New retro consoles! Retron 3 and Retro Twin

[Akito01]

Of course this news would come out just as I picked up a Genesis model 2 the previous week (local Goodwill; all cords and controllers included, good shape, $12). Still, I've been on the lookout for this sort of 3-in-1 -specifically with S-video, since regular composite looks pretty terrible on my LCD, especially with the Genesis.

Any ball park release dates? I'd like to be able to use StoneAgeGamer's coupon codes, which have an expiry date.

[BetaWolf47]

Retron 3 I'm looking forward to. If it's an upgraded version of the NOAC used on the FCM2, it must be pretty good. The guy at Atari Age said that Castlevania 3 works. I'd like to see how it looks in its final stages. Official controller slots on all 3 systems was a brilliant design choice.

Retro Twin looks unnecessary. We have FC Twin, Retro Duo, FC Dual, and now this. Unless it can top Retro Duo there's really no point.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Since I'm sure he's going to carry these, I'd like to take a moment to recommend Stone Age Gamer's online store.

Of course I do the lion's share of my business with Joe at the DP Store, but if you're not local to Clifton NJ you shouldn't hesitate to pick up one of these units from www.stoneagegamer.com

I picked up a second Retro Gen unit a few weeks back and the price shipping time and packing were all top notch.

[neojapan]

And if you Live in Puerto Rico these will be available at Neo Japan Games so you don't have to pay shipping

[JimmyDean]

I'd like to see a clone that uses ORIGINAL HARDWARE. I'm talkin' real 6502 processor, a PPU with S-Video out, stereo sound, and best of all... It'd be toploading. But I'm dreaming. These NOAC clone companies are too damn cheap to do something like that. Well, I can dream. Or, I can just rip a PPU out of a Vs. Tennis and use that for my RGB. If only I had money...

[BetaWolf47]

Maybe the basic processor would help, but it's fine to use equivalents of video circuits and sound circuits like they've been doing. The FC3 Plus does actually use a Genesis video circuit and the Genesis video is still off.

[Eyedunno]

You know, Eyedunno, its very easy to region mod a model 1 genesis. Then you get a multiregion console with correct sound and the highest compatability possible!

I'm certainly willing to settle for 95% in the sound department though from a console that will play games from both Gen and NES. As I said before, I'm not really a huge fan of either console, and there are 10 or fewer games per console I would actually care to own (mainly the Mario games, Zelda, Shadowgate, and a few others for NES, and PSIV, the Sonic games, The Lost Vikings, and Decap Attack for Genesis).

What I've heard from clones thus far is nowhere near 95% though. The licensed Genny clones in particular are just atrocious (which is a shame, because the Firecore is absolutely gorgeous, IMO, and I don't even mind the lack of stereo).

[JimmyDean]

Yeah, but I want them to make a clone using the EXACT schematics. Except with VCR6 compatibility and stereo, so I can play some Japanese Castlevania 3 the way it was meant to be played. Or, I can hack up my NES, either one of the two. I already oc'd it, and this mf'er is screamin' for another mod.

[MachineGex]

The problem is cost. The makers have to keep cost down and make it as good as possible. I think the clones are very good for what they are. I love the ease of having just one system hooked up to my livingroom TV. I do however have all the original systems hooked up in my gameroom downstairs. For a second system or for a casual gamer, these systems are good.

[Heinz2001]

I really love the Wireless Controllers! I own all original Systems, but I what I really need is the Wireless Controllers for all my Systems.

SNES, NES, Genesis!

I don't need this Clones...i need Wireless Controllers for the original ones. I hope they make them in future. I would pay the same price for this as for the clones.


Ah here is an video of this new clone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh02fdAHD0s

[neojapan]

Saw the video..

no mario rpg compatibility, bummer.

Did he just say Paper mario? lol

[Icarus Moonsight]

I'm not one for clone hardware, but the Retron 3 has managed to catch my eye. $70 is a little more scratch than I would expect in the world of clones, but the features justify it. Just wish it wasn't so... Red. Ugliest possible console color ever IMO.

[BetaWolf47]

Saw the video..

no mario rpg compatibility, bummer.

Did he just say Paper mario? lol

My question is, which version of Super Mario RPG did they test?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

My question is, which version of Super Mario RPG did they test?

V1.0 (or, whatever the first run US version is) should run in any SNES clone, it runs on all the previous ones.

[BetaWolf47]

Well, I am still excited about this. Other than the Genesis side, FC3 Plus was a disappointment. I'll wait for your thread on it first though.

[Leo_A]

I'm not one for clone hardware, but the Retron 3 has managed to catch my eye. $70 is a little more scratch than I would expect in the world of clones, but the features justify it. Just wish it wasn't so... Red. Ugliest possible console color ever IMO.

Don't mind the colors, but hate the circular things at the bottom of the console at each corner. Makes it look terrible.

[JimmyDean]

Agreed. Those circular "feet" make it look uglier than it already is. When will we ever get a good-looking clone?

[T2KFreeker]

Agreed. Those circular "feet" make it look uglier than it already is. When will we ever get a good-looking clone?

When you fork out the money to build it yourself.

This system looks to be pretty cool. Classic VGM will be reviewing this one also, so as soon as I get this in my hands, some opinion of what it can do will be left here. Seriously though, the fact that it uses the same chip set as the Tech Toy Genesis systems do, I am sure we will have close to perfect emulation on the Genesis side of things. The system also runs Castlevania III perfectly. I guess we will see though. Either way, you want perfect compatibility, then don't get a clone system. Easy answer.

[IronBuddha]

I'll wait around and see if they're compatible with Powerpaks. If yes then I'm about to drop some serious money here soon.

[Ed Oscuro]

If I ever see one of these I'm going to scratch out the "RET" and add "MO." What an ... interesting choice of name.

S-Video, no big deal, already got that on the SNES, and the A/V FC / NES don't need it. Would be more interested in VGA out or something similar. I guess we'll eventually be seeing horrible things like emulated scanlines to HDMI on these retroclones so perhaps I shouldn't wish for anything, because they'll make it.

On the video circuitry side, there definitely are some improvements that can be made with the NTSC color encoder chip, just as Arasoi.

Except with VCR6 compatibility and stereo, so I can play some Japanese Castlevania 3 the way it was meant to be played.

At the very least that would require breaking compatibility with the NES since those pins weren't wired up. I think (though may be wrong) that would hold true even if you used a converter to change the number of pins (Famicom and NES have different numbers of pins as we all know, and some games use them).

The problem is cost. The makers have to keep cost down and make it as good as possible.

You can say this about anything. They are going to have to spend some money reverse engineering the system already; how much can components with performance equivalent to hardware that's 20+ years old cost?

Unless there is absolute perfect compatibility and special new features (specifically ones that would assist in multiple video output, capturing replays, etc.) are added, clones can't interest me.