Retron 5: 4 months later

[foxhack]

Who is "they" I know Hyperkin released source code. But I am not aware that they have released their encryption keys.

Link?

They was an apparently unrelated tweet that someone threw at me a while back, I take back the statement since I can't verify its source or that it's even related to this whole mess.

[davifus]

Uhh Ohh Hyperkin you dun Goof...

Stealing Codes from other Emulators and then playing Dumb?

There might be a possible chance that Retron 5 might be taken off the shelf... maybe

I should get one before that happens...

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/28/retroarch-authors-retron-5s-emulators-code-violate-licenses/

[dashv]

Who is "they" I know Hyperkin released source code. But I am not aware that they have released their encryption keys.

Link?

They was an apparently unrelated tweet that someone threw at me a while back, I take back the statement since I can't verify its source or that it's even related to this whole mess.

Fair enough. If you happen across the info again please share!

[burningdoom]

I thought Nintendo let the NES patents slip into public-domain. I thought I had heard that's why so many NES clones exploded onto the market at once.

So if that's the case, then how can Nintendo sue?

[turf]

I thought Nintendo let the NES patents slip into public-domain. I thought I had heard that's why so many NES clones exploded onto the market at once.

So if that's the case, then how can Nintendo sue?

It's not Nintendo that can sue.  It's all those folks that worked on making the emulators.  Hyperkin used the SNES9 emulator for the SNES games and another free emulator for the Genesis games. 
Those were built with the agreement that they would be given away and could never be sold. They've been sold as part of the Retron5.

[burningdoom]

I thought Nintendo let the NES patents slip into public-domain. I thought I had heard that's why so many NES clones exploded onto the market at once.

So if that's the case, then how can Nintendo sue?

It's not Nintendo that can sue.  It's all those folks that worked on making the emulators.  Hyperkin used the SNES9 emulator for the SNES games and another free emulator for the Genesis games. 
Those were built with the agreement that they would be given away and could never be sold. They've been sold as part of the Retron5.

Okay, I see.

[evilnick]

I have been tempted to get one of these retro consoles for a while, but I'm not sure which one to get.  Is there a recommendation/analysis/rating thread just for these things?

My NES is still the same console it was from my youth, but is also the fussiest machine I own, and that's after I replaced the pin connector inside it.  It's better than it used to be, but is still not very smooth.  Do they have one of these Retrons or retro consoles that also accepts various Atari games?

[foxhack]

I have been tempted to get one of these retro consoles for a while, but I'm not sure which one to get.  Is there a recommendation/analysis/rating thread just for these things?

My NES is still the same console it was from my youth, but is also the fussiest machine I own, and that's after I replaced the pin connector inside it.  It's better than it used to be, but is still not very smooth.  Do they have one of these Retrons or retro consoles that also accepts various Atari games?

I think one of the Flashback models had a way to have a cart connector be added to it via modding.

[dashv]

I have been tempted to get one of these retro consoles for a while, but I'm not sure which one to get.  Is there a recommendation/analysis/rating thread just for these things?

My NES is still the same console it was from my youth, but is also the fussiest machine I own, and that's after I replaced the pin connector inside it.  It's better than it used to be, but is still not very smooth.  Do they have one of these Retrons or retro consoles that also accepts various Atari games?

The Retron 5 is as good as it gets for SNES, Genesis, Master System, GB, GBC, GBA, Nes, and Famicom.

I know of nothing like it for the Atari.

[evilnick]

I have been tempted to get one of these retro consoles for a while, but I'm not sure which one to get.  Is there a recommendation/analysis/rating thread just for these things?

My NES is still the same console it was from my youth, but is also the fussiest machine I own, and that's after I replaced the pin connector inside it.  It's better than it used to be, but is still not very smooth.  Do they have one of these Retrons or retro consoles that also accepts various Atari games?

The Retron 5 is as good as it gets for SNES, Genesis, Master System, GB, GBC, GBA, Nes, and Famicom.

I know of nothing like it for the Atari.

Ahhh, okay.  Well, I'm still confused about one thing, then:  You said it loads and runs via emulation.  Does that mean it has all these games built into it, and the cartridge just "unlocks" the emulated game, or that the Retron merely "pulls" the entire game from the cartridge, and then runs it in emulation?

[evilnick]

I have been tempted to get one of these retro consoles for a while, but I'm not sure which one to get.  Is there a recommendation/analysis/rating thread just for these things?

My NES is still the same console it was from my youth, but is also the fussiest machine I own, and that's after I replaced the pin connector inside it.  It's better than it used to be, but is still not very smooth.  Do they have one of these Retrons or retro consoles that also accepts various Atari games?

I think one of the Flashback models had a way to have a cart connector be added to it via modding.

Ahh, gotcha.  I've never been big on modding, as I like my game hardware to be as "authentic" as possible.  That, and I don't necessarily trust my abilities. 

I wonder what the hold-up is in getting a slot on there for, at least, Atari 2600/7800.

[dashv]

I have been tempted to get one of these retro consoles for a while, but I'm not sure which one to get.  Is there a recommendation/analysis/rating thread just for these things?

My NES is still the same console it was from my youth, but is also the fussiest machine I own, and that's after I replaced the pin connector inside it.  It's better than it used to be, but is still not very smooth.  Do they have one of these Retrons or retro consoles that also accepts various Atari games?

The Retron 5 is as good as it gets for SNES, Genesis, Master System, GB, GBC, GBA, Nes, and Famicom.

I know of nothing like it for the Atari.

Ahhh, okay.  Well, I'm still confused about one thing, then:  You said it loads and runs via emulation.  Does that mean it has all these games built into it, and the cartridge just "unlocks" the emulated game, or that the Retron merely "pulls" the entire game from the cartridge, and then runs it in emulation?

It dumps the rom from the cartridge into memory then plays it via an emulator.

[evilnick]

I have been tempted to get one of these retro consoles for a while, but I'm not sure which one to get.  Is there a recommendation/analysis/rating thread just for these things?

My NES is still the same console it was from my youth, but is also the fussiest machine I own, and that's after I replaced the pin connector inside it.  It's better than it used to be, but is still not very smooth.  Do they have one of these Retrons or retro consoles that also accepts various Atari games?

The Retron 5 is as good as it gets for SNES, Genesis, Master System, GB, GBC, GBA, Nes, and Famicom.

I know of nothing like it for the Atari.

Ahhh, okay.  Well, I'm still confused about one thing, then:  You said it loads and runs via emulation.  Does that mean it has all these games built into it, and the cartridge just "unlocks" the emulated game, or that the Retron merely "pulls" the entire game from the cartridge, and then runs it in emulation?

It dumps the rom from the cartridge into memory then plays it via an emulator.

Oh, okay.  I guess I was over-thinking it.

[blipcs76]

I finally picked up a Retron5 a week ago and I'm really liking it.  The controller sucks, but works OK for quite a few games.  Save states are fantastic for making punishing games more tolerable, and for never having to enter a password ever again!  And the upscaling is wonderful.  These games look phenomenal on my TV. 

The biggest reason I wanted one was so I could play retro games in my home theater.  I've got a 720p projector that displays a 100" screen, and I've tried hooking consoles up via component and they look horrible.  The Retron5 however looks gorgeous on that screen.  Add in the sound system and it really breathes new life into many older games.  Journey to Silius sounds amazing pumped through the R5 into my home theater sound system.  I have to disagree with dashv that retro games shouldn't be viewed larger than 40".  I played some Castlevania, Sonic 3 and Mega Man last night and watching those characters rendered at about 1 1/2 feet tall is awesome! I have a 40" LCD in my living room and they look wonderful on that screen as well.

I do have one main concern though.  The connectors do grip the carts really tightly.  I looked last night and a bunch of the pins in the NES slot are already bent, and I've been trying to be careful while using it.  Its still loading games fine, but I'm worried that in two months its going to be too screwed up to read carts any longer.  Anyone know if you can bend the pins back without taking the system apart, or should I just return the system for a replacement?

[dashv]

I finally picked up a Retron5 a week ago and I'm really liking it.  The controller sucks, but works OK for quite a few games.  Save states are fantastic for making punishing games more tolerable, and for never having to enter a password ever again!  And the upscaling is wonderful.  These games look phenomenal on my TV. 

The biggest reason I wanted one was so I could play retro games in my home theater.  I've got a 720p projector that displays a 100" screen, and I've tried hooking consoles up via component and they look horrible.  The Retron5 however looks gorgeous on that screen.  Add in the sound system and it really breathes new life into many older games.  Journey to Silius sounds amazing pumped through the R5 into my home theater sound system.  I have to disagree with dashv that retro games shouldn't be viewed larger than 40".  I played some Castlevania, Sonic 3 and Mega Man last night and watching those characters rendered at about 1 1/2 feet tall is awesome! I have a 40" LCD in my living room and they look wonderful on that screen as well.

I do have one main concern though.  The connectors do grip the carts really tightly.  I looked last night and a bunch of the pins in the NES slot are already bent, and I've been trying to be careful while using it.  Its still loading games fine, but I'm worried that in two months its going to be too screwed up to read carts any longer.  Anyone know if you can bend the pins back without taking the system apart, or should I just return the system for a replacement?

I didn't say they shouldn't be viewed on a screen larger than 40 inches.

I said they are painful to view on displays larger than 40 inches from 6 feet away.

I enjoy how they look on my 55 inch display when sitting on my couch 13 feet away. But the wireless controller makes the experience more painful than it should be from a playability standpoint.