to digital, when there's a sale going on on a game that I enjoy. (Bought THIEF and Murdered: Soul Suspect for about $25 each for BB......didnt open em), last week (or the week before) when they went on sale digitally for 18 bucks, bought em, and sold the disc copies and made a little profit on eBay. 

If you really enjoy the game, go digital, but i try to avoid day 1 digital releases on games where you are up in the air about if you'll enjoy it. I ended up giving my disc copies of Fallout 3 and NV (360) to a friend, when the digital copies went on sale during the last  Mega Sale. 

 
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