UK Uni developing massive games emulator

Videogames are not pulp cultural artefacts and should be preserved...

UK researchers at Portsmouth University developing massive, universal games and data emulator to preserve our digital heritage...

Computer historians and researchers at Portsmouth University in the UK are developing a software emulator that will recognise and play all types of videogames and computer files from the 1970s through to the present day.

Remember all those videogames from your childhood and teenage years? Want to play them all again, without having to download umpteen different emulators?

[hay]

That would be f*cking awesome. I'm oldies fan and I often play oldschools so it would help a lot. Keeping one, big library of favourite games without messing with multiple emulators. Can't wait.

[zoydwheeler]

Though I'm not sure how it would actually work. I'm very keen to know more though!

[urban bohemian]

Maybe I'll have to move to Portsmouth!

[Mindboggle]

What college/uni in bristol ??

[uie4rhig]

i was about to apply for Portsmouth Uni but decided not to.. got an offer at oxford brookes tho, doubt i'll take it lol :P

[Kurylo3d]

Yea that sounds pretty awesome. The classics are where its at.

[Sasanova]

emulators usually are a bich to start up, from all those weird files u have to download separately, to filling in and typing random commands and what not, i think the biggest challenge to make this a success is to have 1 big download which will upload all the necessary things by itself and be very user friendly when started up. very good idea indeed and i hope they pull it off. i would definitely replay some of the best PS1 RPGs all over again, golden sun series on gameboy, and even contra and few others on the old school nintendo.

[LightofDarkness]

I imagine this is just a project much like MAME with a larger scope. Each system would have a "driver" and would likely require the necessary BIOS files in order to operate correctly. If it is like MAME then each driver's focus is to emulate as accurately as possible rather than as quickly as possible. The real question is how well optimised and streamlined/transparent will the emulator(s) be?

I largely agree with MAME's premise and hope this takes the same path. It's good to preserve all of this software and compatibility for the future, and it's nice to hear someone undertaking a project much like it that incorporates all systems rather than just those coin-operated ones that MAME adheres to.

[zoydwheeler]

Think you just nailed it in one there LightofDarkness!

[kewlkat007]

I'm a big EMU fan..building a Cab soon.

[user3915800]

This is nothing like mame and mame will never be able to support current Gen. By the way it sounds like this so call emulator will be up for sale and the mission statement its not to just record old files, but current files as well. Problem with it, its that it will never achieve enough processing power due to computers limitations, outdated hardware and changes to the schematic of engine processing. All of this emulation will be done through software in capable computer hardware defeating the purpose off compatibility. In another words it will not be able to keep up with the mass market and advanced in technology. Therefore a failure to the community as a whole distribution of files and an outdated way of synchronizing the ability to attain or achieve future software. Although I admit its an excellent idea the end result its one and the same a failure.

[karlostomy]

well duh!

Of course computers running the emulator will need to be more powerful than the consoles being emulated, that's just common sense.

If they pull this off, then I will be first in in line to check it out.

Can you imagine a PC that emulates 360, Ps3, wii, commodore64, mame and all the other platforms?

It just sounds awesome.

[Galvanise]

that I go to. Although I study pharmacology. I remember hearing about this from somewhere.

[swarlayy]

im so glad i go to portsmouth uni :D