Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Post by **Thermoptic** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:26 am

Retro Gamer just released the Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook 2. Retro Gamer did not tell the readers what systems where covered in these two bookazines so i decided to write a couple of reviews of them. You can find the reviews here:

Hardware Handbook Vol 1: http://thermoptic.posterous.com/retroga ... e-handbook

Hardware Handbook Vol 2: http://thermoptic.posterous.com/retroga ... ndbook-vol

Post by **Hatta** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:35 pm

I'm still not sure what sort of info is in it. Is there repair info? Technical specifications? The books even look like Haynes manuals, so I'm guessing there is. I would definitely buy it if there's info like tables of replaceable capacitors, fuses, power supply voltages, that kind of thing.

Post by **CRTGAMER** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:38 pm

Hatta wrote:I'm still not sure what sort of info is in it. Is there repair info? Technical specifications? The books even look like Haynes manuals, so I'm guessing there is. I would definitely buy it if there's info like tables of replaceable capacitors, fuses, power supply voltages, that kind of thing.

Does remind one of a repair manual. A compilation of system reviews from the magazines. I have the first issues and there are some great historical perspective articles in there.

Website · Post by **Hobie-wan** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:47 pm

No Odyssey²/Philips Videopac after the first 2 volumes?

Post by **alienjesus** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:00 pm

Hobie-wan wrote:No Odyssey²/Philips Videopac after the first 2 volumes?

Really, I do wonder if there are enough consoles left for a 3rd edition. I mean, I suppose they could do things like the gamecube, xbox, playstation 2, GBA, tapwave zodiac, gizmondo etc, but they aren't really retro. Their retro cut off date has generally been the year 2000 up until now - I think the most modern consoles they've covered are the dreamcast, neo geo pocket and wonderswan.

What else are they missing? I know they could still add the channel F and both odysseys/videopac, maybe the R - Zone? but otherwise we'd probably getting into the realm of really obscure old computers and more modern consoles. Maybe the PCEngine/Turbografx CD and Super CD? The Jaguar CD?

Edit: I'd also like to add that I had no idea the oddysey 2 was called the videopac in europe, nor that it was as successful as it apparently was.

Post by **Luke** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:04 pm

Wow. I love the Hayne's inspired look to the manuals.

Post by **Limewater** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:30 pm

alienjesus wrote: What else are they missing? I know they could still add the channel F and both odysseys/videopac, maybe the R - Zone? but otherwise we'd probably getting into the realm of really obscure old computers and more modern consoles. Maybe the PCEngine/Turbografx CD and Super CD? The Jaguar CD?

Also: TI-99/4A.

Post by **Thermoptic** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 5:22 pm

Hatta wrote:I'm still not sure what sort of info is in it. Is there repair info? Technical specifications?

Hehe yeah one could think that, but its retrospectives of the gaming systems, the history, what made them famous, what games the defined the systems etc.

alienjesus wrote: Really, I do wonder if there are enough consoles left for a 3rd edition. I mean, I suppose they could do things like the gamecube, xbox, playstation 2, GBA, tapwave zodiac, gizmondo etc, but they aren't really retro.

Yeah you are right, I dont think that these consoles are yet classed as retroconsoles. Its a shame, i would really like the Ps2, Gamcube and Gba to be included in these Handbooks.

Luke wrote:Wow. I love the Hayne's inspired look to the manuals.

Heh yeah you are right! Really cool that they used that design, looks really nice.

Post by **emwearz** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 5:59 pm

I own the first volume (I have it laminated), I had no idea there was a second.

The first covered most "big" systems, but the exclusion of the Playstation was quiet odd, I will have to pick up the second one up if I can find it for a decent price, however the first one seems the better of the two volumes.

Post by **Thermoptic** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:37 pm

emwearz wrote:I own the first volume (I have it laminated), I had no idea there was a second.

The first covered most "big" systems, but the exclusion of the Playstation was quiet odd, I will have to pick up the second one up if I can find it for a decent price, however the first one seems the better of the two volumes.

Well, The Articles that are included in these two volumes are actually articles picked from the Retro Gamer magazine, so these are just collections of gamesystem articles all in one place. And they hadn't written a review for the Playstation when the first volume was released, i think that's why.

I agree the first Volume is better as it covers the biggest systems that we know about, so i would go with that one. And right now i can see that its till in stock: https://www.imagineshop.co.uk/videogame ... dbook.html

Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2

Re: Review of Retrogamer's Videogames Hardware Handbook Vol 1&2