RBI on PC vs. NES

[The Greeter]

OK, I'm a long time video game player, and big fan of RBI.  Now my NES has been dead for many years, and all my NES stuff runs on a PC Emulator.  Flawlessly, or at least in my eyes.

When I go to a "NES House" to play RBI, the NES purists argue that playing on the NES is the true experience, and that the PC/Emulated version is "different".  Me, I think the two play exactly the same - speed, timing, glitches, etc.

What's the Dee-Nee feeling on a PC vs NES RBI?  Same?  Different?  If you were running a RBI Tournament on a PC, would NES players be in any way at a disadvantage?

For me, it's no contest.  With two XBOX 360 Controllers hooked up to NEStopia, and my video card output cabled over to the big screen TV, we can play RBI here on a very large screen just like the NES.  But I don't have to worry about my NES overheating, resetting for no reason, or having to blow on the NES ROM Cartridge and pray to the NES gods every time I turn it on.  Anyone can bring their own (USB) joystick, and we've never had a problem.

But what's the group think here?  Anyone think the emulated version isn't 100% of the original in terms of gameplay?  Would you accept an RBI tournament if you knew up front that it was going to be played on an emulator vs NES?

[Attezz]

NES is smoother, you lose a bit on the PC, especially when it comes to pitching

[BeefMaster]

My biggest problem is with the controllers.  I play emulated games using a Gravis Gamepad USB, and I notice that it (not positive if it's the emulator or the controller) doesn't handle diagonals exactly like the NES does - for example, I can't "slide" in Super Mario Bros. (any version), and I occasionally lose momentum switching directions in Tecmo Super Bowl when I ordinarily shouldn't.  Also, I've had a couple friends who could never throw to second base in RBI, always sending it to third or first, no matter what controller they used.

Another thing I have noticed, at least for me using FCEUltra on the PC, is that the aspect ratio is slightly different - the default aspect ratio on FCEUltra is not as wide as the image on the TV, which makes transitions back and forth a bit difficult.

[nightwulf]

When I go to a "NES House" to play RBI, the NES purists argue that playing on the NES is the true experience, and that the PC/Emulated version is "different".  Me, I think the two play exactly the same - speed, timing, glitches, etc.

The whole point of an emulator is that it runs software exactly as it does on a different platform. They're identical. Give your friends the "objective vs. subjective" speech.

My biggest problem is with the controllers.  I play emulated games using a Gravis Gamepad USB, and I notice that it (not positive if it's the emulator or the controller) doesn't handle diagonals exactly like the NES does - for example, I can't "slide" in Super Mario Bros. (any version), and I occasionally lose momentum switching directions in Tecmo Super Bowl when I ordinarily shouldn't.

I don't have the USB version, but I did have a MIDIport version of that controller years ago. If the controller design is the same, it's definitely the controller. Diagonals were brutal.

[The Greeter]

FWIW - the XBOX 360 controller on the PC is awesome, not only for normal gaming but emulation as well.

MAME/NEStopia/STEEM/ZSnes all work exceptionally well, and I've not noticed any of the previously mentioned problems.  Just got done sliding back and forth in Mario; not a prob.

Though I hate to advocate ANY kind of Microsoft product (!!!), the XBOX controller for the PC is very good.

I like the idea of the "subjective vs objective" argument.  Though this one has to be made before the 2nd beer 8-).

[BeefMaster]

My brother has an XBox-to-USB adapter - I'll have to try out SMB at his house and see if I can slide with that.  He picked up some "fighter sticks" (or something like that) to use with MAME - they're nice for arcade games.

[The Greeter]

I haven't seen the XBOX-to-USB converter, but that sounds cool.

If you are just buying a controller, buy the one (XBOX 360) that says it's made for the PC, and you can avoid any need for converters.

Happy sliding!

[BeefMaster]

Oh, I'm not getting one myself - I can't stand the XBox controller.  I hate using analog controllers, the the XBox makes it easy to use the analog and a pain to reach the D-pad.  That may change if I ever get a new version of Madden or pirate acquire a copy of MVP 05, but for now, I'm reasonably happy with my Gravis and its mediocre diagonals, especially now that my NES is working.

[Gantry]

I too have issues with diagonals even with the NES USB controller.  I was having a heck of a time moving into the upper-right position in Super C all weekend (Lips and I beat it in St. Louis after many hours) though maybe that was game itself.  I don't play enough via emulator to know for sure, but that will change shortly...

[BeefMaster]

Almost that whole game is with the controller in the upper-right... that would've made it tough.

Now I want to play Super C, but that was one of the games my parents didn't get for some reason when they brought me my NES games.

[Stock]

I too have issues with diagonals even with the NES USB controller.  I was having a heck of a time moving into the upper-right position in Super C all weekend (Lips and I beat it in St. Louis after many hours) though maybe that was game itself.  I don't play enough via emulator to know for sure, but that will change shortly...

Really?
I have never had any problems with my NES USB controller.  I have not noticed even the slightest difference.

[Gantry]

Again, it's mostly Super C perhaps it's just jerkier...

Lips and I played it (without the extra guys) all weekend in an attempt to beat it.  Pretty darn tough since it only gave you 2 continues.  The last guy was the easiest thing ever though...