Hyperkin Retron 5 Announced, Plays Cartridges of Nine Systems.

[Foxi4]

Who in their right mind would use the analog stick for retro games?! He's asking about CC support because of the standard d-pad, something I admittedly also would prefer for many of these older games. Sure micro switches are great for fighters, but then again he also mentions the TVC fighting stick...

Why on Earth would anyone prefere the WiiMote's D-Pad over any other available controller in the known universe?

I seriously don't get it - the WiiMote has 2 buttons and a mediocre D-Pad at the ready when held horizontally, that's not a lot of buttons.

 

[stomp_442]

No Odyssey2 support?

 

[Bladexdsl]

Microswitches are great for pin/mame cabs dunno about anything else. you don't use them for joystick though, for that you want something with gold leaf switches or the ultra-stick plus as I can't stand the clicking noise

 

[MelodieOctavia]

I don't really get the target audience of this thing. You need the original cartridges to use it, so you need to have the old stuff. But in that case, you'd probably have the old console lying around as well, and I don't see anyone buying this to buy legit games for if you can just use emulators. It's a neat device though, and not bad for that price.

Nothing will ever beat the original hardware. This is true, but for one, the consoles dont last forever, while the cartridges could withstand a nuclear strike.

Also, I would rather not have all these systems hooked up to my TV at any given time. an all-in one solution would be ideal. And anyone that has played with a Neo-Geo pocket knows about the magical awesomeness of microswitches. The difference between analog sticks and micro switches is pretty much the difference between a bud light, and a hand-crafted micro-brew.

 

[J-Machine]

The fact this thing plays gameboy games and has a built in upscaler is more than enough for me to get interested in this project. I spent a good 170 dollars to get my systems to output component but some tvs simply wont accept 240p anymore or do so poorly. sadly items like the retron 5 will be needed for purists on a budget or space issues. I mean having a nes, super nes, genesis with an added bonus of the portable systems on a tv saves tonnes of space, allowing people to store all their retro consoles away to prolong their life.

Don't get me wrong I doubt this will a faithful cloning by any means but for what it offers (easy and lazy yet cost effective multi system player for the HD era) this will easily find a place in the homes of many retro enthusiasts.

 

[Eerpow]

Why on Earth would anyone prefere the WiiMote's D-Pad over any other available controller in the known universe?

We're talking about the CC here, but just because you brought it up, the Wiimote sideways is still better than the 360 or PS3 d-pads. (yeah I'm happy Sony finally abandoned their usual d-pad design)

 

[Foxi4]

We're talking about the CC here, but just because you brought it up, the Wiimote sideways is still better than the 360 or PS3 d-pads. (yeah I'm happy Sony finally abandoned their usual dpad design)

Oh, that thing? No, just... no... the Classic Controller is still a poor one as far as I know...

I'm going to counter all this by saying that the Retron 5 takes the original controllers of all the systems it emulates so... that's probably the best you're going to get, uh-huh.

 

[Hadrian]

Microswitches are great for pin/mame cabs dunno about anything else. you dont use them for joystick though for that you want a gold leaf stick

Play Sonic Pocket Adventure on the NGPC and then go play a Sonic game on something else with a regular d-pad, you'll want that microswitch controller back for sure. I'd love to say "fuck you all SNES controller > all" but that isn't true.

 

[Bladexdsl]

Play Sonic Pocket Adventure on the NGPC

don't have one

 

[Foxi4]

The difference between analog sticks and micro switches is pretty much the difference between a bud light, and a hand-crafted micro-brew.

For retro games (which is the context here), microswitches are indeed like being touched by God since the games don't "understand" the analog input which has to be processed to an understandable format which is often hit and miss, on contemporary games though, analog's taking the crown unless very precise movement in one of 4/8 directions is required (fighting games, mostly)...

...I digress.

 

[Bladexdsl]

I play all my snes, genesis etc games using the gamecube controllers analog just fine and it's a godsend with games like landstalker

 

[Foxi4]

I play all my snes, genesis etc games using the gamecube controllers analog just fine and it's a godsend with games like landstalker

...oh dear.

 

[Bladexdsl]

The wavebird is just too awesome though
I tried to use the d-pad and I just can't use it anymore even though I've previously used it all my life

 

[PolloDiablo]

Playing a NES game with a analogue stick, modern day d-pads or a Wiimote is more retarded than anything. You clearly haven't used a microswitch d-pad otherwise you wouldn't say such things and if you say you have you are a liar.

The NGPC one is so damn sweet it made me want Nintendo to implement it in their line of handhelds.

the NGP is a really cool handheld... but some people found the clicking noises annoying. The Neo Geo AES arcade stick and the Neo Geo CD controller does the same. Here, take a look... they made the Neo Geo X, both handheld and arcade stick, with microswitches too

you say I'm a liar? I say you're deaf

 

[the_randomizer]

I'd only get one if A, it looked decent/filtered on an LCD and/or B, I had the know-how of soldering on batteries back in the carts.

 

[Eerpow]

Oh, that thing? No, just... no... the Classic Controller is still a poor one as far as I know...

I'm going to counter all this by saying that the Retron 5 takes the original controllers of all the systems it emulates so... that's probably the best you're going to get, uh-huh.

I'm not against what you're saying, I just thought it was weird that you mentioned the analog stick on the CC for old games and not the dpad.

I can't remember what the NGPC felt like as I never owned one but I'm a big fan of micro switches in fighting sticks so I have a clue what they're like at least. D-pads just have a special feel for some even if they're not the superior alternative, but because of my limited experience I can't comment much on what I personally would prefer.

 

[Foxi4]

I'd only get one if A, it looked decent/filtered on an LCD and/or B, I had the know-how of soldering on batteries back in the carts.

Pretty sure that with Save States saved on an SD card or whatever internal storage this unit may have would solve that problem for you without having to resort to surgery.

 

[Bladexdsl]

B, I had the know-how of soldering on batteries back in the carts.

It's actually pretty easy; I did one to my secret of mana cart a long time ago.

 

[tbgtbg]

Cool in theory, but given Hyperkin's track record, I'll stick with my actual vintage hardware. That way I KNOW it will play everything right.

 

[2ndApex]

Oh, that thing? No, just... no... the Classic Controller is still a poor one as far as I know...

I'm going to counter all this by saying that the Retron 5 takes the original controllers of all the systems it emulates so... that's probably the best you're going to get, uh-huh.

Classic Controller isn't the nicest DPad but it's not bad (360 and PS3 ugh) and the button layout isn't horrdenous like the controller that comes with this so it's a decent choice since I already have one anyways.