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Okay, maybe I wasn't being clear in the title, but I mean things like new systems made that play older games. For instance, the Retro Duo. It plays both SNES and NES games.
I actually own a Retro Duo. I like it...but...it's just not the same as playing it on the real thing. Though at the moment, I lack the space for another console (I'm already pushing my space limit with my new Genny) so, I guess it's good for convenience.
The Retro Duo and FC Twin acctually do pretty good jobs with NES and SNES. They certainly don't emulate games perfectly, and there's compatibility issues, but there still great systems. The Genesis is a different story though.
Im "scared" off by the emulation factor.. If im gonna play retro games, i want to play them as they were intended, with accurate sound and graphics.. These cloned emulation machines just doesnt seem to deliver that. They all have one big flaw, or another to put me off. So i just make the space for the real deal.
I've heard the Retro Duo has issues with Mario All-Stars for SNES, but that's it. Also, sometimes I have to jiggle the games, even if I just cleaned the cart. But maybe that's just the one IhaveQuote:
Originally Posted by cheaterdragon1
i would use repro systems just to save my original systems
Mark from Classic Game Room (great show btw, if you don't know it, I highly recommend it for classic gaming fans) made a review on the Retron 3. It seems to be one of the most accurate and well made of the clone/revival console bunch. It even includes original controller ports for each of the 3 consoles (NES, SNES, Genesis).
*Somebody tell me how to embed the videos, I've had no luck after trying everything*
Finally learned from another thread. Just take everything after "v=" and wrap it with youtube tags.
My only gripe with the Retro Duo is that it has no ports to support NES controllers, only SNES controllers
If they made one that just sounded right,had proper control ports and had at least component out I would be all for them. Hell make them look the original system while they're at it if they really want to make it sweet.
Designing them like the original hardware would imply costs on design patents that are really not necessary. 50-60 dollars for a Retron 3 is a great deal for such accuracy and convenience. It also has actual ports for original controllers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron Lizard
With all these old systems you can get the original for usually cheaper than these clones most of the time. I don't get why people bother with them. Only interesting factor is the unique case design, or maybe it's two systems in one. Still never meets the quality of the original, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.
For some people, convenience wins over anything else really. This kind of consoles are good for people without a lot of space and they provide a very good experience compared to the actual thing. Also, a good Model 1 Genesis HDG is not as easy to come by in certain places and not always cheap. I'd buy one if I had the cash to spare, just for novelty factor and maybe for occasional gaming as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bramsworth
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jadty
Ill say this again and again. This guy sucks hard. His reviews almost always have nothing informative to say about what he's reviewing. Why not talk about things that matter like games that DON'T work on it and games that DO work on it that normally don't work on other clone systems? Do lock on games work? How does the sound quality compare? His statements are so broad and uninformative I would never buy anything he recommends. The controller ports are loose and s-video doesn't work on NES is ALL i got out of that 12 minute video.
Talking consoles doors (wtf?) and talking about cosmetics for 10 minuets is boring and lame. I have no idea if this guy actually knows anything about video games. Is he just acting stupid because people actually think hes funny or is this guy really this dumb. That wasn't a review. It was a guy talking about a new toy he got, while making lame jokes.
101% agreed. This guy is the most dumb-stupid-freak-lame-nerd out there. AVOID HIS CLASSIC LAME ROOM AT ALL COSTS!Quote:
Originally Posted by HappehLemons
Everyone expecting people not to be retarded is asking too much. Are you new to planet earth?
I'll pretend I didn't read any of this.Quote:
Originally Posted by HappehLemons
Lol word. I'd like to know if this thing plays PAL games. And if the Super Gameboy and/or the MS converter work on it.
This fool actually manages to make a 12 minute video out of this and not include a single piece of information about the thing he's supposed to be reviewing that I couldn't already get from looking at a goddamn picture of the console (ohh, a knob).
Mark's reviews of the Retron 3 made me curious about getting one. In defense of his reviews, while they are not in-depth, they are entertaining, which I think is what he goes for. Also, there was enough info in the Retron 3 review (quality of graphics/sound, original ports, s-video compatibility/incompatibility) that made me think the system was worth it, so even as a reviewer, his reviews aren't totally useless as some suggest. I watch his reviews every day, and they not only entertain me, but they give me a flavor for games I haven't played just by watching them and getting a general impression from him whether or not they are enjoyable. I also get exposed to games I might not otherwise even hear of. So that, in a nutshell, is why CGR isn't a waste in my book.
Back to the original topic, my main issue about buying a repro system is that if I'm going to emulate, I might as well do it on my computer. The one thing the Retron 3 offer me that I can't get any other way is a cheap s-video solution for my HDTV (which is what tempts me). Still, I have my Genesis Model 1 hooked up and am happy with it, so the Retron 3 is more of a curiosity at this point than a real "must get" item. I'm on the bubble about whether it's worthwhile to buy for the s-video alone (realizing I'll get graphical and sound tradeoffs).
I couldn't have said it better. The charm of Mark's reviews is that he manages to make anything he is reviewing interesting and fun. I don't know why people would fail to see that and bash him on the fact that he makes jokes while reviewing games. As for the people saying that he doesn't know anything about games, well, go watch more CGR and then make a statement. CGR's been around since 1999 and stopped in 2000, coming back for good in 2008 on Youtube.Quote:
Originally Posted by sketch
One of the problems with modern video game reviewing, is that most of the time any game that doesn't have a multi-million dollar budget, involves FPS mechanics or comes from Activision/EA (the villains of the video game world) it's immediately buried, bashed and granted a mediocre score. Not to mention the fact that many sites are paid for writing good reviews. CGR does not suffer from this bias, as the main focus are classic games that nobody plays anymore.
I don't care about the means, I just want the ends. I could care less about what the insides look like or how they work but they need be good enough to fool me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jadty
Can't say I really like repro systems. They don't fully support everything the original hardware did, such as peripherals, game controllers, hell, even games sometimes. The emulation is sometimes spotty, and it's just inferior really to the original thing.
All things considering, seeing as the original systems are the same price or LESS than the repro systems, I don't see why anyone should really buy a repro system over an original.
I'll be impressed with repro systems when they stop using emulation.
Sega officially licensed the Firecore systems, but that's not my point. What I would like them to do is a Neptune + Sega CD combo. Maybe they could build them cheaply with the same kind of hardware they did in the 90's. They could get an external company to build it for them, but the designing costs wouldn't allow this to happen, or the niche market wouldn't guarantee sales. Hell, they already have the Neptune design in some vault in Sega HQ. I'm assuming they have the same connectivity with the Sega CD as the Genesis Model 1 and 2, so just build that and call it a day. I'd pay $100 dollars for that, they just need to make sure it has the same audio/video quality as the Model 1 HDG and it will sell nicely. They could go the extra mile and have it output HDMI even if only 480p.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flygon
One can only dream, eh? :P
Not to be rude, but how many of his reviews have you actually watched? Ive followed him for years, and some reviews are very shallow yes, but they are more or less ment to be, whilst others are actually very deep, depending much on what he reviews. I find most of his hardware review to be quite informative on performance. Ive gotten alot of initial input from his reviews, which ive used to compliment elsewhere. If you dont like his reviews thats fine, but in your post, you are generalizing and using broad statements worse than you blame him to do, which leads me to believe you havent seen that many of his reviews. And for the record, its my opinion that he tries to use humour where apropriate becouse very few other reviewers do, and its a fresh change. And it works. Ive seen probably half the videos he's uploaded over the years, and he is the only constant reviewer i watch just to see the review itself, even if im not at all interested in the actual item he is reviewing.. Thats all i had to say about Mark and Classic Game Room.Quote:
Originally Posted by HappehLemons
i enjoy classic game room , hes right up there with AVGN
Except that the AVGN is actually entertaining.
I find AVGN exaggerated and doing an act.. Mark is relaxed and easy going and it seems to come much more natural to him.
But we should prolly get back on topic?
Going off-topic is a Sega-16 staple.
I have aFirecoreAtgames portable with SD-Card slot called "Ultimate Arcade Portable" or something similar from Amazon. I use it mostly to show others what the old games look like, and try my own demo's on. It's not that expansive, and plays most of the games i like. My cousins like to play on it too.
I do agree the emulation is not perfect and in some games there are glitches. Sound on most games is not what it should be, but it's acceptable to me.
For God's sake, these clones are not software emulators! The only ones that are software emulators are AtGames' shit. Everything else is reverse engineered hardware, and as is the case with anything software-emulated or reverse-engineered hardware, something is bound to be incorrectly reproduced(50% and 75% sound channel duties reversed on NOACs) or manufacturers cheapen out on several different aspects such as missing connections on the cartridge slot(NOAC compatibility issues with Castlevania III and other problem games, GOAC compatibility issues with Virtua Racing and the 32X), crappy external circuitry(GOAC distorted FM/improper volume balance between PSG and FM Synthesis) or missing parts(Super NES lockout chip for games with the Nintendo SA-1 co-processor).Quote:
Originally Posted by Flygon
As for those who made mention of the RetroN3, I posted an in-depth review of the original release of the RetroN3 in another thread. The post is here: http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...l=1#post303221
Do take note of one thing: the latest models of the RetroN3 are compatible with games NOACs typically fail to run(yes, that includes Castlevania III), however, since I reviewed an earlier model of the RetroN3, Castlevania III and other games NOACs fail to play are listed as incompatible.
Gut it, stick a 32x and M2 MegaDrive board in it and viola your very own Neptune.
Thats usually my first thoughts when I see some of the more unusual and better made case designs out there used for repros.
Each to their own I guess.
I've watched a very good amount of them. One of his reviews that is burnt into my mind is his goldeneye review, which is noting but him running around shooting people says he loves to do this for hours, and it turns out he actually does just run around and shoot people for most of the "review" with out even talking.Quote:
Originally Posted by grimm
I feel like the only reason he can keep a constant flow of reviews coming is because he does no research what-so-ever, his videos have almost no editing done to them (at lot of his "reviews" are simply first level playthrus while he talks about how he loves said game) and that he puts no thought into them at all and just says whatever pops into his head. He repeats himself all the damn time too, and i feel like his reviews lack any momentum or flow. He's always going nowhere.
Some really great reviews that take time are:
HVGN
16-Bit Gems
Rinrygamegame
AdventureReviews
JonTron
Happy Console Gamer
Lets Get
John D
I had the FC twin, worked perfectly. Only had A/V out and the controllers were junk. It also only too SNES controllers so NES stuff was out like Duck hunt and so on., I gave it away.
http://firstarkansasnews.net/wp-cont...2/RetroGen.jpg
No word on the Retrogen yet? It's basically an updated Sega Nomad and made by the same guys who did the Retro Duo
My opinion is that the RetroGen isn't really worth it. Unless you have to have Genesis games on the go and don't like the size of the Nomad.Quote:
Originally Posted by MonkeyDLenny
More info here: http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...rogen-worth-it
No it's not. It is distributed by the same guys who distributed the Retro Duo, but they're two completly different things. The Retro Duo is a clone, while the Retrogen is a Firecore based system using emulation.Quote:
Originally Posted by MonkeyDLenny
Ah, my mistake then :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Christuserloeser
Like Christuserloeser said, the RetroGEN is AtGames garbage running on the most dreadful Genesis emulator you can find nowadays. If you want a portable Genesis, then by all means get a Nomad. It's insanely bulky and eats batteries like there's no tomorrow unless you replace the screen and trash the backlight along with all circuitry used to power the backlight, but you'll be much better served with a Nomad than with any of the shit AtGames makes.
Been using my RetroDuo a lot lately. I'll admit, now I'm starting to notice some sound distortion, specifically when I plug in Super Mario Bros 2. It seems better suited for SNES games and not NES games (Even though it doesn't play Super Mario RPG, which is a major letdown)
If you're handy with a soldering iron, get yourself a 2.2Kohm resistor and a 0.1uF ceramic capacitor. The RetroDuo has those two parts missing from its sound circuit, causing an insane amount of distortion.
FYI, the RetroDuo DOES work with Super Mario RPG, but only the early copies of the game will run. Later copies can detect the presence of a lockout chip, and since not a single Super NES clone has a lockout chip in it, the later copies of Super Mario RPG will refuse to run. I did see someone say he got Super Mario RPG working(a copy that checks for a working lockout chip) by first powering up the NES side for 5 seconds then immediately switching over to the Super NES side. I don't see how that's possible, but that trick is shown on a video and it does seem to work. Try it. I can't guarantee it works because I don't have a copy of Super Mario RPG to test.
Now, as for the distortion in the NES audio, if you think Super Mario Bros. 2 sounds bad, let me tell you, there's MUCH worse. I uploaded 8 videos on my YouTube channel comparing the RetroDuo to a Front-Loader NES, and many of the games I used to test the RetroDuo's NES compatibility and accuracy have murdered audio. Have a look:
Most of the games I tested will sound really bad, so get some earplugs ready for when it's too much.
I think that one really good use for the systems like the RetroN3 is to use them as game testing stations. For people that are buying and reselling NES/SNES/Genesis carts, what easier way to test them out to make sure that they are working. Of course there are the compatibility issues, but since those are mostly known, it shouldn't be that big of a deal.
JY