RetroN 5 release updated to April 2014

[brownvim]

I agree, black version is a lot better. Hopefully review comes soon

[Seraphic]

I don't understand why it has not been released yet. They said April, well April has come and gone. Now they are saying it has been delayed to insure a worldwide release is possible. How long can they keep delaying this thing? And has the price increase been confirmed by an official source yet?

[lettuce]

They said in a interview I was listening to that customs are currently holding them up as, 'they have never seen a system like the Retron5 before'. I'm sorry this is complete BS, customs would just catogrise the device as an electronic consumer games system or the like, I'm sure they've seen their fair share of clone systems coming on a boat from China before now!

Interview with the Hyperkin rep can be found here (last 20 mins of the podcast or so)....

http://thepodcast.ctrlalttech.com/the-p ... rkin-more/

[Ed Oscuro]

Hey, it's that time where Lettuce tells us more about how customs works, since he is the acknowledged world shipping expert!

Customs often has the responsibility of checking whether an item is barred for entry or not based on counterfeiting guidelines, like happened with the recent SparkFun multimeters kerfluffle.

[Xyga]

Customs could hold a stock of products that are not FCC or CE compliant, or just wait for missing required technical paperwork.
I doubt hyperkin would have made such a mistake though.

[Fudoh]

or when a product infringes Nintendo's GBA patents. All the GBA patents (including the cartridge slot) should be valid for another five years or so....

[lettuce]

Hey, it's that time where Lettuce tells us more about how customs works, since he is the acknowledged world shipping expert!

Customs often has the responsibility of checking whether an item is barred for entry or not based on counterfeiting guidelines, like happened with the recent SparkFun multimeters kerfluffle.

Hey I'm only calling them out on their BS they keep coming up with. People would have a lot more respect and patients with them if they just came out and said that they've Fucked up and underestimated the time frame in which it's taken to get this product working to a satisfactory condition and to market, rather than fobbing people off all the time with half arsed lies.

I mean if customs was the hold up then why have they managed to send about 50+ units out to YouTuber's if there all apparently stuck at customer

[mickcris]

Apparently some of them were DOA:
http://instagram.com/p/ng69LzSDWh/#

looks like this was the unit from the unboxing video posted earlier in this thread

[Ed Oscuro]

I mean if customs was the hold up then why have they managed to send about 50+ units out to YouTuber's if there all apparently stuck at customer

Because it was from a smaller batch shipment. Customs is only going to mess around with these larger container-sized shipments (see again the SparkFun / Fluke case; SparkFun sold lots of their multimeters before, but only the latest batch got held by customs).

[broken harbour]

Hey, it's that time where Lettuce tells us more about how customs works, since he is the acknowledged world shipping expert!

Customs often has the responsibility of checking whether an item is barred for entry or not based on counterfeiting guidelines

This.

If I were Nintendo, (because Nintendo is evil) I would have tipped customs off that this product was infringing on some sort of patent/copyright, etc....

[Seraphic]

First review is up from "Hip Hop Gamer"*: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4FkuI9C ... e=youtu.be

* Not sure if that's his character or the way he normally is, but at least its a review.

[evil_ash_xero]

How does Hip Hop gamer keep getting these looks at this before so many others? Is he bribing them with gin and juice?

[Seraphic]

UGR Gaming got one too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf8ZYJ3qtQ8

On a side note, in HHG's video, it seems Punch-Out is in 16:9 when it should be 4:3?

[Fudoh]

yeah, hq2x filter & 16:9 - that's how the masses like it

[Chacranajxy]

First review is up from "Hip Hop Gamer"*: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4FkuI9C ... e=youtu.be

* Not sure if that's his character or the way he normally is, but at least its a review.

Somehow, the Retron just seems right for people like HHG.

ie: it looks like a piece of shit.

[austin532]

yeah, hq2x filter & 16:9 - that's how the masses like it

I don't mind hq2x. It's a bit on the strong side but it does help reduce pixels when there are no options for scanlines. I refuse to play any retro game in 16:9 though. It just looks bad.

[Thrill]

I think pre orders got fulfilled and are being shipped out?

http://www.funstock.co.uk/retron-5

"Availability: Out Of Stock"

Notice the £20 extra to.

[lettuce]

I think pre orders got fulfilled and are being shipped out?

http://www.funstock.co.uk/retron-5

"Availability: Out Of Stock"

Notice the £20 extra to.

Well i place my order....god...probably almost a year ago so i would think i would be in the first batch to get one of these and as of yet i have had no email from funstock!

[Seraphic]

Another review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe1oHjZBa-E

[blizzz]

IGN's first look at the RetroN 5: Youtube

For IGN standards this is actually a good video. They hate the filters but like scanlines in 4:3 aspect ratio.
So far the biggest problem I see with the RetroN 5 is the controller. Apparently you *have* to use it for the menus and the battery only lasts 3-4 hours.

[austin532]

The Retron 5 looks interesting and is much cheaper and user friendly for those who don't want to buy an expensive upscaler like the XRGB Mini Frameister but comparing the two would be senseless. It doesn't even come close to what the Frameister can do. Still this is a good way to play cartridge based retro games on a HDTV. Now whether or not it's worth the price of admission I don't know and probably never will know as I am happy with the Frameister.

[Fudoh]

Apparently you *have* to use it for the menus

I don't think so. IGN said that users don't need the controller and HipHopGangsterGamer used a SNES controller to navigate the menus.

[blizzz]

Ah, I guess I misunderstood it then. They do say "you need to use it", but if you can start the games with a real controller then it's no problem.

[RGB32E]

Today on Hyperkin's FB page:

[lettuce]

Today on Hyperkin's FB page:

Looks like there all the grey colour as well!!!

Funstock seem to suggest that it may be September before Europe get a allocation as well!!!

[lettuce]

Probably the best review so far from GameSpot of all places....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Ccj8y ... tube_gdata

odd that some well known games have detection issues. This could be a problem what with the detection process being so 'harsh', hopefully they can sort these issues out quickly with a FW update, also be nice to have an option where you can remove the UI and go straight to the game on boot up

[blizzz]

Funstock seem to suggest that it may be September before Europe get a allocation as well!!!

From Retro Game Base:

It is rumoured that they do not have a CE mark yet for the product, which COULD explain the situation, or it could simply be greed and they realise they can make more money selling their initial units to their own market.

Their full statement: Facebook

[lettuce]

Damn!!!. Im seriously thinking its going to be around Christmas time i will see my pre-order here in the UK.

What a joke, and i bet they have the audacity to make the announcement on their next system (to included N64 it is believe) at E3. If FunStock wasn't honoring my pre-order price then i would cancel my pre-order and just wait

[brownvim]

Another review, not the best, but thought I would share

http://youtu.be/02CWVaRPkzU

[lettuce]

Nice in depth look at the Retron 5, clocking in at almost 2hrs long!!!!....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AaCHDBgzOs