When they need a new piece of software, they download freeware and shareware programs from the Net. The game companies insist that no form of console emulation is legal. They insist it is no different from the Warez scene, where intellectual property rights are indiscriminately trampled upon. They say that because of piracy, they have to charge more for their games. In reality, there is NO WAY to know what game prices would be if there was no piracy or emulation.
Some people fall in between the two groups.
They think that emulation is ok, but only for older systems that are no longer sold at retail. They suggest that they are taking nothing away from the game companies, since they no longer write or sell games for an old console system. Indeed, you can't go to the store and buy an NES system and several games. You could go to a used store, but you don't know what condition the system is in. It isn't like a used game reseller has some divine right to your money.