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Sat Dec 21 2024
Back in November, we brought you the 8BitDo keyboard, a tribute to the SEGA Saturn to celebrate the console's 30th anniversary.
Today, a new brand has signed an official partnership with SEGA to offer an accessory in tribute to the 32-bit console.
Onkyo recently announced the availability of Bluetooth headphones in Saturn colours. Each headset features a sticker representing half of a SEGA Saturn controller. The headphones come with a charging case that offers three additional charges. The case is distinguished by a sticker featuring the console. Onkyo has even gone so far as to include the famous Saturn start-up sound, which plays when the headphones are switched on.
As an option, the brand offers a wireless induction charger inspired by the design of a Saturn game disc, an iconic format at the time, albeit launched simultaneously with Sony's PlayStation. Fans of detail will notice that the charger's typography is based on that of Virtua Fighter, a ‘system seller’ for the Saturn, despite its difficulties in competing with the PlayStation.
On the technical side, Onkyo claims a battery life of 5 hours per charge**, which can be extended to 20 hours thanks to the three recharges supplied with the case. The headphones are IPX4 certified, making them sweat-proof and suitable for sports use. They feature Bluetooth 5.3 technology and support AAC and SBC codecs for optimised sound quality.
The headphones are available for 15,500 yen (around €95), while the induction charging cradle is priced at 4,400 yen (around €27).
Finally, for fans outside Japan, Onkyo is offering the option of using the Buyee service for international delivery.
Fri Dec 20 2024
In an interview with The Guardian on Friday, Shuji Utsumi, the current CEO of Sega America and Europe, expressed his misgivings about retro and announced his intention to focus on the future.
Taking advantage of Nintendo's success with its NES Mini in November 2016 and its Super NES Mini in September 2017, SEGA quickly jumped on the mini-console bandwagon with the Mega Drive Mini in September 2019 (which is therefore SEGA's last official console born after the Dreamcast).
The Japanese firm then repeated the experiment with the Game Gear Mini in October 2020 (reserved for the Japanese market) and the Mega Drive Mini 2 in October 2022.
The strategy was simple: play on gamers' nostalgia by offering miniaturised replicas of the consoles of the time, with between 40 and 60 games pre-installed (depending on the model and the region of release).
Although the development of such devices seems inexpensive, SEGA does not (for the time being) seem to want to prolong the experiment. While sales figures for SEGA Minis are hard to come by (we do know, however, that Nintendo has been very satisfied with its sales), the company justifies this choice with a vision of SEGA's development that is more oriented towards the future than the past.
I have no intention of going down the Mini route. That's not who I am. I want to adapt to modern players, said Utsumi.
We are not a retro company. We really appreciate our heritage, we value it, but at the same time, we want to offer something new, otherwise we will become ancient history. That's not our goal, says the chairman, who joined SEGA in 1996.
This statement could not be clearer, at least as far as the hardware is concerned, as SEGA makes no secret of the reboot projects it is currently working on or has in the pipeline (Shinobi, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, etc.).
Photos: SEGA
Fri Dec 20 2024
Accessory manufacturer Genki announced a partnership with 8BitDo earlier this year. The result of this collaboration will be available in early 2025.
If you're familiar with 8BitDo products, you'll be aware that this is just a small relifting of one of their flagship products.
The Genki PocketPro takes its shape and features from the SN30 Pro. It is largely inspired by the SNES controller, with a directional cross and action buttons similar to the good old controller from the 90s.
In addition, you'll find two Hall Effect joysticks (Hall Effect sensors detect the position of the stick using integrated magnets, with no direct physical contact between the mechanical parts and the sensor), a Turbo button, a Hotkey button, vibrations, a gyroscopic system (compatible only with Nintendo Switch), and a battery offering 18 hours of autonomy on a 2-hour USB-C charge.
The main addition of this collaboration is aesthetic: the controller is transparent, revealing the internal circuitry, and the pastel buttons add a discreet touch of colour.
A very welcome addition is the indication of the three connection modes on the top of the controller, so you don't have to rummage around in the manual or on the Internet to find out how to connect to a new device.
The controller is compatible with Windows, Apple (iOS and Mac), Android, Switch, and Steam. Although I don't have this controller in my hands, given that it is 8BitDo's firmware, it seems very likely that it is compatible with Recalbox, by switching on the controller with START + B (the green button on the controller in question).
As such, if you have an 8BitDo controller and are wondering about compatibility, please visit our dedicated wiki page.
The controller is currently out of stock, but should be restocked in January 2025, at a price of €53.95.
Photos: Genki
Wed Dec 18 2024
In the run-up to the theatrical release of Mufasa: The Lion King, a news item should delight fans of The Lion King (which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year), as well as enthusiasts of video game heritage preservation.
The game preservation group Codebound has announced that it has archived a previously unreleased prototype of the famous Super Nintendo platform game The Lion King.
Released simultaneously on Super Nintendo and Mega Drive in November 1994, this game offered the chance to play as Simba, first as a lion cub and then as an adult, as he relives the adventures of the film of the same name.
The prototype in question dates back to 22 March 1994, eight months before the game's official release. Codebound has shared some interesting images showing that the developers were already working on the project before they even had the sprites and backgrounds supplied by Disney, which are to be found in the final version.
The screenshots show a crudely drawn Simba in the famous wildebeest chasm scene. Other images show a lion cub with rudimentary, even comical features, so unrecognisable.
Meanwhile, Codebound has taken the opportunity to reveal images of the game's prototype on Game Gear, dated 25 May 1994. It's an incomplete prototype on which several levels are missing, sending you back to the selection screen when you try to launch them.
Almost all such finds are listed on the Hidden Palace website, which is "a community dedicated to preserving video game development media (such as prototypes, hardware, source code, artwork, and more) ’. A real goldmine for fans of the (often) well-hidden history of video games.
Tue Dec 17 2024
SEGA's Shinobi saga, launched in 1987 on arcade terminals, is a classic of the action/platform genre of the 80s and 90s. You may be familiar with Shinobi Game Gear (GG), released in 1991, which was the first title in the franchise to be ported to a handheld console.
The Game Gear, with its backlit colour LCD screen, had everything to showcase the series. However, the technical constraints of the 90s handheld console meant that it could not match the level of detail of the Mega Drive, which had been released a few months earlier.
However, a developer known as Pigsy decided to pay tribute to Shinobi GG by adapting it for the Mega Drive, in order to take advantage of the 16-bit console's performance.
To do this, Pigsy used the Mega Drive Development Kit (SGDK), which allowed him to start the project from scratch. Although this involves more work, it allows him to create a port specifically designed for the Mega Drive, without being limited by the features of the Game Gear.
New graphics, an enriched soundtrack and adjusted playing mechanics (particularly in terms of collision and scrolling) are all planned to offer improved gameplay.
While these changes are designed to take full advantage of the Mega Drive's capabilities, the developer is keen to preserve the essence of Shinobi GG, without altering it in any way.
Although development is still far from complete, it is receiving a great deal of support from the retrogaming community and fans of the franchise.
On the Recalbox side, if you own the game, Shinobi GG is perfectly playable on Game Gear, and SEGA is even offering a sequel, Shinobi II The Silent Fury on its handheld console. If you're more of a home console gamer, you'll find different instalments in the series on the Master System, Mega Drive and Saturn.
Tue Dec 17 2024
Connecting a console used to seem so simple, but nowadays it can quickly become a real headache. Video and audio inputs and outputs have multiplied over the years and, despite well-known standards, can make certain screens incompatible with our machines.
Many gamers now use upscalers such as Retrotink 4K or OSSC, which allow images from our old consoles to be transmitted via HDMI to modern screens. Nevertheless, purists will always prefer an unprocessed source to obtain a ‘pure’ image.
The main problem in this case is finding a compatible combination of video inputs and outputs. If you dig a little deeper, you'll quickly realise that consoles and screens (CRT and PC) have exploited numerous formats: SCART, Composite/S-Video RCA, VGA, YUV...
What's more, depending on the manufacturer, model, generation or region, input and output types vary. So you end up with a multitude of non-standardised possibilities, which become even more complex when you have several consoles or several screens.
Of course, there are adapters on the market that often do the job, but Scalable Video Switch has taken the concept a step further by offering a fully customisable and scalable analogue video switching solution.
Prototype
In its most advanced (and therefore most expensive) configuration, this adapter can accommodate up to 32 input modules and 6 output modules, in any combination of Peritel, Component, VGA and Composite/S-Video. Far too many for standard use by the average retrogaming gamer, but this solution means you can adapt the components to suit your needs.
To get started, you'll need to buy the control module ($40) and the remote control ($10). You can then add the various input/output modules, available for between $25 and $35, which you clip together to form a single block tailored to your needs.
If you've been following the Recalbox project, you probably know that an in-house solution exists for equipping your Raspberry Pi4 with a Peritel and VGA output: the RGB Dual. This essential accessory for playing on your CRT screens is plug and play. The solution remains compatible with Pi5, subject to specific installation to ensure sound compatibility (as Fabrice explains here).
Finally, if you'd like to know more about analogue signals, Kid has a comprehensive and very accessible article that you can find on this page.
Mon Dec 16 2024
Released on arcade terminals in 1987, Double Dragon is a cult beat'em all, considered to be the precursor of a multitude of games in the genre that have been largely inspired by it. The series includes around ten titles, mostly beat'em all, with a few forays into fighting games.
Until 2002, the franchise enjoyed regular and often successful releases. Since 2012, however, there have been a succession of attempts to revive the licence, with mixed results. While some of the games are not without interest, none has really made an impact or reached the level expected of such an iconic saga.
This year, Arc System Works announced Double Dragon Revive, a new opus that aims to appeal to fans of the original while attracting a new generation of gamers.
The game is scheduled for release on 23 October 2025 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. Pre-orders for the Standard and Deluxe digital editions are already open. The Standard Edition is priced at €34.99, while the Deluxe Edition, priced at €49.99, includes additional content. As a bonus, players who pre-order will receive Double Dragon Dodge Ball, an exclusive game.
French publisher Microids will be responsible for the physical distribution of the game. While the availability of a physical version in 2025 is good news (and unfortunately increasingly rare), it does come with a caveat, given the uneven quality of games recently published by Microids.
Former franchise developer Ebinuma has expressed scepticism about Double Dragon Revive, criticising an art direction he deems ‘dark’ and ‘cheap’, as well as ‘lacklustre’ combat. First impressions vary widely, and it remains difficult to assess the game at this stage, given the wide range of opinions held by the media and influencers.
Fingers crossed for a successful comeback! In the meantime, let's take a look back at the many games in the franchise, which can be played on Recalbox on... just about every platform, so widespread has the Double Dragon franchise been over the years.
Sun Dec 15 2024
Released in 2004 in Japan and in 2005 in the rest of the world, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) was Sony's first portable console. And for a first attempt, it was a success: the console sold 80 million units (or even 82 million, according to some sources).
With graphics well ahead of its time and an original game format, UMD (Universal Media Disc), the PSP won over many gamers. It was also able to build on a catalogue of high-quality titles, drawing on PlayStation's iconic franchises.
Produced for 10 years, until March 2015, PSPs still in production are now beginning to reach the end of their life. As with all older-generation handheld consoles, those still in circulation are becoming increasingly difficult to repair.
The main problems are often with the screens or game buttons, which make the console unusable despite the hardware and software still working. Aware of this situation, Retromodwork came up with the idea of giving these faulty models a new lease of life in an original way.
The recovered PSPs have been transformed into home consoles. To achieve this, a number of modifications have been made:
It is important to note that the consoles used in this kit are unusable in their original portable form, due to faulty components and modifications. Nevertheless, the consoles can play digital games and UMDs, with the player still accessible and functional.
Priced at $274.99, this redesigned version of the PSP (PSP 2000 or PSP 3000 models) has been a huge success. Barely 24 hours after pre-orders opened, more than 100 units had already been snapped up. This success came as a surprise to the creator, who has no official supplier and has to look for PSPs that are out of service but still usable in order to transform them.
The project has won over fans, particularly owners of the original PSP. As well as being innovative (it's rare to see a portable console transformed into a home console), it's also part of a healthy approach to recycling machines that were originally destined for the scrap heap.
Photo: Macho Nacho Productions
Sun Dec 15 2024
It's impossible to miss the release of Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle. This Xbox exclusive, launched at the beginning of December, has been a huge success.
The game is a declaration of love to the famous franchise, plunging players into an adventure packed with references to the iconic films directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas.
Right from its first trailer, the title surprised with a bold choice: a first-person view, a first for the series. This was a departure from the standards set by genre behemoths Uncharted and Tomb Raider, which favoured a third-person view.
It's a winning bet, with critics and gamers alike praising the immersion offered by this perspective. It's an experience that's sure to bring back childhood memories of dreaming of being ‘Indy’.
For some, these memories are also video games, because Indiana Jones games are not new! The website Retrogaming.me has compiled a list of the five best retro games based on the legendary adventurer:
You'll find full details of all these titles on the Retrogaming.me, the perfect opportunity to (re)discover these games that will take you to the four corners of the world.
If you're feeling adventurous and own any of these games, especially the three titles released before 2000, don your best hat, whip and go on an adventure with Recalbox.
Sat Dec 14 2024
Limited Run Games, well known to the retrogaming community for its physical editions of retro and neo-retro games, has unveiled news that will delight nostalgic fans: the forthcoming release of Virtua Fighter 2 on Xbox One and Xbox Series.
SEGA's famous title made its debut on arcade terminals in 1994. A real revolution at the time, it introduced two new playable characters compared to the first opus, bringing the cast up to 10 fighters. With its fast-paced, edgy gameplay, the game immediately stood out in a genre already dominated by heavyweights.
Virtua Fighter 2 was also released on home consoles. The Sega Saturn version, released in 1995, won over fans, while a completely redesigned 2D adaptation on Megadrive failed to convince, somewhat distorting the original experience. If you own these versions, they are still accessible and perfectly playable on Recalbox.
For this physical edition from Limited Run Games, don't expect a remaster or any kind of graphical polish. The game will retain its original aesthetic and gameplay, putting you back in the same conditions as when it was released in arcade form.
However, an online mode will allow players to compete across the globe. An excellent way to relive the experience while adding a modern competitive dimension.
Limited Run Games offers two options:
Pre-orders are already open, with delivery scheduled for June 2025. A perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of the series before the highly-anticipated release of Virtua Fighter 6, announced at The Game Awards 2024.
Fri Dec 13 2024
The Games Awards ceremony was held last night in Los Angeles. While the evening is eagerly awaited for the Oscars-style awards, it's also an opportunity for developers to unveil their projects.
We'll skip the announcements about blockbusters and next-gen games to concentrate on our favourite area: retrogaming!
Fans have been waiting for it, Capcom has done it: Okami Sequel was announced last night with a poetic trailer. Drums and flutes, wisps of flowers left in the wake of what appears to be Amaterasu, all interspersed with the familiar brushstrokes of this completely atypical title released in 2006 on PlayStation 2 (2007 in Europe).
The director of the first opus, Hideki Kamiya, will be at the helm of this new adventure with his studio Clover. This is excellent news, since we're dealing with the same team that worked on Okami nearly 20 years ago.
For the moment, there's no release date: the game is in the pre-production phase.
Nous restons au Japon avec Capcom, qui joue sur la nostalgie une seconde fois avec Onimusha : The Way of the Word. Le hack’n’slash Onimusha Warlord était sorti en 2001 sur PlayStation 2 et avait été porté en 2003 sur Xbox. Trois suites avaient suivi, dont une avec Jean Reno interprétant Jacques Blanc dans Onimusha 3 : Demon Siege.
Le dernier Onimusha, basé sur le scénario du jeu Dawn of Dreams, est sorti en 2006. Il vous faudra cependant vous montrer patient : Onimusha : The Way of the Word n’est pas attendu avant 2026.
Très belle surprise de la soirée, Turok nous revient après 16 ans d’absence. Le dernier titre, très oubliable, était sorti en 2008. C’est le début de la saga qui a marqué les joueurs, notamment avec le tout premier Turok : Dinosaur Hunter, sorti en 1997 sur Nintendo 64.
À une époque où les FPS de qualité étaient rares sur console, Turok avait su s’imposer grâce à un univers rafraîchissant. Turok Origins sera, comme son nom l’indique, un reboot/préquel de la série sous forme de FPS coopératif.
C’est l’équipe de Saber Interactive qui s’occupera du développement, ce qui semble être une excellente nouvelle au vu du succès critique et commercial de leurs dernières productions, comme Warhammer : Space Marine 2.
« Turok a été l'un des premiers jeux de tir sur console auxquels j'ai joué. Lorsque nous nous sommes penchés sur les franchises de jeux qui méritaient d'être remises au goût du jour, Turok figurait en haut de notre liste. Chez Saber, nous aimons prendre des classiques et les combiner avec un nouveau gameplay. Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer enfin le jeu, mais nous serons encore plus heureux lorsque nous aurons livré cette expérience à l'ancienne avec une exécution moderne. »
– Matthew Karch, PDG de Saber Interactive
Si vous possédez les jeux Turok et souhaitez réduire dinosaures et aliens en chair à pâté, plusieurs opus sont jouables sur Recalbox.
Ninja Gaiden is an old franchise. It may be easy to forget, but the very first instalment was released on arcade terminals in 1988. The series has maintained a certain aura through sequels, compilations and a few remasters, with fairly regular releases that have come to a halt since 2014.
To relaunch the machine in due form, Koei Tecmo has called on two great connoisseurs of pixel art and dusting: the Spaniards from The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous) for development and the French from Dotemu (TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4) for publishing.
This talent will be responsible for bringing Ryu Hayabusa to the United States, in a game that looks very dynamic, with demanding platforming and combat.
The game is expected for summer 2025.
This is not an announcement, as SEGA had already confirmed that a new Virtua Fighter was in development.
But tonight, we had a first teaser of one minute and a half, briefly staging a street fight and a few seconds of gameplay that make you want to.
The project is thought to be a major player in eSports. We can only hope for a good development from SEGA, in order to compete with giants like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.
If you are a fan of the SEGA saga and you own Virtua Fighter, the titles are playable on Recalbox.
We stay at SEGA with a very short teaser announcing the Mario Kart-like Sonic Racing CrossWorlds. We see Shadow getting ready to board his speedboat. Sonic’s eternal enemy is in the limelight these days, not least with the release of the movie Sonic 3, where he leads the way.
SEGA continues to rely on its licenses, but it must be said that the Sonic Racing remains very good racing games.
No release date has been announced for this game, which still seems to be in pre-production.
Released in 1995 for PC, Screamer, inspired by Ridge Racer, stood out with its compelling graphics for the time and its more subtle gameplay than arcade games.
For this reboot, the developers go beyond mere copy and integrate combat and narrative elements into a science fiction universe, drastically changing the artistic direction and overall style of the game.
Be patient: the title is not expected until 2026.
We end with a very surprising game, completely revisiting the universe of Pac-Man. You play as a warrior reanimated by PUCK (Pac-Man), who will have to travel through a hostile planet.
Bandai Namco says the game focuses on an evolving combat system, allowing you to adapt your style based on the skills you’ve gained.
Planned release 2025, new generation consoles only.
Of course, we will continue to follow the news of these games as they are announced and will keep you informed.
Thu Dec 12 2024
We're stepping away from hardcore retrogaming news to talk about a partnership that's as unexpected as it is exciting.
On 11 December, The Pokémon Company announced that a joint project with Aardman was in production and would be released in 2027.
Pokémon needs no introduction, and I'm sure you're already familiar with Aardman's productions, even if the name may sound less familiar.
This British studio is behind such titles as Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep - three major hits. The Aardman style is instantly recognisable, thanks to a unique ‘paste’ 😉 both literally and figuratively.
The studio uses the stop motion technique, animating models and characters made from modelling clay. This time-consuming and meticulous process produces a stunning result that no computer-generated image can match.
This partnership is particularly surprising, as Aardman has never before collaborated with a company as large as The Pokémon Company. Until now, the studio had concentrated on its own universes, animating mainly its emblematic characters mentioned above.
I say ‘work’ rather than ‘film’ because the final format of this project remains unknown. A feature film seems obvious, but Aardman also excels in series. In fact, Pokémon has already explored stop motion with the Japanese series The Pokémon Receptionist in 2023, although it went relatively unnoticed.
For now, we'll have to make do with the press release, in which the vice-president of the Pokémon Company said:
This is a dream partnership for Pokémon. Aardman is a master of their craft, and we've been blown away by their talent and creativity. What we've been working on together ensures that Pokémon fans around the world are in for a real treat!
Sean Clarke, CEO of Aardman, added:
We feel truly privileged to be responsible for bringing the Pokémon characters and universe to life in a whole new way. Bringing together Pokémon, the world's biggest entertainment brand, and our love of craft, characters and humorous storytelling is incredibly exciting. ‘
Pokémon has conquered many formats, from video games first and foremost to TV series and card games. Even if we retrogamers are sometimes a little lost when faced with multiple generations, many of these creatures were with us during our youth.
We can't wait to rediscover them in a new light, in the talented hands of a studio as creative as Aardman!
In the meantime, there's plenty to keep you busy! If you own the titles, you can already rediscover the first three generations of Pokémon on Recalbox, thanks to the Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, across eight games!
Thu Dec 12 2024
If you enjoyed Konami's arcade game WEC Le Mans, released in 1986, you're sure to love Faster, the new title developed for the Atari STE.
Developed by a small team, Faster has won us over. The game features bright colours, lots of sprites, a day/night cycle and a soundtrack that includes engines, sound effects and music. Above all, it runs at 50 fps, offering an exhilarating sensation of speed and a level of gameplay rarely achieved on Atari.
The man behind the project is Jonathan Thomas, aka RetroRacing, an experienced developer well known to Atari users. He notably worked on the Atari STE version of Pole Position and was part of the team that ported Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge to the Atari ST.
The work of RetroRacing is all the more impressive for being entirely handmade. Faster imitates the technique of scaling sprites (which get bigger the closer you get to them), a feature that the Atari ST does not natively support.
Excellent news: Faster is available as a free download here, allowing you to play on original hardware. The game can also be played on Recalbox!
All you need to do is insert the ROM in a sub-folder "ste “ in the roms/atarist folder, launch the game with the BIOS ”Emutos “, force the memory to ”2MB “ in the emulator menu, then exit the menu without forgetting to select ”reset machine ’.
An update will soon allow you to launch the game without having to do this.
Thu Dec 12 2024
This year, Tetris celebrates its 40th anniversary! Developed in 1984, the cult game was only released on Game Boy in 1989, after Nintendo obtained exclusive rights thanks to an agreement with the USSR government.
To celebrate this anniversary, Nintendo is offering Switch Online subscribers Tetris (1989) and Tetris DX (1998), in their NES and Game Boy Color versions.
Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of Tetris, also marked the event by sharing a special message in a video that you can find at the bottom of this article. In it, he warmly thanks fans for their loyalty:
This is the first time Tetris for NES has been available since 1989 [...] I'd like to thank all the fans around the world. You've been part of the Tetris legacy for 40 years and will continue to be for years to come. ‘
This is the perfect opportunity to rediscover this monument to the history of video games, which has also been adapted into a film in 2023. This feature-length film tells the story of Henk Rogers, who risked everything by travelling to the USSR to work with Alexey Pajitnov and introduce Tetris to the whole world.
Finally, if you already own Tetris or Tetris DX, you can still stack the famous bricks on Recalbox or almost any other platform imaginable, as the game has been ported multiple times over the generations of consoles.
Wed Dec 11 2024
If there's one controller that has left its mark on gamers, it's the Nintendo 64. With its three ‘arms’ and central joystick, it's often been mocked, but it's nonetheless iconic in the world of video games. It was also one of the first mainstream offerings of a joystick of this type.
However, users of this console will no doubt remember a well-known flaw: its joystick. After a certain period of use, the joystick would present problems, such as an enlarged dead zone or malfunctions that prevented the joystick from returning to its initial position.
You might think that this is a problem that no longer concerns us in 2024, but think again. The Super Smash Bros. competitive scene remains very active, and the speedrunner community continues to tackle iconic Nintendo 64 titles. These activities require intensive use of the controller, putting the joystick to a severe test.
With this in mind, a group of modders have set themselves the task of solving this problem. Their aim: to reproduce as faithfully as possible the components of the original controller, in particular its unusual joystick design.
"Last year, I spent hundreds of hours of my life and thousands of dollars to effectively recreate the original N64 controller, as close as possible to Nintendo's OEM specifications," explains RockerGaming. "Once that goal was achieved, I began modifying the module to bring it up to modern standards."
The ambition of these enthusiasts is to design a Nintendo 64 controller that offers the same precision as the original version, while using modern, more resistant materials. Their product would be capable of meeting the demands of Smash Bros. competitions and speedrunners.
In a recent post on X, RockerGaming gave an update on the progress of its project, dubbed the ‘Renaissance Project’, which appears to be well underway. The moulds needed to produce the parts are currently being adjusted, a painstaking process requiring precision to within a third of the thickness of a human hair.
Some parts have already been sent to speedrunners for comfort and reliability tests. The ultimate aim is clear: to offer controller components that are "good enough for professionals and affordable enough for enthusiasts ".
Photos: RockerGaming
Tue Dec 10 2024
If you follow retrogaming news, and more particularly FPGA console projects (equipped with reprogrammable chips that reproduce the hardware of old consoles), you've probably heard of the SuperSEGA project.
However, it's likely to be in unflattering terms. And with good reason: this project is racking up dubious presentations and surprising behaviour on the part of its designers, arousing suspicion and criticism.
Already viewed with scepticism by the retrogaming community, it would appear that the main people involved, SEGA, are not at all happy about this turn of events. According to the MO5 website, SEGA has demanded that the project be stopped altogether, and that existing prototypes be destroyed.
Announced this summer, SuperSEGA's ambition was to become an FPGA console capable of reading the cartridges and CDs of SEGA's historical consoles, notably the SC-3000/SG-1000, Mark III, Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Mega-CD, Saturn, and Dreamcast.
Unfortunately, as soon as its design was presented, observers expressed doubts. And these doubts were reinforced a few weeks later during a video presentation: a device supposedly in operation behind a television, a prototype switched off, inexplicable cuts... The demonstration left more questions than answers.
Journalists wishing to test the machine were categorically refused by the designers, who cited fears that ‘competitors’ such as Analogue would steal their ideas.
Despite this lack of clarity, around 200 people pre-ordered the console. But these buyers were in for a nasty surprise: instead of being debited on dispatch, as initially announced, their accounts were debited €400 at the end of the reservation campaign, without any notice or warning...
Faced with what is looking more and more like a fiasco, SEGA is starting to worry. The famous Japanese company obviously does not want its name to be associated with an initiative that could be perceived as a scam.
On 30 November, SEGA denounced the misuse of its brand and the ambiguity surrounding the project.
In a letter published by SuperSEGA, the Spanish company behind the project justifies its position, asserts its legitimacy and demands a response from SEGA within two weeks. So the matter is far from over.
Tue Dec 10 2024
You don't change a winning team! Following on from the success of the Pi 400, launched shortly after the Pi 4, the Raspberry Foundation has announced the imminent arrival of a new microcomputer with an integrated keyboard: the Pi 500.
As you might expect, the Pi 500 is based on the same architecture as the Raspberry Pi 5. So you'll find the same features and performance as the latter, released just over a year ago.
If you're new to this range, the Pi X00 models are personal computers built into a keyboard. All you need to do is add a mouse (optional but recommended), a screen and install an operating system (Linux, Recalbox, etc.), just like on a Pi 5.
Like the Pi 5 and the Pi 4, the Pi 500, equipped with 8 GB RAM, outperforms the Pi 400 thanks to its Quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 64-bit processor running at 2.4 GHz and its updated GPU VideoCore VII.
The Pi 500 offers everything you'd expect from a modern microcomputer for everyday use:
The Pi 500's keyboard incorporates a one-piece aluminium heat sink, guaranteeing passive cooling. This may come as a surprise in the absence of a fan, but it's justified by the extra space inside the keyboard, reducing the overheating common to components. The result is total silence, even during intensive use.
In terms of dimensions, the Pi 500 remains faithful to the Pi 400: 286 mm × 122 mm × 23 mm. As a practical addition, a power button is now integrated into the top right-hand corner of the keyboard.
Pre-orders are now open on the Kubii website, where the Pi 500 is priced at €112.80. Please note, however, that this price does not include the power supply, micro HDMI to HDMI cable or mouse.
To benefit from these accessories, you'll need to opt for the Pi 500 Kit at a price of €144. As usual, we recommend investing in the official power supply for the best possible experience.
For all you retrogaming fans out there, we'll keep you posted in due course on Recalbox compatibility, as the announcement was made only recently and no tests have yet been carried out. On the assumption that Recalbox was easily ported to the Pi 400, the same should apply to the Pi 500, which follows the same architecture as the Raspberry Pi 5. Stay tuned! 😉
Mon Dec 09 2024
By now you've probably heard about the long-awaited remaster of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, the PlayStation game developed by Argonaut Games and published by Rock It Games. The last few days have brought both good news and bad news for fans of the game.
A collector's version of the remaster, originally planned for Nintendo Switch and PS5, will also be available on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series and PC.
This collector's edition will include:
The collector's version is already available for pre-order on the Rock It Games website.
The game's release has been postponed. Argonaut Games announced the decision via its X account, stating that ‘the decision has not been taken lightly’, but that ‘a little more time is needed to add the finishing touches and ensure the game meets the high standards they aspire to, and that you deserve’.
No specific date has been given, apart from a vague ‘Q1 2025’. The original game was released on PlayStation in 1997, 27 years ago, so fans shouldn't be far behind.
Croc still has a strong community of fans who keep the game alive. At the time, the title received a favourable reception from both the press and the public, enough to allow the release of a second opus in 1999. Sadly, this would remain the franchise's last, hopes of a sequel having been dashed by the closure of Argonaut Games in 2004 (which reopened its doors in 2024 for this remaster).
Sun Dec 08 2024
DIY enthusiasts and people who hate to throw things away, the Youtuber Dubesinhower recently posted a video test/tutorial on his channel to present a new range of cables that will allow you to change the original cable of your NES / Famicom controllers.
We've all - or know someone who has - thrown away a wired controller when it was simply a problem with the cable. While some cables are easy to change, it can be difficult to find quality models dedicated to our old consoles.
Dubesinhower's video features "high quality cables ’ for NES and Famicom controllers from JT Studios and Retro Game Restore. These braided cables are ideal for repairing original controllers or creating new ones, while guaranteeing a premium look and robustness.
With all the safety precautions that need to be taken, we can only encourage this type of approach, which on the one hand helps to avoid throwing away equipment, and above all preserves a videogame hardware heritage that is increasingly difficult to find in good working order.
NES cables: available individually for $12.
Buy an NES cable
Famicom cables**: sold in pairs for $18
Buy a set of Famicom cables
Original consoles and controllers are often more than 30 years old, which means you need to take a few precautions when installing them:
Dubesinhower points out that while these cables represent an investment, their quality clearly sets them apart from cheap alternatives. Indeed, it is possible to find replacement cables for a few dollars on Aliexpress, but without quality control, the result can vary: imperfect fits, poor durability, or badly designed connectors.
Finally, the Famicom cable shown in the video was a pre-production prototype. Final versions may therefore have minor variations in pinout or colour. Follow the instructions on the box for a successful installation.
Source: RetroRGB
Sun Dec 08 2024
The RG34XX is not compatible with Recalbox
This weekend, Anbernic presented its latest creation: the RG34XX, a portable console dedicated to retrogaming. If you're a Recalbox user, you'll be aware that Anbernic is no stranger to retrogaming.
The Chinese manufacturer has already developed several portable retrogaming consoles that are 100% compatible with Recalbox (such as the RG353M and RG351M) and offers many other models, both for retrogaming and gaming.
With this new console, Anbernic is banking on nostalgia by drawing inspiration from the Game Boy Advance, the famous Nintendo console released in 2001.
The video presentation gave away very little information, but here are the main features we can tell you about:
The RG34XX will be available in four colours:
The RG34XX is not compatible with Recalbox at this time. No release date or price has yet been announced.
If you'd like to create a Recalbox-compatible retrogaming handheld console, check out all the supported models on our site: Recalbox-compatible handheld consoles.
