Hacking Emulation (Android vs Switch)

[achandab]

Currently have a Pixel 2 and a Switch and deciding which one to use for all my emulation needs. Obviously at the moment android is the better option but going forward what do you think will be the better all round emulator? Using Retroarch or any other kind.

 

[reminon]

Currently have a Pixel 2 and a Switch and deciding which one to use for all my emulation needs. Obviously at the moment android is the better option but going forward what do you think will be the better all round emulator? Using Retroarch or any other kind.

I personally feel like the switch will be the better of the two. as devs can focus on tailoring their emulator ports to specific hardware, instead of thousands of different devices. The switch is of quality build compared to most android emulation boxes I've seen. I feel like it will rival the original xbox as a dedicated emulation machine, plus its portable with somewhat decent battery life. Some will disagree, but i feel that the switch is worth it, even if just for the emulation and homebrew potential.

 

[DeslotlCL]

pretty sure you can run dolphin on the pixel 2 without any trouble, so it inmediately makes it a better emulation machine. Just use your switch for switch games and get a joystick for your pixel 2 and you are ready.

 

[reminon]

Now its time for a kodi port aptly named "N-XBMC", and all will be right in the world. lol

 

[achandab]

I personally feel like the switch will be the better of the two. as devs can focus on tailoring their emulator ports to specific hardware, instead of thousands of different devices. The switch is of quality build compared to most android emulation boxes I've seen. I feel like it will rival the original xbox as a dedicated emulation machine, plus its portable with somewhat decent battery life. Some will disagree, but i feel that the switch is worth it, even if just for the emulation and homebrew potential.

I agree with this, I think Libretro is going to be dedicating a lot of time to Retroarch on Switch (they already have a huge dedicated thread). And yes its a quality build and perfect for emulation, i mean its almost like most of the consoles ill be emualting anyway. (DS, PSP etc)

 

[isoboy]

My i7 3770k processor.

 

[achandab]

pretty sure you can run dolphin on the pixel 2 without any trouble, so it inmediately makes it a better emulation machine. Just use your switch for switch games and get a joystick for your pixel 2 and you are ready.

Was considering getting a controller but then that's one extra thing i need to carry around. (touchscreen is not an option) Also feel like the Switch screen size is perfect for gaming. Regardless ill invest some time and give it a go and see how it looks. TBH i have bought the switch mostly for emulation and a few indie games (Tiny Metal, Wargroove) yeah im a huge Advanced Wars fan, hence the emulation

 

[IC]

pretty sure you can run dolphin on the pixel 2 without any trouble, so it inmediately makes it a better emulation machine. Just use your switch for switch games and get a joystick for your pixel 2 and you are ready.

It should also be possible to connect the joy cons to the pixel 2 right?

 

[reminon]

I agree with this, I think Libretro is going to be dedicating a lot of time to Retroarch on Switch (they already have a huge dedicated thread). And yes its a quality build and perfect for emulation, i mean its almost like most of the consoles ill be emualting anyway. (DS, PSP etc)

I love retroarch in the sense of it supporting so many systems, but I'm not extremely fond of the ui when you get more than a few roms. rgui is gorrid, and xmb sucks when you have thousands of roms to scroll through. i would love an emulationstation or coinops style frontend. But now I'm dreaming of running before walking.

 

[DeslotlCL]

Was considering getting a controller but then that's one extra thing i need to carry around. (touchscreen is not an option) Also feel like the Switch screen size is perfect for gaming. Regardless ill invest some time and give it a go and see how it looks. TBH i have bought the switch mostly for emulation and a few indie games (Tiny Metal, Wargroove) yeah im a huge Advanced Wars fan, hence the emulation

Well it really depend on what you want. Android already has quality emulators that even run full speed or decent on trash devices (points at snes9x and drastic). Since you got a good phone you get even more options, such a dreamcast, gamecube and wii games.

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It should also be possible to connect the joy cons to the pixel 2 right?

Not sure about since i dont own a switch or a pair of joycons to test out, but im pretty sure they should connect since they use bluetooth.

 

[reminon]

Well it really depend on what you want. Android already has quality emulators that even run full speed or decent on trash devices (points at snes9x and drastic). Since you got a good phone you get even more options, such a dreamcast, gamecube and wii games.

The switch hardware is fully capable of emulating gamecube/wii, its all about someone porting/writing an emulator for the switch to run.

 

[achandab]

I love retroarch in the sense of it supporting so many systems, but I'm not extremely fond of the ui when you get more than a few roms. rgui is gorrid, and xmb sucks when you have thousands of roms to scroll through. i would love an emulationstation or coinops style frontend. But now I'm dreaming of running before walking.

100% agree with this. Before i got rid of my laptop i was using Retroarch with Launchbox front end which looked and worked amazing. On Android i have currently seen two possible frontends that look fairly decent but have yet to try (gamesome and arc browser)

I think theres a huge market for a solid Frontend using Retroarch on the Switch. That would be the dream setup!

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Well it really depend on what you want. Android already has quality emulators that even run full speed or decent on trash devices (points at snes9x and drastic). Since you got a good phone you get even more options, such a dreamcast, gamecube and wii games.

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Not sure about since i dont own a switch or a pair of joycons to test out, but im pretty sure they should connect since they use bluetooth.

Agree and will test it out, the benefits i see for Switch however is TV output support via the dock. Yes you can Chromecast with Pixel which works perfect for movies, but for gaming there will be a slight delay.

 

[reminon]

100% agree with this. Before i got rid of my laptop i was using Retroarch with Launchbox front end which looked and worked amazing. On Android i have currently seen two possible frontends that look fairly decent but have yet to try (gamesome and arc browser)

I think theres a huge market for a solid Frontend using Retroarch on the Switch. That would be the dream setup!

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Agree and will test it out, the benefits i see for Switch however is TV output support via the dock. Yes you can Chromecast with Pixel which works perfect for movies, but for gaming there will be a slight delay.

Once homebrew is further along, and maybe cfw is released. we can talk to the launchbox dev about a possible port. I wouldn't mind loaning him a switch to make it happen.

 

[achandab]

Once homebrew is further along, and maybe cfw is released. we can talk to the launchbox dev about a possible port. I wouldn't mind loaning him a switch to make it happen.

Yep definetly would be donating to that cause. There was a time when they were supposedly releasing launchbox to Android but it feel through for some reason. Anyways should be an exciting year for home brew and emulator development on Switch.

 

[reminon]

Yep definetly would be donating to that cause. There was a time when they were supposedly releasing launchbox to Android but it feel through for some reason. Anyways should be an exciting year for home brew and emulator development on Switch.

Most definitely. A bigbox port would be amazing.

 

[Bladexdsl]

android all the way much easier to set up and use switch is a nightmare right now. get the shield tv it's the ultimate emulation machine!

 

[nmkd]

android all the way much easier to set up and use switch is a nightmare right now. get the shield tv it's the ultimate emulation machine!

Nope, not portable.

 

[fatsquirrel]

Nothing comes close to emulation on Switch imo. No, not even you PSP.
That is ofcourse, if we get solid emulators.