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[Fox Mulder]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DZIX3CQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20

No price? :/

sucks, but people that preordered will be fine.

Possibly going up to $149 is a turn off especially after all the delays and misinformation, but I was skeptical of the $99 in the first place. The $50 retron 3 is such a cheap piece of shit and the supaboy I played was crappy too.

 

[slit]

sucks, but people that preordered will be fine.

Possibly going up to $149 is a turn off especially after all the delays and misinformation, but I was skeptical of the $99 in the first place. The $50 retron 3 is such a cheap piece of shit and the supaboy I played was crappy too.

If it's $150 it better be damn near flawless.

 

[sixteen-bit]

sucks, but people that preordered will be fine.

No, it's likely Amazon will cancel pre orders. It has already happened once with this very same product when the availability changed.

 

[McBradders]

No, it's likely Amazon will cancel pre orders. It has already happened once with this very same product when the availability changed.

I am mildly disgruntled.

 

[tebunker]

sucks, but people that preordered will be fine.

Possibly going up to $149 is a turn off especially after all the delays and misinformation, but I was skeptical of the $99 in the first place. The $50 retron 3 is such a cheap piece of shit and the supaboy I played was crappy too.

Where did you see $149? The rep specifically states $129 - $139 in the video. Yeah still expensive but thats the quote, no need to make it worse.

At thus point I am on thr sideline barring some special sale.

 

[dancrane212]

No, it's likely Amazon will cancel pre orders. It has already happened once with this very same product when the availability changed.

I put my order back in September (before it was delisted for the first time) and it's still showing as active and priced at $76.19, hopefully it stays that way!

If Amazon does cancel it and the price jumps up to $150 we're probably looking at a $200 price tag for Canadians which is out of my price range for something like this.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

I got to play this for a few minutes last weekend. I tried Super Mario Bros. The input lag was out of this fucking world, and I'm not one to be bugged by that usually. Maybe it was the TV or something. But, it fucking sucked.

 

[McBradders]

I got to play this for a few minutes last weekend. I tried Super Mario Bros. The input lag was out of this fucking world, and I'm not one to be bugged by that usually. Maybe it was the TV or something. But, it fucking sucked.

Nononononononononononononononononono.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Where did you see $149? The rep specifically states $129 - $139 in the video. Yeah still expensive but thats the quote, no need to make it worse.

At thus point I am on thr sideline barring some special sale.

that's just what the update in the thread on cag said.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Nononononononononononononononononono.

Yeah. Does it have any other video outputs besides HDMI? I didn't really look at it. If it did I'd still be interested in picking one up to fuck with (for $100, not $150). I really don't know shit about input lag, so I assume there's just nothing you can do about it if you are using an HD tv? Like I said, it sucked.

One cool feature was that you can read and write saves to and from the actual cart. Pretty nifty little feature.

Also, random not shocking news, the controller is one of the worst pieces of shit I have ever touched. Anyone picking it up absolutely has to buy the real controllers for the systems they are interested in. You cannot fathom how awful the pack in controller is.

 

[comedy bomb]

Yeah. Does it have any other video outputs besides HDMI? I didn't really look at it. If it did I'd still be interested in picking one up to fuck with (for $100, not $150). I really don't know shit about input lag, so I assume there's just nothing you can do about it if you are using an HD tv? Like I said, it sucked.

One cool feature was that you can read and write saves to and from the actual cart. Pretty nifty little feature.

Also, random not shocking news, the controller is one of the worst pieces of shit I have ever touched. Anyone picking it up absolutely has to buy the real controllers for the systems they are interested in. You cannot fathom how awful the pack in controller is.

This thing is taking a turn for the worst. I was hoping to run it through HDMI to a HD CRT. It's going to be interesting to see what GAFs verdict is.

 

[Troy D Chinula]

Talked to the guy manning the Hyperkin booth at PAX East, he flat out said it would be 150 dollars when I asked what the price was going to be.

 

[TheWraith]

Nononononononononononononononononono.

Games were already reported lag-free by an independent reviewer on his own equipment. It was also confirmed to be lag-free on one recent video were two people were testing it out. Probably was just a bad setup or interference from other equipment during that exhibition.

 

[MercuryLS]

I got to play this for a few minutes last weekend. I tried Super Mario Bros. The input lag was out of this fucking world, and I'm not one to be bugged by that usually. Maybe it was the TV or something. But, it fucking sucked.

From a wired controller or the included POS bluetooth controller?

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

From a wired controller or the included POS bluetooth controller?

Real NES controller. Fuck using the abomination that is the packed in controller.

Games were already reported lag-free by an independent reviewer on his own equipment. It was also confirmed to be lag-free on one recent video were two people were testing it out. Probably was just a bad setup or interference from other equipment during that exhibition.

Like, I said, I don't have a clue about input lag, all I know is that it was extremely noticeable. And it was just the system plugged into a TV I think. Don't know why there would have been anything between them since it was just a random room in the hotel where the Midwest Gaming Classic was being held.

So, it's possible it was just the TV? Second question, is it actually possible for an LCD TV to not have input lag?

 

[MercuryLS]

Real NES controller. Fuck using the abomination that is the packed in controller.

Wow, that's fucked up. How is there lag with a wired controller? I've got mine ordered for $100 and I'm trying to confirm if I can still get it at that price. Even then, I'm seriously considering canceling it at getting an original SNES and Genesis instead.

 

[Plinko]

No, it's likely Amazon will cancel pre orders. It has already happened once with this very same product when the availability changed.

I've had this preordered since day one and Amazon never canceled my order.

 

[KittenMaster]

Yikes. That is deal breaking. I want to bail out now.

 

[DonMigs85]

Real NES controller. Fuck using the abomination that is the packed in controller.



Like, I said, I don't have a clue about input lag, all I know is that it was extremely noticeable. And it was just the system plugged into a TV I think. Don't know why there would have been anything between them since it was just a random room in the hotel where the Midwest Gaming Classic was being held.

So, it's possible it was just the TV? Second question, is it actually possible for an LCD TV to not have input lag?

LCD sets generally have a Game Mode or PC Setting to help reduce input lag.

 

[HUELEN10]

So, it's possible it was just the TV? Second question, is it actually possible for an LCD TV to not have input lag?

Technically no, by there are lots of sets that are deemed lagless because the amount of lag, while technically measurable, is ridiculously low. Digital signage comes to mind, and some amazing gaming TVs such as the Panny X-1 also take the cake.

 

[meanspartan]

So a couple friends and I have started our own gaming podcast. We released episode one already, and recorded #2 last night. Thanks to some good fortune on my part, an acquaintance of mine who works as a Social Media and Marketing Coordinator for Hyperkin has agreed to do an interview with us.

Besides the elephant in the room (the continued delays of the release of the retron 5), what questions do you want to have answered?

And to throw in a shameless plug for our fledgling podcast, episode #1 can be found here: http://pixelapocalypse.ctrlalttech.c...types=og.likes

Please disregard the "Pixel Apocalyspse" stuff, we are just piggybacking on the website of a now-defunct podcast until our own is ready. To subscribe for now, search "Pixel Apocalypse" on your podcast app of choice, it will carry new episodes for a while even after our own website is up, and we will let listeners know on the show when they can switch over.

Also, if you want to do us a really big solid, like us on Facebook too: https://www.facebook.com/thepodcast1

Does a lot to help us build our visibility and hopefully, an audience. We are in huge need of feedback to help us improve the show and get it to where we want it to be.

Thanks guys, and can't wait to see what questions you want us to ask!

 

[meanspartan]

Interview with a Hyperkin rep on the Retron 5.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTWfprTiO7o

Our interview was originally supposed to be with the rep in this video, but he resigned a few days ago so it is instead slated to be with his brother who happens to also be a Hyperkin rep.

We hoped to get him on despite the resignation if he wasn't tied down by NDAs. May have allowed more frankness. Oh well. Beggars can't be choosers

 

[blizzardjesus]

Played with it at pax, the included controller is terrible, imagine the pdp fight pad but in an uncomfortable shape and cheaper parts/construction. Similar stick and microswitch buttons without the springiness. The buttons rest directly on the microswitches, without the rubber pads we're familiar with on classic and modern systems.

Load time for games are long. Had the guy switch games for me, put in Pokemon Fire Red for GBA. Took about a minute+ to load the game. So it's not running games from the carts, but from a rom dumped into system memory.

I'm still curious as to how it'll be going forward(ie the updates) but my enthusiasm is greatly lessened.

The current scanline filter is not even.. it does a weird pattern similar to this, where it's even for a bunch of lines then its off by one, then repeats.
Like so: |when it should be:
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_______ |----------
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_______ |----------
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_______ |----------


Retron 5: ignore their shitty smothing filter:

how scanlines should look: FRAMEMEISTER

 

[Trakdown]

Load time for games are long. Had the guy switch games for me, put in Pokemon Fire Red for GBA. Took about a minute+ to load the game. So it's not running games from the carts, but from a rom dumped into system memory.

Welp...cancelled. Not paying $99 (if that's still the price) for a glorified rom dumping machine. Especially if they upped the price and the controller is shit. Guess I'm going to CRT + original system route, least then I won't have load times.

 

[MrMan2k3]

Welp...cancelled. Not paying $99 (if that's still the price) for a glorified rom dumping machine. Especially if they upped the price and the controller is shit. Guess I'm going to CRT + original system route, least then I won't have load times.

From what I've heard/seen in YouTube videos, the loading times are pretty low for most of the games. Not instant, but nothing all that terrible. It seems that the GBA load times are relatively high (maybe up to a minute?), but GBA cartridges also come in larger sizes than the others that the Retron5 supports. I really don't see it as a major issue.

 

[Tempy]

Played with it at pax, the included controller is terrible, imagine the pdp fight pad but in an uncomfortable shape and cheaper parts/construction. Similar stick and microswitch buttons without the springiness. The buttons rest directly on the microswitches, without the rubber pads we're familiar with on classic and modern systems.

Load time for games are long. Had the guy switch games for me, put in Pokemon Fire Red for GBA. Took about a minute+ to load the game. So it's not running games from the carts, but from a rom dumped into system memory.

I'm still curious as to how it'll be going forward(ie the updates) but my enthusiasm is greatly lessened.

The current scanline filter is not even.. it does a weird pattern similar to this, where it's even for a bunch of lines then its off by one, then repeats.

Not surprised GBA games take a long time to read; many GBA games are much larger than SNES/Genesis games. The EZ-Flash IV cart for GBA takes maybe 10-30seconds to move the larger roms around from the SD card to the bootable memory? And that's probably using faster memory than what's in a regular GBA cart. I'm hoping the next time you power up the console you don't have to reread the cart and can just play the last loaded game?

Good thing I wasn't planning on using scanline filters, but that is a lousy implementation indeed. Maybe there are more options?

 

[Gillian Seed]

I will still get one and use my actual controllers. I have no room for multiple systems hooked up.

 

[comedy bomb]

Retron 5: ignore their shitty smoothing filter:

Am I weird for liking this?

I will still get one and use my actual controllers. I have no room for multiple systems hooked up.

Same here. I even packed up the older systems I wasn't actively using. Recent impressions and possible price hike are killing my buzz though.

 

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

8-bit Classics just sent an email describing the clusterfuck (my words) Hyperkin has put themselves into regarding these orders. That includes the May shipping date and the price increase.

Had to cancel my preorder.

 

[Jamix012]

I'm kind of upset about all this. It's not even that I care all that much if the Retron 5, on its own, takes a long time to load. I'm just upset a combination of factors look like they're going to drive this to sell poorly. Which means, probably never a retron 6 with turbografx an N64. Sigh.

 

[Superblatt]

This thing has clearly had problems on the development side for months now - that much is for certain. I had a system pre-ordered through Amazon and cancelled about a month ago, even though I had it locked in a $99. The buzz from actual people is poor -- and I frankly would prefer to use my PVM with RGB cables. Only reason I was considering this was for my big screen upstairs. At this point, it's clear their go-to-market strategy is broken or non-existent. You do not change price at the 11th hour on a product with a super niche market. That's business school 101.

 

[MercuryLS]

Played with it at pax, the included controller is terrible, imagine the pdp fight pad but in an uncomfortable shape and cheaper parts/construction. Similar stick and microswitch buttons without the springiness. The buttons rest directly on the microswitches, without the rubber pads we're familiar with on classic and modern systems.

Load time for games are long. Had the guy switch games for me, put in Pokemon Fire Red for GBA. Took about a minute+ to load the game. So it's not running games from the carts, but from a rom dumped into system memory.

I'm still curious as to how it'll be going forward(ie the updates) but my enthusiasm is greatly lessened.

The current scanline filter is not even.. it does a weird pattern similar to this, where it's even for a bunch of lines then its off by one, then repeats.
Like so: |when it should be:
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
_______ |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
_______ |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
_______ |----------


Retron 5: ignore their shitty smothing filter:

how scanlines should look: FRAMEMEISTER

I cancelled my pre-order, this sounds bad. I will look into buying a real SNES and using it with an upscaler.

 

[Gestault]

Played with it at pax, the included controller is terrible, imagine the pdp fight pad but in an uncomfortable shape and cheaper parts/construction. Similar stick and microswitch buttons without the springiness. The buttons rest directly on the microswitches, without the rubber pads we're familiar with on classic and modern systems.

Load time for games are long. Had the guy switch games for me, put in Pokemon Fire Red for GBA. Took about a minute+ to load the game. So it's not running games from the carts, but from a rom dumped into system memory.

I'm still curious as to how it'll be going forward(ie the updates) but my enthusiasm is greatly lessened.

The current scanline filter is not even.. it does a weird pattern similar to this, where it's even for a bunch of lines then its off by one, then repeats.
Like so: |when it should be:
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
_______ |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
_______ |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
---------- |----------
_______ |----------


Retron 5: ignore their shitty smothing filter:

how scanlines should look: FRAMEMEISTER

I had probably about ten or fifteen minutes with it and had the *exact* same response, especially regarding the scanline feature. I actively disliked the result of their video filters.

The default upscale over HDMI looked pretty good on its own, but anything aside from that had a destructive effect, for my taste. The loading time for the carts to dump was just bizarre, though admittedly it would automatically load up your previous save-state, which seemed pretty slick in its own way. That said, the whole experience was the opposite of feeling "authentic." I didn't like the controller at all. I'm waiting for some hands-on with the final revision before I put any money down on this. It's weird having this reaction to something that I assumed was an easy $99 sell.

 

[baphomet]

Obviously a $500 upscaler and equipment will look significantly better than this thing, but holy shit at those pictures. For an emulation box it apparently can barely even do that right from the looks of it.

 

[TheWraith]

Played with it at pax, the included controller is terrible, imagine the pdp fight pad but in an uncomfortable shape and cheaper parts/construction. Similar stick and microswitch buttons without the springiness. The buttons rest directly on the microswitches, without the rubber pads we're familiar with on classic and modern systems.

Not an issue for me as I'm more interested in playing with the original controller.

Load time for games are long. Had the guy switch games for me, put in Pokemon Fire Red for GBA. Took about a minute+ to load the game.

Load times were quite fast from what I've seen, but maybe GBA is indeed longer. Check youtube vids with it loading Genesis/NES/SNES really fast tho!

I'm still curious as to how it'll be going forward(ie the updates) but my enthusiasm is greatly lessened.

The current scanline filter is not even.. it does a weird pattern similar to this, where it's even for a bunch of lines then its off by one, then repeats.

Could be easily upgraded in firmware methinks. But then again I never expected their scanline option to be better then a Frameister. We are talking a 140USD Console versus a 400+ USD upscale device anyway. It would be sad if it was the other way around!

Meanwhile it's being reported there will be no stock for all Amazon pre-orders on "launch". With Amazon orders only to begin "during summer". Meanwhile no communication at all from Hyperkin in weeks on any of their pages...I think that company is run equally well as that Hyperkin guy that was playing Sonic 2 in the video posted a couple of weeks ago.

 

[McBradders]

The scanline comparisons are a little unfair given that there are smoothing filters already running on them making them look considerably worse to start with.

I get that it's not the best looking implimentation but for under $150... some real unreasonable stances being taken here. I have all the OG systems and stuff lying around, I simply don't have room for a bulky CRT or the cash money for pro grade upscaler. The deal being offered still seems pretty sweet to me and I'm not going to cancel just because of a moderate price hike and one feature being worse that a dedicated $500 piece of kit :/

The worse thing about this is the silence and all the rumours flying around, that bites worse than any of the legit facts floating around presently

 

[Sixfortyfive]

I get that it's not the best looking implimentation but for under $150... some real unreasonable stances being taken here.

The thing is, I'm 100% sure that I could get better results from existing Windows emulators, running HDMI out from my existing laptop to my TV, and plugging in a couple of my existing USB controllers, all for the grand total of $0. (And to be 100% clear, I'm not advocating piracy; I used SSF as a substitute for my broken Saturn for a while, with my library of legit games.)

That's why the enthusiasm for these dedicated emulator boxes always confounds me, quality issues aside. I get the appeal of using original hardware, and that's the route I usually take myself, but you're not even getting anything like that out of the Retron either.

 

[McBradders]

The thing is, I'm 100% sure that I could get better results from existing Windows emulators, running HDMI out from my existing laptop to my TV, and plugging in a couple of my existing USB controllers, all for the grand total of $0. (And to be 100% clear, I'm not advocating piracy; I used SSF as a substitute for my broken Saturn for a while, with my library of legit games.)

That's why the enthusiasm for these dedicated emulator boxes always confounds me, quality issues aside. I get the appeal of using original hardware, and that's the route I usually take myself, but you're not even getting anything like that out of the Retron either.

Yeah a PC can do better, absolutely no doubt there. My PC is nowhere near my big TV and this little box is the perfect solution for my particular circumstances.

 

[Recall]

Isn't this the point of emulation that it is flawed from the get go and it just isn't possible to recreate the old consoles perfectly but that is the compromise as it is cheaper? A SNES knock off will always perform worse than a legit SNES.

You can get a hold of CRTs for for next to nothing here in the UK and you can easily recreate that childhood nostalgia with your old console quite easily.

It is a shame that this product just isn't turning out to be close to what was promised/marketed.

 

[blizzardjesus]

The scanline comparisons are a little unfair given that there are smoothing filters already running on them making them look considerably worse to start with.

Those are the images that hyperkin posted on their pintrist. They did not put out photos of just scan lines with no filters. So that is a bad on themselves.

The thing is, I'm 100% sure that I could get better results from existing Windows emulators, running HDMI out from my existing laptop to my TV, and plugging in a couple of my existing USB controllers, all for the grand total of $0.

Pretty much, Znes and SNES9x both had better filter/scanline implementation in the windows 98 days.

Theres not much difference between it and an PC emulator + snes carts in a Retrode adapter.

 

[slit]

Well I hope you're all happy, you've soured me on this thing.

I had such high hopes.

 

[Kevin]

Was considering buying one of these but the whole thing seems like a train wreck. Constant product delays, price increases, rumors of lag and slow load times, poor controller design, crappy company PR... yeah I lost my interest in this. Maybe I'll look back into it during the second half of the year when it finally comes out (if it ever does, lol) and see what some of the final product impressions are.

In concept, this is a neat product but I'm taking a wait and see approach with this one.

 

[Mareg]

What a complete disaster I have two preordered for 100$ on amazon.
It had so much potential. They should have included an USB port. I have the perfect retro controller in the form of a japan saturn pad.
I will survey the web night and day for impressions and reviews of this device in hope that I can cancel my preorders just in time should my fears materialize...

 

[Hibiki Rush]

Anyone who pre-ordered this thing has no right to complain. Why pre-order hardware without any sort of knowledge of what the end product will be, and not being certain when it will be delivered?

 

[slit]

Anyone who pre-ordered this thing has no right to complain. Why pre-order hardware without any sort of knowledge of what the end product will be, and not being certain when it will be delivered?

I never preordered it, but this isn't exactly an unusal thing to do among gamers.

 

[Mareg]

Anyone who pre-ordered this thing has no right to complain. Why pre-order hardware without any sort of knowledge of what the end product will be, and not being certain when it will be delivered?

I guess we preordered over the promises. Wich were numerous and so so very beautiful :'(
You have no idea the level of salt in those tears.

Look at it like a gamble. But now we kind of know the odds. So maybe we don't want to gamble anymore because there are many rumors that the fighter has a broken leg and ring rust

 

[Major B.S.]

If someone hasn't confirmed yet, I'm hearing end of May through my little birdies. Price around what people were recently expecting for US and CAN.

 

[Quadraphonic]

What's funny is that you can mix/match controllers with the systems.

That means you can use the NES controller to play UMK3 on the SNES.

Oh sure, it'll TELL YOU that you don't have enough buttons, but it won't stop you.

 

[AwShucks]

Honestly, until Amazon cancels my $100 preorder or I hear some more impression or see some poor videos, I'm keeping it preordered. It's not like I'll get charged until they ship anyways.

And as for me, like others I just don't have the time/money/effort to get my actual systems working on my TV. HDMI from PC to TV also isn't an option for me. So this seems like the best solution to use my actual carts and controllers on my HDTV.

 

[Narpas Sword0]

The main reason I wanted this is my Retron5 doesn't work with NES controllers, and I had it replaced as soon as I bought it and they don't work on the replacement either. Has anyone else had this issue? If the NES ports worked on that one I wouldn't need a replacement at all.