WELL THIS IS INTERESTING.. Retron 4

Discussion in 'General Gaming' started by GodofHardcore, Mar 5, 2013.

  1. 7Force

    7Force Guardian of the Forum

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2009
    Messages:
    4,547
    Likes Received:
    92
    So, are you saying you did have composite or that you didn't have it?
     
  2. GodofHardcore

    GodofHardcore Paragon of the Forum *

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2007
    Messages:
    11,821
    Likes Received:
    454
    I didn't have a TV that had composite until 93. We still have that TV too, only my idiot brother smashed it to bits for no reason. A shame, it still worked.
     
  3. sayin999

    sayin999 Officer at Arms

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2004
    Messages:
    3,407
    Likes Received:
    113
    The scanline free look only worked for me when play street fighter alpha/zero collection on ps2 on my aquas through a component cable. In some ways it's kinda cool to see all the pixels. But I do agree that emu scanlines are a joke and to be honest I thought I was the only one that thought they looked like an eyesore. The videoout on the sega ages 2500 collection ps2 was cool, liked playing though component alien soldier and messing with the different setting, they even had 240p :)
     
  4. Segafreak_NL

    Segafreak_NL v2.0 New and improved. Site supporter 2012-15

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2004
    Messages:
    2,942
    Likes Received:
    55
    Someone needs to do a new portable machine that takes Game Gear carts.
     
  5. billcosbymon

    billcosbymon Guru Meditation Error

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    Messages:
    660
    Likes Received:
    48
    I'll be there for the unveiling lol. Meet up with me if ya want. I could care less about the retron 4 though.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2013
  6. GodofHardcore

    GodofHardcore Paragon of the Forum *

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2007
    Messages:
    11,821
    Likes Received:
    454
    Wait for the Retron 5, GBA, SNES/SFC, NES, Genesis, 32x,, Gamegear and a hole for an Onacup
     
  7. Segafreak_NL

    Segafreak_NL v2.0 New and improved. Site supporter 2012-15

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2004
    Messages:
    2,942
    Likes Received:
    55
    No, just a small portable machine with screen that takes Game Gear carts and has a lithium ion battery.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2013
  8. Lum

    Lum Officer at Arms

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2010
    Messages:
    3,233
    Likes Received:
    42
    As I was saying American TVs of that era were inferior.
     
  9. ave

    ave JAMMA compatible

    Joined:
    May 21, 2006
    Messages:
    5,644
    Likes Received:
    61
    Just because America's TV standard connection was shit doesn't mean games were meant to be played that way. The original hardware was capable of RGB and there were cables for available AT THE TIME for the Master System, Super Nintendo, Mega Drive, Saturn, PlayStation. Some of them were official by the makers, others were custom made, but still it was possible without modifying the console.

    If you look at the screenshots in the old 8/16-Bit manuals, you'll notice that almost all of them were taken by photographing the TV-screen in RGB-quality, even for consoles like the NES which does not normally output RGB. That was because the developers used RGB, so that is the way they saw the game and also the best way to play the game back when it was new - which, for me, is the ideal way of playing it today.

    Or in other words: Just because someone drove a rusty old car from the 50's in the 1980's doesn't mean that this represented the authentic standard of 1980's cars. America just chose lower standards than the rest of the world, just like in many other aspects as well :p
     
  10. GodofHardcore

    GodofHardcore Paragon of the Forum *

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2007
    Messages:
    11,821
    Likes Received:
    454
    Whatever the standard in that country was, is the intended means of playing.

    Consoles didn't start coming with Composite cables by default until the PS1/Saturn
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2013
  11. Lum

    Lum Officer at Arms

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2010
    Messages:
    3,233
    Likes Received:
    42
    That depends on whether you consider game developers or TV manufacturers, to be what determines intended.
     
  12. wilykat

    wilykat Site Supporter 2013

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2012
    Messages:
    991
    Likes Received:
    45
    8 bit NES came with yellow/red cable, the one with SMB/Duck Hunt package.
     
  13. la-li-lu-le-lo

    la-li-lu-le-lo ラリルレロ

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    5,657
    Likes Received:
    238
    I've gradually come to the conclusion that, while the concept of "what the developers intended" is a good idea to keep in mind, I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to attain an experience that is better than what the developers intended, or maybe were even capable of achieving at the time. Examples: the N64 with its RGB output capabilities. The N64 never had the ability to output RGB without modification, so it's not something the developers intended - but it is by far the best way to experience the system. The Gamecube originally used deflicker or smoothing, even over 480p. Disabling it results in a far superior image.

    Obviously what the developers intended, and the hardware they used to develop their software, are separate things. In the examples I gave, what I see is probably similar to what the developers saw as they were building the game. But at the same time, they were probably testing the software on crappy composite leads. So I think it's difficult to say what the developers actually "intended". I think it's somewhat of a philosophical question with no definite answer.

    By the way, I was still using RF connections well into the mid-90s, even though composite devices were available by then. I think it was partly due to convenience, and I know at least one of our TVs didn't have a composite input. I remember when we got our 27" Sony Trinitron TV with composite inputs, it was a big deal. Even over composite, that TV had far superior video quality to anything we'd had before. And at the time, it seemed huge.
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2013
  14. XxHennersXx

    XxHennersXx I post here on the toilet sometimes.

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2007
    Messages:
    4,115
    Likes Received:
    24
    true, prime example: Totally Radd!! box on NES. You'll see some of the pallett that gets changed on the screen shots (black sky!)
     
  15. kyo86sg

    kyo86sg Intrepid Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2012
    Messages:
    689
    Likes Received:
    34
    Well todays the day! Anyone heading down to the launch event kinda provide us live image and hands on review! Better yet bring down snes super Mario RPG & CV3 see if it works!

    Camping here for updates and streaming via assembler =P
     
  16. pichichi010

    pichichi010 Rising Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2013
    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    26
  17. smf

    smf mamedev

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2005
    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    88
    From the looks of the PCB it's a set of "x" on a chip systems & you select which one to use with a knob.

    It won't be the same as playing on the real thing, but depending on how long it's been since you played on the real thing you may not notice.

    The same with the HDMI scan line thing, if you've recently played on a CRT then there is no way you'll think it's the same. The only advantage they have is they make the image look less blocky, which is probably enough for most people.

    FWIW the artists on games used to test on multiple TV's and monitors to make sure their creations looked at least ok on them all. So the concept of "what they intended" is very loose. Just use what you're happy with.
     
  18. Bad_Ad84

    Bad_Ad84 The Tick

    Joined:
    May 26, 2011
    Messages:
    8,566
    Likes Received:
    1,311
    Got links to PCB pics?
     
  19. Unknown-Organization

    Unknown-Organization <B>Site Supporter 2014</B>

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2011
    Messages:
    782
    Likes Received:
    6
    This is awesome! I could revive old NES, SNES, and GBA games in a single device (using the original cartridges) and be easily connect it to my home theater? Wonder what the cost will be.

    I alread have the Retron 3 and hoping retron 4 will improve more

    On the NES side, there is composite video and dual mono output (s-video doesn't work on NES). For Genesis and SNES, there is composite video, s-video, and stereo audio output. Composite video on NES is ok, but it's very dark for Genesis and SNES. It's not really a problem since it's better to use s-video for Genesis and SNES anyways. Compared to composite, s-video output is very sharp and bright. Even the standard Genesis systems don't feature s-video output, so this is a very nice feature of the Retron 3. Since the NES side doesn't work with s-video, it is a bit annoying to have to plug and unplug the s-video cable to play NES games.

    The Genesis sound is a little inaccurate. I noticed in Sagaia that the sound effects are louder than the music and a bit of the soundtrack is off key. Also, there is a little buzzing noise on NES and Genesis games. I can live with it. At least it doesn't sound totally butchered up like the Atgames Genesis clones. Most of my other games don't sound too different than on a model 1 Genesis. SNES sound is perfect. I don't know how accurate the NES sound is since I never owned one.
    Also, the NES and Genesis cartridge slots have some sort of deathgrip. I have to press against the system so that I don't lift the whole thing while I attempt to yank the cartridge out. The SNES slot is surprisingly smooth and easy to insert and remove cartridges.

    I've heard from other Retron 4 tester's that Street Fighter Alpha 2 (SNES) doesn't work, but it works perfectly fine on mine on Retron 3.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2013
  20. GodofHardcore

    GodofHardcore Paragon of the Forum *

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2007
    Messages:
    11,821
    Likes Received:
    454
    I'd still rather just get the real thing
     
sonicdude10
Draft saved Draft deleted
Insert every image as a...
  1.  0%

Share This Page