RetroN 5 is officially a thing, apparently

[treismac]

***Note: I'm not trying to be a bastard with this response, Satoshi Matrix, so please don't take offense.***

I do understand your point an see where you're coming from, but personally, I do not agree. While I wouldn't have an issue with Hyperkin adding in direct ROM support as an optional game input, I honestly don't feel it is needed nor practical. If you're going to be running an emulation machine that runs games directly off a storage device, at that point, you might as well use a modified Xbox or modified Wii, systems that are currently on the market and cost less than this fancy new device.

I always thought that a big selling point of multi-system clones was to consolidate your video game systems. If being able to play roms in addition to carts on the RetroN 5 means a gamer could shelf the space eating clunker that is the Xbox, then it would be very practical indeed.

The entire point of the Retrorn5 is to serve the retro community...

You could have stopped right there and been bang on. The RetroN 5 is a video game console. Playing video games is its purpose. As far as I am concerned, playing the physical cartridges of different retro systems is merely its means of doing such. Expanding its means of serving the retro community by adding rom support does no violence to the "point of the system" anymore then if someone buys the clone and pops in a flash cart for each respective system's cartridge slot.

Still, as I said, I'm not opposed to the idea of direct ROM support like the awful AtGames clones.... just saying that it isn't necessary.

Convenience and luxury are never necessary, and we are talking about a video game system rather than a toaster, after all. This clone could just have some hard-wired controllers and no controller ports and it would still be functional. HMDI isn't necessary either when a rf connector would suffice. If "the entire point of the Retrorn5 is to serve the retro community," let it serve us with gusto. The only reason to restrain from withholding convenience or luxury is either cost or legal concerns.

Reiterating the preface of my response, I'm not trying to be a jerk with my critiques of your comments. I just think that notions of "purism" being attached to aftermarket clones by gamers are misplaced. If the argument or sentiment is going to be made, implicitly or otherwise, that playing cartridges is sacred and that is what the RetroN 5 does, would not the same line of reasoning for the sake of consistency also cry sacrilege that the original hardware is not being used? From a functional standpoint, aren't the integrity of roms (providing they aren't corrupted) easier to maintain over attempts at replicating the hardware or performance of a video game system? I get that using physical carts over roms replicates the external experience more closely, and that is an important part of retro gaming for many, no doubt. I just don't think it tarnishes the experience of popping a cartridge into a clone if the thing also happens to be able to play roms.