A Dark Emulation Scene

This week is a very dark one for the emulation scene if what is said is true. I've never been a huge fan of bsnes/higan, which is a Super NES emulator that strived for accuracy and making all games work. SNES9x I thought was a better one. But that doesn't mean anything for the time being as the guy who created higan has supposedly passed away via suicide. Near/byuu took his own life and fingers are being pointed towards online bullies that harassed him and make things worse for him and anyone close to him. It has upset a lot of people involved in gaming and the emulation scene.

Online bullying is not new. It has grown out of control in the last ten years or so. Controversial figures, teenagers, anyone can be a target, whether it's real criticism or straight up harassment. In the realm of people getting picked on, I feel like that's more from teenagers who feel that the whole world is against them. But this can also apply to adults as well. Near was the target of a group that has been in the spotlight at points for other types of tragedies. There were things about him such as being non-binary and several other things that no one will realize.

Near had been working on emulation for over 15 years. The dedication from that is a huge welcome. If only others would do that for stuff like Sega Saturn and obscure systems that don't get enough love. But the dedication has also lead to people who flat out hate the guy. I would have to wager that it got so severe that he lost it mentally. You act in ways you typically don't do. It wouldn't surprise me if he had depression. Unfortunately, that is still a stigma whenever mental health comes into play. Nothing ever gets done and almost always when it's too little, too late. While a different situation, this feels a lot like what happened with comedian Robin Williams. Top of their game and then they end their life. No one to help them or to even see a doctor.

Also unfortunate is the online bullies getting doxxed. Groups can get pissed, but fighting fire with fire was a very bad idea. The best way to fight back is to go after the people in charge of running those types of sites and create a huge stink. Some question if Near even passed away. There was a confirmation made by someone close him that it did happen. Some have suggested punishments for the future. That won't happen. I look at it as huge legal issues since anyone around the world can say anything and laws are different everywhere.

The best anyone could potentially do is to talk to a suicide helpline or speak to doctors. Maybe we can stop making mental health and depression so taboo. Let's make more people aware of this. Very unfortunate with what happened to Near. The best we can do is celebrate the efforts made to make emulation much better. A lot has changed since 2004 and if not for people like him, the scene would not have thrived.