Hyperkin RetroN 5 is now available for pre-order

[Seraphic]

The Hyperkin RetroN 5 now available for pre-order at Amazon for $99 and comes in your choice of Black or Grey.

Pre-Order Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DZI ... UTF8&psc=1
More Info Link: http://hyperkin.com/blog/2013/03/retron ... g-classic/

[Fudoh]

OK, ordered. Let's see how it really performs.

[beatsgo]

Ooo, definitely looking forward to pre-ordering it in the near future. Really excited how the HDMI output will perform and what variety of AV outputs you'll get.

[system11]

Not filled with positivity, can't wait for the first enthusiast reviews to come in.

[DrMattBuckets]

Is the Retron 5 supposed to have a scan line option? I have seen some pictures but they didn't look like scan lines. It says in the description that it has graphics filters. What does that mean other than smoothing and scan lines?

[Fudoh]

It has a scanline option, but on the screenshots I've seen a few month ago, the Retron didn't honor the various systems' underscan areas, in other words, 224 lines were upscaled to (for example) 720p, resulting in ugly as hell scanlines. But since the complete system is just a number of software emus, everything's fixable.

[system11]

It has a scanline option, but on the screenshots I've seen a few month ago, the Retron didn't honor the various systems' underscan areas, in other words, 224 lines were upscaled to (for example) 720p, resulting in ugly as hell scanlines. But since the complete system is just a number of software emus, everything's fixable.

Interest now zero. I thought just for a moment they might have implemented the systems on chips.

[Fudoh]

The previous Retrons were systems on a chip, but this one's an ARM-based software emulator with cartridge rom readers attached.

[rolins]

Wish this had Hucard support. I'd hand them my wallet if it did.

[hermit crab]

ARM-based software emu...

And they aren't even telling which processor it is? "For fear of tipping off competitors". Yeah right, more like because it's something really underpowered and they don't want the scrutiny messing with pre-orders.

Honestly I'd rather just have the cart readers be USB so I could play with better emulators on the PC or something. Dump roms or whatever.

Umm yeah well I guess this product just isn't for me. I'm sure someone will have fun with one anyway.

[Ed Oscuro]

Pretty much what I thought when they started promising the potential for displaying information normally not onscreen in some offscreen areas (also savestates).

I wanted so badly for this to be real hardware implementations - but I knew it wasn't going to be. Just the number of systems to be shoehorned in the same box would let you rule that out on account of signal interference between the components. Maybe some day...but I wonder if the margins for "good" classic gaming systems will ever get bigger than they are now (i.e., no higher than will allow an emulator box).

All this said, I wonder what kind of a deal it is for an ARM box - you could always look at it that way.

Edit: For a reminder about what else is out there (and that it doesn't have to look as bad as the MoroN):

Don't know why they bothered with the ugly red click gate cover but otherwise it's not that bad.

As for Hyperkin...well:

PreZZ at the Retrogaming Roundtable put it nicely: "WTF is that D-Pad? it looks like a reversed pudding in a bowl, its just FUGLY."
Apparently it is microswitched inside - so a clickstick - kind of like you scooped out the good stuff from an arcade joystick and then put it in a housing worse than the standard d-pad design. Nasty. Is this still their controller design?

[blizzz]

I wanted to see the RetroN 5 at gamescom, but couldn't find it. If it had perfect emulation and < 1 frame audio/video lag I would buy it instantly. But I doubt it gets anywhere close to the real consoles or even a proper PC emulation.

Honestly I'd rather just have the cart readers be USB so I could play with better emulators on the PC or something. Dump roms or whatever.

That already exists: Retrode.org (but doesn't have 100% compatibility afaik)

[undamned]

I'm most curious about the GBA support. All those other consoles already support RGB.
-ud

[Fudoh]

PreZZ at the Retrogaming Roundtable put it nicely: "WTF is that D-Pad? it looks like a reversed pudding in a bowl, its just FUGLY."

it's supposed to resemble the NG-CD controller or the Pelican Fighting Controller released for 360 and PS3. I really appreciate that. I think that's a better approach than to include some sub-standard d-pad. If you want perfect controls you'll use the original controllers anyway.

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmm, looking at the Neo Geo Pocket again, the controller nub did look like this. I guess it can't be worse than the PSP's analog stick for comfort, so maybe that's right.

I still think a more traditional d-pad - even one with microswitches inside - might be a better fit for these consoles. Probably it is going to get some strange looks from purists either way.

I actually would be interested in trying out one of these if it came wired for one of the actual systems. I'm not buying a clone just for a controller. Man, seems like Messiah NEX all over again.

[Skykid]

It has a scanline option, but on the screenshots I've seen a few month ago, the Retron didn't honor the various systems' underscan areas, in other words, 224 lines were upscaled to (for example) 720p, resulting in ugly as hell scanlines. But since the complete system is just a number of software emus, everything's fixable.

Interest now zero. I thought just for a moment they might have implemented the systems on chips.

How will performance be affected if it's emulated hardware combined with real hardware (cartridges?). Don't know if I've encountered such a combination before.

[Fudoh]

I trust emulation more than I trust a cheap SoC implementation, but lag can be a problem if the emus are not highly optimized.

[Skykid]

I trust emulation more than I trust a cheap SoC implementation, but lag can be a problem if the emus are not highly optimized.

Interesting, I'll be looking forward to your review on this one and hope for the best. This thing could save me dragging several consoles in and out of the cupboard and jeopardising their condition - but it's going to have to be almost flawless (or have enough features to make the pros outweigh the cons - save states are pretty sweet) for me to make that leap over original hardware.

[undamned]

I'm most curious about the GBA support.

Nevermind. Will wait for someone to make boards for these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXrjUgqq6ik
-ud

[BuckoA51]

If that's just an upscaler won't it still have to do frame-rate conversion like the GBA player and hence have stuttering?

[Fudoh]

I'm quite sure that the emus will run v-synced, so the GBA games themselves will be adjusted in their speed.

[Fudoh]

official release date has been announced by Hyperkin: December 5th. Unfotunately a little later than the preliminary date mentioned on the amazon website.

[BuckoA51]

I'm quite sure that the emus will run v-synced, so the GBA games themselves will be adjusted in their speed.

Yeah I meant the Gameboy Advance FPGA video upscaler Undamned linked to.

[Fudoh]

The FPGA could output in the exact GBA refresh rate. It's close enough to NTSC specs and he's showing a CRT anyway. It's not the GBA core's fault that introduces the hickups on the Cube/GB Player and on the RGB-modded TV de Advance sets, it's the NTSC-clocked video encoders in the Cube and/or the TV de Advance themselves.

[lettuce]

Been give a release date of December the 10th now and will also included SMS support!!

So guessing they should change it to the RetroN 6 now lol

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm still finding that many Google results are for the RetroN 3 or whatever (I think that was a previous model) and hasn't caught up with the existence of a RetroN 5 yet.

Seems like feature creep to me, which is understandable if they are trying to make it a plays-everything emulator box.

However, even with emulation, I become increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of continually adding more systems. That's more chances for failures, incompatibilities, or oddities in the system handling. For example, doesn't every (or nearly every) different type of cartridge for different systems have its own voltage requirement to be read? Supplying all of those types with one system could be problematic.

[lettuce]

The Retron5 was supposed to be released on the 10th of December but guess what...............its now been delayed till Q1 2014 so not even a concert date!!. Reason being something ti do with a faulty pins or some crap.....sound like BS to me!

http://www.polygon.com/2013/11/28/51542 ... il-q1-2014

[brownvim]

It would be cool if you could put the HyperSpin front end on it, with the original controller ports it would be a nice package.

Or maybe something like GameShelf on the OUYA.

Just give us a mini PC with the controller ports and Cartridge ports with HDMI, that would be great.