AtGames Genesis clones at Walgreens

[Tupin]

Just picked one of these up, they're pretty cool even if the sound emulation is bad...

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/atgames-sega-genesis-nano-trainer-sonic-theme-tv-game-console/ID=prod6046677-product

Cool that you can take .bin files and put them on an SD card and they will work. :onfire:

[megasdkirby]

Did it work for you?

I purchased one last week for $25 and returned it because it was quite bad detecting the motion on the motion games. I tried tennis and the damn thing would not register correctly, starting a match or not.

Sound emulation was terrible. Some games sounded "acceptable", but many were grinding to my ears.

I did like the small Sonic logo on the left side of the unit, but it wasn't worth the $25 I spent. I exchanged it for a Microsoft Xbox 360 1600 points card.

[kirbykirb]

Can one of you guys post up the UPC barcode for it?

[Steve W]

Sound emulation was terrible. Some games sounded "acceptable", but many were grinding to my ears.
This now makes me want to buy one and play Shadow of the Beast on it. The music in that game was so grating on my ears, I couldn't imagine it being any worse. Maybe this machine will challenge that notion.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Those are infrared controllers are they not?

How terrible is the lag on those?

[megasdkirby]

Those are infrared controllers are they not?

How terrible is the lag on those?

The motion games were pretty much crap on those units.

The Genesis games, however, actually played properly. Quite responsive.

I did find out how they, the company, took each game and basically 'divided" them into levels or segments...similar to a level select of sorts.

Now, can someone clarify what the hell were the buttons on the side of the controllers, near the directional pad? Those NEVER worked for me...but I admit, I have no idea what they were used for anyway.

[Tupin]

Near the top of the remote? They are for plugging in those "attachment" things.

[ryborg]

FINALLY, a way to play Sonic at home

[tubeway]

Walgreens is clearing them out as xmas inventory now. fifteen bucks.

[InsaneDavid]

Those are infrared controllers are they not?

How terrible is the lag on those?

This is a quality product for $20.00 or so. ZERO lag with the input for Genesis games, it's pretty crazy that it works as well as it does.

There was a pretty big thread over at KLOV (http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=162981) about these starting back in mid December when they were in the weekly ad. Lots of information there.

Genesis play is pretty decent, the usual clone sound issues but solid performance and the controllers work really well for Genesis games. In other words the sound is fine, it's not perfect but come on - an SD slot all in one Genesis clone for twenty bucks? Honestly if you bought this to play the "motion" games you really are missing the point.

The only big issue is that the system always thinks there's a six button controller connected. The controllers themselves have four face buttons so you get A, B, C and X. If you shake the controller it registers that as the Y button. There is no Z button. So games that use the six button controller are pretty much unplayable. That's how the "motion" games work, it's looking for that Y button press from shaking the controller.

Here's one of my posts from the KLOV thread, I suggest everyone interested in these read that thread.

Still working great, here are some incompatibilities I came across.

Contra Hard Corps has a background scrolling problem which makes it unplayable.
Super Monaco GP / GP II have a screen tearing effect on the left side, still play fine.
Comix Zone will develop problems like Contra where the background isn't matching the platform detection.
Rockman Megaworld doesn't always want to load.
Streets of Rage 3 is a pain in the ass to play since the game thinks you have a 6 button pad connected. So every time you move the controller it does the function of the Y button I believe.

Games like OutRun and Ghosts N' Goblins have slow audio but again, audio emulation is always the catch with these clones. Castlevania, Micro Machines, Shinobi III, all fine.

The SD card submenu is buried at the bottom of the second menu from the title screen. The system will write an index file the first time it reads the card. If you add / remove games make sure you delete the index file so that it'll update the menu on the next pass. It also doesn't like SDHC cards for the most part. I would also recommend removing the wrists straps as it makes the controllers far more comfortable to hold.

I've played Moonwalker and Golden Axe III front to back on it without any issues.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Neat ... good to know that the IR controllers actually work decently.

Tempting at that price however between the plug & play Hong Kong Genesis controllers with the SD card input and the Gopher portable system (which also has SD card input and TV out) I think even I'll pass on this one.

Unless I need to go across the stree to Walgreens for some toilet paper or something.

[InsaneDavid]

Unless I need to go across the stree to Walgreens for some toilet paper or something.

LOL When I noticed the thread on KLOV (I was pretty late to the party on this one) I had nothing going on that night and my girlfriend was visiting some friends and had the car. So I decided I'd walk to the nearest Walgreens and pick one up. I walk a lot, it's good for me, it's good for the environment, everyone wins. It's about a mile and a half to the Walgreens, all city blocks, and I checked availability online before leaving. Most interesting thing about the walk was about 30 blocks were completely blacked out at the peak of rush hour and holiday shopping. The blackout began on the block down from my apartment. Crossing the expressway under those conditions, with no traffic lights, was an experience.

Anyway, it was also misting rain occasionally, the kind an umbrella doesn't do much to help with. I get to the Walgreens and they have no idea what I'm talking about. I show them the ad, have an employee scour the store with me, but no game system. I hang my head and begin the journey home. The traffic jam from the blackout meant that hopping a bus would have taken hours to cover what I could on foot in twenty minutes. I get home, soaked, cold and tired. But I was determined. I called the next closest Walgreens and they said they had a ton of them. I ask to have one put on hold and head out. By now the rain had stopped and I caught the last bus down in the other direction to get to the other Walgreens as it was quite a bit farther away. I get there, buy my system and catch the last bus back home. Got inside, dried off, turned the heater on and filled up an SD card with Genesis ROM images.

Was it worth it? Yeah. LOL I love stuff like this and it was an interesting evening adventure that would have otherwise been spent sitting at home playing Subspace or procrastinating about writing I should have been doing. I ended up buying a second one before they went off sale, just for the hell of it as a possible gift idea.

Strange as it sounds, if the damn thing wasn't shaped like Sonic's head I probably wouldn't have been as interested.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Since I trust David and I don't typically care much about Genesis clone audio issues I went across the street to pick one up from Walgreens.

I do NOT believe that the controllers are strictly IR. I completely blocked the IR sensor and was still able to move in Sonic the Hedgehog.

That is to say I'm completely impressed with this little thing. For $30 (that's what they ring up at now), with the SD slot and a BIN formatted Genesis full-set I'm happy to have it in my clone collection.

Audio stinks, but the controllers are WAY WAY above my expectations, especially after the nightmare/laugh-fest that is the Retron 3's IR controllers.

[megasdkirby]

That is to say I'm completely impressed with this little thing. For $30 (that's what they ring up at now), with the SD slot and a BIN formatted Genesis full-set I'm happy to have it in my clone collection.

Audio stinks, but the controllers are WAY WAY above my expectations, especially after the nightmare/laugh-fest that is the Retron 3's IR controllers.

Have you tried playing the motion games? Those are TERRIBLE with the controller. At least the one I returned, it would "work" whenever it felt like it.

I may pick this up again if it hits $15 or less. Just gotta wait.

[jeffg]

the walgreens I was at had them for $14.99, i got myself 1 and a backup

[megasdkirby]

the walgreens I was at had them for $14.99, i got myself 1 and a backup

When was it? This week?

I may need to check to see what I can find.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Have you tried playing the motion games? Those are TERRIBLE with the controller. At least the one I returned, it would "work" whenever it felt like it.

I may pick this up again if it hits $15 or less. Just gotta wait.

Hmm. Wonder why my Walgreens had it for $30. No big deal as far as I'm concerned since I like it.

As far as the motion side of the controllers go, well, those things are just silly, and I have a few of those HK Wii clones and Ping-Pong paddle games, It's on par with those IMO.

There's no real sensitivty in the motion recognition, so compared to a real Wii yes, it's crap, but as far as it recognizing each flick move that I did I didn't have any problems.

But, honestly I'm never going to play those games, as far as the Genesis side of things I'm floored at how responsive the controller is.

[InsaneDavid]

the walgreens I was at had them for $14.99, i got myself 1 and a backup

I think it might be a regional clearance thing for $14.99. A couple days ago I found one and it was ringing up at $29.99. Back when the thread started up at KLOV they were on sale for $19.99.


That is to say I'm completely impressed with this little thing. For $30 (that's what they ring up at now), with the SD slot and a BIN formatted Genesis full-set I'm happy to have it in my clone collection.

Audio stinks, but the controllers are WAY WAY above my expectations, especially after the nightmare/laugh-fest that is the Retron 3's IR controllers.

You can also get away with using extensions other than .BIN if I remember correctly. It's been awhile since I've played around with the SD card but I'm pretty sure it ran the other formats fine. .SMD and .GEN if I'm remembering correctly? Controller range is REALLY good. I think due to the amount of IR emitters on the controllers (something like five) it can throw out signal in a wide enough band that the technology isn't an issue.

If you remove the two screws on the controller nearest to the bottom you can pull it apart enough to yank out the wrist strap - far more comfortable. I also like that the battery compartment screws can be completely removed and the battery doors will remain on. I HATE the Fort Knox battery door screws that nearly everything uses these days. Of course if the old 80's Coleco tabletop VFD arcade games used those, they probably wouldn't be missing all the time. LOL

[bangtango]

I guess our Walgreens has their head in the sand.

That same clone unit was $15 around Christmas time but after the 25th, the price on it went back up to $45 and has stayed there ever since. I've continued to check and it hasn't gone down yet.

[megasdkirby]

Just checked to one of the Walgreens close to me. It's still for $29.99. Of course, prices do vary depending on the Walgreens. So I may check the other two locations to see if there is any price change.

[josekortez]

I'm extremely late to the party, but this thing is probably the coolest thing I bought for myself this holiday season. Still $29.99 at Walgreens almost a year later, but I lucked out and found one sitting on the shelf in the midst of a bunch of As Seen On TV products on Saturday.

It was extremely cool to see Aero Fighters running on this thing since most plug and play systems suck. I'm stoked.

[c2000]

That Walgreens site linked to a site 'to download more games'. (www.mugaatgames.net).
In the 'Trial Section' you can download some BIN's. This is what I got when I loaded the 'Mirror Mirror' BIN in KEGA Fusion ROFL

http://i.imgur.com/i287h.jpg

Only the sound (kinda) works, though.

[Ninja_with_ Glasses]

I saw one at my Walgreens and the controllers looked unplayable. Was there a controller port to plug in old Genesis controllers that I didn't see? That would change things drastically.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I saw one at my Walgreens and the controllers looked unplayable. Was there a controller port to plug in old Genesis controllers that I didn't see? That would change things drastically.

No option to plug in standard controllers.

The included controllers are fine for 3 button games and they have the absolute BEST IR sensors I've ever used on a controller of this type, it can practically pass as an RF wireless.

[Ninja_with_ Glasses]

No option to plug in standard controllers.

The included controllers are fine for 3 button games and they have the absolute BEST IR sensors I've ever used on a controller of this type, it can practically pass as an RF wireless.

Thanks for the info. Is the controller the same size as the Wii remote?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Thanks for the info. Is the controller the same size as the Wii remote?

Slightly smaller.

[InsaneDavid]

The included controllers are fine for 3 button games and they have the absolute BEST IR sensors I've ever used on a controller of this type, it can practically pass as an RF wireless.

It's crazy how good the controller IR sensors are. The connectivity and range are unbelievable for the technology. I wonder how much interference these controllers really throw off though. LOL

[old man]

Why not just buy a real genesis? They're cheaper than the clones and they work a hundred times better.

[BetaWolf47]

I picked up one of these for $10 and regret it. The controllers are laid out horribly, and have the cheap feel that many clone systems are plagued with. Whether the IR is good or not, that is canceled out by how bad the buttons and dpad are. Game choice is good, but sound emulation is bad. There are definitely better Genesis clones you can get.

[josekortez]

Why not just buy a real genesis? They're cheaper than the clones and they work a hundred times better.

I've got all three Genesis models, but it was cool to be able to carry a unit that was tiny enough to fit into my shoulder bag and give me a huge selection of games to choose from over the holidays. Really, it just a kitschy kind of item that is neat to have. I wouldn't consider it a replacement for the Genesis, just a cool thing to have if you're a fan of the system and those plug and play devices like I am.

And like David said, the controllers have a huge range. Over the weekend, I stood about eight feet away from mine while playing NBA Jam and had no problems. The motion controlled games weren't that great, but then again, those weren't the reasons why I bought it in the first place.

[megasdkirby]

I picked up one of these for $10 and regret it. The controllers are laid out horribly, and have the cheap feel that many clone systems are plagued with. Whether the IR is good or not, that is canceled out by how bad the buttons and dpad are. Game choice is good, but sound emulation is bad. There are definitely better Genesis clones you can get.

Reason why I returned mine. These units are really bad, no matter how good the IR is.

[otaku]

yet another item I want to buy here's hoping they have some left come next payccheck

[Richie]

Found one of these for $9 at a Kroger supermarket in Indianapolis yesterday. Haven't had an opportunity to try it out yet, but here's hoping for $9 worth of entertainment.

[retro junkie]

My wife got me one of these as a gift for Christmas knowing that I would fully enjoy something like this. I have the original Genesis and Nomad, but I do enjoy the clone systems. They are just fun gadgets to play with.

The remote, as has been pointed out, are surprising good and responsive to be IR. I am playing a lot of Genesis games on this thing right now. Most played is MUSHA. Music and audio is not that bad on most games, a lot better than the RetroGen, IMO And the compatibility is very good. My only complaint is that there is no save states for games that has that ability on the carts, so RPGs are a no no on this system.

I love this little system and it tops a lot of the clones that I have.