Retro VGS Game Console

[elmer]

With the kickstarter coming up in mid-September, they've finally released some hardware specs.

It's got me even more worried about the system's future, or probable lack of it.

They've decided to put in a complete 1.3GHz ARM chip with 3D GPU and 1GB RAM on there.

More powerful than a Raspberry PI, but less powerful than a Raspberry PI2.

That just reeks of them wanting to have a fallback position so that they can run launch titles using software-emulation (i.e. the MegaDrive version of Pier Solar) in order to hit their shipping date.

That doesn't exactly sound any different to buying a Retron 5, and probably less powerful. 

I suspect that they've probably realized that FPGA-emulation is still in it's early days, and that there still aren't many FPGA console cores available yet.

The most sophisticated that I've seen is Gregory Estrade's PC Engine one, and that still isn't 100% compatible. Definitely no MegaDrive or SNES FPGA-cores yet.

The promise for the future is definitely there, and the 49,000 LE FPGA that they're talking about put it well above the current MiST and Turbo Chameleon 64.

It does sound like quite a nice piece of hardware for geeks like me, if they can bring it out at the right price, and if they really do allow homebrew on it, in the way that they've claimed.

But ... if they don't have the courage to back the FPGA side of things 100%, then all that they're likely to get as retail games are just going to be software-emulated SNES and MegaDrive indie games that run on the ARM core.

BTW, here's the really good news ... there is an Amiga 1200 FPGA core that's just had it's version 1.0 release ... so you might have the chance to run all those great CD32 games on the Retro VGS! 

Game Sack CD32 review ...

[SkyeWelse]

I'm looking forward to the Kickstarter to see what they show then and what the price will be. I hope it does well, regardless on whether or not I buy one. But it does seem like it has some very nice potential. Seriously thinking about it at least. But I guess it just depends on the price.

-Thomas

[Black Tiger]

If the system is $50 and the games are $20 - $30 each, then it has a chance with Retro gamers. Otherwise it's just a worthless sinkhole for collectards.

A better money making scheme would be to not even bother with the console. Just make limited edition packaged collectible game carts with foil, iridescent and holographic accents and packed-in randomized sticker sets and crap. The games being not actually playable on anything would keep the collectibles from being ruined by game openers.

[NightWolve]

A better money making scheme would be to not even bother with the console. Just make limited edition packaged collectible game carts with foil, iridescent and holographic accents and packed-in randomized sticker sets and crap. The games being not actually playable on anything would keep the collectibles from being ruined by game openers.

[esteban]

Hahshahahs.

I pre-ordered my Retro VGS already.

[ctophil]

I think the RETRO VGS is a great idea.  I've bought reproduction carts of classic games for the past 3 years, as well as homebrew games.  I love buying old NES, SNES, or Sega Genesis games that never got an English translation and then finding new life in a repro cart complete with box, manual, and poster fully in English.  I believe the RETRO VGS will be more than just a system for indie titles.  It could be a home for old classics receiving HD Remasters, a breath of fresh air for budding game developers to achieve their dream of developing for a classic system like the SNES, Genesis, or even the Neo Geo, and you can even develop new games that take advantage of the full capabilities of the RETRO VGS.

Just imagine Square Enix, Konami, and Capcom jumping on board to revive their classic Secret of Mana & Final Fantasy titles, Castlevania, or even Mega Man?  If they find the HD Remasters working out, maybe they will even develop original content.

Frankly, I'm tired of the "digital revolution," where everything is downloadable to your hard drive.  Sure, it's convenient.  But I WANT a physical instruction manual, collectible maps & posters, and decent artwork on my game box.  Mike Kennedy knows his RETRO business because he is developing a console that is striving to stay away from the digital world (no internet connection for updates and such).  20 years from now, I want the RETRO VGS to still function without needing some patch from the Internet, unlike the Xbox One where it tries to connect to the Internet for every little thing.  I can't even play Killer Instinct on Xbox One without it saying, "The Console needs to go online for a game update."  You can't even save the game without the update?!?

I haven't heard anything about the system's price yet until the Kickstarter next week.  I wouldn't judge its price just yet until the official announcement.  Please support the RETRO VGS if you can.  I think it will make a statement to the mainstream console manufacturers. 

[MrBroadway]

Just imagine Square Enix, Konami, and Capcom jumping on board to revive their classic Secret of Mana & Final Fantasy titles, Castlevania, or even Mega Man?  If they find the HD Remasters working out, maybe they will even develop original content.

But for the fact that this will not happen.

[elmer]

I believe the RETRO VGS will be more than just a system for indie titles.  It could be a home for old classics receiving HD Remasters, a breath of fresh air for budding game developers to achieve their dream of developing for a classic system like the SNES, Genesis, or even the Neo Geo, and you can even develop new games that take advantage of the full capabilities of the RETRO VGS.

Just imagine Square Enix, Konami, and Capcom jumping on board to revive their classic Secret of Mana & Final Fantasy titles, Castlevania, or even Mega Man?  If they find the HD Remasters working out, maybe they will even develop original content.

Mmmmm ... that sweet, sweet Kool Aid!

You have a good grasp on their marketing line ... but have you actually tried to think through the implications of any of it?

Do you have any grasp of the economics of game development?

Do you have any grasp of the technical details of game development?

Do you understand why modern indie "RETRO" developers do almost everything in Unity?

Do you know what "Unity" is?

Do you realize how underpowered the current RETRO VGS specs are as a Unity platform?

Do you know what an "FPGA" is (apart from being used to market a dream)?

Do you know the benefits and downsides of using an FPGA instead of pre-baked silicon?

...

Or, to quote Fox Mulder, do you just "Want To Believe"?


When the RETRO VGS announced this ...

And, RVGS will be a great system to play all the new and upcoming homebrew titles for Atari 2600, Intellivision, Colecovision and NES (possible 16-bit consoles in the future, however, no reliable cores for these have been made yet) giving you all lots of new games to play on RVGS from day one!

Did you understand that they're talking about somehow licensing other people's often abandoned, or partially incomplete, and often GPL'd work???

Seee https://code.google.com/p/mist-board/wiki/CoreStatus

Oh ... BTW ... just which "new titles" are these?

I think it will make a statement to the mainstream console manufacturers.

Me, too. Just not the statement that you're thinking.

[Punch]

Just imagine Square Enix, Konami, and Capcom jumping on board to revive their classic Secret of Mana & Final Fantasy titles, Castlevania, or even Mega Man?  If they find the HD Remasters working out, maybe they will even develop original content.

I haven't heard anything about the system's price yet until the Kickstarter next week.  I wouldn't judge its price just yet until the official announcement.  Please support the RETRO VGS if you can.  I think it will make a statement to the mainstream console manufacturers. 

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[Black Tiger]

I think the RETRO VGS is a great idea.  I've bought reproduction carts of classic games for the past 3 years, as well as homebrew games.  I love buying old NES, SNES, or Sega Genesis games that never got an English translation and then finding new life in a repro cart complete with box, manual, and poster fully in English.  I believe the RETRO VGS will be more than just a system for indie titles.  It could be a home for old classics receiving HD Remasters, a breath of fresh air for budding game developers to achieve their dream of developing for a classic system like the SNES, Genesis, or even the Neo Geo, and you can even develop new games that take advantage of the full capabilities of the RETRO VGS.

Just imagine Square Enix, Konami, and Capcom jumping on board to revive their classic Secret of Mana & Final Fantasy titles, Castlevania, or even Mega Man?  If they find the HD Remasters working out, maybe they will even develop original content.

Frankly, I'm tired of the "digital revolution," where everything is downloadable to your hard drive.  Sure, it's convenient.  But I WANT a physical instruction manual, collectible maps & posters, and decent artwork on my game box.  Mike Kennedy knows his RETRO business because he is developing a console that is striving to stay away from the digital world (no internet connection for updates and such).  20 years from now, I want the RETRO VGS to still function without needing some patch from the Internet, unlike the Xbox One where it tries to connect to the Internet for every little thing.  I can't even play Killer Instinct on Xbox One without it saying, "The Console needs to go online for a game update."  You can't even save the game without the update?!?

I haven't heard anything about the system's price yet until the Kickstarter next week.  I wouldn't judge its price just yet until the official announcement.  Please support the RETRO VGS if you can.  I think it will make a statement to the mainstream console manufacturers. 

Please familiarize yourself with this potential console before making wild speculations which have already been ruled out. Everything you seem to believe about this thing, it's pretty much the opposite.

[lukester]

Please support the RETRO VGS if you can.  I think it will make a statement to the mainstream console manufacturers. 

You're hilarious. Have you heard of the Ouya?

It tried to make a statement exactly like the one you said. And it failed miserably.

How many units did the damn thing sell anyway? About 50,000? The Ouya company was so embarrassed, they couldn't even reveal their sales numbers.

This thing is targeting an even smaller audience, with far less power and 3-4 times the price.

I mean, at least Ouya got a mobile port of Sonic CD. This thing could barely get Shovel Knight.

[turboswimbz]

Please support the RETRO VGS if you can.  I think it will make a statement to the mainstream console manufacturers. 

You're hilarious. Have you heard of the Ouya?

It tried to make a statement exactly like the one you said. And it failed miserably.

How many units did the damn thing sell anyway? About 50,000? The Ouya company was so embarrassed, they couldn't even reveal their sales numbers.

This thing is targeting an even smaller audience, with far less power and 3-4 times the price.

I mean, at least Ouya got a mobile port of Sonic CD. This thing could barely get Shovel Knight.

No lie there are still 2 OUYAS sitting on the shelf in a local target. 

[glazball]

ctophil - I'm with you, and I'm trying to stay optimistic.  Lots of people are ready to laugh off the system, but as of this writing, no one knows anything about it.

If the KS does start next week, they'd better have some kind of working prototype.  As of now, they seem to have nothing except a shell.

I'm obviously an exception to the rule, but I don't buy digital games at all.  I have an interest in guzzling the RVGS Kool-Aid because a cart-based console is a dream of mine, and would love to see it succeed.  It seems aimed at dumb f*cks like me who shun digital purchases and would allow me to see a lot of the great downloadable games I've been boycotting.

[SignOfZeta]

The games you are boycotting aren't going to be on this machine.

[lukester]

Glazball, you are an idiot. You said so yourself.

PC, PS4 and Xbox one, the newer consoles, all force you to install the entirety of any physical game disc you buy.

Not only that, but games don't even have manuals anymore. There's no collectable value.

And as Zeta said, the Retro VGS won't get the games you want. Only a few indie developers will make games for it. Are you excited to play games like Tiny Knight or Super Noah's Ark 3D? I'm definitely not.

These aren't even real cartridges. They are plastic shells with a USB drive in them