>>12612829
Emulation, I want my savestates and fastforward

Also I get to use my favorite controller when emulating/FPGA:
Retro-bit 8 button Sega Megadrive controller.
Unless I need analog triggers/sticks, then its Dualsense.
8BitDo N64 controller for N64.
Gamecube for gamecube emulation (through the input integrity adapter).

>>12612829
Emulation so I don't have to deal with 50hz, modding and importing like I did back in the 90s.

I actually like both for different reasons.

I like real hardware because my RetroTink 5X makes them look incredible on my big TV. Software mode on PCSX2 doesn't look as good as what my RT can do.

Emulation is good though because increasing internal resolutions transforms games and tends to be less invasive than other things you can do. Only thing I don't like about PS2 emulation is that it's common to see errors and graphical bugs in games and I don't like that.

I don't think one or the other is better, but if I had to choose I would pick Hardware over Emulation. has more soul.

>>12612829
Imitation hardware with library/suspend functions > Real hardware > Emulation

>>12612829
FPGA isn't emulation, it's indistinguishable hardware level recreation.

There is no competition, FPGA is the best of both worlds
>magic box that plays everything up to and including PSX, N64, and Saturn perfectly accurate and identical to original hardware, more accurate than the most intensive and accurate software emulators
>zero extra video latency or audio latency, both are identical to original hardware
>supports OEM controllers with zero lag or any USB controller in existence with zero additional lag
>flawless, lagless plug and play support for both CRT and 4k TVs
Only poorfags seethe, but even that hardly applies as they can be acquired for $200 now

Real hardware. Sure, it can be a pain to service them, but ultimately you're getting the authentic experience. If you're having to start from scratch in 2026, just emulate, either via computer or MiSTer.

>>12612921
>Software mode on PCSX2 doesn't look as good as what my RT can do.
how though? shouldnt it look the same? what does the retrotink do to it to make it look different?

Any of them are fine nowadays.

After having prior issues with Saturn emulation, and owning a couple of "real" arcade machines, I started delving into FPGA as an experiment, and I think the nicest thing about it is you can get as close of an "authentic" experience without having to purchase the original hardware and software which has become incredibly expensive.

On the other hand, software emulation is convenient and pretty good, and it's a great entry point for people to discover a lot of great games they missed out on or weren't even alive to see.

Spending hundreds of dollars on dying CRT's and thousands on retro systems and software is retarded. It's sad that the old technology we used to use will one day be gone, but at the same time, I think a lot of people are chasing a fantasy that hype has built up in their mind and doesn't actually exist in reality.

>>12612829
>MiSTer
is completely worthless junk if you actually own a beefy PC.

>>12612986
PCSX2 is a laggy inaccurate piece of shit. God of War 1 (the single most popular PS2 game for emulation of all time) has massive rendering errors in software mode that are blatantly obvious from 20 seconds in

>>12612845
If you like the originals, get a Bliss-Box or a BlisSTer, the cables are interchangeable ! adapter for both setups.

>>12612829
I prefer real hardware but i can't buy every console, so it's a mix of both real and emulators for me.
FPGA is not there yet as far as i'm concerned. if the market become bigger then we'll have more devs on it and a less buggy experience. then i'll use that rather than emulators for sure.

>>12612829
>emulatrannie pc
Not retro.