18-year-old retro gaming ROM site EmuParadise effectively closes its doors

[Polycount]

What just happened? Using emulators to play classic titles like the original Super Mario Brothers is nothing new, and retro gaming websites have offered ROMs of these titles for decades. However, one of the most well-known websites in that landscape, EmuParadise, announced today that it's removing all ROMs from its platform due to legal fears.

If you've been alive for more than a couple of decades, you've probably played a few "retro" games in your lifetime.

Whether they were titles from the original Atari 2600, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or any other console, older games hold a special place in the hearts of many.

Unfortunately, getting your hands on these consoles -- and their games -- can be an expensive and challenging process. Most old console and game makers either don't exist anymore or don't sell their classic devices and titles.

That's where websites like EmuParadise came in. Though the site has always teetered on the edge of legality, retro gamers on a budget have been downloading and playing classic titles from the website for roughly 18 years.

However, in an announcement published today, EmuParadise's administration told the public that it is effectively closing its doors by removing all retro ROMs from the website.

The site will continue to live on by doing "cool stuff around retro games," but it's not clear what that means - perhaps it will turn into a general retro gaming discussion platform, a marketplace, or something else entirely.

Naturally, EmuParadise didn't make this decision lightly - it seems their hands were forced. The announcement says the "situation with regards to emulation sites has been changing recently," and administrators don't want to put the site's contributors at risk by continuing to host potentially-illegal content.

EmuParadise certainly isn't wrong about the shifting nature of the ROM landscape. Companies like Nintendo are using their legal authority to target ROM sites now more than ever, undoubtedly due to the launch of the company's recent Classic-series game consoles.

Time will tell if EmuParadise will eventually be able to host ROMs on its platforms again, but the future isn't looking too bright.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/75882-18-year-old-retro-gaming-rom-site-emuparadise.html

 

[Trillionsin]

****ing Nintendo

 

[psycros]

There's no legitimate legal basis for suing anyone for hosting abandonware. Yes, I realize that the trademarks and copyrights are continually renewed but when content is no longer available on any currently supported platform, and its been that way for more than seven years, that's abandonware.

 

[ZackL04]

To the pirate bay!

 

[amghwk]

I hate companies that greedily and aggressively go after people preserving what are no longer available or sold. Emuparadise has always been good with the community.

I hope Emuparadise will re-host under a new site and name later.

 

[J spot]

And I just used Emuparadise around three days ago. I needed to test out a Linux NES emulator on a Zotac Pico, and I needed a test rom. It ended up being Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

 

[Evernessince]

There's no legitimate legal basis for suing anyone for hosting abandonware. Yes, I realize that the trademarks and copyrights are continually renewed but when content is no longer available on any currently supported platform, and its been that way for more than seven years, that's abandonware.

Unfortunately abandonware isn't legally recognized yet. All Nintendo is doing is making it hard to play games they don't even officially sell anymore and haven't for years.

Technically speaking, unless the laws changes, these games are protected for 70 years after the death of the author regardless of the current status of the IP. Modern copyright is a joke, in that it pretty much allows companies to keep IP perpetually. It used to be that copyright expired after 20 years and then the IP would become public domain. Very reasonable. 70 years after death though? That's clearly not designed to make the original author money, it's designed to make companies money.

 

[merikafyeah]

Modern copyright is a joke, in that it pretty much allows companies to keep IP perpetually. It used to be that copyright expired after 20 years and then the IP would become public domain. Very reasonable. 70 years after death though? That's clearly not designed to make the original author money, it's designed to make companies money.

Precisely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk862BbjWx4

 

[RevD14]

When EmuParadise took down Nintendo titles a few years ago I knew I had to back up every game from every old system that I would ever want to play since it would get harder to find them. Glad I did.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Classic shortsighted nintendo, seeing the popularity of emulation and ROMs, shuts down ROM sites rather then port their games to app stores allowing people to buy them.

 

[ZackL04]

Classic shortsighted nintendo, seeing the popularity of emulation and ROMs, shuts down ROM sites rather then port their games to app stores allowing people to buy them.

Exactly, I would gladly buy them all again. I have a switch collecting dust in anticipation of this same idea...

 

[EClyde]

I didn't like those games then

 

[TheBigT42]

To the pirate bay!

To archive.org

 

[gusticles41]

Nintendo can't even claim roms are affecting sales of their classic consoles. They don't produce enough of them for that to even be a factor. What a lame power move.