@sdelfin Very well put together and I agree with all you say. Still, my personal choice, even if FPGA would be perfect already, personally I see limited benefit.
What I'd really like the most would be a simple, legit way to play every game ever released. Either through a well done virtual console kind of market place, or even something like the Evercade.
If we could have official retro consoles by the OG manufacturers and a way to buy 16-bit games for about 10,- digitally or max 30,- in some form of modern cartridge, I'd be all over it. Especially if modern retrogames would be supported too.
As my final thoughts on this, I feel like the retro gaming scene is in much better shape (if you leave out horrendous secondary market prices for OG carts from back in the day) than the actual modern AAA games market. The only thing "healthier" than all of it, probably is mobile gaming, but only from a financial point of view of course. And yes there's overlap. But old people like me can't consider mobile gaming as gaming.
@Razieluigi Thank you for elaborating, and I am NOT against FPGA. The more options, the better. It just seems to me that it's hard to develop, clumsy, buggy, ridden with delays, etc... when, especially for 16-Bit systems, Emulation has come a long way and is near perfect.
I just wish Analogue would do reruns of their Mega SG... :/
I wonder if a "big player" like Nintendo ever gets back into Retrogaming in a serious fashion. Like providing an actual useful, near complete and legal (i.e. paid for) way to enjoy the titles you want.
@Azathoth I hear you, just not sure about "older games are more forgiving" - it really depends on the series. But this particular one in question, I enjoyed the classic games quite a bit so this is great news!
Unfortunately I get Nintendo. That said they should offer a convenient way to enjoy their back catalogue for a reasonable price and I think most people will go that route.
But that's an age-old debate that has led nowhere so far.
While the aesthetics are subjective and "interesting" - it makes it look like something out of a Fallout game imho - I don't see anything revolutionary or "different" in this. I would imagine it is an absolute NIGHTMARE with the thumbsticks so close together and then trying to reach for the L and R buttons.
Honestly, this OG DMG formfactor has been done to death and should have never gone beyond emulating 2-button systems.
For SNES and beyond, still 2D an OG GBA kind of design would be perfect (4:3 screen, digital inputs), no thumbsticks needed. That RG-ARC S for Sega fans, also no analogue sticks needed.
For everything more modern, with 3D graphics and smooth input needed, something like a VITA has been the best formfactor with widescreen 16:9 screen, responsive thumbsticks and analogue triggers. At least that's how I feel.
@nocdaes While I agree that the tone is a bit "on the edge" I wholeheartedly understand the frustration. It's the same with that "Lord of the Rings" garbage on Amazon. If I take an established franchse I better be prepared to incorporate and understand it's legacy. Otherwise just name it something else. No? Oh you want the publicity an established brand provides? Fine, then you need to provide the expected feel and quality. It's that simple.
If you don't want to sell Big Macs in your McDonalds, you might as well not take the franchise and sell whatever you like, call it something differently and suffer from "no one knows who you are".
EDIT: I watched the trailer AFTER I wrote my comment and I have to admit that the game LOOKS (from the little we can grasp) just like you would expect from a modern beat'em up called Double Dragon. I don't think there was any ill-intent on the side of the dev team when making this. It's seems like a "natural progression". Still I have no idea how the game feels, of course, but I wonder if it was any different if they made it pixel-arty and call it "neo retro". Worked great for reviving Turtles beat'em ups. I'd love to know what the OG devs think about the Double Dragon Gaiden thing that I quite enjoyed, even though it did NOT feel like Double Dragon at all, which in my book peaked with Super Double Dragon.
Sorry for long text. Kudos if you suffered through it all.
I don't know. When I see this I think "modern DMG" and not "Analogue Pocket". Because this design has been done to death and while I love TrimUI and my old GB, the shoulder buttons in this form factor give me handcramps.
Still waiting on a OG GBA formfactor device for everything Nintendo and some better CFW the RG-ARC-S for everything Sega.
@KingMike I don't think it takes much to make something like Flappybird and back in the day Klik'n Play Games, if done well, could easily hold their own with early Windows games of the time.
@Digglerdig Uhm what? Honestly I don't care for modern gaming, still enjoy conversation though. I'm perfectly capable of enjoying old stuff, be it movies, books or video games and support the occassional indie project without feeling like I miss out. It's all good. There is a retro-trend kinda going on and industry will react accordingly, like it always does.
"If you can't create a trend, follow one." is and was a viable business model after all.
@KitsuneNight Don't forget all that political-infused messaging too.
And yes, Xbox360 is a good point. XBOX, XBOX360, both are wildly playable. Also PS2 and most of PS3 of course. All that remastering is a joke anyhow. If you have a fast PC and "backed up" all your PS2, PS3, XBOX360 and Wii games (don't forget the Wii) and scale it up via emulation, oh my those games look good.
@Bod2019 it's not only in gaming though. It's everywhere. You still see growth and interest in everything retro or indie. Movies are stale AF, series crash and burn left and right while the classics still sell like hot cakes. And it's no wonder. Especially the period between 1980 and 2010 were 30 years of great content and technological advancement.
We've entered the realms of diminishing returns when it comes to tech and we as sure have reached a critical point in our civilization. Usually limitations birth creativity, think of old systems and technical constraints. We've been living and prospering too long through too good of a time, it rots societies, creativity and takes away the spark from everything.
I'm honest to god more excited for re-releases of 30 year old games or these old games themselves on their OG hardware than I am for anything "cutting edge" that has come out the past couple of years.
I don't care what what cost 30 years earlier. Thing is the PS5pro is a marginal upgrade at best, so all the games you can't play because they are not there look a bit better or run a bit better. That's it.
Retrogaming is receiving another boost and I feel like this would be the perfect timing for a Switch 2 announcement (with a sub 500 pricetag).
@KitsuneNight true that - I really dig the evercade concept - it’s just the hardware does not convince me in a marked filled with retro handhelds of all breeds!
I have a really hard time following what every character is doing, like the framerate is off and there is too much going on, too little contrast. Anyone else or is it just me being old?
@AJB83 You could still make it like you have your well-crafted SEGA tracks sprinkled throughout an open world map, so just instead of selecting a race from a list and press Start, you actually drive to the locations where it then is a "closed track" race. But I'd love to fool around and go haywire with "sega physics" not gonna lie!
To me it feels like SEGA is the eternal underdog, mostly because they are stumbling over their own feet and keep doing so for decades.
There is so much dormant potential. I'd even go as far and say they could dabble into consoles again, with the latest gen consoles somewhat stagnating, looking at the Nintendo Switch, which basicly is a remaster/remake/indie/retro gaming console, I feel like there's a place for a professional retro console with a digital storefront where you can legally buy old back catalogues (imagine virtual console, just way bigger and more ambitious).
I'm of course just dreaming. But SEGA is sleeping on so many gems of yore. I hope that whole new "revive old franchises" thing goes over well, but to be honest, I'm not so confident, just because of SEGAs track record and company structure.
I have some devices from Anbernic. Can't say I'm too happy. Especially software-wise these are often horrendous. CFW is not up to snuff most of the time either. Build quality usually is good though.
I love my filters, but this, especially when playing the lovely synths and twangs of the Mega Drive... n'ah.
I will develop something myself: A whole box of nothing, faithfully recreating the awesomely nostalgic feeling of not being able to afford buying your favorite Videogame, just like back in the day!
@KitsuneNight If you are into emulation you can still get a used mini PC for like 50 bucks, slap a CRT filter on your GBA games and play them like they were always meant to be on a home console.
I really don't like Anbernic. I love my RG ARC S (for obvious reasons) but the software is abysmal and the custom software is also not what I'd like to see. But oh my.
This thing seems to have the typical "bad" Anbernic D-Pad (Love Trimui ones) and again I think the thumbsticks are not really necessary for this kind of power in a device. But that's just me.
I'd love to get the Trimui Smart Pro over this, but the 16:9 screen AND the thumbsticks make absolutely no sense to me.
Finally someone with common sense. I have a plethora of retro handhelds and none work well across the bord for me. Anbernic is hit and miss for me, especially on the software side. A dedicated, modern "GBA clone" is an instant buy from me. GBA has a stunning library that deserves the best possible experience.
Comments 144
Re: "I Refuse To Sell This Sh*t" - MiSTer Pi Maker Praised For Classy Reaction To Production Hiccup
@sdelfin Very well put together and I agree with all you say. Still, my personal choice, even if FPGA would be perfect already, personally I see limited benefit.
What I'd really like the most would be a simple, legit way to play every game ever released. Either through a well done virtual console kind of market place, or even something like the Evercade.
If we could have official retro consoles by the OG manufacturers and a way to buy 16-bit games for about 10,- digitally or max 30,- in some form of modern cartridge, I'd be all over it. Especially if modern retrogames would be supported too.
As my final thoughts on this, I feel like the retro gaming scene is in much better shape (if you leave out horrendous secondary market prices for OG carts from back in the day) than the actual modern AAA games market. The only thing "healthier" than all of it, probably is mobile gaming, but only from a financial point of view of course. And yes there's overlap. But old people like me can't consider mobile gaming as gaming.
Anyways.
Long live 16-Bit glory!
Re: Cyclopean Is A New Old School CRPG Inspired By Lovecraft & The Ultima Games
This looks very... hmm. Hmm. "Artistic". Color me interested.
Re: "I Refuse To Sell This Sh*t" - MiSTer Pi Maker Praised For Classy Reaction To Production Hiccup
@Razieluigi Thank you for elaborating, and I am NOT against FPGA. The more options, the better. It just seems to me that it's hard to develop, clumsy, buggy, ridden with delays, etc... when, especially for 16-Bit systems, Emulation has come a long way and is near perfect.
I just wish Analogue would do reruns of their Mega SG... :/
I wonder if a "big player" like Nintendo ever gets back into Retrogaming in a serious fashion. Like providing an actual useful, near complete and legal (i.e. paid for) way to enjoy the titles you want.
Re: "I Refuse To Sell This Sh*t" - MiSTer Pi Maker Praised For Classy Reaction To Production Hiccup
Call me stupid, but I still don't get the FPGA craze. Diminishing returns anyone?
Not dumping on it. Just wondering.
Re: Classic Shmup Series Sonic Wings / Aero Fighters Is Getting A New Entry
@Azathoth I hear you, just not sure about "older games are more forgiving" - it really depends on the series. But this particular one in question, I enjoyed the classic games quite a bit so this is great news!
Re: Special Broadcast Being Held To Celebrate 40 Years Of Toaplan Games
@sdelfin Fully agree, quite the same experience here.
Re: Nintendo Is Now Going After YouTube Accounts Which Show Its Games Being Emulated
Unfortunately I get Nintendo.
That said they should offer a convenient way to enjoy their back catalogue for a reasonable price and I think most people will go that route.
But that's an age-old debate that has led nowhere so far.
Re: Anniversary: The Best Burnout Turns 20 This Month
Damn. I still remember playing this with my buddy like it was just a week or two ago.
Re: PowKiddy Is Actually Doing Something Slightly Different With Its RGB20 Pro
While the aesthetics are subjective and "interesting" - it makes it look like something out of a Fallout game imho - I don't see anything revolutionary or "different" in this. I would imagine it is an absolute NIGHTMARE with the thumbsticks so close together and then trying to reach for the L and R buttons.
Honestly, this OG DMG formfactor has been done to death and should have never gone beyond emulating 2-button systems.
For SNES and beyond, still 2D an OG GBA kind of design would be perfect (4:3 screen, digital inputs), no thumbsticks needed. That RG-ARC S for Sega fans, also no analogue sticks needed.
For everything more modern, with 3D graphics and smooth input needed, something like a VITA has been the best formfactor with widescreen 16:9 screen, responsive thumbsticks and analogue triggers. At least that's how I feel.
This makes absolutely no sense.
Re: Double Dragon Artist Says Double Dragon Revive Is "Cheap" And "Shows No Respect" To The Series
@nocdaes While I agree that the tone is a bit "on the edge" I wholeheartedly understand the frustration. It's the same with that "Lord of the Rings" garbage on Amazon. If I take an established franchse I better be prepared to incorporate and understand it's legacy. Otherwise just name it something else. No? Oh you want the publicity an established brand provides? Fine, then you need to provide the expected feel and quality. It's that simple.
If you don't want to sell Big Macs in your McDonalds, you might as well not take the franchise and sell whatever you like, call it something differently and suffer from "no one knows who you are".
EDIT: I watched the trailer AFTER I wrote my comment and I have to admit that the game LOOKS (from the little we can grasp) just like you would expect from a modern beat'em up called Double Dragon. I don't think there was any ill-intent on the side of the dev team when making this. It's seems like a "natural progression". Still I have no idea how the game feels, of course, but I wonder if it was any different if they made it pixel-arty and call it "neo retro". Worked great for reviving Turtles beat'em ups. I'd love to know what the OG devs think about the Double Dragon Gaiden thing that I quite enjoyed, even though it did NOT feel like Double Dragon at all, which in my book peaked with Super Double Dragon.
Sorry for long text. Kudos if you suffered through it all.
Re: "I Am Tired Of Receiving Death Threats Over A Video Game" - FPGA Dev Explains Why Mortal Kombat Is Skipping MiSTer
@GhaleonUnlimited Kinda reminds me a bit of the rabbit hole that is "the perfect mechanical keyboard".
Re: Review: UFO 50 (Steam) - An Indie Masterpiece Bursting With Fictional NES Nostalgia
Oh wow. I prefer 16-bit over 8-bit but 8-bit over mostly everything modern, so might give this a whirl!
Edit: Oh dang, I overlooked it's on steam only. Hm. Might as well be ported to Switch, who knows?
Re: The TrimUI Brick Takes Inspiration From The Analogue Pocket
I don't know. When I see this I think "modern DMG" and not "Analogue Pocket". Because this design has been done to death and while I love TrimUI and my old GB, the shoulder buttons in this form factor give me handcramps.
Still waiting on a OG GBA formfactor device for everything Nintendo and some better CFW the RG-ARC-S for everything Sega.
Re: "I Am Tired Of Receiving Death Threats Over A Video Game" - FPGA Dev Explains Why Mortal Kombat Is Skipping MiSTer
To be honest, I can't find a noticable difference between a game that runs on good hardware emulated or on an FPGA core.
ducks and runs away
Re: Retro Game Designer Will Let You Create Games For Dreamcast, Genesis, GBA, PS1 And Jaguar
@KGRAMR Oh thank you, that's some valuable information (and hopefully not some clever marketing ploy, haha). Guess I'll shell out the 35 quid then!
Re: Retro Game Designer Will Let You Create Games For Dreamcast, Genesis, GBA, PS1 And Jaguar
@KingMike I don't think it takes much to make something like Flappybird and back in the day Klik'n Play Games, if done well, could easily hold their own with early Windows games of the time.
Re: Think PS5 Pro Is Too Much At $700? The 3DO Would Like A Word
@Digglerdig Uhm what? Honestly I don't care for modern gaming, still enjoy conversation though. I'm perfectly capable of enjoying old stuff, be it movies, books or video games and support the occassional indie project without feeling like I miss out. It's all good. There is a retro-trend kinda going on and industry will react accordingly, like it always does.
"If you can't create a trend, follow one." is and was a viable business model after all.
Re: Retro Game Designer Will Let You Create Games For Dreamcast, Genesis, GBA, PS1 And Jaguar
Love this.
Used to have fun with "Klick'n Play" (later Game Factory) and if it's ANYTHING like that, I'm all in! Oh yeah!
Edit: It does look a little sketchy though... Hm.
Re: Toaplan's Wardner Is Getting A Physical Re-Release On Genesis / Mega Drive
Ahaha in your face PS5,
the Mega Drive got'em games bruh!
Love it.
Re: Toaplan's Slap Fight & Grind Stormer Are Being Reissued For Modern Consoles
Slap Fight Special Mode is great! Love it.
Re: Think PS5 Pro Is Too Much At $700? The 3DO Would Like A Word
@KitsuneNight Don't forget all that political-infused messaging too.
And yes, Xbox360 is a good point. XBOX, XBOX360, both are wildly playable. Also PS2 and most of PS3 of course. All that remastering is a joke anyhow. If you have a fast PC and "backed up" all your PS2, PS3, XBOX360 and Wii games (don't forget the Wii) and scale it up via emulation, oh my those games look good.
Re: Think PS5 Pro Is Too Much At $700? The 3DO Would Like A Word
@Bod2019 it's not only in gaming though. It's everywhere. You still see growth and interest in everything retro or indie. Movies are stale AF, series crash and burn left and right while the classics still sell like hot cakes. And it's no wonder. Especially the period between 1980 and 2010 were 30 years of great content and technological advancement.
We've entered the realms of diminishing returns when it comes to tech and we as sure have reached a critical point in our civilization. Usually limitations birth creativity, think of old systems and technical constraints. We've been living and prospering too long through too good of a time, it rots societies, creativity and takes away the spark from everything.
I'm honest to god more excited for re-releases of 30 year old games or these old games themselves on their OG hardware than I am for anything "cutting edge" that has come out the past couple of years.
Re: Think PS5 Pro Is Too Much At $700? The 3DO Would Like A Word
I don't care what what cost 30 years earlier. Thing is the PS5pro is a marginal upgrade at best, so all the games you can't play because they are not there look a bit better or run a bit better. That's it.
Retrogaming is receiving another boost and I feel like this would be the perfect timing for a Switch 2 announcement (with a sub 500 pricetag).
Re: Data East's Gory '90s Brawler 'Night Slashers' Is Getting A Remake Later This Month
https://www.freegameplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Night-Slashers-X-game-download.jpg
Re: Anbernic Reveals Another Game Boy-Style Handheld, The RG406V
"ChonkyBoy"
This is getting ridiculous.
Re: ModRetro Is "Certainly" Going To Create An FPGA Game Boy Advance
I hope it’s going to be in a OG classic shell and not the handcramp inducing SP!
Re: Genki Confirms We're Getting A New Tokyo Xtreme Racer
There's something about "city racers" I absolutely can't stand, I can't quite put my finger on it.
Re: Super-Camp Shmup Series 'Cho Aniki' Is Making A Comeback
@nuff64 lol, love it
Re: Sega Rally 2's PC Port Is Now Playable On Modern Computers
@KitsuneNight true that - I really dig the evercade concept - it’s just the hardware does not convince me in a marked filled with retro handhelds of all breeds!
Re: 'Perfect Lap' Is What Happens When Ridge Racer Type 4 And Auto Modellista Have A Baby
@Bonggon5 Sounds like a tangy rapper name
Re: Interview: "Our Goal Was To Preserve The Original Pixel Art" - X-Out Resurfaced Dev On Remaking The Amiga Classic
These popup windows are irritating AF. Otherwise looks nice!
Re: Namco's 1993 Fighting Game 'Knuckle Heads' Is Coming To Switch & PS4
I have a really hard time following what every character is doing, like the framerate is off and there is too much going on, too little contrast. Anyone else or is it just me being old?
Re: Man Sets Record For Most Gaming Consoles Connected To A Single TV
@Gamecuber Ah! I missed that! Good lad!
Re: Man Sets Record For Most Gaming Consoles Connected To A Single TV
Oh if I had the time and money...
Re: Sega Rally 2's PC Port Is Now Playable On Modern Computers
@AJB83 You could still make it like you have your well-crafted SEGA tracks sprinkled throughout an open world map, so just instead of selecting a race from a list and press Start, you actually drive to the locations where it then is a "closed track" race. But I'd love to fool around and go haywire with "sega physics" not gonna lie!
To me it feels like SEGA is the eternal underdog, mostly because they are stumbling over their own feet and keep doing so for decades.
There is so much dormant potential. I'd even go as far and say they could dabble into consoles again, with the latest gen consoles somewhat stagnating, looking at the Nintendo Switch, which basicly is a remaster/remake/indie/retro gaming console, I feel like there's a place for a professional retro console with a digital storefront where you can legally buy old back catalogues (imagine virtual console, just way bigger and more ambitious).
I'm of course just dreaming. But SEGA is sleeping on so many gems of yore. I hope that whole new "revive old franchises" thing goes over well, but to be honest, I'm not so confident, just because of SEGAs track record and company structure.
Basicly NintenDOES what SEGA don't.
And I hate to say that.
Re: Sega Rally 2's PC Port Is Now Playable On Modern Computers
Imagine if Sega would revive Sega Rally and Sega GT and give Rally the Forza Horizon Treatment and GT the Gran Turismo treatment! Once could dream.
Re: Forget The Olympics, Extra Life Café Is The Best Reason To Visit Paris
These Olympics are hard to forget for all the wrong reasons. lol.
Re: Anbernic Is Copying AYANEO's Homework With Its RG40XX V Handheld
I have some devices from Anbernic. Can't say I'm too happy. Especially software-wise these are often horrendous. CFW is not up to snuff most of the time either. Build quality usually is good though.
Re: This RetroArch Audio Filter Makes Your Games Sound Crappy, Just Like You Remember Them
@-wc- This!
Re: Adidas And Nice Kicks Have Revived The 16-Bit Console War, But With Sneakers
@Blast16 A pack-in foot you mean!
Re: This RetroArch Audio Filter Makes Your Games Sound Crappy, Just Like You Remember Them
I love my filters, but this, especially when playing the lovely synths and twangs of the Mega Drive... n'ah.
I will develop something myself:
A whole box of nothing, faithfully recreating the awesomely nostalgic feeling of not being able to afford buying your favorite Videogame, just like back in the day!
Peak Retroism! Haha.
Re: Random: Crazy Modder Adds A CRT Screen To The Game Boy
I can't believe I watched it all.
Re: Old Enough To Remember The Original Game Boy? Then Think About Screening For Cancer, Says Charity
That ruined an already ***** day lol. I guess I’ll take my chances thank you.
Re: Here's Why ModRetro's Chromatic Doesn't Play GBA Games
@KitsuneNight If you are into emulation you can still get a used mini PC for like 50 bucks, slap a CRT filter on your GBA games and play them like they were always meant to be on a home console.
Re: AYANEO Announces Price & Release Date For Pocket DMG And Micro Handhelds
I dont see this selling much. Might as well just get a Modretro Chromatic for that kind of money.
Re: ININ Games Announce 'X-Out: Resurfaced', A Remaster Of The Classic Underwater Shmup
Love this. throwing money
Re: Review: Anbernic RG40XX H - A Great Budget Emulation Device
I really don't like Anbernic. I love my RG ARC S (for obvious reasons) but the software is abysmal and the custom software is also not what I'd like to see. But oh my.
This thing seems to have the typical "bad" Anbernic D-Pad (Love Trimui ones) and again I think the thumbsticks are not really necessary for this kind of power in a device. But that's just me.
I'd love to get the Trimui Smart Pro over this, but the 16:9 screen AND the thumbsticks make absolutely no sense to me.
Weird. Seems like a missed opportunity.
Re: Here's Why ModRetro's Chromatic Doesn't Play GBA Games
Finally someone with common sense. I have a plethora of retro handhelds and none work well across the bord for me. Anbernic is hit and miss for me, especially on the software side. A dedicated, modern "GBA clone" is an instant buy from me. GBA has a stunning library that deserves the best possible experience.
So.... take my money already!
Re: Interview: "The Mega Drive / Genesis Is Built For Speed" - ZPF's Creator On Developing A New 16-bit Shmup In 2024
Wish I could make Megadrive games. I'd love to see two particular ideas realized on the hardware.
Re: $150 Handheld MiSTer With AMOLED Screen Starts To Take Shape
@Bonggon5 There's that FPGBC thing.