The term ROM is short for read only memory, but in video games it generally refers to a downloadable version of a video game.
ROMs are generally copies of older games, which were designed either for cabinet arcades or for older consoles and handhelds. The video game ROM stores the information that normally resides within the system's read only memory, hence the term ROM.
When used along with an emulator (software that mimics another system, to put it simply) or a modified console or handheld with custom firmware or another type of circumvention device, ROMs allow gamers to play older games easily.
Some of the more popular, and readily available video game roms are made for the Nintendo Gameboy and the Nintendo DS.
Downloading and / or distributing a video game ROM is generally illegal, since the contents are copyrighted by the original developer or publisher.
The illegal downloads of Nintendo DS roms has been on a steady increase due to the availability of Nintendo DS flash cards, which allow gamers to play homebrew video games as well as backup copies and downloadable roms. Gamers can easily download video game roms of Gameboy, SNES, and Nintendo DS games.
