Google pulls gaming emulators from Android Market

Over the weekend, Google has pulled a batch of popular video game emulators from the Android Market, including N64oid, and all other -oid apps made by the same developer. The apps would allow you to play games for the original Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Atari, Game Boy, and others. There are still plenty of other emulators available, but another popular option, PSX4Droid was recently pulled as well, indicating there is a Market-wide purge in progress. The developer of N64oid said his apps were pulled and his developer account removed without any warning or explanation from Google.

With the Xperia Play bringing more attention to brand-name commercial games on Android, publishers no doubt have a vested interest in claiming legitimate turf in the Market. Of course, emulators were at best in grey legal territory to begin with, but thats not going to stop developers from finding workarounds in third-party stores or simply hosting the files personally it just means they will have a harder time making money from it. Lesson? Get your quality video game emulators now while you can.