Everdrive

Hi to all,

I've just bought an Everdrive for my Sega Megadrive (which has the switchless mod so I can play in 60Hz US/JAP (like it should :) or PAL 50hz).

And I want to publicly discuss this and see the reactions.

Now, I also want some clear confirmation from admins if I/we can post scores with the Everdrive Yes or No (or any other flashcard/virtual drive). 

I found some answer in the forum from already 10 years ago from Viviengaetan (developer here) : "As long as you use a non-modified ROM (Modification of the game's code) and play fairly without any cheats (Cheat-codes), yes it's allowed on the original console."

So that's a yes for me.
But I noticed that this is still a hot topic. And no clear communication (or decision) is made. There is also nothing mentioned in the rules.

1) For people directly saying no as it is 'emulation', please consider that an Everdrive isn't emulation. Your genuine hardware just reads the rom and behaves like it is a real cartridge. The Megadrive Mini uses btw emulation ;)
I already noticed a flaw with a game I played (Zool): https://www.video-games-records.com/en/zool-game-g766/all-records-group-g2702/hi-score-chart-c46036/index
Keito uses the ATGames Classic Megadrive console. Although using an original cartridge, this should/can be considered as using emulation as the hardware console is an FPGA machine (and no original chipsets/hardware is being used.
It's like all those Retron devices. Yeah, you can insert an original cartridge, but the machine is just an FPGA and actually just rips the rom on the fly and then loads it in the consoles RAM and uses an emulator to play the game.
At LVLUP (my site) and TG amongst others, the ATGames console is considered as emulation.
Just showing this as an example. I have nothing against Keito of course ;)

2) For other people saying no as VGR should only accept genuine bought games, I can live with that. It is a noble statement. But I believe VGR shouldn't act 'hollier than the pope' and misses a lot of activity with this statement. I mean, and I don't want to be rude, but lately the amount of submissions is quite low (certainly if you see the historical stats of 5191 members, but in October 'only' 42 users submitted scores, of which 20 posted +10 scores). That seems for me quite low for such a quality site.

VGR admins should state clearly that VGR only allows commercial purchased games. Maybe this has an impact on the history of this site.

3) For people saying 'you can use save states/cheat codes etc'. Note that 

• a) not all Everdrive/flashcards support that. My Everdrive X5 doesn't btw.
• b) You can use save states/cheats etc also in genuine purchased games
• c) If doubts, enforce the use of video proof.

I can proof all my submissions with video.

Looking forward to the reactions. And hopefully some official statement :)

Cheers

Bonjour GTI, et merci de parler de ce sujet 
en fait c'est pas le coté émulation qui n'est pas autorisé sur VGR, mais plutot le coté légale du produit.
Video Games Records n'acceptera et n'encouragera jamais le piratage.
Sur VGR tu peux trouver de l'émulation dit officiel avec les console mini et le virtual console mais c'est tout.
et si cette information n'est pas clair pour tous alors il faut corriger le reglement et la FAQ de VGR

Google Trad
Hello GTI, and thank you for talking about this topic in fact it is not the emulation side that is not authorized on VGR, but rather the legal side of the product. Video Games Records will never condone or encourage piracy. On VGR you can find so-called official emulation with the mini consoles and the virtual console but that's it. and if this information is not clear for all then it is necessary to correct the rules and the FAQ of VGR

Depuis la création de ce site en 2003, les discussions sur l'émulation reviennent de temps en temps, mais la réponse reste la même, et fidèle à l'esprit d'origine du site:
l'émulation non-officielle reste interdite.
Les émulateurs officiels tels que la console virtuelle Wii ou les Mini consoles sont autorisées.

En raison de la trop grande disparité de réglages, options et types d'émulateurs disponibles, il est aussi trop difficile de gérer tout cela sur VGR, et ce, quel que soit le nombre d'admins actifs.

Dans le cas particulier de l'Everdrive, il s'agit d'un "outil", et non d'une console officielle, qui permet de copier ses propres jeux (voire d'autres), pour y rejouer ensuite sans avoir à brancher/débrancher le jeu original (et éviter de l'user ou l'endommager).

Infos ici.

Le problème est qu'il existe différents types d'Everdrive, et que certains permettent d'y brancher des cartes mémoires SD illégales, ou issues de contrefaçon.
VGR n'autorise pas ce type de pratique, d'autant qu'encore une fois, de multiples options peuvent exister sur ces jeux, qui rendent toute comparaison quasi-impossible.
Pour éviter toute confusion, et pour rappel suite à la décision prise en Conseil n°4 et parue le 9 mai 2020 dans les Actualités:

Évocation de l'émulation sur VGR

L'émulation sur VGR a été évoquée dans les deux conseils, mais son arrivée n'est pas prévue sur le site pour le moment. La principale raison est que d'autres sites le font (très bien) et la diversité des émulateurs trouvables partout rend la chose difficile.
De plus, la volonté de VGR a toujours été de proposer des records légitimes sur les divers jeux et consoles disponibles dans le commerce.

Notre avis sur la question n'a pas changé depuis 2020.

Je n'ai pas beaucoup de temps pour détailler pourquoi tes arguments 1) et 2) sont incorrects, j'y reviendrai plus tard (si j'en ai le temps).

Conclusion: l'Everdrive n'est pas autorisé sur VGR, il faut jouer avec les jeux originaux (donc cartouches et consoles physiques originaux, sauf exceptions Wii VC et consoles Mini). 

English: 
Since the creation of this site in 2003, discussions about emulation come up from time to time, but the answer remains the same, and faithful to the original spirit of the site:
Unofficial emulation remains prohibited.
Official emulators such as the Wii Virtual Console or Mini systems are allowed.
Due to the wide range of settings, options and types of emulators available, it is also too difficult to manage all of this on VGR, regardless of the number of active admins.
In the particular case of the Everdrive, it is a "tool", and not an official system, which allows you to copy your own games (or others), and then replay them without having to plug/unplug the original game (and avoid using or damaging it).

Information here (in french).

The problem is that there are different types of Everdrive, and that some allow to connect to them illegal SD memory cards, or counterfeit/fake ones.
VGR does not allow this type of practice, especially since, once again, multiple options can exist on these games, which make any comparison almost impossible.
To avoid any confusion, and as a reminder following the decision taken in Council n°4 and published on 9 May 2020 in the News:
Evocation of emulation on VGR

Emulation on VGR has been mentioned in both councils, but its arrival is not planned on the site at the moment. The main reason is that other sites do it (very well) and the diversity of emulators found everywhere makes it difficult.
In addition, VGR has always wanted to set legitimate records on the various games and consoles available on the market.

Our point of view on this issue has not changed since 2020.
I don’t have much time to detail why your arguments 1) and 2) are incorrect, I’ll come back to that later (if I have time).

Conclusion: the Everdrive is not allowed on VGR, you have to play with original games (so original cartridges and physical systems, except Wii VC and Mini systems).

Thanks for this clear confirmation.

As said I can live with it but at least now I and everyone else has a clear understanding.

Cheers.

For your information, VGR Council decided that linkers will be forbidden. 
This new rule will start and be active when it will be written in the Rules.
See details in another topic : here