New Genesis Consoles ETA: Summer 2009

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh, alright then.

[Akito01]

Right, so, according to the video and all the press information I've been able to find, the RetroGen is the unlicensed portable with the cartridge slot, while the licensed portable with the built in games doesn't have the cartridge slot (it looks much like the MegaDrive portable AT Games put out in the UK a year or so ago). The download aspect seems specifically tied to this Firebox thing, which I know little about.

Wow, I feel strangely conflicted with the whole thing. I mean, the FC Mobile II kicked amazing amounts of ass, and a lot of the reason for that was due to the incorporation of feedback from the fan community. On the other hand, the RetroDuo was an amazing clone, so I can't say anything bad about Innex either.

By going out the door first, this at least gives a chance to improve on any imperfections on that design and release a superior machine. Note that the RetroGen seems to have only a mono speaker and no Mode button (at least, I'm assuming that the button on the top left is the reset button rather than a mode button). As for the home console clones -the Sonic head design looks a lot cooler than the squat box Innex has cooking, so even if everything else is the same in terms of hardware, at least there's that.

Shit, I'm actually conflicted. I'm looking at the pre-order screen for the RetroGen at fifty bucks and wondering if I should pull the trigger. I mean, I can always afford to get the Digital Pocket when it comes out if it turns out to be a superior device (that's more or less what I did with the FC Mobile and FC Mobile II). Grrr, brand loyalty or play portable Genesis games in a month?

[Sonicwolf]

Im still pretty confused about all this. What to do, what to think.

[T2KFreeker]

Well, Tofu did show up here at my house this morning to allow me to play the Hyperkin system for a review I am doing on it for the Video Game Magazine I work for, which is Retro Video Gamer. I can tell you all this much without blowing my whole review. It has a very nice TFT screen that looks to be around three inches. The D-Pad and buttons are nice and it does have 20 games built in. Also, Japanese carts do fit the system quite nicely without having to force them in or pull your arms out of their sockets to get them out. The weight on the system is very light, which is also a plus. It has a rechargeable battery with a typical life span of ten hours before recharging and it has the ability to hook it up to the television. As a whole, I am impressed. I cannot speak for Innex because I have contacted them about doing a review of their systems and have heard nothing back. Personally, I was very happy to be able to play around with this unit and will be getting it on release, which is cool that I feel this way because I have never had any desire to get a Genesis clone, until now. It is a really nice system with some nice design work put into it. Hope that this clears some of the confusion up.

[Sonicwolf]

I cant wait to get mine. It will be awesome.

[MachineGex]

Thanks for the quick review,T2KFreeker. Like I said, if the system is half as nice as the FC mobile 2, I will be happy. It sounds like a winner.

[Sonicwolf]

Now we need to find someone to make that rom playing Atari 2600 portable...

[T2KFreeker]

Now we need to find someone to make that rom playing Atari 2600 portable...

Have fun with that. I'm happy with a 2600 portable that would play the actual carts, to be honest. That would rock. A Turbo Duo clone with the CD ROM would rock too because they are just too expensive as is.

[T2KFreeker]

As a quick one, I finally heard back from Innex. They will be supplying me with sample systems as well. I look forward to reviewing them also. Hyperkins system is still awesome though.

[samsonlonghair]

So did you ever get your hands on the Innex portable? Is it on par with the Hyperkin portable? Do they share the same features?

[Leo_A]

They're from the same source though, aren't they? So they shouldn't be too different.

I was under the impression this one includes built in games, the Sega license, and a cartridge slot, and that their counterparts differ only slightly (1 with the license and built in games without a cartridge slot, and a second model without built in games and including a cartridge slot).

Or am I mistaken? The information being given on these isn't terribly clear.

[samsonlonghair]

I've been following this since February, and with all the changes it's starting to get confusing. Having a cartridge port is definitely better than not having one. An SD card slot could either be awesome or totally useless depending on what you can do with it.

[Sonicwolf]

If there is no cartridge port I refuse to purchase them.

[T2KFreeker]

So did you ever get your hands on the Innex portable? Is it on par with the Hyperkin portable? Do they share the same features?

I have not gotten the Innex system yet. They should be sending out the samples towards the end of July. Good news for me as my Magazine deadline is July the 30th. Should arrive to me right under the wire. Just to get a few things out of the way to help out though:

Hyperkin Handheld Specs (Still Unnamed):
Direction Buttons
Six button arcade layout
Color TFT Screen
Rechargeable Battery Pack
USB Port
20 Built In Licensed Games
Great Compatibility

Innex system Specs (RetroGen)(As I know Them):
Direction Disc
Six Button Arcade Layout
Color LCD screen
Rechargeable Battery Pack
USB Port
No Built In Games
Unknown Compatibility as of yet

The other system you guys are talking about from Innex is the "Portable for Sega Genesis" which has the built in 20 games. From what I am understanding, it initially was supposed to have a cart slot for Genesis games, but they decided to drop it since they are building the RetroGen, which is the Innex Portable. I still have not gotten my hands on the Innex system so I can't say for sure what it has, but once I know, I'll let you all know a brief summery of it/ For my full review, you need to buy the magazine!

Hopefully I will get to screw around with the actual Genesis systems themselves that they are releasing as well, who knows. Either way, I am trying to stay as unbiased between companies as possible. Both companies seem to try and put out new Retro stuff, and I am happy with that.

[Sonicwolf]

Im wondering if Virtua Racing will work on these things.

[T2KFreeker]

Im wondering if Virtua Racing will work on these things.

It does not on the Hyperkin model, however, from what I have seen and heard from Tofu, he is trying very hard to have that be one of the 20 free games that come with the system. Not too sure how that is panning out at the moment though. As for the Innex system, I have no clue and wont know until I get my grubby little paws on one!

[Sonicwolf]

I retract my question about Virtua Racing as I dont even like the game anyways.

[tofu]

I retract my question about Virtua Racing as I dont even like the game anyways.

I chatted with AtGames about Virtua Racer and they said auto makers would not extend licensing.

I always thought those little cars in Virtua Racer were generic?

[todesengel]

Yeah that is odd that they said that about Virtua Racing, there are no officially licensed vehicles in that game.

[samsonlonghair]

I chatted with AtGames about Virtua Racer and they said auto makers would not extend licensing.

That sounds like a BS excuse to me. Maybe there's a technical reason the hardware in the portable can't play virtua Racing. I know the cartridge contained the Sega Virtua Processor. Maybe you can't load the ROM unless you can emulate the SVP. The cars are definitely generic.


T2kFreeker, will you post a link to your retro video gamer magazine's website? I definitely want to read the upcoming issue.