General Retro Discussion

[Cube]

I wish the controller was better. A second stick analogue stick would be nice, with options to swap the sticks around and invert them, especially for FPS games.

 

@Ike they do look good in 4K (although no idea how they'd look on this).

[Dcubed]

I'm sure it'll be a lovely piece of hardware, but I already have a MiSTer, an RGB modded N64 + Retrotink 2x + Everdrive (+ most of the physical carts I want; I don't play anything via the Everdrive I don't already own) and the Switch N64 NSO service... My N64 needs are well covered.

Without Open FPGA support? I can't justify a purchase; especially when I already have a MiSTer and an Analogue Pocket + Dock already.

1 hour ago, Ike said:

I can't decide if I want one. Probably only play OoT and MM on it. Mind you, those at 4k!?

Keep in mind that the games are still running in their original 240p/480i resolutions, just upscaled to 4k via the built-in video scaler.

If you have a Retrotink 4K? That'll do the same thing.

Edited October 16 by Dcubed

[S.C.G]

3 hours ago, Ashley said:

I'm kind of tempted too. Bought Beetle Adventure Racing months ago and have nothing to play it on. 

I offered you an N64, that offer still stands.

Mind you... with space being a consideration, the Analogue consoles are typically smaller than the original hardware, so this would be a decent buy, especially as it has expansion pak support built in.

- - - - -

I always said if Analogue made an N64 console I'd be interested, but then... that was a year or two ago, and I didn't know I'd be running a shop which sells videogames at that point, so financially, I probably couldn't justify it right now, even though it is a good price.

Plus, as I understand it, there's a chance that an Everdrive won't work with it? If that's the case, then that makes it not quite as appealing, as I'd want to play not only standard carts on it, but also new versions of games I already own, such as the upcoming Return to Yoshi's Island based on Super Mario 64.

As a piece of hardware though, which is aimed at preserving retro games? This is fantastic, and I would totally pre-order one if I had the required amount spare right now.

At just over £200 or so, including shipping and customs combined, it's very much worth considering.

Your average original N64 console with an Expansion Pak, in good condition can set you back around £100... plus all the required hardware to upscale etc, it would cost the same, if not more.

We'll see how the rest of the week goes, I could still pre-order one...

[Dcubed]

9 hours ago, S.C.G said:

I offered you an N64, that offer still stands.

Mind you... with space being a consideration, the Analogue consoles are typically smaller than the original hardware, so this would be a decent buy, especially as it has expansion pak support built in.

- - - - -

I always said if Analogue made an N64 console I'd be interested, but then... that was a year or two ago, and I didn't know I'd be running a shop which sells videogames at that point, so financially, I probably couldn't justify it right now, even though it is a good price.

Plus, as I understand it, there's a chance that an Everdrive won't work with it? If that's the case, then that makes it not quite as appealing, as I'd want to play not only standard carts on it, but also new versions of games I already own, such as the upcoming Return to Yoshi's Island based on Super Mario 64.

As a piece of hardware though, which is aimed at preserving retro games? This is fantastic, and I would totally pre-order one if I had the required amount spare right now.

At just over £200 or so, including shipping and customs combined, it's very much worth considering.

Your average original N64 console with an Expansion Pak, in good condition can set you back around £100... plus all the required hardware to upscale etc, it would cost the same, if not more.

We'll see how the rest of the week goes, I could still pre-order one...

There's no reason why the Everdrive wouldn't work with it.  All of the previous Everdrives have worked on the Analogue consoles, people are just scaremongering online for kicks.

But yeah, this is a great price for the hardware this is packing.  If I didn't already have a bunch of hardware that can play N64 games? I'd be all over this.

[Ashley]

On 10/16/2024 at 11:33 PM, S.C.G said:

I offered you an N64, that offer still stands.

Mind you... with space being a consideration, the Analogue consoles are typically smaller than the original hardware, so this would be a decent buy, especially as it has expansion pak support built in.

- - - - -

I always said if Analogue made an N64 console I'd be interested, but then... that was a year or two ago, and I didn't know I'd be running a shop which sells videogames at that point, so financially, I probably couldn't justify it right now, even though it is a good price.

Plus, as I understand it, there's a chance that an Everdrive won't work with it? If that's the case, then that makes it not quite as appealing, as I'd want to play not only standard carts on it, but also new versions of games I already own, such as the upcoming Return to Yoshi's Island based on Super Mario 64.

As a piece of hardware though, which is aimed at preserving retro games? This is fantastic, and I would totally pre-order one if I had the required amount spare right now.

At just over £200 or so, including shipping and customs combined, it's very much worth considering.

Your average original N64 console with an Expansion Pak, in good condition can set you back around £100... plus all the required hardware to upscale etc, it would cost the same, if not more.

We'll see how the rest of the week goes, I could still pre-order one...

That you did! 

But I won't actually get it for the same reasons I said to yourself. I won't actually play it, it's just new tech so naturally I want it. But I won't. 

[Ike]

Got my order in 

Either it's not in as high demand or they've allocated a lot more this time but it's still available. Site didn't die either.

[killthenet]

I got through to payment details but in the end decided against ordering one, I would have done if they offered PayPal as an option, then I could have spread the cost out, but it was card only and I can't really afford to spend £230 all in one go at the moment.

Hopefully the next batch, or when they release the inevitable 'funtastic' colours I'll be in a position to splurge a bit

[Happenstance]

1 minute ago, killthenet said:

I got through to payment details but in the end decided against ordering one, I would have done if they offered PayPal as an option, then I could have spread the cost out, but it was card only and I can't really afford to spend £230 all in one go at the moment.

Hopefully the next batch, or when they release the inevitable 'funtastic' colours I'll be in a position to splurge a bit

Its always the shipping and import fees that stop me ordering anymore from them and then as you said, if they allowed Paypal then that hit would feel more manageable split over a few months.

[Ike]

Something like Monzo Flex* might be useful to look into if you want that without relying on the merchant having PayPal.

 

* Not an ad.

[S.C.G]

I seem to remember having issues the last time I tried to order something from Analogue's site, and ended up buying it on eBay instead, though cool as it is, I might end up selling the Analogue Pocket, as I've barely used it, and it doesn't quite do everything that I thought it would.

Streaming issues due to how the resolution works, and I can't play my Neo Geo Pocket Color flash cart on it, despite having the adapter, and updating it, and I've no idea if the NGPC core is even ready yet, still after some time.

It's still a great machine though for what it is.

- - - - -

As for the Analogue 3D, it's nice, really nice, but I don't play my N64 enough as it is, I have an RGB modded one which is fine, and although it has some nice features, and is reasonably priced, I don't really have the money for it.

Talking about all things N64 though, I did end up with an N64 with 24 cart only games, and six controllers today through my shop, so that's pretty neat, one of the pads is ice blue colour.

Oh, and I have a boxed Clear Orange N64 in the outer display cabinet, and a Pikachu N64 in the Pokémon display cabinet.

Anyway, I hope everyone gets an Analogue 3D who wants one, and has the money for it. I'd be interested to hear impressions when consoles start arriving.

 

[Ashley]

9 minutes ago, S.C.G said:

and a Pikachu N64 in the Pokémon display cabinet

Another thing I want but don't need. 

I think it's just because I wanted it when it first came out and now I'm like "well you could afford it now, but you won't use it"

I've swapped being time rich and money poor for being time poor and "can afford a novelty N64" rich

[Helmsly]

Donkey Kong Country came out 30 years ago this week, which apart from making me feel very old, made me go back and re-watch this video which Nintendo gave out on VHS to promote the game:

In America this VHS tape was given free to Nintendo Power subscribers. In the UK, if I remember correctly, it came free with a Football magazine and a friend at school got it that way and gave it to me. (It didn't come with Nintendo Magazine System as I brought that each month).

To state the obvious, this came out at a time when there was no internet to see game trailers and you only saw a game actually running if it got a commercial, appeared on Gamesmaster or your local gaming shops had them running on a Kiosk or demo unit. So to see footage of a game running before owning it felt special.

I was so hyped for this game that I must have watched this tape more then 50 times! The novelty of seeing the game in action added to that excitement, plus of course, the game looked incredible and fun so I couldn't wait to play it.

Weirdly, the tease of Killer Instinct at the end of this video was removed from the UK version and replaced with some commercials for the Gameboy, which featured a talking brain in a jar.

Edited November 22 by Helmsly

[Julius]

The latest episode of DF Retro sounds like a banger from the title alone...

Quote

This has been one of the ambitious DF Retro projects we've ever undertaken. What if Digital Foundry with all of the modern tools at its disposal - could have covered the mid-90s Sega Saturn vs Sony PlayStation cross-platform releases? We have a general idea of how the systems compared, but does the modern DF methodology make the case or bust the myths? It took time for our digital-based workflow to adapt to the analogue days of yesteryear - particularly on Saturn where no HDMI| mods exist - but here we are, and we think you're going to enjoy it. John Linneman kicks off proceedings with a look at the fifth generation consoles' line-up of driving and racing games.

Definitely going to need to make some time for this I think! 

[Happenstance]

Started a new Animal Crossing town on the Gamecube for some nostalgia. Despite the later games being better this was the one I always think of when I think of Animal Crossing, especially at Christmas. Still remember getting a friend to import my copy from Australia so I could play it.

[Happenstance]

Just backed the new version of the Odin 2 handheld that I use for retro and Android gaming. New chip and a 7" oled screen instead of the 6" lcd one in my current version. Should start shipping in January. I almost got the black version so 4:3 games blended better with the handheld for no obvious black bars but that Gamecube purple looked too nice.

[Dcubed]

7 hours ago, Happenstance said:

Just backed the new version of the Odin 2 handheld that I use for retro and Android gaming. New chip and a 7" oled screen instead of the 6" lcd one in my current version. Should start shipping in January. I almost got the black version so 4:3 games blended better with the handheld for no obvious black bars but that Gamecube purple looked too nice.

I’ll never understand why these emulation-focused devices ship with 16:9 screens when 99% of their use-case is spent on 4:3 games!

[Ashley]

Maybe a simple availablity thing? I imagine most screen production is 16:9 rather than 4:3 nowadays? Or certainly at that size, I can't imagine there's much demand for 4:3. 

[Happenstance]

There are loads of retro handhelds that are also 4:3, the lower spec ones tend to use that. The more powerful ones can take advantage of the 16:9 screen to play Android games, emulate newer systems or streaming current stuff.

[Dcubed]

1 hour ago, Ashley said:

Maybe a simple availablity thing? I imagine most screen production is 16:9 rather than 4:3 nowadays? Or certainly at that size, I can't imagine there's much demand for 4:3. 

There's certainly plenty of 4:3 handhelds out there (The Miyoo Mini immediately springs to mind), in fact, there's even a few 1:1 handhelds (for Neo Geo Pocket) and some 3:2 handhelds (for GBA) available!

I suppose the Odin line markets itself as a "premium"/"High-End" option, which is probably why they stick with 16:9; but it still strikes me as a poor choice, considering that 99% of its use will be spent on emulating 4:3 games anyway.

Edited December 15 by Dcubed

[Julius]

I mean, I guess it could belong in here, seeing as it would be retro by now  – a Wii build of Free Radical's Star Wars Battlefront III, recovered by the aptly named Free Radical Archive:

Quote

A new build of FREE RADICAL'S cancelled 2008 game STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT III for Nintendo Wii has recently been recovered by the FREE RADICAL ARCHIVE. This build is dated just over 1 week prior to the game's cancellation. This is potentially the last Wii build of the game ever tested. The following is a trailer recreating the PC game trailer that was created by FREE RADICAL in November 2008.

Quote

Following a decade of research, the Free Radical Archive has done what was once considered impossible: find a new build of Battlefront III. This build, made in the final week of development, is full of content that has not been seen before by fans. As this game was cancelled during development, there are still bugs and issues which we hope can be resolved through future modding.

This one never seeing the light of day is always going to hurt for me, had no idea that a Wii build was planned, and man, those surface-to-air (and beyond) shots always get me excited, as do the cutscenes for the campaign. 

After EA's Star Wars exclusivity deal dying and 2018's Battlefront II much improved since launch but no sequel in sight – will we ever see a Battlefront III? 

[Dcubed]

Pretty darn impressive for the ol’ Wii.  May even have given the Rogue Squadron games a run for their money if it had been released!

[Cube]

The first version of the PC port of Star Fox 64 is out (it currently does not support Lylat Wars).

So far, it pretty much has the game running authentically with a few minor graphical upgrades: higher resolution, widescreen, not using LOD models, keeping characters heads in their ship during gameplay and things like that. It feels pretty good. It also has various cheats (you can enable expert mode form the word go if you want), a level select and some bug fixes (although you can choose not to use them if you prefer).

 

Hopefully over time they'll be optional stuff such as adjusting fog/draw distance, texture packs, higher quality audio (the original recordings were recovered at some point, there's a romhack for the 3DS version that uses them), but definitely a good start.

[Cube]

There's something oddly satisfying about in depth videos about tiny aspects of video games, like the blue dog in Majora's Mask 

 

[Ike]

The 8-Bitdo Analogue 64 controller is up on Amazon UK in case anyone wants one. Says it's compatible with Switch & Windows in the listing...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0DK6TR997