Retron 5 source code discussion

As the Retron 5 ROM hack thread got hijacked by discussion of source code use without consent, I thought it prudent to give those who wish to discuss this further a thread to do so.

Please keep this thread to discussion of the source code allegedly used without permission. If you know something about this, it would be interesting if you could explain what the code was originally, what it's doing in the Retron 5 and what licence the code was released under, for those of us less familiar with the situation. Perhaps also explain how much of the Retron 5's code might be "borrowed."

Keep it friendly - as ASSEMbler said, any antagonistic and nonconstructive comments will be removed.

For those directly involved, it is probably best not to discuss the legal matters here - get yourselves a lawyer (perhaps collectively) and discuss it in private with them.

 

Right, first of all I want someone with some backbone to hand over the relevant files. Then they can be perused to check for if they are using stolen code.

The extent of the code use can only be determined if point A) happens.

Clearly no one is in point A) so obviously I have to fork out 271 bucks just to check if MY code is used by them, which obviously it is. No thank you.

 

If they are infact utilizing code you retain legal rights to that would hold up in a court of law, the $271 for you to buy a dumb retron and prove without any doubt that you are entitled to damages would probably be a worthwhile investment, probably a better investment than the time taken to come on the assembler forums that are in no way officially related to the Retron makers in the slightest and throw a hissy fit instead of talking to a lawyer.

 

I fail to see though why people with access to Retron5 files aren't willing to help those without. Especially when said files won't be made public and just used for reverse engineering purposes and nothing else. They would be used for finding relevant code fragments, and that's it.

Strikes me as odd as to why people are reluctant if they are not used in a user-identifiable manner and are anonymous.

 

Agreed.

 

It would probably hurt your case against them.

 

Yet they could potentially argue that reverse engineering "their" software and hardware is illegal.

Which means potentially letting them F us in the A.

 

which files are you even claiming they used anyways

 

This is all a bit ridiculous. Based on what has been said so far,

what is the consensus on getting all the files for emulation authors to verify if it is indeed pilfered?


I have a local game shop within about 4/5 miles that actually has some Retron 5's in Stock (~150$ IIRC).

If no one wants to help those which make all this possible in the first place, I feel compelled to do so myself.

 

Wow, that's a pretty shitty attitude you got there. Let's assume it's your code and you are in the same preliminary stages of finding out and see how you handle it.

 

pm if you decide to do so and need assistance

 

Considering the previous treatment and attitude. I don't see why anyone would jump out of there way to give you these files when you can't be bothered to do it your self and feel entitled for someone else to do it for you.

 

As opposed to the treatment and attitude you guys have shown us so far I guess...

The actual authors who have been ripped off by this crappy company (and in the case of SNES9x Next, a fork which I personally made by the way - and also another major hint - a core which has NEVER had a standalone version and has always had the libretro API as its main interface, which raises questions about what the frontend of Retron5 consists of, but I digress)...

I actually proved my case that their core was SNES9x Next because I actually coded those additions to the code - the SuperFX overclocking code for one, and the game ID speedhack selection - both symbol names which matched 100% to the ones that were found in that SNES core dynamic library pilfered from the firmware).

So far we've been told 'buy a Retron5 yourself so you can grab the dump of the firmware image yourself'. Yeah, let's help these guys who are ripping us off to even more profit. Need I remind you that they are already on the hook for one license violation (namely the SNES9x non-commercial license). But I'm plenty sure there's more license infringement to go around and more cores they have ripped off, and that's why we need to be able to run our own tests since most of you in here are end-users and incapable of actually running readelf or nm on these things. Running things through a hex editor and looking up some basic strings is stuff any monkey can do and so far not even that has been provided to any satisfactory degree.

We need to know what the frontend consists of, we need to know what those other cores consist of, and most importantly, we really need to be able to inspect these files ourselves because a bunch of endusers and arcade PCB collectors obviously don't know nearly anywhere as much about our own code as we do ourselves (obviously).

So get in contact with us through PM and share the necessary files. We already know they are in the wrong. That has been proven already in the previous thread on page 3. We just need to know the full extent of it and obviously asking the victim to go ahead and pay for the very same product that said accused company is using to rip them off is very disrespectful to say the least.

 

As much as I feel for you guys for the license violation (and agree something should be done) Buying one console to prove your case is not going to make a huge difference for hyperkin. I get it you guys are victims but you are literally lashing out at every body else over this.

 

Are you serious man? They should be forced to spend 150+ US$ to a company that by all information presented has stolen their blood, sweat and tears and thousands of hours of hard work? Just to verify it 100%?


He has every right to be upset. How would you feel if you were him? He's not lashing out as much as he's trying to comprehend why people are being so complacent and not willing to help. Especially those who already have a Retron 5.

 

Even though many people seem to have bought a Retron 5, chromableed seems to be the only one who really examined the device, identified the components and rooted it...

I don't know if rooting is reversible? Otherwise it would be possible to buy a Retron at a local gameshop, root, copy the files, then restore to factory defaults and return the item for a refund.

Another solution would be to ask around in Retron 5 topics in other forums for people that are willing to help out.

 

Honestly I don't understand the purpose in this mad scramble to gather files/more information before at least attempting to contact a lawyer. Disputing something through the law is a long process and takes a lot of time. In the grand scheme of things I would think it wouldn't be too difficult to identify the areas which they've potentially violated, it sounds like you're already over halfway there. Working with a lawyer to determine what may be deemed as "proof" if violation is probably the next major step.

 

libretro, you should get a lawyer and send them legal munbo-jumbo like a cease and desist and whatnot. Buying a retron surely would be a good idea to examine everything yourself. Though, be prepared to spend a lot of time in court and have a nice lawyer bill at the end of this odyssey, hopefully they'll pay it for you once they loose.

This is a horrible situation, it's shocking how lazy a company has to be to steal free open code and sell it.

 

To be honest I can't say I'm really surprised. The retron line I always viewed as rather "corner-cut" clone systems. To think they would go and take on emulating 5 different main systems from scratch in any timely fashion was a complete non-possibility in my brain. From a company that seemed focused in providing a SOAC replacement to completely pull a 180 and go full on software emulation was the red flag in my mind. I would help with this process more if I could but I always suspected this was just a company copying emulators over to cheap hardware in order to make a quick buck. Turns out my assumptions were right.

 

If they wanted to do that they shoud've simply sell the android front-end and ask you to download the different emulator cores online yourself, e.g. just like it's done on the openpandora, or like people do emulator machines out of a raspberry pi or whatnot.