Any other use of ROM images can be questionable, so please be warned! Most believe if you own the game or are using the image to preserve the game’s data for historical purposes, using ROM images are legal and safe.
Like DVD ripping, ROM images are sort of like a legal “gray area”. ROM images can be created from downloading the data off of a cartridge via a USB device or simply downloaded online from ROM directories. ROM images are data images that store the game data. To clarify, an “emulator” is an application that acts as the game console, that actually loads the ROM image and emulates the data as if it is the console. However, some developers are working hard to build solid emulators and more and more Mac users are enjoying the same classic games their PC friends have been enjoying for quite some time. For a long time, the Mac platform has lacked great emulators that feature solid compatibility and a full-set of features.
Today it seems the classic game ROM community is growing and growing as more and more are discovering how to play classic arcade and console games on their computers.
