Retron5 finally has a release date

roflmao · 09/19/2013, 12:11 PM

I don't know if any of you have been following the development of the Retron5, but I think it sounds pretty slick. It was announced today that it'll be released Dec. 10 for $100.
http://hyperkin.com/blog/2013/09/hyperkin-to-release-retron-5-on-december-10-2013/

Here's another article describing the system, though the final product will probably look pretty different (at least what they showed off at E3 looked quite a bit different).
http://hyperkin.com/blog/2013/03/retron-5-details-revealed-from-the-midwest-gaming-classic/

For $100 you have a system that can play NES, Famicom, SNES, Super Famicom, Genesis, Mega Drive, Game Boy, GBC, and GBA. And it'll be compatible with the Sega Power Base allowing SMS games.

And it has save states!

There's a bunch of other audio and visual "enhancements" they also claim (all can be turned on or off individually), but frankly, I don't care for the smooth look they produce. It also has HDMI out.

If only they included Turbografx compatibility, this would have been the ultimate system.

bartre · 09/19/2013, 12:36 PM

yeah, i got a chance to fuss about with one of these at the last MGC.
pretty damned slick.

also, despite appearances, that controller is pretty boss.

JoshTurboTrollX · 09/19/2013, 02:38 PM

I want a Turbo/Huey slot....

Nando · 09/19/2013, 02:52 PM

Damn, that's impressive.

Would be a really good alternative for my kiddos to play with. Hmmmm. Score on the import gaming slots too.

I'm with Josh...

albatross · 09/19/2013, 04:05 PM

already pre-ordered one - cant wait! started buying famicom and super famicom games already

anybody have any fami and super fami recommedations?

bartre · 09/19/2013, 05:17 PM

hagane, pretty much all the pricey US games are way cheaper in noodles, go go ackman, ghost sweeper mikami, undercover cops.
plenty of good on SFC

ApolloBoy · 09/19/2013, 05:22 PM

Quote from: bartre on 09/19/2013, 05:17 PMhagane, pretty much all the pricey US games are way cheaper in noodles, go go ackman, ghost sweeper mikami, undercover cops.
plenty of good on SFC

That's largely the same deal with the Famicom as well.

esadajr · 09/19/2013, 05:32 PM

Someone should make a RetronCD. It will play PCECD, Saturn, SegaCD

roflmao · 09/19/2013, 05:33 PM

Quote from: esadajr on 09/19/2013, 05:32 PMSomeone should make a RetronCD. It will play PCECD, Saturn, SegaCD

Yes!!

Bardoly · 09/19/2013, 06:01 PM

Quote from: esadajr on 09/19/2013, 05:32 PMSomeone should make a RetronCD. It will play PCECD, Saturn, SegaCD

I actually discussed this idea with their guy at MGC this year, and he sounded very interested.

Tatsujin · 09/19/2013, 06:43 PM

albatross · 09/19/2013, 10:56 PM

i can see the prices a way cheaper for famicom - famicomtastic!

Tatsujin · 09/19/2013, 10:58 PM

no obey support = fail

but it's true, one does not simply can copy the obey.

albatross · 09/19/2013, 11:03 PM

looking at super mario rpg for sfc - is it playable even though its in japanese?

roflmao · 09/19/2013, 11:09 PM

Quote from: albatross on 09/19/2013, 11:03 PMlooking at super mario rpg for sfc - is it playable even though its in japanese?

I think it would be pretty challenging. There are some puzzles near the end I would find might tricky working through without some of the clues you read. Though if you're following a walk-through it may be doable.

albatross · 09/20/2013, 10:25 AM

never thought of that - i could just use some youtube for assistance - thanks!

TheClash603 · 09/20/2013, 10:36 AM

My game room has a fairly elaborate setup with all of the old consoles. Problem is, there is not way to play these games in my living room without dismantling my whole room.

My game room is appropriately sized for 2-3 people, so when I have parties the retro games largely go untouched.

I have never bought one of these clone systems before, but this one really has me interested. Also, my Gamecube is literally only set up for the GB Player, it would be nice to be able to shelve this system and make some more room.

If GBA gaming is done well, I am excited for this!

futureman2000 · 09/20/2013, 12:06 PM

I guess it will all depend on how good the emulation is on this one. I've heard that they have improved the sound and stuff with this one, but then they've said that prior Retrons too. Those wireless controllers sure would be nice in the living room.

Nando · 09/20/2013, 02:48 PM

Quote from: Bardoly on 09/19/2013, 06:01 PM
Quote from: esadajr on 09/19/2013, 05:32 PMSomeone should make a RetronCD. It will play PCECD, Saturn, SegaCD
I actually discussed this idea with their guy at MGC this year, and he sounded very interested.

DUDE!

Ninja Spirit · 09/21/2013, 09:08 AM

GBA slot =

wildfruit · 09/21/2013, 01:44 PM

i nearly preordered this yesterday but had second thoughts. i would love this so i could put away some of my consoles (space is limited) but it means i would have to put up with composite or buy an hdmi to scart.

Tatsujin · 09/21/2013, 10:10 PM

how does this thing look like on HDMI?

roflmao · 09/21/2013, 10:27 PM

Most (all?) of their videos on youtube have their visual enhancements turned on (anti-aliasing and whatnot) but you can see them here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/hyperkingames/videos

Tatsujin · 09/22/2013, 04:43 AM

So, no simple scanline abilities i guess.

roflmao · 09/22/2013, 10:39 AM

I've read that there will be a feature to turn scanlines on and off, but I knot think they've posted any videos showing it off yet.

c0ldb33r · 09/22/2013, 12:10 PM

I'm excited about this. I hope it lives us to expectations.

I won't lie though, I'm expecting the wireless controllers to suck.

roflmao · 09/24/2013, 06:23 PM

They just posted a video today of Super Mario World where the first half of the video has all of their video and sound enhancements turned off and the second half of the video has them all turned on (including scan lines). Watch it at 1080p, if possible.

I prefer everything off.

It also gives a good look at how the interface works. I'm digging it so far, though I still probably won't pick one up for at least a few months to make sure they work out any early bugs.

Tatsujin · 09/24/2013, 08:16 PM

Quote from: guest on 09/24/2013, 06:23 PMI prefer everything off.

so in other words it sucks.

roflmao · 09/24/2013, 08:49 PM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 09/24/2013, 08:16 PM
Quote from: guest on 09/24/2013, 06:23 PMI prefer everything off.
so in other words it sucks.

Not necessarily. They use the same filters found in most emulators, and I just don't care for the "smooth" look. I want my 8 and 16-bit sprites chunky! With the enhancements turned off, the system does a really good job upscaling to 1080p and keeping everything nice and sharp.

They posted a video of Donkey Kong Country not long ago and that style of graphics was the only time the smoothing effects seemed to make the game look better. But I've never been a big fan of the pre-rendered stuff on 16-bit consoles (aside from Sapphire).

The sound enhancements, imo, suck. They try to give the game more of a surround sound feeling, but it just sounds like the game is being played in a cave, under a bunch of blankets.

It still looks like a really cool system, though, and I'm glad the user has the ability to turn on and off the enhancements as they please. And I'm really excited about the save state function! I've also read that you'll be able to share your save states with others (there's a slot for a flash card), which could have a lot of promise.

bob · 09/24/2013, 09:04 PM

Aren't these things generally built like crap and break after a week?

Tatsujin · 09/24/2013, 09:37 PM

Quote from: guest on 09/24/2013, 08:49 PM
Quote from: Tatsujin on 09/24/2013, 08:16 PM
Quote from: guest on 09/24/2013, 06:23 PMI prefer everything off.
so in other words it sucks.
Not necessarily. They use the same filters found in most emulators, and I just don't care for the "smooth" look. I want my 8 and 16-bit sprites chunky! With the enhancements turned off, the system does a really good job upscaling to 1080p and keeping everything nice and sharp.

yeah I'm not talking about smoothing filters etc., they sure suck big balls. but when the scanlines fail then the whole thing fails, unless you buy an xrgb, but which then will cost you how many times more than that thing already does?

and no, I don't wanna see sharp 320*240 (or so) NES pixles on 1080p

MrFlutterPie · 09/28/2013, 01:36 PM

Quote from: galam on 09/24/2013, 09:04 PMAren't these things generally built like crap and break after a week?

My FC Twin I bought in 2008 is still working great.

How man 360's have people gone through in that time?

NightWolve · 09/28/2013, 03:30 PM

Interesting/cool machine. Just found out about it from a SNES Component Mod thread when somebody posted about this as an alternative since it outputs HDMI. Instead of messing around with old systems to mod them for S-Video or Component output, you can go straight to pure digital with this. I wonder about the 100% compatibility, if so, pretty impressive.

VenomMacbeth · 12/01/2013, 02:24 PM

So, seeing as how the release date for this draws nearer...is anyone thinking of preordering one?

Bloufo · 12/01/2013, 06:49 PM

Quote from: VenomMacbeth on 12/01/2013, 02:24 PMSo, seeing as how the release date for this draws nearer...is anyone thinking of preordering one?

I did pre-order one but now they have delayed the release date to "the first quarter of 2014".
Hopefully they can sort out whatever issues they're dealing with and get this thing to market.

ParanoiaDragon · 12/02/2013, 02:06 AM

Besides Turbo games, it'd be nice if this also could do Lynx, Game Gear, Wonder Swan & Neo Geo Pocket games! I'd love to be able to play those games on a tv, especially Lynx & NGP.

VenomMacbeth · 12/02/2013, 02:21 PM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 12/02/2013, 02:06 AMBesides Turbo games, it'd be nice if this also could do Lynx, Game Gear, Wonder Swan & Neo Geo Pocket games! I'd love to be able to play those games on a tv, especially Lynx & NGP.

Definitely game gear games. It would be nice to play GG games on a screen that doesn't completely suck.

esadajr · 12/03/2013, 01:51 PM

what I'd love to see is a retro-CD system. PCECD/SegaCD/Saturn That would be awesome.

For now, IMHO, (in terms of emulation) nothing beats a modded Wii with the controller adapter.