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Messages - retro junkie

#541
General Discussion / Re: Avengers: EndGame
April 26, 2019, 07:01:07 PM
I had a worker that went to see it last night. He told me that you cannot pee, there is no intermission.  :o Three hour movie, so beware, all the popcorn you want but no soft drink.  :))
#542
Not sure. Could it be the chips surrounding the NOAC on the PC board, don't know. I do know that everyone does have their particular twist when it comes to the NOAC that they use in their clone consoles. Some characteristics are inherited as it seems that everyone has built their take on the chip from the same root source tech. Hyperkin has been very successful with the Genesis on a chip being that it is playing Virtua Racing, a first as far as I know. It is evident that they are working on the NOAC to make it better. It seems that the NES is a very hard system to backward engineer. One of the characteristics of the NOAC is that there are 23 games in the NES library that it will not play. Been that way for any clone that was out there. Only recently are you starting to see compatibility with Castlevania 3. There are some clones that are better with the color pallet, Gamerz Tek clone NES has a better color pallet than the Hyperkin unit here. There have been a lot of improvements over the years. I still have my Generation NEX which it has trouble and issues with certain games, graphical glitchs for example.

Most hardcore purests hate the NOAC "as it is" due to the flaws in game playback, or compatibility. I find the gameplay intact even though there are the sound effects that may be off in pitch. And the grass may be brown in some games instead of green, like Jurassic Park. Instruments, notes, in some of the in-game music is very different than what they should play. I personally have an advantage, or it may be a dis-advantage, all according to way you look at it. I have never owned the original NES. So I do not really know how the games should look and  sound. Even though there are those issues I'm having fun and that is what matters to me. People out there, mostly casual gamers, are purchasing these things and having fun. I sometimes look at youtube just to see how far off a game it. Gives me an idea of the unit's compatibility.

edit: Oh no!! The money bags in Castlevania have a pink tint! We're all gonna die!!
#543
Over the Holiday weekend I started moving my stuff around and packing away some things. Right now my console gaming focus will be NES, Sega Genesis, SNES, N64, and Gamecube. That is the way my gaming area is setup now. What really lit the fire was going through my carts and making a list of every game that I have on the NES, Genesis, and SNES. I was shocked to realize that I have more SNES games than I do on the Genesis, but that is mainly due to my large Super Famicom library I now have, much larger than my US library. I am gearing up to increase my NES library as it stands at a little over 80 games. That is just not right, so much out there that is good.  ;)
#544
General Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday Targetrasp!
April 22, 2019, 06:31:07 AM
The Studio Ghibli collection is good. I have the same thing and my Family and I love the whole anime work. Great collection.
#545
General Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday Targetrasp!
April 12, 2019, 11:05:07 PM
Happy Birthday! And may you game on into your sixties!  ;)
#546
Castlevania 3 has been a troublesome game for clone systems. Only recently has there been a breakthrough. Most still cannot play the game. There are about 23 games in the NES library that clone systems will not boot, or play. Castlevania 3 has been on that list as is Rad Racer 2, and my Gauntlet. My Gauntlet game will boot, but the graphics are rearranged in the first board. You cannot finish that board because of that.

Clone systems have been backward engineered to mimic the original hardware. They are not perfect and they do not necessarily play the games perfectly . But I find it interesting just how close they are getting. These latest Hyperkin consoles are great for the budget minded gamer wanting their retro gaming on an HD TV. They offer the best option for those who can't afford the more expensive route. You just have to overlook that maybe some sound effects might be in a higher pitch, music a little off, graphics might be a different tint, or completely different colors. But the game still plays the same.
#547
I use to love Debian. Depending on GUI spoils. Those write ups could be a refresher course.  :nerd:
#548
Quote from: CreepinDeth on April 10, 2019, 04:15:21 PM
in case the GUI ever crashes on me.
Hey! Don't say things like that! Bad vibes there!   :o

(rubs hand across desktop) Be nice. Big bad man didn't mean anything by that comment.  :-\

LOL I really do need to get back into it.
#549
I used to mess around with command line but I have grown very lazy. Haven't used it in years, GUI only now.  :-[

There has been that occasional program install that needed command line. But that too has been way back there.
#550
Okay I bit the bullet. After such a positive experience with the Hyperkin Mega Retron I just had to pick up the NES console. And I am very pleased with my purchase. Been trying NES games all week.


Very small console. I already had the game carts. Both of these carts and the console equals great gaming in a very small package. And it is an added plus just to be able to power this from my TV's USB. What an awesome idea.

I had to try it. I tried Rad Racer 2 and this is the first clone console that I have had which will boot the game. Even though the graphics has its issues, I was still able to play the game. Road scrolled toward me and I was able to maneuver around the other vehicles.


I understand that it will play Castlevania 3 with no problems. I do not have that game..............................yet.  ;)
#551
Just an update on things concerning this clone.
I am using reproduction games in this clone by plugging them into my Game Genie. They work great that way. I am able to play hacks and those unlicensed new releases for the Genesis.
One biggie that I finally realized is plugging the power cord into the HD TV. Well duh, it never dawned on me until it was mention in a review of the console.
This is really the best poor gamers solution to the HDMI thing. Other choices are putting out the money for a good HDMI converter which are $100 plus. There is that little inexpensive block of a converter that is very cheaply built. The range from $5 to $30. They are a rip off, basically. It is nothing compared to what they are putting in these clone consoles. 

You can connect to your HD TV with them but....................

The included controller is very good. I find no problems using it with any game that I have played so far. I have had only one game that did not load and that was Ecco 2. I have around 200 Genesis games and I am going to play through all of them just to get an idea concerning compatibility. To me, it is not just if it plays a game, but graphics and sound, audio, plays a part. I am really no one to judge the music correctness in a game. There are upper frequencies in which I am totally deaf. Example I cannot hear certain cell phone rings, alarm clocks, kitchen timers, etc. There are certain musical notes of certain instruments that I either can't hear or they sound like static. But I do know that MUSHA did not sound right at all when I was playing it.
#552
Just my thoughts on the subject. I think the real question is, what is viable for the present state of gaming in the marketplace? I fear that the Nintendo Switch has changed everything and Nintendo has killed their cash cow. (Replaced by a prize bull.) Really, what market is there for a portable at this point? Those gamers that you would not want to fork out $300 for, and then hand to them the Switch. A young audience, maybe. And how big of a market share would that be? What age group would  we be looking at? Nintendo has always reigned as king in portable gaming. Sony has only been able to get a chunk of that pie. I don't think Sony is willing to step out onto that limb anymore, especially with the success of the Switch. Unless Sony can do a "me too" thing. Nintendo on the other hand will need to assess the situation that the Switch has created. I am hoping and thinking that they have something in the wings to fill that void soon. The last time I checked into it, the 3DS, its support, was waning with little being released in the way of games. Nintendo would have to be sure of themselves that the market was big enough to continue with a system pointed toward the younger gamer. I would be standing in line with all those kids, I like the portable price point, which would need to be low enough to entice parents.

I would love to have another PSP Vita thingy from Sony. But I am not sure they are even considering. Any rebuttals? Any new insight?

Someone please have a rebuttal! Give me a little hope!
#553
Quote from: BLUEVOODU on March 31, 2019, 06:05:53 PM
Quote from: retro junkie on March 30, 2019, 11:43:37 PM
Bloodlines was a Genesis exclusive.

No... I understand that @retro junkie ... I meant,  does that mean it wasn't released on any other platform...  ie steam or remastered?  I thought it was released on something else...  but guess I'm wrong on that. 


Sadly, no. It was only released on the Genesis, and to my knowledge, this will be the first time since, that it will be available again.
#554
I might just have to pick one of these minis up. The Genesis was unique in its gaming content. There was a lot games that just was not found anywhere else, and some stuff, it just did it better. The arcade feel was so strong with this system and the big reason I got my Gen 1 back then. That was Sega's strong point and a key to their success with the Genesis, its arcade library.
#555
Bloodlines was a Genesis exclusive.
#556
Nice line up of games so far. I hope they include virtua racing. And of course they need some shootem ups in there somewhere.
#557
General Discussion / Re: Alita: Battle Angel
March 27, 2019, 06:30:00 AM
We really don't go to theaters anymore. Maybe once every two years. We usually wait for Vudu release for rental or DVD.
#558
General Discussion / Re: Alita: Battle Angel
March 26, 2019, 06:25:03 AM
This looks like it is going to be a good movie.  8)
#559
General Discussion / Re: Avengers: EndGame
March 26, 2019, 06:24:19 AM
Right now I am suspicious of the trailer content being misleading containing stuff that is not in the movie. I think they are just hyping to build up excitement. Which is okay.  ;)
#560
Recently I started watching someones youtube video which showed a clip of every gamecube game. After watching that I felt that I was asleep during that period of gaming. I saw so many games that I did not know existed that I now want to play.  :o
#561
Sega partnered with Retro Bit to produce these controllers. They are officially licenced by Sega. There are a whole series of controllers coming out this year for Genesis, Saturn, and Dreamcast. The controller has become my favorite to use. Yes it is solid.
#562
For some strange reason I just rediscovered my Sega Genesis collection again. Been spending a lot of time playing through those games. Trying right now to form a list of games that I have so I don't up and purchase something I already have.  8)
#563
This is the 30th anniversary of Street Fighter 2 Ryu controller from Retro-Bit. This controller feels very solid with clicky buttons, awesome. I have been enjoying playing Street Fighter 2 Championship Edition. Great fan work with the artwork of Ryu across the face.  The size is good. One thing that puzzled me as I actually took out a tape measure to the cord, 5" 8"? Come on! 5" 8"? What's 4 inches? Somebody tell me what is it with four inches? Why couldn't it have been 6 feet? Or maybe 10 feet. Sorry for the rant. Almost lost my cool.


Mode button on top sort-of in the place you would find a shoulder button.




This is the big plus about this controller, two hookups. Made for the original, or clone, Genesis system, but can also be used on a PC, or the Altgames Genesis mini.


I do highly recommend this controller to anyone that needs a Genesis controller. This is the bomb. And a special thank you to Retro-bit for the love.
#564
Just thought I would do an update.
I have stopped using china reproduction games in this clone. The PC board is too thick and they are getting stuck. Some of them won't work anyway. The system will play the game but the repro won't play.

Some games the audio, well I can except the "Elvis" sound bite missing from the SEGA intro of Comic Zone, but Musha's music? Now you are messing with my stuff, awful does not describe.  :'(
#565
Most of the Genesis games were in 320x224. Some of the low resolution games would start in the resolution for the Sega logo and title screen then switch to low for the game.

The SNES had the capability to run in 512x448, but from what info I can gather only a couple of games actually ran in that mode. Not sure what games those were.

But when you think about it, not much was needed in those old CRT tvs. It is only now when you begin to play something like this on the newer HD tvs that it hurts to look.  :)) Many of the old computers back then did not have resolutions much different.
#566
I am finding out that the shimmering effect in the graphics are only in the games that were of the low res 256x224. There were over 100 games that were low res. All of the SNES were in low res except for a some hand full.
And the audio is stereo.
#567
The last time I got a Sega Genesis clone system it was the Fei Hao version. And I got that one for the specific purpose of being able to have a direct HDMI hook up for my Genesis carts. I started reading, and youtube watching, some of the reviews of this one from Hyperkin and became very interested.


And let me emphasize that you will only get  the best experience with the original hardware. Then there is the Genesis system by Analogue which is a high end hardware clone. $200 is a lot of money for many of us. I am strictly a budget gamer. Low end is where I dwell when it comes to gaming. But at the same time I would like something simple and within my financial boundaries. If I want to hook up my original Genesis to one of my HD flatscreens, it is a pixel jaggie nightmare. But that is my only choice, I have no CRT, it died. The best you can do with the original hardware is get one of those up converters to HDMI.  The best ones are very expensive and it would be best if you just went with the alternative of the Analogue console. As for the cheap "up converters," well, they are just not as good as the clone consoles with the HDMI output. They produce a blurr in the graphics.

I am not really a fan of Hyperkin products. Though I do enjoy the Supaboy portable. I had sort of gotten the impression that seemingly their research and development department was dead. And that they just repackaged their tech occasionally. Never heard or saw any improvements. But this Mega HD console is the first time I feel that my impression has changed.



Build and Design: It has a quality feel to it but I am wondering how much of that is deception. I know from watching youtube videos, of a console tear down, that there are metal weights inside. That is okay with me, it gives it better stability with the rubber feet, no sliding. Plastic thickness is acceptable and I am okay with it. I like the overall design and appeal, to me, it is attractive in its appearance. And I like the big blue "H" on the corner lighting up when the system is turned on. You have the usual "on & off" switch and "reset" button. Up front,two controller ports which are compatible with the original Sega brand controller. Outputs are analog and HDMI. You have a region switch, NTSC, PAL, JP, on the bottom and an aspect ratio switch, 4:3 or 16:9, on the back. One thing I like about inserting a cart is that the connector pins are close to the lid. This is far better than the Fei Hao console where I had difficulty inserting carts due to the depth and reach. Having no guide, like the original hardware, enables the system to accept different region carts, Japan vs NTSC. With the Fei Hao you are dealing with 1.5 inches vs a little under an inch with the Mega HD. Believe me it makes all the difference in the world. One is a straight shot and the other one is a feeling, hunting your way, blindly trying to hit the hole.



Video Out: The games look great, I say that with a bit of hesitation. It depends on the game and the mode of resolution. Low res games has jaggies due to the nature of the beast. I was very happy that my favorite shooter on the Genesis as it is in the high res mode, Bio Hazard Battle. It looks and plays beautiful, love it. With some games, there is something there, like Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition. Playing the game there was something in the background in some stages that I caught out of the corner of my eye, shimmering in the graphics? It could be seen in the vertical lines, just barely noticeable. Enough at the moment that I got a Hy-Yu-Ken against my head. But this only happens when you move in such a way that it causes the background to scale. I saw this in one other game so far. It could bother someone who is picky, but hey, for those that are like that, stick to the original hardware. And it runs Virtua Racing perfectly, totally pleased with it. I did have a bit of trouble at first, freezing during gameplay, red screen. But after cleaning the cart, no problems, runs great. Reproduction carts fit tight, but with the original carts, I didn't really have any trouble. Colors are rich, some might be a slight bit over saturated, but I think that is limited to how the color pallet is used. Graphics are smooth. I understand that it works with the mega system converter. I do not have that to verify. I can verify that it works with the China Everdrive.

Audio: This has been a killer in the clone market for the Genesis games. This time I am pleasantly pleased at what I am hearing. Really not that bad. There is something in certain games that I can't really put my finger on that makes me stop and say "huh?" There is some things, sounds, notes, that seem louder, at times. Some games "are" louder than others, don't understand that. Other games I don't notice anything that would seem out of place, or doesn't distract me. Not sure how the audio is different in some games. But this is really the best that I have heard on a Genesis clone console, we are closer than we have ever been.

Controller: It comes with all the wiring, hook ups, so you can have it analog or HDMI, whatever. But it only includes one controller. Depends how you look at it, that can be a pro or a con. It is "okay." I could play shooters with no problem. And I did not have any issues adjusting to it. It is really not that bad. I was able with some difficulty play Street Fighter 2. The only great thing it has going for it is that it has a ten foot cord. Since you will need a second controller, I would suggest getting the original hardware controller or a retro-bit one. The original fits like a glove, and only a retro gamer would understand that statement.

Final Word:
This is only one of those options for the HDMI problem. I am satisfied. It is, what it is, and it works for me. I purchased this system because it had a price drop, ca-ching $37,  at Walmart online or Amazon. I feel I got my money's worth. Those who are a bit more picky may contend that you get what you pay for. I feel that it is the best Genesis clone out there, at the moment, that is a budget priced low end solution. Of course it is cart only, no way to attach the Sega CD or 32X. I am a bit surprised that Hyperkin is the one to give us Genesis HDMI gaming that really is a nice experience.

Still trying games, a Sega Genesis revival going on right now "in the house."
#568
General Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday HelScyth!
March 01, 2019, 06:28:28 AM
Happy Birthday!!!
#569
Not sure how much I should chime in on this one, just saw this post. One of my jobs at my company is "Warranty Manager." I deal with customer returns of our product. We manufacture heat exchangers, example, radiators. We only cover workmanship and material. I guess one advantage I have is that I can look at a warranty and know what they will cover when I purchase something. And I completely understand why. I ask my customers, or dealers, one thing, as long as it is in the warranty period, don't touch it, return it as it is. If someone monkeys with it, that creates a situation where the product is not in its original failed state. I cannot tell what caused the failure, that is bad for me and bad for the customer. I cannot tell if this is something that can effect other customers or an isolated issue. I usually reject it. But past the warranty, its your baby. Do what you want to do. During the warranty period we do not warrant repairs made to our product due to the nature of what we manufacture.
And I think I can understand where they are coming from when it comes to electronics. I would not want to warrant a piece of electronics that some shop down the street places a cheap Chinese board in and it burnt out the whole system. And I also understand the other side as a consumer.

(Cough) Companies usually try to produce a product that will last past the warranty period (Cough)
#570
General Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday Retro Junkie
February 23, 2019, 04:09:20 PM
Tekken is dominating right now in my new games. It is Tekken tag Tournament 2 with more than 50 characters to choose from.  :o I am getting stomped! I like the fact that there are special moves for my character just by touching the screen but that doesn't help me. I was also surprised that it was on the Wii U when I first started looking at the physical games list. I also like the fact that there are two different art inserts for the cover. You just pull it out and flip it over.

Transformers Prime for the Wii U should be able to pick that up for around $12 on eBay. Not that expensive. Nice game from what I have played, close to the 3DS version.

Legend of Kay; I have gone in and got a save point, but it is one of those games that forces you to go through training. I had to put it down until I can suffer through that part. Seems  okay at this point.

Rodea was a big surprise! It includes both the Wii and Wii U versions of the game, two discs. It has the art insert for both, another flip cover, plus both booklets.

At this point I see Tekken and Monster Hunter being the favored ones out of this game lot. Overall nice haul.