It's difficult to know how much of a difference it makes, but I also think it's at least a reason. Given Nintendo is also going after sites like Vimm's Lair, which does not host recent consoles ROMs, it's not the only reason.

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Certainly not. But with Vimm's lair you could argue that it's definetly illegal, while emulation is generally considered legal.

[–] ProgrammingSocks@pawb.social 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

There's tons of illegal things that people do every single day that the law turns a blind eye to because reality is complicated. Piracy of games not being sold by the company anymore is certainly by-the-books illegal, but everyone obviously recognizes that it's an entirely harmless "crime". Like smoking weed in illegal states. Everyone knows it's bullshit, so if you defend locking people up for a few grams of weed you're a bootlicker.

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

To be clear: I agree that both weed and emulation is a victimless "crime" and shouldn't be prosecuted. However, I don't think corporate lawyers and judges agree with us on this point.

Edit: also, Nintendo usually gets what they want by threatening to go to court without actually doing so. So the actual legality doesn't actually matter too much. Certainly doesn't when it comes to Switch emulators shutting down.

[–] ProgrammingSocks@pawb.social 2 points 4 weeks ago

You're right. I just hate corporate bullies.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Agreed, very unpopular and underwhelming opinion.

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 0 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Doesn't make it wrong.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 8 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Actually, sorry, but it does. Covering your investment is one thing, being an asshole because you can is an entirely different thing. Nintendo has made it their goal to show the world they are all about the latter one.

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net -4 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Nintendo isn't a person. It's a corporation. When their most important game of the year is leaked and spread on the web one week before release, they are kind of pressured to conduct legal action.

[–] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

So, the ROM leaking early has...what to do with emulators?

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 0 points 4 weeks ago

Outlets reporting on how Metroid Dread was running on emulators pre-release and describing how to pirate it makes Nintendo pursue actions to prevent that shit. They can't prevent their games leaking, so they attack the emulators.

Is this so much harder to believe than Nintendo having a personal grudge?

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah? 1. You're pulling crap out of your ass. Nobody said it's a person, it's a bunch of picks running a company, we all know that. 2. They deserve to get fucked sideways with this and more for bullying people drowning them in legal action with their infinite money glitch, only because "why not?".

So, without a pinch of respect for them, you or anyone that defends their asshole behavior, fuck off.

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

What exactly am I "pulling out of my ass"?

Nobody said it's a person

You're talking about Nintendo as if it's a person with phrases like your bullet point 2.

I'm not defending anyone. I'm describing how a corporation is likely to react in capitalism. I don't condone any of this: I don't condone copyright laws, I don't condone legal threats, I don't condone capitalism. I just try to describe how systems behave without trying to get morality involved by claiming a company is (or is run by) an or several assholes.

I also don't condone nuclear weapons when I describe the strategy of deterrence by mutually assured destruction.