Retrogaming Hardware

[Phantoon]

I'm super tempted by the Polymega. I have enough CD games for the various systems for it to possibly be worth it

Analogue just announced a new system that plays TG-16 games, along with basically all related systems (TG-CD, Supergrafx, and so on and so forth).

And good lord, that's gorgeous. Owning no TG-16 games is a benefit for once.

 

[muteKi]

I don't know if the duo is something I'd ever need -- I'd prefer to rip discs and then play them with the mister -- but that adapter on the pocket is very tempting (and I don't even have any TG-16 games!)

 

[MCBanjoMike]

I will say I find it a bit weird that there's only one original-style controller port on the system. They say you can use original controllers through the USB ports too, but I guess you'd need to buy an adapter at that point? Or have a multitap lying around, I suppose.

On a different subject: back when the Nt Mini was rereleased in tiny quantities at a staggering price, how come nobody pointed to the RetroUSB AVS as a possible alternative? If your goal is to play NES carts on an HDTV, I think it probably does the job quite well. Personally, I find the design to be very ugly, but I like that it has a slot for Famicom carts, too. No analog-out is a bummer, but at $300 less than the Nt Mini it can be excused. I doubt I'd get one for myself unless they made it prettier and there was an option to output analog video, but it seems like it would do the trick for a lot of folks.

 

[muteKi]

I remember a lot of discussion about the AVS at the time, but that might be partly because I think Parish did a video on it from around the same time? It certainly looked nice but my understanding was that it didn't have anywhere to plug a microphone like the Nt does, meaning that some Japanese games that expected it (seeing how it was built into the second controller) wouldn't be fully playable.

 

[Phantoon]

Yeah, I believe the RetroUSB AVS is a really good console. It's no NT but it's a very good second choice.

 

[Falselogic]

I keep hoping for a re-release of the Super NT or an alternative like the AVS...

 

[Sarge]

I've replaced an ailing Duo R with a CoreGrafx II (with the aim of saving up for the SSDS3), so I might be kicking myself if this turns out to be good.

I'd probably prefer the SSD3 setup, honestly, although I'm sure this will be a quality piece of hardware that you'll never be able to obtain a few years down the line.

 

[Klatrymadon]

I'm also forgetting these new consoles are made for modern displays and have no RGB SCART connection, so they're for a different set of needs anyway!

 

[Sarge]

I'm also forgetting these new consoles are made for modern displays and have no RGB SCART connection, so they're for a different set of needs anyway!

Yep yep! I think I'd rather have the original analog outputs and convert to HDMI instead of the other way around since I often play on CRTs.

(Not saying I'd turn down one of these for the right price, though. I have no doubt it's going to be a quality piece of kit.)

 

[MCBanjoMike]

Analogue makes a DAC that will convert their digital consoles to to VGA/S-video/what have you, but it's a little pricey.

 

[ShakeWell]

I remember a lot of discussion about the AVS at the time, but that might be partly because I think Parish did a video on it from around the same time? It certainly looked nice but my understanding was that it didn't have anywhere to plug a microphone like the Nt does, meaning that some Japanese games that expected it (seeing how it was built into the second controller) wouldn't be fully playable.

The AVS was the first FPGA NES announced, so it made waves then, but I think a combination of only 720p and Analogue's marketing/prestige machine made it fade back a bit, but now it's definitely the way to go on getting an NES for modern set-ups.

As for the microphone... eh. I have an A/V Famicom with the Kevtris HiDefNES mod and it doesn't have a microphone. Only a handful of games use it, it's fine.

 

[Phantoon]

Not really the thread for this, but it's modding ancient hardware so what the hell. I've finally got around to removing the suicide time capacitor from my original XBox. It actually looked completely fine, so I'm luckier than I deserve, having left it to the year of our Lord 2020.

Really easy to do too, outside of some tight ribbon cables.

The original XBox's graphics do not match up to the memory at all.

 

[ShakeWell]

I've finally got around to removing the suicide time capacitor from my original XBox.

Game makers putting suicide measures into their games/systems around that time remains INFURIATING. (Looking directly at you, Capcom.)

 

[Phantoon]

This one wasn't intentional, to be fair. They put the clock into the Southbridge to save some money on the PCB and realised that an old-fashioned CR2032 would only last days keeping it alive as the Southbridge was so power hungry. Unfortunately the special high power cap they used instead is crap and leaks 1) acid and 2) electrolytes all over the board. So if it's gone and you turn it on you'll short the board, or even worse if the acid gets out it'll eventually destroy the board completely. If the capacitor wasn't crap it'd just be a bodge to fix a poor design choice.

 

[madhair60]

I find all the retrogaming handhelds to be basically substandard on one level or another. New 3DS is the closest I've come. The PocketGos are okay, but mine has a fucking dead pixel that I literally cannot stop looking at

I just want Nintendo to make an N64 Classic Mini, or for there to be something I can plug into my TV that would run N64 stuff no hassle. I have a Pi 3B+ but that's not good enough to do it. Even 4 is iffy, I hear.

 

[Phantoon]

Yeah, I desperately want an N64 Classic Mini. And a Saturn Classic.

I'm hoping the Game and Watch that's out on Friday is the harbinger of a Game Boy Classic line.

 

[madhair60]

I'm just hoping it's hackable so I can fill it with old games and lay in bed playing Super Hunchback, farting.

 

[Phantoon]

Ditto. Same for the Game Gear Micro, so I can lay in bed playing Super Hunchback, squinting

 

[MCBanjoMike]

I'm sad that the MiSTer probably won't ever be able to run N64 or Saturn games, because that's my go-to right now for playing old games on an HDTV. Honestly, we need a good FPGA system that can handle everything up to the PS2 generation, since getting HDMI output from anything in that bunch is really tough (or at least expensive). Unfortunately, that would cost several arms and legs right now, and development of the cores would be a nightmare.

 

[Troa11]

It's overpriced as a retrogaming handheld, but taken as a mini-laptop that does retrogaming very well, the GPD Win Max is the best emulation handheld I've ever had. It's big. It's not really pocketable. But it's comfier in the hands than the size would make you think, and being a fully-powered Windows 10 machine means it can run Retroarch with runahead to reduce lag and screen filters to recreate any look you're going for.

But the real saving grace? After 5 or 6 handhelds, GPD has nailed the controls. The DPad is one of the best I've EVER used, the buttons are spot on. The triggers are nice and clicky. I never feel like input is the reason I missed or failed...and I am so picky about controls.

And if you want to use it Switch-like it's got USB-C, thunderbolt, bluetooth, whatever to sit at your TV and play with a controller as well. That's cool.

Again, the price point is too high to justify for just this use-case. But if you also want some medium-end PC gaming performance, more recent emulation, and some PC productivity all in one... then it might just work.

Still... best controls ever.

 

[Becksworth]

Speaking of expensive GPD handhelds...

A Switch Lite sized Windows device with near PS4/XBox One levels of performance is technically retro-gaming now, right?

 

[Troa11]

Yeah, I saw the news on that one too. I'm too old for HD gaming on a 5.5" screen though. The 8" of the Max is Mary Poppins levels of practically perfect in every way for me.

 

[muteKi]

I'm sad that the MiSTer probably won't ever be able to run N64 or Saturn games, because that's my go-to right now for playing old games on an HDTV. Honestly, we need a good FPGA system that can handle everything up to the PS2 generation, since getting HDMI output from anything in that bunch is really tough (or at least expensive). Unfortunately, that would cost several arms and legs right now, and development of the cores would be a nightmare.

For these more modern systems the features of the MiSTer platform are less immediate -- if you wanted to build an FPGA clone of the N64 you'd probably just use the actual CPU chips of the system and then assemble the bespoke stuff (i.e., the GPU) in your fpga design tools. Most of the individual components for this stuff exist in production or at least in massive current stock, so there's limited value for that. Heck, that is almost exactly the same thing the N64, DC, PS2, etc. HDMI-out mods do -- leave the original PCBs intact and use an FPGA to upscale the digital video coming off the system.

 

[ShakeWell]

This one wasn't intentional, to be fair. They put the clock into the Southbridge to save some money on the PCB and realised that an old-fashioned CR2032 would only last days keeping it alive as the Southbridge was so power hungry. Unfortunately the special high power cap they used instead is crap and leaks 1) acid and 2) electrolytes all over the board. So if it's gone and you turn it on you'll short the board, or even worse if the acid gets out it'll eventually destroy the board completely. If the capacitor wasn't crap it'd just be a bodge to fix a poor design choice.

Trying to figure out if this is better or worse than burying the CD-i battery in a plastic brick next to the processor.

I'm sad that the MiSTer probably won't ever be able to run N64 or Saturn games, because that's my go-to right now for playing old games on an HDTV. Honestly, we need a good FPGA system that can handle everything up to the PS2 generation, since getting HDMI output from anything in that bunch is really tough (or at least expensive). Unfortunately, that would cost several arms and legs right now, and development of the cores would be a nightmare.

I mean, sure, that would be good, but honestly an OSSC is about the same price as a MiSTer. That assumes you have your old hardware, I guess, but a lot of those systems will put gorgeous looking images on an HDTV using an OSSC with no mods. (DISCLAIMER: I have both a pile of old systems and an upscaler, as well as a MiSTer.)

 

[Sarge]

@Phantoon : I did this recently with my own main system. I actually have one more backup system that I need to check, but it's not here. My other two spares (yeah, I have waaaaay too many XBOX systems) were V1.6, so it's not really an issue with them.

 

[Phantoon]

yeah, I have waaaaay too many XBOX systems

That's not true when you can have a LAN party with yourself

Trying to figure out if this is better or worse than burying the CD-i battery in a plastic brick next to the processor.

This sounds like the subject for a thread I'd love but literally nobody else would care about, "baffling console design choices"

which would feature the CDi a number of times, thinking about it

 

[MCBanjoMike]

I mean, sure, that would be good, but honestly an OSSC is about the same price as a MiSTer. That assumes you have your old hardware, I guess, but a lot of those systems will put gorgeous looking images on an HDTV using an OSSC with no mods. (DISCLAIMER: I have both a pile of old systems and an upscaler, as well as a MiSTer.)

For the OSSC to do a good job you want the console to output RGB, right? Is that something you can easily get for N64 and Saturn?

Anyway, the point is moot in my case, because I sold my N64 and my Saturn is busted. I won't be too concerned with getting mine to play nice on my HDTV until Saturn ODEs come way down in price.

 

[Phantoon]

My big problem is all my consoles are PAL, so there's no point in modding them

 

[Sarge]

For the OSSC to do a good job you want the console to output RGB, right? Is that something you can easily get for N64 and Saturn?

Anyway, the point is moot in my case, because I sold my N64 and my Saturn is busted. I won't be too concerned with getting mine to play nice on my HDTV until Saturn ODEs come way down in price.

Saturn yes, N64 no. You just need a SCART cable for the Saturn, but the N64 requires an internal mod, and you're not guaranteed that the N64 in question supports said mod.

Alternately, if you have an HD Retrovision Genesis component cable, you can get an adapter for the Saturn... but if you've got an OSSC, I can't see going down that route. A RetroTINK 2X is also a really good option for those systems limited to composite/S-Video like the N64 if you're not going to mod it. (I haven't modded mine. I'd consider it if I had a backup system.)

Do you know if your Saturn is a 20-pin or 21-pin model? If it's a 20 (I think most Model 1 systems are), then the Fenrir is an option. I've also heard a 21-pin version may be coming, and if so, I'm jumping on that.

 

[MCBanjoMike]

Thanks for the summary, but again, the disc drive in my Saturn is pretty borked. If the ODEs ever come down in price I might see about patching it up, but in the short term I don’t have any plans for it.