USB and Bluetooth Dreamcast + Saturn controllers

[opt2not]

Retro-bit got licensing and have revealed these at CES.

http://segabits.com/blog/2018/01/10/ret ... -revealed/

[bigbadboaz]

Genesis ones too, as well as regular replacement controllers for the three actual consoles. I'm pretty surprised - was always hoping for a new Saturn controller somewhere down the line, but really didn't think the others would ever happen. Of course, Retro-bit doing it rather than Sega themselves has much to do with that.

The initial images are promising, though the finish on the black controllers looks overly matte. I'm not going to expect much until people get their hands on final product. Retro-bit really have produced nothing but typical third-party shit for years now. Let's hope Sega insisted their licensing must really mean something in terms of the product, and the presence of 8bitdo has woken their competitors up. These really need to be first-party quality, no cut corners.

[bobrocks95]

Genesis ones too, as well as regular replacement controllers for the three actual consoles. I'm pretty surprised - was always hoping for a new Saturn controller somewhere down the line, but really didn't think the others would ever happen. Of course, Retro-bit doing it rather than Sega themselves has much to do with that.

The initial images are promising, though the finish on the black controllers looks overly matte. I'm not going to expect much until people get their hands on final product. Retro-bit really have produced nothing but typical third-party shit for years now. Let's hope Sega insisted their licensing must really mean something in terms of the product, and the presence of 8bitdo has woken their competitors up. These really need to be first-party quality, no cut corners.

Keep in mind that the AtGames Genesis clone also carries Sega's official licensing...

I hope they surprise us though! They'd be great to have.

[DoomsDave]

I'm sure "retro" youtubers will love them regardless of quality.

[Hoagtech]

I just just hope they have the same pad and button placement so I can use them to replace OEM parts on my controllers.

The SNES mini Controller was a disappointment in this regard

[bigbadboaz]

Keep in mind that the AtGames Genesis clone also carries Sega's official licensing...

You're absolutely right. Urgh.. we'll find out in due time.

I just just hope they have the same pad and button placement so I can use them to replace OEM parts on my controllers.

No way to tell, but I'm hopeful from the early photos that Sega has given them specs or the original molds. The Bluetooth Saturn controller looks accurate to the (very rare) OEM infrared wireless controllers rather than just another version of the wired pad. If they're being this specific it's reasonable to think they're working from the originals. So maybe..

No word on pricing or dates yet.

[Blair]

wireless controllers from Saturn and the Dreamcast, that's something I can definitely get behind. but I do have a few concerns for instance signal interference/ weakness possibly causing memory card corruption from the Sega Dreamcast VMU. and input lag, as I've heard that the 8Bitdo Bluetooth receivers for the Super Nintendo and NES add a full frame of input lag (around 12ms). please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Hoagtech]

wireless controllers from Saturn and the Dreamcast, that's something I can definitely get behind. but I do have a few concerns for instance signal interference/ weakness possibly causing memory card corruption from the Sega Dreamcast VMU. and input lag, as I've heard that the 8Bitdo Bluetooth receivers for the Super Nintendo and NES add a full frame of input lag (around 12ms). please correct me if I'm wrong.

What about Bluetooth technology causes the lag?

The Wii mote uses Bluetooth but doesn’t have noticeable lag compared to other Bluetooth wireless controllers I have bought.

And it didn’t seem like an issue growing up with RF wireless options (albeit mostly on CRT TV’s) like the four score

I wonder if we should have stuck to RF

[nmalinoski]

I wonder if we should have stuck to RF

But then we wouldn't be able to play games while tucked under a blanket.

[bigbadboaz]

There is a definite notion out there that Bluetooth lags more than 2.4G wireless, but I've never seen an empirical breakdown. Some will tell you that's why MS has stuck with its proprietary 2.4G setup on the Xboxes rather than switching to Bluetooth.

Most recent example, supposedly 8bitdo's new 2.4G controllers made specifically for the SNES Classic are a few ms faster than their own Bluetooth controllers through their Retro Receivers. Again, lots of talk out there but it could just be gaming bro-science.

As far as these controllers go, IF Bluetooth means they eventually become another option to use on our consoles through the 8bitdo Retro Receivers, could be a worthwhile tradeoff.

[LDigital]

I already built wireless setup for Gen and sat but it was a pita. I may get a gen one so that I can have wireless p2

[gct]

Retro-bit really have produced nothing but typical third-party shit for years now. Let's hope Sega insisted their licensing must really mean something in terms of the product, and the presence of 8bitdo has woken their competitors up. These really need to be first-party quality, no cut corners.

I wish I knew. Just a week or two ago I bought a Retro-bit SNES controller to set up an emulator for my nephew. The D-pad just isn't the same, diagonals are overly sensitive which really screws things up in some platformers.

I am for the most part very happy with my 8bitdo 2-player FC set and the quality is excellent, but it has been frustrating getting them to bind to the SNES retro receiver. I'm busy and only have maybe 40 minutes to play games every month or two (or three), and last time I must have spent 20 minutes trying to get the controllers to bind before giving up and using the corded controller.

I would be all over a wireless Dreamcast controller that I can use on the original hardware if it works reliably. For PC use, I'll stick with Xbox 360 and SLS Saturn.

[Dochartaigh]

There is a definite notion out there that Bluetooth lags more than 2.4G wireless, but I've never seen an empirical breakdown. Some will tell you that's why MS has stuck with its proprietary 2.4G setup on the Xboxes rather than switching to Bluetooth.

What's weird is Bluetooth is in the 2.4 to 2.485 GHz bandwidth spectrum....so it's moving at the same speed as 2.4ghz. What I believe is the biggest difference is the interface, the "digital handshake" (or whatever it's called), that sets up both systems and lets them connect to each other and transmit data back and forth.

All I can say more about it is my dedicated 2.4ghz controllers, mice, and keyboards ALWAYS work with their proprietary USB dongle. Every single time. I can setup a brand new system (PC computer, raspberry pi, linux machine, etc.) plug in that dongle and that keyboard or mouse always works. Plug and play (haven't even needed drivers for years and years now).

Bluetooth on the other hand I've literally wasted hundreds of hours over the years trying to sync Bluetooth controllers and whatnot. They suck all the time. Doesn't seem to matter the brand of device, or the brand of Bluetooth receiver your device has either - at some point in time, usually sooner rather than later, they will screw you over lol.