Retro gaming

[Ichinisan]

For those watching, Kevtris's HDMI NES mod might be out soon. GametechUS stopped taking new mod work to clear out all his existing backlog in anticipation of the release.

Yay! I want this done to my toaster, but I know that GameTechUS seems to specialize in top-loaders. I wonder if I should wait a while for him to revise / perfect their hardware and installation techniques.

...but I don't want to wait!

 

[Fallen Kell]

Yeah, it is a hard decision. I would say wait for at least the first batch to get out there and any problems ironed out. GameTechUS doesn't specialize in top-loaders, he just gets more business out of them because more people will send them in to mod for modern TV's since they only have piss poor RF output. The toasters at least have half decent RCA output without all the jailbar interference the top-loaders have to deal with.

 

[Ichinisan]

Yeah, it is a hard decision. I would say wait for at least the first batch to get out there and any problems ironed out. GameTechUS doesn't specialize in top-loaders, he just gets more business out of them because more people will send them in to mod for modern TV's since they only have piss poor RF output. The toasters at least have half decent RCA output without all the jailbar interference the top-loaders have to deal with.

Well, it's also because he developed a good technique for the RGB mod on the top-loader.

...or so I'm told.

 

[Fallen Kell]

On the Analog NT front, looks like they will have the last parts they need next week (they are waiting on the case bodies to arrive from their manufacturer which have been stuck in the shipping quagmire of the port of San Francisco for the last month). Units will start going out soon after.

 

[Ichinisan]

Why does Analog Nt not have little raised bars on the cart slot doors? The tiny bars serve a purpose. It ensures that the cartridge only contacts those two points and the whole door piece doesn't get scratched.

I'm confused by all the Famicom controllers they show. Multiple pictures show the system (with all 4 ports occupied), 2x NES controllers on the left and 2x Famicom controllers on the right. The Famicom controllers are marked "I" and "II" and one of them even has the microphone and volume slider. Those controllers were wired directly to the Famicom and were not detachable.

So I assume they're some kind of replica, but their store page seems to shoot-down that idea. They sell 3 controllers:

• New OEM NES controller
• New 3rd-party NES controller (replica)
• Refurbished OEM Famicom controller

Is it a real Famicom controller that's modified to have a modular connector? If it is, I would expect them to say so. I also don't see any way to choose if you're ordering controller #1 (marked "I" and has start/select buttons) or controller #2 (marked "II" and has volume slider with microphone, but does not have start/select).

It's also strange that they list a bunch of blog posts as "reviews" when none of those actually had the unit. Basically, those are just a bunch of blog posts from when news of the Analog Nt hit the Blogosphere. Those sites could only report on the same stuff we're seeing on the Analog Nt web site...so why are excerpts being presented as if they are testimonials? What use are the "reviews" if they're just commenting on the same pictures I can already see and judge all by myself?

It would be cool if they integrated Kevtris' HDMI solution instead of upscaling from analog RGB with an external device. If design is the big deal, why is the power button on the back of the unit?!

I'm not excited about Analog Nt at all.

 

[ghost recon88]

I'm wonder who their source is for a brand new OEM controller made in the 80s?

 

[Fallen Kell]

Why does Analog Nt not have little raised bars on the cart slot doors? The tiny bars serve a purpose. It ensures that the cartridge only contacts those two points and the whole door piece doesn't get scratched.

Well, when was the last time you saw plastic (which the carts are made from) scratch aluminum (which is what those doors are made from)? It is pretty redundant from purely a materials hardness level.

I'm confused by all the Famicom controllers they show. Multiple pictures show the system (with all 4 ports occupied), 2x NES controllers on the left and 2x Famicom controllers on the right. The Famicom controllers are marked "I" and "II" and one of them even has the microphone and volume slider. Those controllers were wired directly to the Famicom and were not detachable.

You can fit any standard NES wired controller into any of the 4 ports. They are simply showing the famicom controllers to show that even those work (once connected via an adaptor like those published on the web: http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/famicom_to_nes/index_en.php).

It's also strange that they list a bunch of blog posts as "reviews" when none of those actually had the unit. Basically, those are just a bunch of blog posts from when news of the Analog Nt hit the Blogosphere. Those sites could only report on the same stuff we're seeing on the Analog Nt web site...so why are excerpts being presented as if they are testimonials? What use are the "reviews" if they're just commenting on the same pictures I can already see and judge all by myself?

They are all under "Press and Reviews". I agree that I don't know why the links all say "read the review", but I would venture a guess that it is their website design software that puts the text of the link onto the page, and not someone manually saying this is specifically a review or press coverage.

It would be cool if they integrated Kevtris' HDMI solution instead of upscaling from analog RGB with an external device. If design is the big deal, why is the power button on the back of the unit?!

I'm not excited about Analog Nt at all.

I'm not so sure if I would want Kevtris' HDMI solution in place or not for this product. While Kevtris' solution appears to be very good, he is still essentially emulating the NES on an FPGA, taking the inputs/outputs from reading the data as it crosses the CPU and PPU and then effectively emulating NES. This is why he has had issues with certain games (and has been working on solutions). The Analogue NT isn't emulating the NES, but is simply a redesigned board with upgraded/updated electronics.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I'm wonder who their source is for a brand new OEM controller made in the 80s?

There are still thousands of them on the market. Stores all over North America had stock on shelves and warehouses. Nintendo didn't buy back all the unsold stock. You can still get factory sealed controllers if you look around.

 

[deanx0r]

Man, I am no where near as hardcore as some of those guys who dedicate a whole basement for their setup. It takes some serious dedication. After a few consoles, I realize the thing becomes a real clutter when I just want to keep thing nice and simple.

My current setup just consist of an iPad 2. The 4:3 screen is great for old school games, and emulators support some pretty good upscaler. It is just so convenient to be able to move your set up where you want with a wireless controller. And if I want to play on the big screen, I can just airplay it.

 

[HeXen]

This is as retro as I got.

 

[JD50]

Just picked up a sega saturn, any suggestions for good games that won't break the bank?

 

[deanx0r]

Panzer Dragoon, Shining Force, Guardian Heroes (also available on XBLA), Grandia, Dragon Force are the obvious ones. At the time, the Saturn was a great platform for 2D fighters and for those who could not afford a NeoGeo. As much as I love my Saturn, most of its games havent aged well compare to other classics.

 

[renz20003]

Just picked up a sega saturn, any suggestions for good games that won't break the bank?

Die hard arcade is like a 3d streets of rage, World Series baseball 98. Get an action replay for imports and check out marvel vs street fighter or any other capcom fighting game.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Well, Kevtris's NES HDMI mod should be out very soon (assuming no problems with the last prototype batch which he just received in the last 2 weeks or so).

 

[Fallen Kell]

Also, anyone hear/see anything new about Blinking Light Win? I believe some have started to ship and people have been getting them. I missed the kickstart by a couple days, but placed an order separately (at the time they had a link for people who missed out due to the shortness of the kickstart so they could order).

 

[Fallen Kell]

Well my Blinking Light Win arrived 😀

Gonna install it this weekend.

 

[Ichinisan]

I have a Twin Famicom on the way. Can't wait!

 

[Ichinisan]

It's gonna be a while before my Twin Famicom arrives, so I played some SNES today. Played a good bit of "Super Mario World" and "Illusion of Gaia" today. Great fun.

My friend sent me this link of a "musician" who blatantly ripped the Star Road music from SMW.

A little bit of "Contra III: The Alien Wars" (SNES) too.

 

[Ichinisan]

I'm confused by all the Famicom controllers they show. Multiple pictures show the system (with all 4 ports occupied), 2x NES controllers on the left and 2x Famicom controllers on the right. The Famicom controllers are marked "I" and "II" and one of them even has the microphone and volume slider. Those controllers were wired directly to the Famicom and were not detachable.

You can fit any standard NES wired controller into any of the 4 ports. They are simply showing the famicom controllers to show that even those work (once connected via an adaptor like those published on the web: http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/famicom_to_nes/index_en.php).

Famicom controllers were not detachable. In that link, that's a Hudson controller with turbo functions, which used the Famicom's extension port.

 

[SaurusX]

Another Craigslist find! $70 for the lot.

That's a complete SNES console with two controllers and instructions, boxed Super Metroid with instructions, Super Mario World, Legend of Zelda, Super Street Fighter 2, Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Donkey Kong Country, and... uh, Madden '93. Sweet!

 

[Ichinisan]

Another Craigslist find! $70 for the lot.

That's a complete SNES console with two controllers and instructions, boxed Super Metroid with instructions, Super Mario World, Legend of Zelda, Super Street Fighter 2, Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Donkey Kong Country, and... uh, Madden '93. Sweet!

That's awesome. You and I are both lucky to own SNES systems that didn't have the bad plastic mix (so we don't have any yellowing). Have lots of fun! Zelda, Super Metroid, and Donkey Kong Country are my favorites from that bunch.

I've been playing some beautiful SNES games recently (Illusion of Gaia, Donkey Kong Country, Super Metroid, Megaman X, ...). SNES had so many great games.

Even though the games are low-def, composite or RF output don't do them justice. I've been playing mine on a CRT TV with S-video and it looks great. RGB mods and special monitors just aren't necessary, IMO.

While playing N64 a few years back, I bought a few S-video cables for SNES/N64/Gamecube from a local shop and they were all awful. I hacked-up an official composite cable (after figuring out how to re-position the pins) and made my own S-video cable which had a great picture. i bought a bunch more on eBay for cheap and they were great.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Yeah, I lucked out on the SNES plastic as well, but I have recently picked up a RGB modded SNES Mini (I wrote about it here previously), which is what I play any more. Great find for $70, as the console alone is still getting around $30-40 and some of those games are easily $15-20.

Also, looks like the Analogue NT is starting to ship. They also released more information about their HDMI and upconverter. They appear to be grabbing the audio and video off the CPU/PPU and keeping it entirely digital (much like Kevtris's HDMI mod appears to do) for upconverting without needing a framebuffer to remove any lag from the process.

I sent an email requesting to have the HDMI added to my order (originally they had very little information out and it appeared they were using a standard up-converter on the video output stage, no different then say connecting the system to a mini-framemeister, which I already own).

 

[Fallen Kell]

Speaking of the SNES, anyone try something like the Super Everdrive or similar?

 

[lazybedone]

any one with recommendations on online car racing game I can test my new vpn speed with. Enough of slow connections for me 😛

 

[Ichinisan]

any one with recommendations on online car racing game I can test my new vpn speed with. Enough of slow connections for me 😛

3D Hot Rally, perhaps? Not really "online," but the FDS Fax system allowed kiosks to report your best times for national rankings.

I guess you can't test your VPN with that either. :hmm: