Retrogaming Hardware

[Sarge]

Oh, sorry, I forgot to clarify that my mentioning the Fenrir was me addressing the ODE thing. I don't know that we'll see any ODEs cheaper than that - it's the cheapest one out there at $110, but only supports earlier 20-pin Saturns. If your system has oval buttons and not round, there's a good chance you have one that will work with the Fenrir.

21-pin is definitely coming, though:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1326085798983249921

 

[ShakeWell]

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.

Honestly, the N64's s-video is pretty good. (Also the RGB mod isn't that expensive.)

 

[Beowulf]

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.

I've actually been really happy with my RG350, because it actually handles SNES well and PSX seems to run decently, too. But because I'm apparently going nutty for lack of other hobbies to spend money on, I picked up a Retroid Pocket 2, I have yet to get Retroarch running properly because I haven't had the time, but it came with PPSSPP installed and that runs great. From what I've read, the Retroid Pocket 2 also does manage N64 pretty well, so that'll be something to see.

 

[Sarge]

@ShakeWell : Yeah, the S-Video is pretty solid on there - that's what I use on mine. I'd love to see what a deblur mod with the RGB looks like, though, and maybe I should track down a Gameshark to mess around with disabling some of the AA that way.

 

[ShakeWell]

@ShakeWell : Yeah, the S-Video is pretty solid on there - that's what I use on mine. I'd love to see what a deblur mod with the RGB looks like, though, and maybe I should track down a Gameshark to mess around with disabling some of the AA that way.

It looks good.

 

[Sarge]

Gettin' me awfully tempted to track down a spare N64 to mod...

 

[ShakeWell]

All the footage in my Resident Evil 2 video for that version was capture on eTim's board with the Borti de-blur turned on, if that helps.

 

[Sarge]

I don't have a good frame of reference for RE2, but that is definitely some really clean looking output there.

 

[Phantoon]

I got my Saturn out because Christmas Nights, but played some other stuff too. It's amazing, even two minutes of Marvel Super Heroes puts me in the best mood. It's just a perfect game.

I need to get back into Steep Slope Sliders, I played a huge amount of it in Uni and it was huge fun.

SCART on an HDTV is not the best of times though.

 

[Phantoon]

I tried to play Vampire Hunter on my Saturn yesterday but the disc was warped. Fortunately it's fixable and I got to play it after all but it reminds me that CDs and DVDs will all eventually die. Does anyone know what the best SD mod is for the Saturn? I don't know if Rhea / Phobe and Mode work on the specific model I have and the Satiator looks extremely pricey.

 

[Sarge]

Terraonion claims the MODE works with both 20-pin and 21-pin models. The Rhea/Phoebe are alternate versions for 20/21-pin versions, too. I've heard the Rhea/Phoebe are hard to get your hands on, but they work well from what I hear. I'm guessing the MODE is fine, too. Fenrir is an option if you're willing to wait for a bit longer in the event you have the 21-pin version - it's the cheapest of them all, although a few games don't work. (Namely, Bug and multi-disc games that don't let you save before the disc swap. Firmware updates are supposed to be coming, though.)

 

[ShakeWell]

Does anyone know what the best SD mod is for the Saturn?

Currently, I'd suggest the MODE or waiting a short time for the Satiator to be publicly available. I've also heard good things about the Fenrir. The guy who makes Rhea/Phoebe is kind of a self-important dick, so I'd say NOT those.

 

[Phantoon]

Thanks guys, sounds like the MODE might be the way to go.

 

[Sarge]

If I might ask, which model of Saturn do you have? Does it have oval or round buttons?

 

[Phantoon]

Round. It's a PAL model, not sure if that's significant, but it's already rocking some mods on the advice of the official UK Saturn magazine. Things got really bad for the Saturn here...

 

[Sarge]

Hmm, I don't know with PAL models, honestly. If it's anything like the US, it's a Model 2 and I believe all of those are 21-pin models.

 

[Pheeel]

Just got around to updating the firmware on my OSSC for the first time in around two years, holy shit there's an actual on-screen menu now! You can actually see all the options without having to squint at the LCD front-panel, wow!

They've also dramatically improved the quality of some of the line-doublers, for the first time I've been able to use my Wii without the display appearing to be trapped behind a layer of vaseline. I might actually attempt a Skyward Sword playthrough now.

 

[ShakeWell]

Anyone here know of good after-market PS1 and PS2 memory cards, or am I best off just hunting down originals on eBay, etc?

 

[Sarge]

Hmm... I don't know on PS2, as I've never heavily used anything other than legit cards. I have a bunch of Max Memory cards for PS2 but I've never put heavy time on them, and I know they're slower than legit cards, too. Some folks not happy with them from my quick scan.

As for PS1, I ran several Performance-brand cards for a long, long time, and they still work great. Both single and 2X variants.

Still, I'd probably just go legit - I have no idea how good modern replacements are.

 

[Ghost from Spelunker]

Nyko 8MB PS2 memory cards are Sony-approved and they come in fun colors!
I've stored my PS2 and PS1 game data on one for over 10 years with no problems.

 

[Yimothy]

I find myself thinking about upgrading my mega drive’s tv connection again. At the moment I’m running through the HD retrovision component cables to a retrotink 2x (second batch of original version). It’s perfectly adequate and there’s no real reason I need to upgrade. My main problem is there’s a flaw in the tink that means I get no sound through it unless I hold the mode change button down, so I have to run the sound through my stereo - the tink guy claims it’s a compatibility issue with the TV and not his problem if I remember right. The other problem is how my TV handles 480p - it’d be nice to have a device outputting a higher resolution to reduce my TV’s involvement in resizing it.

I’m thinking about either an OSSC or going MiSTer. The latter would cost a bit more but I’d wind up with a more versatile device. I have a retrode so I’d be using ROMs I took myself from original carts, and I’d be able to put on stuff from other systems. On the other hand, I’ve sunk a lot into running the original console - the component cable, a power base FM, a 2.4g wireless controller. And there’s just something about running original hardware. Dunno. Or I could get a Mega SG for a lot more money again (international shipping on those means I’d be paying almost 1.5x the already high base cost).

I’ve heard that modified PAL consoles like mine can have trouble running in 60hz mode on OSSC because of a slight difference in the actual running frequency. I’m not sure if it’s something I’d notice and I’d probably mostly be playing PAL games at 50Hz, but that might make it suboptimal.

 

[Phantoon]

Yeah, I think you're in a similar place to me. I'd love to mod my consoles to get them fully up to date, but they're all 50Hz so I don't know how worth it it is. I set up a MiSTer and adore it, but there's still something magical about the original hardware.

 

[ShakeWell]

For me, the big deciding factor would be how many consoles do I have that aren't on MiSTer? (Full disclosure: I have a Framemeister which I got long before I got a MiSTer.)

If you have anything from Saturn onward, with the exception of PS1, which is coming along swimmingly as far as I know, the OSSC will be a better bet, because, well, you'll be in good shape with stuff beyond what you have access to on FPGA.

On the other hand, MiSTer supports stuff that isn't on console at all (CPS Dash is fantastic and will be public soon, no doubt, and CPS2 is coming, etc). I mean, ultimately, both are good to have, but if it's only one for a long time, that would be my big factor in deciding.

ALSO: I have no experience with 50Hz systems, so I don't know how that actually does factor into OSSC compatibility.

 

[Yimothy]

After a whole lot of umming and ahhing about it I decided to get a Mega SG to replace my ailing mega drive. Probably not the most sensible option, but I want something that looks nice and I can stick carts into. Then I thought maybe if I’m gonna spend hundreds of bucks in a mega drive maybe I should run it past my wife, which I did. And now the damn thing is out of stock. I swear it was in stock this morning, definitely yesterday.

Maybe this is a sign I should try to fix the MD. Or put together a MiSTer.

 

[MCBanjoMike]

You literally can't buy a system of any kind from Analogue right now. What the fuck are they even doing? Anyway, if you decide to build a MiSTer, you'll find a whole bunch of happy, helpful users over in the MiSTer thread!

 

[Phantoon]

I think it's supply chain difficulties. Analogue aren't a big firm so they don't have much swing with suppliers.

 

[Yimothy]

Apparently the Super NT has been out of stock since February, so I might be waiting a while for the Mega.

 

[Sarge]

I don't know how often the RetroUSB AVS goes out of stock, but they're almost always available when I check, so I have to wonder if it's just an Analogue thing.

 

[muteKi]

You literally can't buy a system of any kind from Analogue right now. What the fuck are they even doing? Anyway, if you decide to build a MiSTer, you'll find a whole bunch of happy, helpful users over in the MiSTer thread!

I would strongly encourage this. Mega SG doesn't have Sega CD stuff built in, after all

 

[Yimothy]

The thing I want is a replacement for my old mega drive that I can use my old carts with and will give a good picture on my modern TV. The Mega SG is exactly that. The MiSTer is probably a more sensible option with its broader range of system supports and greater flexibility in terms of setup, but I can just see myself spending hours and hours fiddling with the settings and very little time actually playing games on the thing. I’m not really interested in the extra functions and aesthetically I’d rather have the neat little SG rather than the assemblage of random stuff that the mister would wind up as. Plus even though I’ve got a retrode and I’d be playing roms taken by me from my own carts, somehow it’s not the same as plugging the cart in to the system directly.

I think mostly I’m just spewing that a system that’s been out for almost two years sold out on the day I was going to buy it. Very frustrating, and probably makes me want it more than I otherwise would. Analogue don’t seem to be too big on giving any idea of when new stock might come in, either. I’ve put my email down to be notified when it comes back, but it’d be nice to have some idea when that might be. Given their other systems all seem to sell out immediately and the SG appears to have taken 21 months to run out of its initial supply I’m guessing it won’t be their top priority to resupply.