Flash Carts Are Better Than Emulators for Retro Gaming and Here’s Why
Now that Apple has lifted its long-time ban on retro game emulators, it's easier than ever to dive into the nostalgic ocean of retro gaming. But those in pursuit of the purest pixelated platforming experience would do well to explore the world of flash cartridges, a place where retro consoles meet modern sensibilities.
A Quick Word on Piracy
It's important to note that while emulation itself is legal, downloading game ROMs you do not own is considered piracy. We have spoken to a lawyer previously to get their take on the legality of video game ROMs and emulation in general. You have been warned!
What Is a Flash Cartridge?
Originally birthed as a tool for game preservation and homebrew development, a flash cartridge essentially functions as an SD-to-game cart adapter. It allows you to play ROMs that have been loaded from your computer onto a memory card. While emulation strives to reproduce the experience of playing a specific console by approximating the specs on different hardware, flash cartridges utilize the original hardware, allowing the games to run exactly as intended.
Like a regular cartridge, a flash cartridge sits inside your console and mimics that of a retail game. Cycling between ROMs involves using an interface or sometimes a switch.
The Problems With Emulation
The convenience of emulators comes at a cost. The precise timing and processing allowed by the original console hardware is difficult to perfectly replicate. As a result, emulation can lead to audio delays, distorted sounds, missing textures, incorrect colors, visual bugs, and—worst of all—input latency. Even after adjusting the seemingly endless array of settings available in most faux console programs, issues always seem to arise.
Further trouble can come when attempting to run games that deviate even slightly from the developmental status quo. Titles that overcame memory limitations through the use of specialized hardware during their initial release, such as the Super FX
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