Emulation, virtualization, compartmentalization are all basic ideas in computer science and they are used all over the place in general computing.
The difference between an emulation and virtual machine are quite interesting as well.
Consider that in the context Nintendo is claiming: Emulation is illegal (based on how it's used).
That (based on how it's used) is EVERYTHING in this discussion, and similar ideas exist in copyright too.
The DMCA boils down to making smart people illegal. George Hotz vs SONY is a prime example, and morally SONY was in the wrong by updating "Other OS" away, thus taking Linux away from many Playstation owners.
Copyright was originally put in place to insure sufficient motivation to create remained a part of society.
Of course Disney extended it to the point of silliness, yet it's law now.
Disney is now leveraging Trademark, which they should have done before fucking copyright up for generations to come by the way, and it's likely to cause similar harm.
Nintendo is the Disney of gaming, and these things can very easily take root!
Fact is damn near every, and maybe every game group has went back to the emulation / preservation communities to fetch accurate copies of their own work they lost or discarded!
Free expression, and the importance of gaming in society today, more or less demands we preserve these games somehow, and emulation is the primary way we can do that.
Which brings me back to emulation vs virtualization...
Both feature a meta code body that runs outside the scope of a target code body. In the case of gaming, it's the presenting of virtual hardware to a body of game code in order to obtain the correct responses with the real game media and game hardware being the authority in much the same way nature is the authority in science.
These companies basically refuse to commit to maintaining working machines and or some means to explore old works. Maybe they can't actually do that?
It may be true! I am unsure. But I tend to think long term, it's true. We won't have 8 bit era hardware much longer. Or, if we do, it won't be generally avaliable.
What is an FPGA?
Emulation or virtualization?
Interesting isn't it?
I'll stop there. Just wanted to share a few thoughts with the community here and see what, if anyone else's take, will come in response.
I have two dead 800xls - one that has a bad pokey and the other that needs some resister love. my only hope now is to find the parts and ship my devices across the pond to flashjazzcat and hope that he has time and will to fiddle with my sad devices. otherwise, I have to live the emulation life.
I want a revive machine bad, but goddamn - it is coming like the next ice age....
Been a bit busy, but I want to fix it because it's the best FujiNET device right now.
Agree with you completely on that hammer not needing to swing.