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The Game Genie works with this console. Yes the Game Genie is the best option if reproduction games are used on this system. Makes a great combo with the console and increases the game library options when it comes to those hard to get games, collector prices, or rare. When there is no other way to have a copy but to purchase a reproduction game.  And then there are those games that are homebrew, independent developer. Of course all that can be avoided if you are satisfied with just an Ever Drive for the Genesis. The Ever Drive will work with no problems. All you would need is just a copy of Virtua Racing to go with the Ever Drive and you're all set.

I think it is a good alternative for that budget gamer that is trying to get into a little retro gaming. Easy hookup to that flatscreen. The power cord can be plugged into the TV USB port, how convenient is that?  it is a nice little pickup for the kids combined with Super Mario All Stars, the  Donkey Kong games, Yoshi's Island, and Super Mario World.  Some of these games are not that hard to find at a good price. Especially when it can play Super Famicom too, cheaper prices on same titles that I have listed. Street Fighter 2 is an easy cheap pick up most of the time. 

Haven't gone into depth gaming on this one to really give an honest review. Give me some time.  That is why I listed it as a first impression. Just throwing games at it, I haven't found anything that seems to show a problem. With the lack of scanlines, for those nostalgic gamers that are purest, clone gaming might not be for everyone.

[The SupaRETRON HD has a smaller footprint and will fit snug anywhere.]

[I apologize for the format. I just loaded this up earlier on my blog site.]

The best way to play a SNES game is on the original hardware using a CRT. If you still have this setup, feel fortunate.


The SupaRETRON HD has a smaller footprint and will fit snug anywhere.

I suppose one has to consider the type of technology, that is put into these things, in order to deliver to the market "a cheap clone." It should be expected that there are going to be flaws and that the tech has its limitations. When you look at "Analogue's" consoles, it seems obvious, that in order to get something that compares to the original experience, on modern HD flatscreens, you are going to peel off some of that hard-earned jingle you carry around in your pocket. The switch from traditional tube scanlines to HD TV can be a traumatic experience for an old gamer. It is understood why many fall into the purest camp clinging to, and trying to maintain, their old consoles and CRTs. These games were designed for that certain time period, with no thought that many would love these things beyond their intended gaming generation. If you were there, you know that there is just no way to reproduce the magic of that period in gaming. There was no "net" so information was delivered by long waited for gaming magazines with sometimes months old news, and local arcade rumors. TV commercials only fed the fire to the already gaming community hype. The electricity and excitement that filled the air in those days as the trail was pioneered, and cleared, for modern-day gaming will never be repeated. And it is a real need among "those gamers" to preserve that part of gaming history. Retro gamers were born out of that need.



With that being said, I will now move into looking at my first impressions of the Hyperkin HD SNES.


The Micro USB power port, HDMI, and aspect ratio switch is the big winners here.

It depends on which SNES HD clone you purchase in what you are willing to except, or put up with, in your SNES gaming experience, obviously. I choose the Hyperkin mainly for the specific advantage in the way they powered their systems. I have the Hyperkin NES, Sega Genesis, and now the SNES HD. All three are powered by the same small matching USB power brick and connects into a mini USB port on the console. I only have one power cord running to the consoles and one HDMI. It depends on which system I am playing at the time that will be connected. When it comes to cheap HD clones, and I say this with gritted teeth, these may be close to being the cream of the crop, for now. There are those few others that are not bad choices.


On the Ever Drive China Ver. running Gradius 3. The beginning animation, title screen, and options menu were all normal, until you enter the game. The original SNES cart runs perfect.

There are compatibility problems that I found with the Ever Drive. It might be limited to the China version which is the only one that I own. Don't know. There were certain games that were unplayable with, for example, the background graphics horribly broken and mangled. Putting in the same game and playing from the original cart there was no problem, for example a game like Gradius 3 was one. Not all games from the "Ever Drive China version" had compatibility issues, but keep in mind that the Ever Drive is designed for the original console. Not a big deal for me. I mainly use the Ever Drive as a game demo cart to see if I want to invest in a certain game. The console is totally compatible with reproduction games, on the other hand. So that is a plus, for me, as I have occasionally purchased a repro, it does run the retrobit's Jaleco Brawler's Pack. Seems to have good compatibility across the specialty chips. It plays Star Ocean great, water and reflections, sound bites, are there and nothing seems noticeably wrong. Star Fox, Yoshi's Island, Super Gameboy, Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Kirby Super Star, all play with no issues. That covers the SA1, Super FX GSU-1, S-DD1, Super FX GSU-2, and the Sharp LR35902 core chips. The SA1 chip was used in around 34 games including the Mario RPG. Many games look good in spite of the jaggies, Yoshi's Island for one. Some are not that bad when the jaggies are not as pronounced while others look eye bleedingly shocking, gasp. The console can play both SNES and Super Famicom games.



Visually, some games fair better than others, backgrounds usually look great. Jaggies are embedded into the main character sprites, or any low-rez sprites in general, so get over it if this is the route anyone wants to take. It is just a part of cheap clone gaming life. No one has placed a scanline feature on a cheap console, yet. I am sure if they find a cheap and easy way of doing it without sacrificing cost, using system-on-a-chip technology, it will happen. Just not there yet. Colors are rich and graphics are sharp with smooth animation for nonintentional playing on a large HD screen. At least as good as they can be under the circumstances without the scanlines. Audio, so far, is, normal, for a SNES. At least I haven't ran across anything that raises my eyebrows or causes me to cry.


They basically got the configuration right with something ergonomically going on with the backside. I have no issues with it.

The controllers, that are supplied with the console, two, are good and feel close to the originals. Of course, if you are not satisfied you can use original controllers. Most respectable clone consoles come equipped with this feature. You get a generous 7ft 7inch cord, I measured. And the system comes with all hookups, both HDMI and RCA cords. But why bother with the RCA hookups if the main purpose is the HDMI? Has a NTSC-PAL switch on the bottom and a 16:9-4:3 aspect ratio switch on the backside of the console. It has an eject button that works great just like the original.



Not sure what more I can add at this point. It is really a matter of choice. (Choose your poison wisely, I guess, LOL.) Original hardware is still available for about the same price. You would need to fork out some extra cash for the HDMI connection. There are starting to be a few good options as manufacturers see money to be made. I have tried a few of the universal connection ones, but not the console specific, with unsatisfying results. Clone consoles are far better with their direct HDMI connection. Having been present in the local gaming stores when someone is looking into retro, I know they push clone systems. Even tried to correct one of the workers, nicely, about the NES light gun. They really don't listen or understand. Game stores push the clones over the used gaming consoles that they carry. I am sure it is due to the easy HDMI connect.



Just think, as 4K becomes the standard in the future market for HD TVs we might be going through something similar as the signals are totally incompatible. At least for the tuners it is, not certain about the HDMI. That might not change hopefully. The headache continues.........?


Everyone of their consoles has this trademark touch on the corner, lights up when the system is on.

I have spent time on one of my Father's day gifts. It is the Jaleco Brawler's Pack from retro-bit.

I so wanted this Sega Mini but I can't have it and the Turbo Mini. The Turbo has my meager funds right now.

What makes matters worse, someone threw up a Mac Mini running High Sierra, 8GB ram, 2.3Ghz i5, 500GB HD, with wireless Apple keyboard and touch pad for $192. I love messing with stuff like this. So here I am typing this on that Mac Mini and it runs like a dream. For all that I do on a computer this is perfect for me. 

Unless there are licensing issues, they should be able to put most of the library of games on a mini with no problem.
I would love to have every shooter made for the system with an easy HDMI hook up. 

Dracula X Rondo of Blood?

They ported that game to the PSP entitled "Dracula X Chronicles."

Okay now you have my full attention! I must have this! I did not realize until recently that Konami had acquired all the rights to the Hudson Soft stuff. With this announcement I am very excited. I hope the games include not only Hucard but also CD. So far they are on the right track with a hand full of titles which includes one CD game, Y's 1 & 2. It will even offer the option of scan lines. Interesting.

https://www.konami.com/games/pcemini/gate

Thought I would post up my first learning session with Photoshop as a paint program. I used a wacom tablet on my MacBook Pro with Photoshop CS6. Learned blending watching a instructional video on youtube.

You would think that the monitor stand to be a standard piece of equipment and not an accessory. 

This is a first as far as I have found for the N64.
When I say emulation based, I am referring to the Retron 5 that had android as its OS which dumped the rom into the system. It did not play from the cart. This made it controversial with gamers. All of the other Hyperkin consoles were system-on-a-chip and played from the cart.

But the stand is top quality and the best stand ever. 

Well they finally went and did it. But it seems to be emulation instead of "N64 on a chip." Not sure I am happy about that. I think at this point I will take a "wait and see" attitude. I would rather see more of a hardware based clone rather than the emulation approach. It all depends if the console downloads the rom or plays directly from the cart. I am happy with the fact that the N64 is now being considered for clone systems. N64 on a modern HD tv is a little on the expensive side if you want 720 or better. I just hope it does not leave a bad taste in my mouth.   

Great bunch of games! I was just looking hard at preorder myself and considering. Release in September. I am getting excited.

Using Windows I became very frustrated due to lockups, blue screens, and loss of data. I use graphic intensive programs, paint and photo editing, publishing stuff. At work, using it in my job, it is the same as always, plus the network sluggishness has now been added. Using Linux over the years has been the most pleasant experience in computing for me and it has met my needs. None of the problems and frustrations I encountered with Windows. I have to use Windows every day at work and it is still the frustration.

I will probably continue to use Linux on my desktop. But on a laptop, OSX is nice. I don't think it is as polished as Linux, but it does create a good productive workstation environment. I now have a macbook pro with, Logic Pro X, CS6, and Microsoft 2016 fully installed. I will also install Krita.

Are SSD drives limited on times you can write to? Or is that something that is so high that it would take years to reach the limit?

Has anyone tried either type of HD? If so what are pros, cons? I may be behind when it comes to this type of tech. I am mostly a document, paint program, net suffer type of user. Old hardware has been my main rigs and laptops.

Yeah I know, double posting. Discipline me. 

I think I get it now. Been thinking about what this guy said about Apple in the videos that I posted above. I don't think he "gets it." There are actually a section of the populace that is willing to shell out good money so that they do not have to run Windows in their computing experience. They are willing to put up with mechanical difficulties just because of the better computing experience with OSX. And I really don't think it is as bad as he is making it out to be. Understood that it would be natural for a computer shop to see the underbelly of a product. I have been using Linux for around 20 years. Did not realize it had been that long until I started thinking about it. I don't want to go back to Windows, ever. I will put up with it in my work environment but not in my home. Now that I have discovered a new toy to my liking, I have joined the ranks. I just ordered me a macbook pro mid 2012 model. This little macbook that I originally posted about, just upgraded it to 4gb ram. Makes a lot of difference in its performance.

So far my best computing experience has been Linux running on a Lenovo, desktop or notebook.

The one thing I like about the Macbook is the operating system and how tight it works with the hardware. But from my investigating I am finding out that the Apple company are total idiots. And the fans are worse. If this guy is anywhere near the truth then I have to ask myself, "why?" You have this big successful business selling junk that people continue to purchase? I wish I had the power to take over a business like this and change the product into quality stuff for the consumer. The concept is a very good one, just poorly implemented. This guy suggested a few that I am on the borderline of purchasing one of them. Not sure yet.

Anyway, I wished that it was not illegal to put the OSX on a computer that was not Apple built.

 

That is hilarious.

Did not realize there was a picture.

I am waiting for my memory upgrade to 4gb, $11.99. Also I will be ordering an SSD next week, Amazon has a Kingston 256gb for $29. Been doing a lot of investigation, reading, watching youtube videos. I know what I want to do with this thing now. Loving this. Have I become a "Mac-boy" in such a short period of time?

I have been spoiled by Linux. And I believe the Linux OS is more developed and powerful than the OSX. With Linux I can simply search and find the piece of software I need and set up my work station in hardly any time. The problem with Linux is hardware. That is where it falls short. You can do a lot of research and put together a rig to run your OS. But when it comes to laptops it becomes a serious hunt with word of mouth and other user experiences.  With an Apple laptop you are purchasing a complete package, hardware with an OS built around it. That is its strength. It falls short in the area of software. It is basically built for specific users that purposely use a laptop for something like writing, publishing, graphic art, or business, and yet limited to those programs made for it. Linux is more diversified. That might be because it is a community supported OS. I find my Macbook intuitive in my experience so far, but difficult in finding software or software alternatives. I think the Macbook will fall into the area in which I use a laptop and computer in general, it will just take a little time in getting my programs together. It is just most will need to be purchased, not free like Linux.

Sorry Grindspine I just can't game on my computers. Just can't get into it. And I really don't even have an explanation as to why. Maybe I was traumatized as a kid in some way that subconsciously I reject computer gaming. Maybe it was when I was watching Forbidden Planet. Maybe my mother dropped me on my head. Don't know.

Arctic Fox is a forked and rebranded Pale Moon 27.9.4. It seems to be a recent work for older Mac OSX 10.6 and higher. It works and makes this book up-to-date when going on the net.

What I like about this? Might sound weird, but I like the feel of the chiclet keyboard. The OS is somewhat a little familiar in feel. I have had no trouble getting around and much of it has been easily simple. I feel at home. Some of that might be that, like Linux, this OS is based on UNIX. Or it used to be. I not sure anymore, it might be a branch of BSD, or at least based from that OS. I know that I have toyed with some versions of Linux, in the past, that has had this as a theme.

The book still runs good. Nice sharp screen. The only trouble I am having right now is that the laptop does not recognize the battery. From my searching, that could be that the battery needs to be replaced. They didn't warrant the battery. But for $40 dollars what can you expect. I got more than I thought. More than my money's worth.

Okay I was tempted. I was on eBay looking around where I probably shouldn't have been.  This computer place had 21 macbooks, 2008 build, for $40 each, this past weekend. They all quickly sold. Ummm... took the dive, as one of those 21, and here I am typing this on that book.

It is one of the books that has a 2.4 ghz intel core 2 Duo running OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard on a 160gb. It only has 2gb memory, but I have another two on the way and am going to order an SSD drive.

Believe it or not but this thing is newer than my lenovo laptop that I have been using for years with Linux. And this will be my first taste of 64bit instead of that old lenovo which is 32.

First thing I had to do is find a web browser because Safari was crap due to being so outdated. I am using Articfox which seems to be running very good. And I am finding that it will work with Facebook, youtube, eBay, and this forum.

This is really an investigation. My Daughter is concerned that Windows 7 is about to be no longer supported by Microsoft. And when that happens then there goes the Anit-virus support. I suggested she look elsewhere like Macintosh. So I have been on this thing since I got home this afternoon and I am liking this very much. This is from someone who has used Linux for almost 20 years. Of course if she decides to go this route it will be a much newer Mac. This is just to become familiar with the difference.

A very Happy Birthday to you!!!

As a gamer, I love these types of shmups. From what I can understand this is a homebrew game especially designed for the NES and put on a reproduction cart. It is a vertical scrolling shooter in the style of Super Star Soldier, Blazing Lazors, with that warm fuzzy Hudson Soft sort of feel. It even seems that it has that music of Super Star Soldier in the first stage. Gameplay is so fast with no slow down similar to Summer Carnival. Graphics are standard fair of these arcade shooters of the past. This is true retro arcade shoot'em up love expressed in this wonderful game. You get only the choice of a 2 or 5 minute "high score attack" sessions, but that is okay. It is one of those games that you can sit down to if you only have a moment and addictive enough if you want a long play. High score survival is my thing. I have only been able to make it into the second stage so far. This and Summer Carnival are the closest you are going to get to a bullet hell shooter on the NES. I want so much to have more of these type of homebrew games. To me, they are worth every penny. Been a great and exciting weekend spent with this highly recommended NES game.

So there is still a shred of hope? Maybe something to not be ashamed of if you are a Sonic fan? That would be a relief.

I'm not really liking the obsession with live action movies when it comes to video game or cartoon characters. I would rather see a good CGI animated movie.  Pixar Animation Studios where are you?