The Open Source Cartridge Reader Helps Preserve Your Games And Save Data

I might have to splurge on this, seems pretty sweet.

please, can we have just one comments section without breathless concern trolling about "piracy?"

Well, this is going to come in very handy for a lot of people.

Now, can this be used as an actual console in its own right?

Hi Damo,
You wrote an article on 4th Feb 2022 about the Save The Hero Project's version of Sanni's OSCR. I followed your advice and picked one up so that I could play my old Mega Drive and SNES games on the Analogue Pocket, and it works really well. I'm guessing this is the next version, assembled by someone else, would that be right?

I’m a bit torn about how to feel regarding this offer.

The reader itself is excellent, and I can’t praise it enough. My concerns lie with these kits, especially their pricing.

The Sanni Cart Reader is an open-source project designed for DIY enthusiasts. I understand that not everyone is able or willing to build it themselves. Ordering the parts, organizing the 3D printing, arranging for the PCB to be printed, and programming the CIC chip are time-consuming tasks. Then, there's the assembly, which involves soldering—not something everyone can or wants to do.

The project is fully open-source, which means Sanni, the creator, has indirectly given permission for the device to be sold commercially. So, from the shop perspective, it’s perfectly fine for people to sell it, and those who can’t or don’t want to build it themselves are glad to have a ready-made option.

Where I take issue is with the pricing. Even when ordering parts in small quantities to make about 10 units, material costs can be reduced to around $70 or less. Ordering in bulk for 100 units could bring that cost down to under $50 per unite.

The cheapest pre-assembled kits are priced at $200, while DIY kits cost around $125 without a case and $145 with a case. The only real work done with these kits is flashing the CIC chip. Other than that, the parts (which cost $50 to $70) are simply packaged together. I find the prices a bit excessive given that. Both for the complete build but especially for the single parts package.

What’s really problematic, though, is that Sanni, the creator of the project, doesn’t see a cent from this. The shops are making over $50 just for sorting the parts, and well over $100 for assembling the unit, all without even acknowledging the person whose work their business is built on. For me that feels wrong.

Regardless of how you feel about thes offering in general, at $250, this one is the most expensive option for a pre-assembled cart reader. If you’re looking for such a service, it’s worth considering whether you can find a more affordable alternative.