eli5: Why do we need emulators to play old games? why can’t we just make the games work without the emulator?

Question

eli5: Why do we need emulators to play old games? why can’t we just make the games work without the emulator?

In: 409

Answer 1

If youre not emulating, or you have the old console and games still working (which implies a lot of money and effort) or you have some ports (Even when some of this ones are emulated, like Mario 3d all stars)