I've loved both linux and emulation for years, discovering them when I was but a lad. NESticle was what originally introduced me to emulation. I can still remember playing Mega Man like crazy on my family's old Pentium 166 from Gateway 2000 (that's right, Gateway
2000).
Maybe I'm just getting old, but I grew up playing video games that were just simple fun and didn't require hours upon hours just to get anywhere. I can't get into most new games these days, yet I'll gladly sit and replay a game I've played through hundreds of times (I'm looking at you, FFVII, Metal Gear Solid and EarthBound). My father actually had me playing video games when I was probably only 3 or 4. He had a Mattell Electronics Intellivision (I still have everything that he had). I also really loved arcade rooms when I was a kid, so for these reasons emulation has always really been a big interest to me.
I build this MAME cabinet because of my love for emulation, actually. I've sunk over $1000 into it and it still needs work (I just don't have any extra cash to throw at it right now). Here are two of my very favorite games running on it:
I've followed the development of the Pandora since it was still in talks. I'm beyond pleased that the project has continued even with all the hardships. I got my shipping notice on Monday of last week and I live on the east coast of the US, so I'm hoping that I have it by this coming week.
Every computer I own runs linux (with the exception of my MAME cabinet which runs WinXP for ease and compatibility with the special hardware I've got wired in it). I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can get out of my Pandora in addition to the emulation. I hope to use it to VNC to all my other computers and maybe even setup some home automation eventually (and use the Pandora as the controller).