Retrode2

[SNESFAN]

I have no interests in buying one, I was giving a suggestion, my entire collection is already backed up. I was simply pointing out my opinion in your chosen design, while I may be the only one that said something, I doubt I'm the only one that feels that way.


I'm not going to waist anymore energy on this, you're right, I'm wrong, wish you the best, have fun.

 

[second exodous]

The flap doors would be cool purely form a retro stance, if the Retrode2 had them maybe there would be a dust cover? It might increase the cost and complexity of the molds, don't want the case to turn into a problem like the Pandora case was. Also, why are we even talking about it? We have zero input into it, this isn't the Pandora.


The best feature is game pad ports though, I still have my original SNES pads and I have a few Sega pads as well.


I hope the adapters are more common though, I want a GBA, NES, N64, GB, and Atari adapter. SNES and Genesis are great but those are but a fraction of the game carts I own, I'm sure I'm missing a few game systems there.

 

[Asiyura]

[…]


I hope the adapters are more common though, I want a GBA, NES, N64, GB, and Atari adapter. SNES and Genesis are great but those are but a fraction of the game carts I own, I'm sure I'm missing a few game systems there.

There is a GB(C/A) + N64 adapter available for the Retrode. I think it'll fit the Retrode2 without any modifications.


The only adapter from your list that's still missing is the NES one. I hope it will be available soon.

 

[Matthias_H]

Also, why are we even talking about it? We have zero input into it, this isn't the Pandora.

Because, just as the Pandora (albeit on a smaller scale), more than half of what the Retrode is today does in fact go back to your input. How many unpractical suggestions from the community did not end up in the final Pandora? Quite a bunch, it would seem -- same here. Provided I find the time for it, good, affordable and doable ideas end up being implemented.


As to the remainder of your post, I will most certainly manage to make the Retrode dump NES ROMs somehow. However, there is no way a NES plugin (just as any other NES dumper, for that matter) will offer the ease of use that makes the Retrode's SNES and Genesis slots such fun. As the user, you will always have to specify a bunch of parameters (which memory mapper, PRG size, CHR size) and rename the file to its proper title, since that information is simply not contained on the cartridge. Also, expect the plug-in to be compatible to maybe 50-60% of all titles - anything above that is pure luck.


Regards,


Matthias

 

[Prometheus]

^ I'm guessing that the same issue would apply to a Famicom cartridge adapter as well?


When/where will we be able to pre-order, by the way, please? I really don't want to miss it, this time.


Also, I just wanted to say, I really like the idea of the lid (it reminds me a little bit of the original model of the NES, with its flip-up front cover), and of having the joypad ports built into it. That makes it a LOT more practical than carrying my retro-controller-to-USB adapters around!

 

[Matthias_H]

^ I'm guessing that the same issue would apply to a Famicom cartridge adapter as well?

Yes. They're technically pretty much the same.

When/where will we be able to pre-order, by the way, please? I really don't want to miss it, this time.

Don't know. I'm hesitant to take pre-orders myself this time, since it might collide with the interests of potential retailers. ED, for example - but then, since he's in the boat, you're almost guaranteed to notice when the device becomes available

 

[second exodous]

[…]


I hope the adapters are more common though, I want a GBA, NES, N64, GB, and Atari adapter. SNES and Genesis are great but those are but a fraction of the game carts I own, I'm sure I'm missing a few game systems there.

There is a GB(C/A) + N64 adapter available for the Retrode. I think it'll fit the Retrode2 without any modifications.


The only adapter from your list that's still missing is the NES one. I hope it will be available soon.

I'm aware that they exist but they're not easy to obtain. Even when they're open finding them at a reasonable price is difficult. I wish someone would just make the circuit boards of cart types in one PCB the size of a sheet of paper that could be broken apart and locally obtained electronics could be bought locally and soldered on. Most of the cost of these boards is the manual soldering of the parts onto the boards, not the boards them selves. Let the end user do it if he can, just ship him the boards. Those that can't solder and/or find the bits can buy the pre-assembled ones.

 

[Matthias_H]

locally obtained electronics could be bought locally and soldered on. Most of the cost of these boards is the manual soldering of the parts onto the boards, not the boards them selves. Let the end user do it if he can, just ship him the boards. Those that can't solder and/or find the bits can buy the pre-assembled ones.

There are a few catches about this. First, "locally obtained electronics"- nope. It took me half a year to find a supplier for GBA slots, and they required me to buy 1000+ of them, and not exactly for cheap. Second, "let the user do the soldering" - another nope. A Retrode user recently tried to gather folks for a group order of PCBs and parts, and over several months in various forums he didn't manage to find a single person to join in. The boards are cheap and as easy to obtain as anything, that's right. Unless you're taking less than 50; because then you may have difficulties finding someone who does the gold plating, chamfering, nonstandard board thickness, etc at a reasonable price.


Sometime around the release the Retrode2, I will try to offer as wide a selection of plug-ins as possible, pre-assembled, in Genesis cart shells and at a reasonable price. Until then, anyone can build their own from "not-easy-to-obtain" kits (ever considered asking me?)


Cheers,


Matthias

 

[Sugar_Kane]

I am officially a little bit giddy.


I allowed myself to miss out on the retrode one, purely because of the lack of preinstalled joypad ports (I wouldn't trust myself to try adding my own). The fact that this version has two snes AND two megadrive ports... well I think I need to go and wash my eyeballs because I can't believe how awesome this looks, in fact I think I must be asleep and having a retro nerd-porn dream.


I looked at getting a stelladapter to be able to use megadrive and amiga joysticks via usb, but I couldn't justifying the cost to myself. Am I right in thinking that This will convert any 9 pin controller (sms, megadrive, amiga, atari, etc)to usb? If that's true and it opens up the possibility of playing two player amiga games with my original cruiser sticks then I might just explode in a puff of bliss.


This would also immediately solve my lcd megadrive game playing troubles. I've got a large collection of megadrive carts to play but I don't have a crt tv anymore, and I don't really have room to put one purely for megadrive playing. Original carts on pandora with original pads... how do you put a price on that!


Also I think the design is very cool. Part of me wants it to be megadrive black, but I equally want it to be snes light and dark grey.


Do you have a rough idea of how much one will cost?

 

[Matthias_H]

I looked at getting a stelladapter to be able to use megadrive and amiga joysticks via usb, but I couldn't justifying the cost to myself. Am I right in thinking that This will convert any 9 pin controller (sms, megadrive, amiga, atari, etc)to usb? If that's true and it opens up the possibility of playing two player amiga games with my original cruiser sticks then I might just explode in a puff of bliss.

Actually, support for Amiga 2-button joysticks should be easy to implement. Puff away (Though, to be fair, analog devices such as paddles won't work with the Retrode)

Do you have a rough idea of how much one will cost?

Yes I do. Less than two Stelladaptors.

 

[mhadf]

I would imagine that you would have to configure the cruiser sticks in your emu. As last time I *fixed* a joypad for my megadrive I had to open the pad to reconfigure the wiring from Amiga to Megadrive.

 

[Sugar_Kane]

Actually, support for Amiga 2-button joysticks should be easy to implement. Puff away (Though, to be fair, analog devices such as paddles won't work with the Retrode)

That is fantastic news! I would still very much want one just for the snes and megadrive features, but it is incredibly awesome that I'll be able to use it for amiga gaming too, and I'm sure I won't be the only one to think so.

Yes I do. Less than two Stelladaptors.

Even better news! Consider me sold, good sir. I'm going to have to keep my eyes open so I don't miss them when they're ready.

 

[Sugar_Kane]

I would imagine that you would have to configure the cruiser sticks in your emu. As last time I *fixed* a joypad for my megadrive I had to open the pad to reconfigure the wiring from Amiga to Megadrive.

I opened my sticks a while ago when I was trying to figure out if I could convert them to usb. I was surprised to see that there was no PCB inside them at all, the cable wires just go straight to the microswitches.

 

[second exodous]

locally obtained electronics could be bought locally and soldered on. Most of the cost of these boards is the manual soldering of the parts onto the boards, not the boards them selves. Let the end user do it if he can, just ship him the boards. Those that can't solder and/or find the bits can buy the pre-assembled ones.

There are a few catches about this. First, "locally obtained electronics"- nope. It took me half a year to find a supplier for GBA slots, and they required me to buy 1000+ of them, and not exactly for cheap. Second, "let the user do the soldering" - another nope. A Retrode user recently tried to gather folks for a group order of PCBs and parts, and over several months in various forums he didn't manage to find a single person to join in. The boards are cheap and as easy to obtain as anything, that's right. Unless you're taking less than 50; because then you may have difficulties finding someone who does the gold plating, chamfering, nonstandard board thickness, etc at a reasonable price.


Sometime around the release the Retrode2, I will try to offer as wide a selection of plug-ins as possible, pre-assembled, in Genesis cart shells and at a reasonable price. Until then, anyone can build their own from "not-easy-to-obtain" kits (ever considered asking me?)


Cheers,


Matthias

Your post makes it sound like you're the one making the Retrode, if that is the case then yeah, I'd order the adapters directly from you if you made them. I just thought you didn't want to make them because you hand soldered the Retrode's and it was so much labor you didn't want to make the adapters yourself.


If enough were made in a factory so the price could be lowered then I'd get them pre-assembled.

 

[delicator]

I looked at getting a stelladapter to be able to use megadrive and amiga joysticks via usb, but I couldn't justifying the cost to myself. Am I right in thinking that This will convert any 9 pin controller (sms, megadrive, amiga, atari, etc)to usb? If that's true and it opens up the possibility of playing two player amiga games with my original cruiser sticks then I might just explode in a puff of bliss.

Actually, support for Amiga 2-button joysticks should be easy to implement. Puff away (Though, to be fair, analog devices such as paddles won't work with the Retrode)

Do you have a rough idea of how much one will cost?

Yes I do. Less than two Stelladaptors.

I think I buy one, even it's in kit and i'v to sold everything myself


Better that way i'm sure ! :rolleyes:

 

[GiraffeeDreams]

I was late getting to the Retrode so i'm waiting for batch 2, as an alternative i brought an EverDrive cart, for those who don't know thats a MegaDrive cart with an SD card slot, as a result you can play all master system, megadrive and 32X games (except for Virtua Racing, as that had an extra chip on the cart).


I love it

 

[Nintendo]

These talented Retrode people should really consider joining us here.

 

[Asiyura]

*Content removed because I was in a bad mood when answering *


Just plug the retrode in your pandora…

 

[Sugar_Kane]

Gah, I didn't notice that there were preorders and they close tomorrow, I don't have the cash right now

 

[Blue Protoman]

Whatever you do, don't mention CircuitCo to the developers of this.