After Yuzu emulator owners agreed to pay Nintendo $2.4 million USD and EmuDeck also announcing Yuzu and Citra removal right after the court settlement became available on the internet, Nintendo DS emulator DraStic turned free on Android Play Store (previously $4.99).
The developer Exophase wrote “I want to make it clear that I don’t have any kind of financial incentive”, stating that the Yuzu situation made it more urgent for this software to go free and opensource due to the implications that legal case could cause to DraStic. Quoting the Developer post on DraStic Discord server:
I just changed the app on GPlay to free. I don’t intend to even have it on there for that much longer but I want to make it clear that I don’t have any kind of financial incentive to not opening the source. Releasing the source in short order is something I fully intend on doing.
This change can’t be undone, so that’s it. I was already planning on this a while ago so it’s not simply due to the Nintendo stuff, that just made the whole process more urgent which I guess is a good thing because I’m terrible at doing things.
Note that Drastic also has a "Linux" version for Raspberry Pi devices usually distributed with retro-gaming focused distributions like Batocera so, this source code release might be a starting point for this emulator to be ported to other architectures like x86_64.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
dziadulewicz Mar 7
pleasereadthemanual Mar 7
Quoting: PyreticWait, he's removing the emulator from Google Play? Does that mean he's not supporting the Android version anymore?There are plenty of ways to install apps on Android. He could just distribute an .apk file. Maybe get it listed on F-Droid when it's open source.
thelimeydragon Mar 7
Quoting: thelimeydragonI remember a time when almost all emulators were always free\no paywalls just to try and avoid an avenue of being sued.. then around the time app stores came around, people started trying to charge for them again and I guess because most didn't get any attention/problems it just continued.
I wasn't even aware paying for emulators is a thing.
Last edited by ToddL on 7 March 2024 at 5:53 pm UTC
Quoting: EikeI wasn't even aware paying for emulators is a thing.I got into emulation due to the attention that Sony drew to bleem! with their lawsuits - bleem! was a paid emulator (as was its "bleem!4DC" variant for the Dreamcast), as was the Mac equivalent, Connectix Virtual Game Station, which Sony also lawsuited before that.
It certainly was a thing that happened in the gaming space, and I'm sure that paid emulation solutions must've existed in the business space, too.
ElectricPrism Mar 7
Could the gaming community crowd fund a NYT Square billboard, or hold signs to create a awareness Nintendo is engaged in lawfare against their fans + The Tech Sector.
I think that drawing BIG attention to what Nintendo has done here would work against their interests and show them to be the crybully that they have become.
We need to make it not worth it for Nintendo to continue their hostile anti-consumer behaviors.
And we need them to know not to mess with the hornets nest.
Last edited by etoven on 8 March 2024 at 2:06 am UTC
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