Relive Your Childhood With This Emulator That Lets You Play Classic Games On Your iPhone
Mario, Pokémon, and more!
By Syazwan Bahri — 25 Apr 2024, 04:13 PM
Have you ever imagined playing your favourite childhood Game Boy game on your smartphone?
Now, that dream can be a reality with Delta, a gaming emulator application that allows users to play classic retro games.
In just a few days since its release, Delta has quickly reached the top spot among free apps in the App Store. The surge of enthusiasm for playing retro games on iPhones underscores the powerful nostalgia that connects people to the games of their childhood, especially the captivating Nintendo classics.
This emulator stands out as one of the first officially Apple-approved emulators on iOS
Delta can emulate a range of classic Nintendo consoles, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Nintendo Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, and more. Delta's developer, Riley Testut, is also known for his earlier project, GBA4iOS, which allowed users to sideload Game Boy Advance games onto iOS devices.
Unlike GBA4iOS, which was removed from the App Store for violating Apple's rules, Delta can be downloaded directly from the Apple storefront, eliminating the need for sideloading.
Delta is fully optimised for iOS and includes several features designed specifically for iPhone users, such as support for third-party controllers, quick saves, cheat codes, and data syncing across devices via Google Drive or Dropbox. Additionally, it also offers local multiplayer functionality for up to four players, enhancing the retro gaming experience on the iPhone platform.
Here's how the emulator works:
After downloading the Delta app from the App Store, remember that the app does not come with any games. This is typical for emulator apps. To use Delta, you'll need to obtain ROM files for the games you want to play.
However, it's important to understand the legal implications of ROM files. Many retro game titles are protected by copyright law, and downloading ROMs without proper authorisation is generally illegal.
To stay within legal boundaries, consider using DMCA-free ROMs created by enthusiasts or legally dump games you already own into ROM files for personal use. This approach ensures that you are respecting copyright laws while enjoying classic games through the Delta emulator.
Emulators often walk a fine line between piracy and preservation
Keep in mind that Nintendo holds the copyright for all their games, and strictly prohibits the distribution of unauthorised copies of copyrighted material, including digital versions.
Nonetheless, some argue that emulation offers a way to preserve games that might otherwise be lost to time, especially those that were never widely released or ported to other platforms. From this perspective, emulation is seen as a crucial tool for preserving video game history, ensuring that future generations can experience the games we enjoyed in our youth.
