Can anybody tell me why retro game handhelds are on the rise lately?

Marc_LFD · Aug 7, 2022

It's the retro market.

BC PS3 consoles are also sold for a decent amount of money.

SG854 · Aug 7, 2022

A rising Fad

Creamu · Aug 7, 2022

Jayro said:
Given the fact that SoC's have become considerably more powerful while also being more power-efficient, there's a lot you can do with a portable now that you couldn't do with say... the Revo K101, for example. That thing is GUTLESS, and about as bare-bones as it gets for a retro portable, but now we have a huge variety to choose from, and a few have great RK-based (RockChip) chipsets in them. These things can emulate PS1, N64, and Dreamcast... On-the-go! That's attractive to MANY people in their 20's and 30's who grew up with these systems as kids and teenagers, such as myself.

What handhelds are most low tech (asking because EMF sensitivity) and what can they run?

Jayro · Aug 7, 2022

Creamu said:
What handhelds are most low tech (asking because EMF sensitivity) and what can they run?

Some of the high-end ones can run what's listed here:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/anbernic-rg503-impressions.611801/

As for low-end, the Miyoo Mini V2 can handle all the way up to PS1 emulation really well:

Creamu · Aug 7, 2022

Jayro said:
Some of the high-end ones can run what's listed here:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/anbernic-rg503-impressions.611801/

As for low-end, the Miyoo Mini V2 can handle all the way up to PS1 emulation really well:
View attachment 321666

I like the OG Gameboy design. Also headphone jack nice.

PS1? that sounds pretty powerful. Can it achieve this with low power draw? Also, there are no shoulder buttons. Is the real OG Gameboy the best option?

What is the lowest power draw option (I assume that would translate to lowest EMF emition).

Jayro · Aug 8, 2022

Creamu said:
I like the OG Gameboy design. Also headphone jack nice.

PS1? that sounds pretty powerful. Can it achieve this with low power draw? Also, there are no shoulder buttons. Is the real OG Gameboy the best option?

What is the lowest power draw option (I assume that would translate to lowest EMF emition).

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about it's power draw or EMF emission.

But it does indeed have R and L triggers on the back:

Creamu · Aug 8, 2022

Jayro said:
Unfortunately, I don't know anything about it's power draw or EMF emission.

But it does indeed have R and L triggers on the back:
View attachment 321684

Thank you. It is a very believably og gameboy design.

Hopefully if there is more awareness it will be easier to get emission stats.

Jayro · Aug 8, 2022

It doesn't have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities, so I think it's safe to assume the EMF of the device itself would fair pretty low. But I don't know how high your sensitivity is to EMF, or what you experience.

Creamu · Aug 8, 2022

Jayro said:
It doesn't have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities, so I think it's safe to assume the EMF of the device itself would fair pretty low. But I don't know how high your sensitivity is to EMF, or what you experience.

Thank you for caring enough to think about my concern. That is good to hear. It is a very beautiful piece of gear. I will take into consideration. PS1 that is pretty powerful, but maybe the processing is really efficient.

I hope people will learn about this concern and metering emissions will become more common. PS Vita is too much for me with WiFi turned off, unfortunatly. I will take a look at this handheld, but also will considering reparing a OG gameboy I have.

Jayro · Aug 8, 2022

Creamu said:
Thank you for caring enough to think about my concern. That is good to hear. It is a very beautiful piece of gear. I will take into consideration. PS1 that is pretty powerful, but maybe the processing is really efficient.

I hope people will learn about this concern and metering emissions will become more common. PS Vita is too much for me with WiFi turned off, unfortunatly. I will take a look at this handheld, but also will considering reparing a OG gameboy I have.

If you need any help with Gameboy repairs, I'm a resident expert and I'm just a DM away. I'm also on Discord: Jayro#0783

Creamu · Aug 8, 2022

Jayro said:
If you need any help with Gameboy repairs, I'm a resident expert and I'm just a DM away. I'm also on Discord: Jayro#0783

Thank you very much, you are too kind. I don't know whats wrong with it but generally speaking is it hard/time intensive to do GB repairs?

How much is a cheap flashcart?

Jayro · Aug 8, 2022

Creamu said:
Thank you very much, you are too kind. I don't know whats wrong with it but generally speaking is it hard/time intensive to do GB repairs?

How much is a cheap flashcart?

Gameboys use a lot of older tech, so it's fairly easy to repair them or replace a bad part, especially if you have a steady soldering hand. As for flash carts go... I prefer the EDGB on AliExpress. It's about $25 to $30 on average, between sellers. But it's an Everdrive GB X5 hardware clone that's really good quality. Much better than the EZ-Flash Jr, and it's half the price. (And obviously significantly cheaper than a REAL Everdrive GB X5). The EZ-Flash Jr has a very sluggish menu system and I find it horrendous to navigate through the pages of ROMs to find the one I'm after. Alternatively, you can also reflash $5 repro carts from AliExpress with a single ROM, if you don't mind swapping cartridges.

Creamu · Aug 8, 2022

Jayro said:
Gameboys use a lot of older tech, so it's fairly easy to repair them or replace a bad part, especially if you have a steady soldering hand. As for flash carts go... I prefer the EDGB on AliExpress. It's about $25 to $30 on average, between sellers. But it's an Everdrive GB X5 hardware clone that's really good quality. Much better than the EZ-Flash Jr, and it's half the price. (And obviously significantly cheaper than a REAL Everdrive GB X5). The EZ-Flash Jr has a very sluggish menu system and I find it horrendous to navigate through the pages of ROMs to find the one I'm after. Alternatively, you can also reflash $5 repro carts from AliExpress with a single ROM, if you don't mind swapping cartridges.

Is there an elegant solution to have a rechargable battery, and how long does it last?

MikaDubbz · Aug 8, 2022

XRTerra said:
TDLR, most smartphones(also have the ability to use your own controller or controller grip), the psvita, n3ds, and switch can do what retro game handhelds can do, but better. So why should I buy a RGH?

If you have no desire to get one, then simply don't get one.

Personally I have a Switch with a ton of game, a hacked out N3DSXL and a hacked out N2DSXL, and of course a modern smart phone, and I still wanted to get a classic GBA and mod it out to be ips backlit, with a better speaker, Li-po batter with USB-C and wireless charging, sick shell and buttons, and an HDMI-output port, and so I went and made it a reality, got a nice EZ-Flash cart and made the classic GBA of my dreams. I do like how it has one feature no 3DS or smartphone can yet accomplish, connecting to a GameCube or Wii for GBA to GC titles like 4 Swords Adventures, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, and the Chao Garden in the many Sonic games. I could geek out more and more, but I think you get the point, I easily found a purpose and a desire for my retro gaming handheld despite having plenty of alternate viable options. If something like that isn't naturally happening for you, then again, you simply don't want one, and I'm not sure why you need others to validate your lack of desire to get one, if you don't, you don't. Nothing wrong with that at all.

TomSwitch · Aug 8, 2022

XRTerra said:
TDLR at bottom

I know they've been around for longer than "lately", but a lot of retro game handhelds are weaker than most smartphones. Obviously there are some that are on par with flagships, but.. why? In fact, a lot of older phones could easily emulate ps1, and some could do n64, but we're up to a point where most people already have a phone in their pocket that can be used as a pocket ps2 or pocket n64 running at full speed. Plus, you can buy a controller grip if you so please and don't have to worry if a part breaks on the controller.

I can understand using a psvita or n3ds as a pocket emulator, as they already have amazing build quality and can natively play the games that they're supposed to. Most retro game handhelds cannot even emulate the psvita and 3ds games also use the touchscreen a bit, so thats room taken away from the main game. Plus, both consoles have near perfect nes/snes/gb(a)/ps1(is slightly slow on n3dsk) and n64(also slightly slow on n3ds, but sm64 got a 60 fps port),the ps vita runs vita games perfectly, and the 3ds runs 3ds, ds, perfectly, because, y'know, they were made for it.

I don't have any hate towards retro game handhelds, I may be slightly biased against them but the switch is also an option, and with a potential switch pro on the horizon for later this year or next year, plus the fact that the switch already has an amazing library that requires no emulation, I still will never see the point to buying a RGH.

TDLR, most smartphones(also have the ability to use your own controller or controller grip), the psvita, n3ds, and switch can do what retro game handhelds can do, but better. So why should I buy a RGH?

Some people like gadgets and retro handheld may have enough hardware to join that club.

I don't think any one question people who bought Game & Watch Super Mario Bros about how inferior the CPU or screen is compared to other alternative to run that game.

Jayro · Aug 8, 2022

Creamu said:
Is there an elegant solution to have a rechargable battery, and how long does it last?

Depends on which model of Gameboy you've got. The only pain in the ass one really is the GBA SP, but the Makho battery mod is really good for that one. Minimal soldering too! Lasts many hours longer than the original SP battery.

Creamu · Aug 8, 2022

Jayro said:
Depends on which model of Gameboy you've got. The only pain in the ass one really is the GBA SP, but the Makho battery mod is really good for that one. Minimal soldering too! Lasts many hours longer than the original SP battery.

Okay, I will talk to you when I dug up the unit. Thank you very much. Be blessed!

AWESOMEGAMER · Aug 9, 2022

IMO
The DS has a smoking hot LARGE catalogue. I would have totally loved to had one, a DSi I believe is the one I liked.
But I ended up with a 3dsxl I love it, but the ds has the largest out of all the ds family

The Catboy · Aug 9, 2022

As someone who just bought a retroid pocket 2+, I’ve tried the alternatives and ran into issues. Android with a controller turned into a clunky and unfun mess very quickly. I really found that the fact that the controller was separate to be an issue. Vita is on my list but still rather expensive for the time being. Emulation on the the 3DS is ok, but I can’t emulate DC or N64 games. I actually tried super hard to enjoy emulation on the Switch and I just couldn’t because Switch homebrew kind of sucks. Booting into Atmosphère or any homebrew is a janky process that requires me to carry around more stuff just to boot into the homebrew. The homebrew itself is just meh, Android and Linux run like complete shit too. So I’ve tried everything suggested and that’s why I decided to buy a retro handheld. Apparently it did everything I was looking for and even a sprinkle of a little extra, like a few PS2 and GC games working on the system. It definitely handles Android better than the Switch as well.

hippy dave · Aug 9, 2022

The Catboy said:
As someone who just bought a retroid pocket 2+, I’ve tried the alternatives and ran into issues. Android with a controller turned into a clunky and unfun mess very quickly. I really found that the fact that the controller was separate to be an issue. Vita is on my list but still rather expensive for the time being. Emulation on the the 3DS is ok, but I can’t emulate DC or N64 games. I actually tried super hard to enjoy emulation on the Switch and I just couldn’t because Switch homebrew kind of sucks. Booting into Atmosphère or any homebrew is a janky process that requires me to carry around more stuff just to boot into the homebrew. The homebrew itself is just meh, Android and Linux run like complete shit too. So I’ve tried everything suggested and that’s why I decided to buy a retro handheld. Apparently it did everything I was looking for and even a sprinkle of a little extra, like a few PS2 and GC games working on the system. It definitely handles Android better than the Switch as well.

Internal modchip for V1 Switch is very cheap and easy, I reboot between online sys and hacked emu without a second thought.

Can anybody tell me why retro game handhelds are on the rise lately?

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