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New cartridge based non-emulated "Retro" console being kickstarted!
- Thread starter ultrazilla
- Start date
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
I agree unfortunately. This console is going to lack any identity. In actuality, this sounds like nothing more than a glorified, cartridge based, OUYA.
Also agree with this. If we could time travel the 90s dev studios to today and get stuff like 16 bit Final Fantasy sequels, NBA Jam TE 2, Contra III-2, Castlevania IV-2, etc. would be absolutely incredible. I'd also like to see it get early 32bit style sprite based games e.g. NFL Gameday, Loaded, etc. Maybe a DOOM style FPS? Unfortunately we are more than likely going to get random platformer indies of subpar quality.
I also dislike the "Retro" name. These aren't retro games. Come up with a better name, something akin to the 90's in-your-face qualities, or some sort of 80's throwback.
For the record, I absolutely love the idea of a new throwback console that captures the feel of that era, with full 3rd party software support.
NoFaceNico
Member
The Super Cheetah Ultra Process Blaster System!!
They could probably buy out the rights to this unlicensed game and make it their mascot.
Seriously though. This is such a horrible fucking idea. It's like trying to bring back Betamax.
And I'm sure the guy running it has an inner circle of friends that are telling him his ideas are great and this thing is sure to recapture the market share that SEGA used to have. But they couldn't care less about how delusional or risky this idea is because- hey, they'll be able to play fantasy 90's game console manufacturer with people's money, that's the beauty of crowd funding.
terrisus
Member
Maybe?
It says something about S-video, but I'm not fully understanding exactly what they are saying with mini-DIN.
In my opinion... we had that for a generation and it was a blissful misunderstood masterpiece:
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
Haha, yeah to an extent. "Super" Nintendo, "Mega" Drive, "Ultra" 64, etc. Hell even Jaguar is a pretty fierce name.The Super Cheetah Ultra Process Blaster System!!
They could probably buy out the rights to this unlicensed game and make it their mascot.
How about Super Mega Ultra Jaguar?
JK, of course. I'm sure there are people who like their console called "Retro Video Game System", but to me it's just boring and doesn't draw attention. The console's name is an important aspect, one of many, that need to be well thought out for this to succeed.
NoFaceNico
Member
Well the console shell it's based on is the Atari Jaguar, that's why I went with Cheetah. You got the Super and Ultra references and Process Blaster is a reference to Blast Processing on the Genesis, and "system" just because of Nintendo Entertainment System/SEGA Master System.
Even the official name Retro VGS is an obvious reference to what the Atari 2600 was originally sold as- the Atari VCS (Video Computer System).
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
Absolutely. It's just a niche console with an incredibly niche/obscure name. I guess it depends what the scope of this console comes down to, and what era you are trying to most closely replicate.
If the Retro VGS is mostly resembling a 16 bit console then a late 70's Atari reference is a bad name, IMO. I think it really depends on what era they are mostly planning to emulate.
Dreamwriter
Member
Last I heard it was all eras up through the Neo Geo (it comes with both Atari 2600 controller ports and USB controller ports), they weren't sure if they should go one step farther for Playstation-era graphics capabilities.
Well, they've said to expect something around 12-15 game announcements at the Kickstarter, so we'll have that number at least. They've already announced four games.
Kawika
Member
In my opinion... we had that for a generation and it was a blissful misunderstood masterpiece:
So True.
My Wii is connected to my Sony PVM. I don't even bother hooking most of my retro stuff up anymore because I don't really want to chance them breaking. Anything I can do on the Wii and not my NES or SNES I will.
Got to love the 240p trick in VC. At least the emulators let you do it too (if you are into that).
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
They bought the molds to the Jaguar. I don't know why they chose to though.
AlteredBeast
Fork 'em, Sparky!
Really? It's on the first page. Hell, I think it's in the OP.
NoFaceNico
Member
That case mold gets around...
Also can we get rid of "kickstarted" in the title of this thread?? This has to be the longest lead up to a project getting on Kickstarter. It only hurts the project in the long run because a lot of people back these crazy projects on impulse. But by the time this thing finally gets on Kickstarter people will have already made up their minds. I'm looking back at the projects I've supported and a lot of them I backed on impulse the first day I heard about them.
Every time I hear about this, it seems a little more possible for it to happen. Hopefully it does.
Looking at some of their launch games, and at what Collectorvision does in general... I can't say I'm expecting greatness. But hey, a new system to collect carts for would be cool enough to me, even if many aren't good.
Looking at some of their launch games, and at what Collectorvision does in general... I can't say I'm expecting greatness. But hey, a new system to collect carts for would be cool enough to me, even if many aren't good.
LAUGHTREY
Modesty becomes a woman
"No updates, no patches, so if it's broken, get fucked"
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
Well, that is how it used to be. Retro indeed
Dreamwriter
Member
New special Kickstarter color:
Ghost_Messiah
Member
This will succeed when it hits Kickstarter. The marketing is slick and there's so much love behind it. I doubt it'll be a long term and well supported success when it eventually hits the market but as an Ouya style curiosity that lights Kickstarter on fire and does well in its first year or so; I can absolutely see that happening. I'm actually interested in getting one for the retro gaming fix this'll provide. There are probably thousands of people that feel the same and will therefore back this. Do we have a date for the Kickstarter campaign yet?
Dreamwriter
Member
These guys do have one big advantage, they publish the only magazine aimed at retro game enthusiasts, and as such also have contacts throughout the game industry. And hopefully won't have all the crappy flaws the Ouya folks had
The Kickstarter is supposed to be July or August - they previously wanted right before E3, but are waiting until they have fully functional hardware they can plug a cartridge into and show off.
New special Kickstarter color:
Glorious! Purple, and translucent? I love it. I just hope that I have some cash when the Kickstarter finally goes up.
My feeling as well. I think that the Kickstarter will do well, but the final product will have a short, unsuccessful life.
I still want one badly.
New special Kickstarter color:
I'd back the shit out of that sexy beast.
NoFaceNico
Member
These guys do have one big advantage, they publish the only magazine aimed at retro game enthusiasts, and as such also have contacts throughout the game industry. And hopefully won't have all the crappy flaws the Ouya folks had
The Kickstarter is supposed to be July or August - they previously wanted right before E3, but are waiting until they have fully functional hardware they can plug a cartridge into and show off.
wut?
Retro Gamer has been around for a lot longer and is regarded as a much better magazine.
I'm still skeptical of their Kickstarter. Whether their goal is high or low, this thing needs more funds than it can raise. It's an incredibly risky project to back. As always- don't back anything if you can't afford to lose your money.
stan423321
Member
I wonder what will be their stance on homebrew to be honest. FPGA that is pretty much ready to run sounds interesting...
I think it needs to fully allow homebrew for a chance of success... I think they even should go open source/hardware on this.
There's a small chance I may be interested in a hackable cartridge console with an FPGA, but if it's an expensive piece of hardware that play a couple dozen old-style games (most being non-exclusive) on an expensive media, and allow nothing else, I'll pass, and I'm sure many will feel the same.
PaulExcellent
Member
Yeah, I'll consider backing this.
I'm making a game for the Arduboy and this seems like it would be right in my "games only like, 20 people will play' jam.
I'm making a game for the Arduboy and this seems like it would be right in my "games only like, 20 people will play' jam.
Tal Shiar Agent
Member
New special Kickstarter color:
Now that is retro.
Dreamwriter
Member
What do you consider "homebrew"? Anyone can develop for this and get cartridges (with box and instructions) manufactured for like $8-$10 a piece in lots of 25 or more, it's really the whole point that any indie developer can make games for it.
Gambit 1138
Banned
Will this use HDMI, RBW, or RF adapter?
Azure Phoenix
Member
New special Kickstarter color:
They'll never get the kinks out of that controller wire.
Transparent purple game systems are my weakness
Green Yoshi
Member
Not if it is only a sd card/usb stick in a plastic device.
If the Ouya is by any indication, I also suspect "no games".
From the FAQ linked above:
Doesn't sound too far off, really. I'm sure there will probably end up being an easy way to play homebrew on it.
Dreamwriter
Member
Right, I agree with what you were saying up there. Sounds easy enough to get a cartridge, so it shouldn't be a problem.
But I guess what I was thinking of as homebrew there, was the situation where you download anyone's code from the Internet and run it yourself. Which, given that anyone can develop for it, even that's not a 'probably' I guess.
Projectjustice
Banned
The only thing I think they are really missing out on is not including network capabilities. Theres just so much more you can do by having this on the console.
dancrane212
Member
For better or worse I can see this kickstarter being pretty successful. They have a decent amount of buzz already (Facebook page seems pretty busy) and with a high "base price" I think the system will manage to hit it's goal.
Folk who grew up with the consoles the Retro VGS is styling itself after have a lot more disposable income now. This romantic idea of going back to way you played games in your youth could connect with those users in a big enough way to move the kickstarter campaign along.
Folk who grew up with the consoles the Retro VGS is styling itself after have a lot more disposable income now. This romantic idea of going back to way you played games in your youth could connect with those users in a big enough way to move the kickstarter campaign along.
I just don't like the choice of case/controller. I would have liked to see a CD based system (because CD's are cheaper, IIRC), using maybe a Neo Geo CD console as the base. That would have been boss. I unno. I don't know anything about that. But I do know I don't like the Jaguar console and carts, no matter how many colors they come in.
The same huge collectors market who spends hundreds on old games (and even more on copies with cases and manuals). If they only cared about the the easiest way to access old games, retro stores like the one I work at wouldn't have been in business for 4 years, now. Digital distribution is not "fun" for alot of people. Some people want consoles and physical media. I know I do.
The same huge collectors market who spends hundreds on old games (and even more on copies with cases and manuals). If they only cared about the the easiest way to access old games, retro stores like the one I work at wouldn't have been in business for 4 years, now. Digital distribution is not "fun" for alot of people. Some people want consoles and physical media. I know I do.
stan423321
Member
For example, the same sort of person that will import DMC4SE from Japan because of physical version.
Dreamwriter
Member
CDs are cheaper, true, but CD drives are expensive and prone to failure. These guys want their cartridges to still be playable in 100 years (literally - they've chosen a special type of flash rom for their cartridges that can last 100 years).