About this podcast

Dive into the fascinating and often contentious world of video game preservation and emulation with The Vergecast. In this episode, host David Pierce, alongside Polygon's Russ Frushtick and Chris Plante, explores the intricate obstacles surrounding the safeguarding and digital recreation of classic video games from discontinued hardware. They discuss the critical differences between emulation and preservation, the legal and ethical dilemmas of playing ROMs, and why recreating the authentic experience of old games—warts and all—is a passionate pursuit for many. From the nostalgia of blowing into cartridges to the complexities of displaying pixel art on modern screens, this discussion unravels what it truly means to save gaming history.