WELL THIS IS INTERESTING.. Retron 5

[ExedExes]

So there's a problem with the first run of a video game console. The makers have detected the problem before release. They are pushing back the release date to work out the bugs.

Interesting...

Somebody send a message to SONY and Microsoft.

This this this this, THIS!

As crappy as it is that myself and others will have to wait now, at least they're taking something like this seriously enough to halt the shipping & release of it.

It appears to be in the Famicom cartridge slot according to Hyperkin's blog. I would like to start getting some of those import games, so it's a good thing it was spotted.

Meanwhile, PS4 and Xbone have a small number of failed units. I'm so glad we won't be dealing with this.

[samsonlonghair]

So I just found Hyperkin's manufacturing specifications.

. +

. +

. +

. +

. +

. +

. =

I think I can see where things went wrong.

[Thierry Henry]

^^
not enough scotch tape?

[Forlorn Drifter]

So... how is the compatibility supposed to be on these? How does it work when it comes the different chips and such in SNES games?

[AppleQueso]

So... how is the compatibility supposed to be on these? How does it work when it comes the different chips and such in SNES games?

Nobody will know until it comes out.

[Forlorn Drifter]

So... how is the compatibility supposed to be on these? How does it work when it comes the different chips and such in SNES games?

Nobody will know until it comes out.

Alright. I didn't know if anything had been said yet. Getting over some of those issues would definitely be something worth advertising. This one runs on emulation also, correct? So I would think that running those games would be easier, although I might be wrong.

[fastbilly1]

So... how is the compatibility supposed to be on these? How does it work when it comes the different chips and such in SNES games?

Nobody will know until it comes out.

Alright. I didn't know if anything had been said yet. Getting over some of those issues would definitely be something worth advertising. This one runs on emulation also, correct? So I would think that running those games would be easier, although I might be wrong.

The belief is that the Retron 5 is an android miniconsole with controller slots. So compatibility should be much higher than previous System on a Chip (SOAC) methods. They have already shown it running Castlevania 3, a game that does not work on SOAC clones. I have a couple games that I know do not work on android emulators I plan on trying on the console - specifically Battle Cross and Battle Circuit on the SFC/SNES.

[TheSegaSaturnGuy]

So I heard that there was a released date announced on their most recent Twitch stream. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me? I can't bring up the video on my phone. Thanks!

[samsonlonghair]

Thanks for the tip, SaturnGuy.
http://www.twitch.tv/hyperkingaming/b/491644664
I'm watching a video on twitch right now that Hyperkin uploaded two days ago.

This post is going to be very stream-of-conscious writing as I'm watching the video as I type.

It shows Sonic & Knuckles running on the Retron 5. I'm very familiar with the old-school Sonic games so I was hyper-aware of any differences on the Retron 5 compared to the Genesis. There is an on-screen menu that allows the user to adjust the video filter, add scan-lines, or load save states. Despite this, I definitely see dropped frames in the roll animation and the fire animation. The music sounds good (not perfect, but good). In fact, the music is much more accurate than the "official" firecore clone. Some (not all) of the sound effects are off pitch. I have seen the video freeze up for a moment or two.

Next, Hyperkin tried to load an "unknown" game boy cartridge. It didn't load on the first two tries. On the third attempt, the game did boot. This cartridge turned out to be PoKemon Trading Card Game. The video plays in full screen (4:3) without a border on the top or bottom, just black bars on the left and right. The image does not look stretched to me at all. It seems there is a speedup command that the player can use to make boring parts of the game go by faster. This does not require the on-screen menu, so I assume it's mapped to one of the buttons. I have never played Pokemon Trading Card Game myself, so I cannot compare this version to the original.

Next, Hyperkin Loaded Duck Tales NES cartridge. Duck Tales loaded on the first try, but the video stuttered badly. Switching the video filter from "hq2x" to "lq2x" seems to alleviate the video stuttering. I'm speculating that the "hq2x" may be progressive whereas "lq2x" may be interlaced. It's hard to say for certain. It looks very easy to load a save state in case of game over.

Next, Hyperkin loaded Mega Man X for SNES. The picture looks clean and crisp. The video quality is better than my SNES through composite. Despite this, there is definite video stuttering and artifacts. Once again, adjusting the video options alleviates this problem. It seems there's no single perfect video setting. You'll have to decide which option works best in a game-by-game basis.

There are more vids on Hyperkin's channel for me to check out. I'll take a look at those later and report my findings to you.

[AppleQueso]

Thanks for the tip, SaturnGuy.
http://www.twitch.tv/hyperkingaming/b/491644664
I'm watching a video on twitch right now that Hyperkin uploaded two days ago.

This post is going to be very stream-of-conscious writing as I'm watching the video as I type.

It shows Sonic & Knuckles running on the Retron 5. I'm very familiar with the old-school Sonic games so I was hyper-aware of any differences on the Retron 5 compared to the Genesis. There is an on-screen menu that allows the user to adjust the video filter, add scan-lines, or load save states. Despite this, I definitely see dropped frames in the roll animation and the fire animation. The music sounds good (not perfect, but good). In fact, the music is much more accurate than the "official" firecore clone. Some (not all) of the sound effects are off pitch. I have seen the video freeze up for a moment or two.

Next, Hyperkin tried to load an "unknown" game boy cartridge. It didn't load on the first two tries. On the third attempt, the game did boot. This cartridge turned out to be PoKemon Trading Card Game. The video plays in full screen (4:3) without a border on the top or bottom, just black bars on the left and right. The image does not look stretched to me at all. It seems there is a speedup command that the player can use to make boring parts of the game go by faster. This does not require the on-screen menu, so I assume it's mapped to one of the buttons. I have never played Pokemon Trading Card Game myself, so I cannot compare this version to the original.

Next, Hyperkin Loaded Duck Tales NES cartridge. Duck Tales loaded on the first try, but the video stuttered badly. Switching the video filter from "hq2x" to "lq2x" seems to alleviate the video stuttering. I'm speculating that the "hq2x" may be progressive whereas "lq2x" may be interlaced. It's hard to say for certain. It looks very easy to load a save state in case of game over.

Next, Hyperkin loaded Mega Man X for SNES. The picture looks clean and crisp. The video quality is better than my SNES through composite. Despite this, there is definite video stuttering and artifacts. Once again, adjusting the video options alleviates this problem. It seems there's no single perfect video setting. You'll have to decide which option works best in a game-by-game basis.

There are more vids on Hyperkin's channel for me to check out. I'll take a look at those later and report my findings to you.

So basically everything about this points to it being an imperfect emulation box with all the downsides of emulation to go along with that. Doesn't seem like this thing will be replacing the real systems any time soon.

But that also sounds about what I basically expected from it. If performance overall is still pretty decent and playable then it's probably still worth the cash, especially if you don't already have the systems in question.

I imagine the games that typically give all but the most well-coded emulators trouble are going to make this thing choke as well, but at least it'll do better than most previous clones.