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Messages - retro junkie

#722
Retro Gaming and Hardware / Gamerz Tek's 8-Bit Boy
August 04, 2018, 11:03:58 AM
I am having a NES revival at the moment.

Been diving in over my head in playing NES games on my 8-Bit Boy. Just thought I would share some of my experience with this thing.



First I would like to make this very clear, this thing is not portable in the way that we think portable. Meaning it is not something you put into your pocket. (Unless you have some cargo pants that I don't know about.) But it is portable on a long trip if you are retro and want some of that NES on the go.



This thing comes in a nice bag that will keep the dust away. You also get an HDMI cord, two NES controllers, a two-controller adapter, two screen protectors, one system stand, and AC adapter/charger.



Feels great in your hand and I think that is because of the way it has been designed. It seems to be made to be held. I keep wanting to feel shoulder buttons, but they are not there.



Aspect ratio you can change on the fly. Play your NES the way you want. I would say if you are that concerned, you wouldn't be using a clone system. I prefer full screen. It doesn't bother me to have that little stretch. (Fat little Mario running around.) Really it doesn't look all that bad. Some games it is more noticeable than others. This works with it being hooked to your flatscreen TV too.



With the adapter, you can invite a friend to play along on those two player games. It works with the system whether you are playing using the 8-Bit Boy screen or with your big screen TV.





And the games look good even with their old fashioned blockiness. There seems to be some Anti-Aliasing going on to give a smoothing effect. I think that is good being that you are playing this on a HD TV. The games are going to look dated no matter what you do because they are retro. They come from a different day and age in gaming history. And some people love them, like me, because of their simplicity and addictiveness.



The neat little stand that came with it is a great added bonus with the kit. When you are playing with someone else from just the system or the TV it serves its purpose well. (It has a full size HDMI output.)



I have had trouble adjusting to the button layout. When you are running and want to lean your thumb to jump, or shooting and want to lean your thumb to throw a bomb, (man I missed) awkward. Only a gamer will understand that sentence. The rapid fire buttons don't work for me either.



The battery icon seems to be a complaint to a lot of people. It stays there on the screen whether it is just the system in your hands or on the TV screen. I personally find no problem with it. I did notice it a lot at first but I only think about it now if I need to save and it is getting close to running out. It is helpful to me and I understand why it is there.

Now for the bottom line.
I think this is good to kick back somewhere in the house, take to a friend's house, or a road trip. It is not something you will carry around like your 3DS. I enjoy the large 7" screen. The games look really good on it. And I wish I had a SNES portable with a screen like this. I will use my 8-Bit Boy just hanging around the house.
One thing to really keep in mind is this system is formed around a SOAC, it is a clone system. Meaning that the colors and sound of the original games are not going to be the same as you remembered. There will be distortion as with all clone systems. This thing is no different even though it boasts 97% compatibility. I do not have a complete set of NES game library to test their claims. But I have been satisfied with the games that I do have. Their 8 bit systems do a good job with their hardware emulation IMHO.
Although responsive, there is a difference in the feel of the buttons on the system and their controllers. Their controllers seemed to be highly sensitive. And I haven't had any problem playing any game.
Battery life, I have no idea because I haven't timed or tested that angle of the system. I rarely do unless it is very noticeable. So I do not know if 6 or 8 hours is the norm. It would be effected by the game you are playing as usual.
So... yes.... I like this big awkward thing. It is a handful and I find it very hard to put down. I just keep playing. It just feels right. I smile over the two speakers for a mono system, good volume. It does have a headphone jack too. The hardware does what it is supposed to do the best that it can under the circumstances. The games are why we play. Thumbs up here. Good show Gamerz Tek!

If it dawns on you the size of this system by the photo below, then you have found your mojo.



A link to their site. Also available at Amazon.
https://www.gamerztek.com/
#723
General Discussion / Re: How many of you use Twitter?
August 04, 2018, 06:39:58 AM
I kind of vaguely know what it is, sort of. Okay I don't exactly understand. Never considered it. Not sure why it is popular. Never use it. Not sure why I would want to.  ???
#724
I would like to have the 3DS XL Persona Q Limited Edition. Been sort of eyeing that one.  :-\
#725
Quote from: BLUEVOODU on May 22, 2018, 09:48:58 PM
@retro junkie Did you ever play this?

Yes I did.  But I didn't get very far. In those days I stuck with SHMUPS mostly. I need to revisit and dig that one out of the bottom of my stash. Seems like I have it for the Genesis.
#726
I've seen this video. Thought it was very interesting. I have often wondered as to why Nintendo never took the chance with this add-on. I know add-ons fail miserably in the gaming market. But they marketed the virtual boy.  ??? Throw in some killer games and I feel like this might have been a little more successful.
#727
Quote from: BLUEVOODU on July 18, 2018, 05:29:43 PM
@retro junkie How does that stack against other Fire Emblems?  Might be cool to have a Fire Emblem topic.

It is basically built around the over-the-top-powerful Dynasty Warriors-style moves in its battle system. It is still RPG underneath with the strategy. I would have to go back a way to recall any Fire Emblem game I've played, might have been GBA. My memory is foggy. I go for the hack in slash of Dynasty Warriors gameplay so I am thrilled with it. Diehard Fire Emblem purist might be put off.
#728
Quote from: Kinikko on July 17, 2018, 04:56:07 PM
I applied for an amazon store credit line and got an extra $60 gift card to use toward it.  So it ended up only being $98.99 in the end. :P
Okay I ALMOST reported this to the moderator. It is such an insane way of purchasing one and a crazy good deal!!   :))

If I didn't already have one I would have copied your idea.  ;)
#729
Retro Gaming and Hardware / Re: Lime Green DSI
July 17, 2018, 07:42:44 PM
I am thinking the color was Japan only. The only problem I have had is that some of my games load up in Japanese. I didn't expect that for some reason.
#730
Retro Gaming and Hardware / Lime Green DSI
July 15, 2018, 10:53:30 AM
Saw this on Ebay for $9.89 from Japan. Something like $5 to ship. A lime green DSI. Listed with non working "L" and "R"  buttons. Received it yesterday. Very good clean condition. I got the buttons working by blowing air into the cracks around the buttons while working them a bit. It is the Japan version of course. I downloaded an app that translates. Was able, by using the camera on my phone, to turn off the wifi to extend battery life. Also to make other adjustments. The gui layout is different from the US version. Caught me by surprise. Makes a good little carry around for a lot of good DSI games. I usually use the XL version while at home. I have just one other small DSI, red. One that I purchased years ago that was open box, brand new, $30, free ship. I love finding these little bargains, makes my day.




#731
I've been playing Fire Emblem Warriors on my 3DS. Love the hack in slash style gameplay. Love wading into a crowd of those joy boys and creating havoc knocking everyone into the air. I am presently half way through the game. Started playing during the 4th of July Holidays.
#732
They marked down all the Playstation VR real cheap, $150, at my local Walmart a couple of months ago. They sold them all out. And they haven't replaced them.

I sort of wonder how a racing game would be on one.
#733
I guess when I see a console released with the name "New" in reference to its processing power, I expect to see a line of software released for the "New." Everything else would be backward compatible. Nintendo, unusually, when it comes to something new, never marketed it in that way. It might have been that the tech was released too late. No one actually took advantage. Maybe they were busy with the Switch. And no one cared anymore. If that was the case then the 3DS was dead at that point. And that was my gut feeling. It was dead before release. Nintendo keeps trying to encourage hope saying, behind freshly painted cardboard masks, "We are still supporting the 3DS. Everything is okay. Don't worry."  :( "Buy the Switch but you can still play your 3DS. wink, wink"  :(

I really enjoy "Fire Emblem Warriors." I haven't fully gotten into it yet but "Xenoblade Chronicles" does seem promising. I am looking at "Runbow" but have yet to pick it up. Not sure what else is worthy to purchase. Any recommendation are welcome.

Yes I know the Switch is portable, but it is just not as portable as the 3DS.
#734
I guess my main desire was to see an announcement of  games that took advantage of the "New" technology. But I am really feeling that the Switch has stole that thunder. And it seems to be that special tech in which the wind never got caught in its sails. I can see it now. There will only be a handful of games that has this advantage for this generation of the 3DS.
#735
Just had some Papa Johns Pizza!!  ;)
#736
General Discussion / Re: New TV- A Stop Gap
June 25, 2018, 09:19:35 PM
I know these short takes over whelms, and max out, my TV, and is meant for a 4k. But it still  blows my mind at what this TCL TV can do if it has a very good signal. The sharpness of detail, color and contrast, wows me.





I have also ordered a calibration disk.
#737
Cooked me up some oatmeal. Put in a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Mashed a large banana to sweeten it. Mix it up and good natural breakfast.

edit: I also added a teaspoon of butter.
#738
General Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday Icy!
June 23, 2018, 08:24:33 AM
Hope that Birthday was a good one.
#739
To be honest, the one I really got into and played madly was the Pokemon blue. For the original gameboy. I'm not sure why. I found that one addictive for some reason.
#740
General Discussion / Re: New TV- A Stop Gap
June 15, 2018, 09:04:07 PM
The CRT TVs would last almost a life time. My last one lasted 30 years. But the new flat screens are rated something like five years or 50,000 hours. Some of the Plasma, high end, etc, much longer, 60,000 to 100,000 hours. Or that is what I have come to understand from many reading sources. The Vizio that I replaced, I am still using, but not as my main view any more, from what I have been able to figure, I am reaching the end of that 50,000 hours that the manufacturer said it would last. The blotched screen can be masked to a certain extent by adjusting the color and stuff. I will use it as a gaming TV so that it will die with honour.
#741
TCL is making a showing there with some of their larger 4k TV screens. They are letting gamers know that their 4k TVs can satisfy the gamer.
#742
General Discussion / Re: New TV- A Stop Gap
June 11, 2018, 12:42:06 PM
Quote from: BLUEVOODU on June 10, 2018, 10:11:39 PM
@retro junkie  what did you find out?  Many tvs of today have black as black but the other black colors aren't handled well.  I have an older plasma still... pretty heavy ... and handles the black colors well.  This is a big reason I didn't jump to newer led tvs.

It seems some of the oled and qled tvs are doing better with this.

Overall are you still pretty happy?

There were some suggested settings that I found, but I didn't want to change what I have. I just didn't really like some of the adjustments suggested. For straight out of the box preset choices I like "Movie" mode with the brighter setting. Totally like the picture and color in this mode.  I am still very satisfied with my purchase. For the price, this is a very good 32 inch. I am liking the TV built around the Roku experience. My Family and I are very Roku orientated. My wife will keep this on Pandora all day while I am at work.

For those black levels, you are not going to get that OLED, Plasma, or QLED, experience for $138. This TV handles black a lot better than the previous TV which was an old VIZIO that had bulbs inside, not LEDs. Not sure how much that effects the overall picture quality. There is a big enough difference that it has wowed me. At the same time I do not want to walk into where Mai works and see that LG 4k OLED and then go home and cry over my little 32" TCL.  :))
#743
General Discussion / Re: New TV- A Stop Gap
June 09, 2018, 08:29:10 AM
Yes this is without calibration. I am going to do a google today to see the best settings for the TV.
#744
General Discussion / Re: New TV- A Stop Gap
June 06, 2018, 10:50:09 PM
I have never been finicky or demanding about my TV picture.......hmmmm.......I think I have just gotten spoiled. The picture on this TCL has the color black...well...um..black. Before I was used to just seeing black as a dark gray. But the black on this screen is black. The difference in the contrast to the picture is spoiling me. I have been tainted. I can't go back.
#745
General Discussion / Re: New TV- A Stop Gap
June 02, 2018, 08:27:10 PM
I have heard a lot concerning Sling TV and it is a good choice. I also feel the set up of the Roku is pretty straight forward. But I talked with a guy today that they took theirs back because I think they were so unfamiliar with using a Roku. They thought you had to pay for all the apps. I think they got confused in the registration of starting an account. I told them that there are plenty of free stuff. The guy ended up with a 4K LG.
#746
General Discussion / New TV- A Stop Gap
June 02, 2018, 07:21:38 PM
My old 32inch Vizio's screen was showing signs of being worn out. Across the top there were clouds, grey blotch areas, and also in the right bottom corner. it was starting to darken in those areas and become more noticeable. The TV had been used 20 hours a day for the last 7 years. Lets face it the life of the bulbs inside are coming to an end.

So I have spent the last week online reading reviews, after reviews, after reviews. I don't know why I do that. It stresses me out every time. Every name brand has their lemons. And the people that receive them are more vocal about their dissatisfaction than those who are pleased.

My biggest problem is that within the next year or two 4K will become the new standard in over the air broadcasting. It will be a totally different signal, and experience, that will need a compatible tuner on the TV to receive it.

So I do not want to throw money on a 4K TV at this time until they come fully equipped to receive that signal. So as a test, and as a stop gap, I purchased a TCL Roku 32inch TV, only $138. A test in figuring out if I want to go the way of a Roku 4K when the time comes. My Family and I are big Roku users. So it just made sense. I also use an outdoor antenna. Streaming and over the air is the only way we get our media entertainment. The Roku TV's are supposed to be very cordcutter friendly.



I like the EPG showing several hours of programming. I am receiving 50 channels. The tuner is better than the one on that old Vizio. After having it up for only two days I am impressed and satisfied. Presently I am thinking very hard about that future TCL 4k Roku TV unless other options open up. In two years you never know. Right now we are loving it. Not sure how user friendly this would be if no one had ever used a Roku. The handbook that came with the unit was very vague. It barely got you up and going. Definitely need the downloadable user handbook that it mentions in very fine print at the bottom of one page.
#747
Retro Gaming and Hardware / Re: My N64 Machines
May 22, 2018, 11:20:28 PM
I think that Cruis'n Exotica was better. Or I enjoyed it more. I need to do a comparison.  :-\
#748
Retro Gaming and Hardware / Re: Neo Geo Mini
May 22, 2018, 06:25:52 AM
The extra controllers look like the Neo Geo CD controllers. But I think it is more of a USB connection.
#749
Retro Gaming and Hardware / Re: Neo Geo Mini
May 20, 2018, 11:28:01 AM
Personally I would rather they design their AVS controller as the system with the games built in and from there TV hook up. That was what I was originally hoping for. I am not sure, but I am thinking that the cabinet design might not be practical for long plays unless you are setting at the dining table.
#750
Retro Gaming and Hardware / Re: Neo Geo Mini
May 20, 2018, 07:27:58 AM
I have my eye on this also. I hope they market this in a way that I can walk in and grab one up. This thing will be awesome.