Nintendo, Sega controllers and carts find a new home in the RetroN 3 console

[StereoMike]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/n...e-in-the-retr/

Available in retro-futurist red or sober, serious black, the RetroN 3 gaming system is compatible with your Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and SNES cartridges. And if that weren't enough for you, you can use a pair of the original controllers from either of those three systems. If that seems too awesome, it also packs its own wireless controllers. Available now for $70.

[Wingman1977]

That's great for those who has games for all 3 of those consoles.

[brettallica]

As a general rule, I despise console clones, but this one looks pretty good. Plus for $70, it's hard to argue with its price.

[Rob71]

I may have to move up from my NES clone. It's done a great job on every cartridge I've used. Some have "issues" playing certain games, but I haven't run into any problems. Here's mine:

yobo_fc_game01.jpg

If I do update I can finally mod an NES handheld like this one.

wood_nes.jpg

[mikejet]

Do I still need to blow into my cartridges before playing them?

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Ohhh... I like this. I've been looking at these old console clones for some time, deciding which one(s) to eventually get.

I actually still have all of my old consoles, but considering that my NES is about 25 years old (I have the original set that came with R.O.B.), and my SNES and Genesis are both more or less pushing 20, this might be a good option.

This would make it easier to play those old games and have one console set up (though I guess I'd still need to hook up my original Genesis to play 32X or Sega CD games... though I only have a handful of those).

For a while I've been considering these clones, but I've been waiting for something like this that not only plays the games from several consoles, but also works with all of the old controllers.

There have been individual clones for 1 system each that work with the old controllers, but it would mean buying several separate clones to get them all. There was one SNES and NES combo unit that would work with original SNES controllers but not the NES controllers, and there was one that played all 3 systems' games that only worked with the controllers that come with the clone system and didn't work with any controllers from the original consoles.


So, this looks to be up my alley. I don't plan to get rid of my original consoles, it would just be nice to have this as an option.

Does anyone know if this thing has any problem working with Game Genie from any of the systems?



[QUOTE=Rob71;3468077
If I do update I can finally mod an NES handheld like this one.[/QUOTE]

There actually is an NES clone handheld thing similar to that... you don't even have to mod it, it just comes that way. I think it can also be used as an NES unit hooked to a TV if you want it (I think it also came with a controller and gun).

I actually saw this (and a few of the other clones I mentioned earlier) in a store near me. In the Chicagoland area, there's a chain of used CD/DVD/Video Game stores called Disc Replay. They carry games for these old systems and sell some of the clones. And they had the NES handheld clone there the last time I was there. I'm sure it must be available online somewhere.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

There actually is an NES clone handheld thing similar to that... you don't even have to mod it, it just comes that way.

Yeah, but I have a scrap piece of zebrawood that I need to use for something. Plus building it and actually getting it to work would be as fun as playing it for me.

Zebrawood50.JPG

[Moviefan2k4]

Yeah, I bought a Retro Duo clone system for my mother 2 years ago, but the thing keeps shifting from color to grayscale on-screen, and the Down arrows on both controllers suck. At some point, I do want to get her a "real" (i.e. "refurbished pre-owned") console, as a replacement. I also want both a Super NES and an 8-bit for myself as well.

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

Ohhh... I like this. I've been looking at these old console clones for some time, deciding which one(s) to eventually get.

I actually still have all of my old consoles, but considering that my NES is about 25 years old (I have the original set that came with R.O.B.), and my SNES and Genesis are both more or less pushing 20, this might be a good option.

This would make it easier to play those old games and have one console set up (though I guess I'd still need to hook up my original Genesis to play 32X or Sega CD games... though I only have a handful of those).

For a while I've been considering these clones, but I've been waiting for something like this that not only plays the games from several consoles, but also works with all of the old controllers.

There have been individual clones for 1 system each that work with the old controllers, but it would mean buying several separate clones to get them all. There was one SNES and NES combo unit that would work with original SNES controllers but not the NES controllers, and there was one that played all 3 systems' games that only worked with the controllers that come with the clone system and didn't work with any controllers from the original consoles.


So, this looks to be up my alley. I don't plan to get rid of my original consoles, it would just be nice to have this as an option.

Does anyone know if this thing has any problem working with Game Genie from any of the systems?

I don't know for sure because I haven't used this system yet, but that's a very good question that you will definitely want answered. Sometimes we forget about these things, so good call there. I remember I had to buy a special adapter for my top-loader NES, which was not cheap or easy to find.

Were you able to find out anything since your post?

[Musashi]

What I'd like is a clone system that can connect with S-Video or higher type cables. The Super NES actually had a rare S-video cable and could use S cables designed for the N64 and GameCube. Text sharpness improves dramatically.

[Polygon]

Still not sure how I feel about clone systems. I just prefer to use the original, and I have spares.

Originally Posted by Musashi

What I'd like is a clone system that can connect with S-Video or higher type cables. The Super NES actually had a rare S-video cable and could use S cables designed for the N64 and GameCube. Text sharpness improves dramatically.

I did not know that. I guess I'm headed to find one of those as it will work with three of my systems.

[Canada]

Originally Posted by Stereomike

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/n...e-in-the-retr/

Available in retro-futurist red or sober, serious black, the RetroN 3 gaming system is compatible with your Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and SNES cartridges. And if that weren't enough for you, you can use a pair of the original controllers from either of those three systems. If that seems too awesome, it also packs its own wireless controllers. Available now for $70.

sweet

[StereoMike]

As you can see in my HT Gallery, I still have all 3 Consoles but for esthetic reasons, there are no controllers plugged. I don't know if it's because I'm lazy, but I don't play them much, maybe once a year. Now with this RetroN, I could use it to actually play my games, and still look at my old Consoles for nostalgia! And with the wireless controllers, I'm pretty much sold.

[StereoMike]

Here's a review:

Part 1

Part 2

[StereoMike]

Originally Posted by Musashi

What I'd like is a clone system that can connect with S-Video or higher type cables. The Super NES actually had a rare S-video cable and could use S cables designed for the N64 and GameCube. Text sharpness improves dramatically.

There's a S-Video output on this unit.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by Stereomike

There's a S-Video output on this unit.

Just saw it; that's very cool.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Stereomike

Here's a review:

Part 1

Part 2

The more I hear about this the more interested I get. Now... all I need is for someone to come out with an Atari 2600/Colecovision/Intellivision unit.

Wireless joysticks would be cool.

[mugen]

does it support 4 player games with a multitap?

[tfoltz]

Bought one of these 3 weeks ago from a retailer on Amazon for $56. It is amazing. I used to have trouble getting some NES games to work in my front loading NES; however, most of my games work the first try in the Retron 3, or immediately after blowing up its skirt. My primary test was Mario 2, because it would always freeze at a certain screen on world 7-1 in my front loading NES; well, I got to that world on the Retron 3 and it worked perfect; I even went on to the last boss to make sure no nonsense would occur, and I had no issues. Every NES game works flawlessly, which I am definitely not used to. Genesis games are perfect. SNES games are perfect. Both look insanely sharp, vibrant, and accurate with S-Video. Using composite on the Genesis and SNES makes it look a lot worse, though composite works great on the NES, of course. Original controllers work perfectly for all three systems. 3rd party controllers work great for the NES and SNES; I don't have 3rd party Genesis controllers, so I was not able to test them. The system itself seems pretty solid, though I've only had it three weeks, so we'll see.

Cons: -The colors of the NES are not exact. They are more vivid than they should be. It doesn't ruin anything, but it should be noted. I got used to it after a day or so.
-S-Video doesn't work with the NES; make sure to disconnect the S-Video cable or else the NES video won't show up on your TV.
-Genesis and SNES look bad on composite.
-The power cord for the system is very short, I wish it were longer.
-The wireless controllers have to be pointed DIRECTLY in line with the IR sensor. You cannot move the controller around at all because it will lose connection. This makes them close to useless.
-The wireless controller button configuration is stupid and you can't change it. It doesn't match up with the old Genesis configuration, even though it looks like it should.

[StereoMike]

Originally Posted by tfoltz

S-Video doesn't work with the NES; make sure to disconnect the S-Video cable or else the NES video won't show up on your TV.

I don't get it. They say to never connect both at the same time, which means plug/unplug Video/S-Video when we want to switch systems, not very convenient.

Originally Posted by tfoltz

-The wireless controllers have to be pointed DIRECTLY in line with the IR sensor. You cannot move the controller around at all because it will lose connection. This makes them close to useless.

I never thought it would be that bad! You are right, they are pretty much useless.