Classic Computers vs. Classic Computing

an free. Apples and oranges, Iggy. That's a totally different emulator world than the one I'm talking about. In the world I'm talking about, I don't think anyone creating emulators is under 40 years of age (well, Daniel Seagraves is under 40, I think). However, MAME32 which I assume is one of the game emulators to which you're referring, is well-constructed. And since the mainframe that I'm working to emulate had a vector graphics display as its system console, rather than reinvent the wheel, I intend on using the MAME32 codebase to build the CDC 6602/6612 display console emulator. This is a serious project that will be able to run all the operating systems and product set software that the real iron was running in 1976. Eventually, it will even have emulated card readers and punches; a web page will provide the user the ability to create what appear to be perfect IBM unit-records (punch cards), in the form of an image, then the punched card will go into a visually-represented deck. Then, you'll be able to grab the deck with the mouse, with the pointer changing into a hand, as you drop the deck into the image of a card reader. The job will then be read by the emulated mainframe, and processed until completion. Simulated lineprinters will be constructed using captured images of the actual "fonts" used by the printer (chain, band, etc). I may even include an option for greenbar paper. But ultimately, my underlying motivation is the same as the "game-kiddi3s" to which you refer: they can't afford the real thing, and neither can I. If I owned the mainframe of my choice, running it for a single week could consume my entire year's salary. Now, I don't want to dissuade you from your opinion. But I think perhaps you hadn't thought about emulators in the broader context to which I'm referring... Regards, -dq