Best way to play retro games?

[Raqib]

Hello everyone, happy Monday, hope you all are doing well.

I tried finding an answer for a while, but I haven't had any luck with a solid answer yet. I want to avoid using emulators, but I also don't want to use original consoles. Bad thinking, I know. But I saw lots of all-in-one consoles, and I wanted to know what you thought about those.

Ideally, I would like to be able to play everything from NES to PSX/N64 with as few gadgets as possible.

 

[Rydian]

But a lot of those are emulators, as seen from certain incompatibility and changes.

If you want the best compatibility portably away from a PC, go for the original consoles and games.

If you want 99% compatibility the cheapest, emulate on the PC with a USB controller.

 

[Raqib]

But a lot of those are emulators, as seen from certain incompatibility and changes.

If you want the best compatibility portably, go for the original consoles and games.

If you want 99% compatibility the cheapest, emulate on the PC with a USB controller.

The reason I want to avoid using original consoles is that there are so many of them. I do own them though. If I turned to an all-in-one solution (like the RetroN 5) I can save a lot more space, and use original cartridges as well.

I don't want to support any form of piracy, even if it isn't really a big deal for older games.

 

[grossaffe]

The multi-consoles don't have perfect compatibility. As far as NES/SNES go, the RetroDuo is supposed to have pretty good compatibility, though.

 

[joeyjoey396]

Ha, happy monday -.-

Anyways the Wii, Wii U, and 3DS has Virtual Console. They have SNES and N64 on the Wii, SNES on the Wii U, and NES and Gameboy on all of them. Something like that. The library is getting pretty big now, at least on the 3DS and the Wii. Wii U is pretty small

 

[Isaac]

Take all your original consoles and mod them into one big superconsole to play all your games . I do know a site that sells a nes/snes rom dumper but i'm not sure what the rules on links are.

 

[Plstic]

I'd wait for the retron 5, It can hook up to HD TVs with HDMI and it supports SNES, Genesis, NES, Famicom, GBA and GBC

 

[Rydian]

The reason I want to avoid using original consoles is that there are so many of them. I do own them though. If I turned to an all-in-one solution (like the RetroN 5) I can save a lot more space, and use original cartridges as well.

There's no all-in-one for anything more than 2-3 systems at a time, outside of emulators... and as stated, even the ones that exist don't have the compatibility of the originals. Like look at how the K1/Revo can't play GB/C games for an example.

I don't want to support any form of piracy, even if it isn't really a big deal for older games.

Then don't buy bootleg hardware(?) either and stick with the original systems?

 

[TripleSMoon]

With respect dude, you're making an impossible request. You want a multi console solution that doesn't use emulation and don't want to pirate anything, and have perfect compatibility while having as few consoles as possible. It just isn't going to happen. :\

That said, having lived in a one-room efficiency for a year, I feel your pain regarding having a ton of game consoles cluttering your precious space. Putting 8 consoles and 2 TVs on a dresser isn't very easy.

However, some research CAN help you minimize the amount of official consoles that take up space. For example, Nintendo handhelds: Since I'm a bit of a collector, I have many different iterations of Nintendo's handhelds, but all my Nintendo handheld gaming occurs only on my GBA and 3DS, effectively reducing 5 generations of handhelds to only 2 portable systems, thanks to the backwards compatibility of both.

The same kind of thinking can apply to consoles to an extent, and it all depends on what games you care about. Getting an older model Wii will give you full GameCube compatibility. Getting a launch PS3 will give you limited PS2 compatibility and full PS1 compatibility. An Xbox 360 will give you compatibility with most of the original Xbox's best games. The current gen consoles also all have an assortment of HD remakes or enhanced ports of great games from older systems, as well as digital libraries consisting of tons of classics from the likes of NES, SNES, N64, PS1, and so on.

This might not be the answer you were hoping for, but I hope it helps!

 

[K3Nv2]

I'm all for playing old school games on hardware however with newer consoles running Android and them supporting emulators I have to go with emulation, being able to have everything on one unit and being able to use it with bluetooth controllers make it great. Sure all of us are hoping one day ps2 gets supported on Android units.

 

[DanTheManMS]

Seems like what you want is Project Unity (a custom one-of-a-kind device, check the video out as it's actually really interesting).

 

[grossaffe]

Seems like what you want is Project Unity (a custom one-of-a-kind device, check the video out as it's actually really interesting).

Project Unity is a fire-hazard. I do not recommend.

 

[Plstic]

Yeah don't do anything like bac, if you want an all in one console get the retron 5 or get yourself a nice rgb monitor.

 

[DanTheManMS]

Haha oh yeah I'm sure it's a huge fire hazard. Just wanted to point out that that is sorta what the original post was asking for, which as can be seen with Project Unity, is rather futile.

 

[blaisedinsd]

I am seeing the Retron 5 is taking pre-orders now.

It promises alot and I am tempted but I am probably going to wait for some reviews.

 

[grossaffe]

I am seeing the Retron 5 is taking pre-orders now.

It promises alot and I am tempted but I am probably going to wait for some reviews.

The Retron 5 is basically just an emulator machine. I, personally, wouldn't drop that kind of money on an emulator.

 

[the_randomizer]

The Retron 5 is basically just an emulator machine. I, personally, wouldn't drop that kind of money on an emulator.

RetroArch. That is all. One of the best all-in-one emulators for PC and consoles alike. That and an Xbox 360 controller. That's what I do.

 

[grossaffe]

RetroArch. That is all. One of the best all-in-one emulators for PC and consoles alike. That and an Xbox 360 controller. That's what I do.

When I get some money (it'll be awhile as I need a new car), I plan on building a PC, loading it with emulators, and then embedding in controller ports for the original consoles.