Retron 5 (aka 4)

[JDavis]

My understanding on Sonic & Knuckles + Sonic Classics is that due to a quirk in how S&K checks what game is connected it identifies Sonic Classics as Sonic 1. Basically, it checks the ROM header information to see what game is connected, but when the game connected is bigger than 2MB it loads the last 2MB instead of the first, and that just happens to be where Sonic 1 is stored in Sonic Classics. It's not clear if this is by design or coincidence.

This quirk is also why larger Genesis carts (like Phantasy Star IV) don't work with S&K at all; it reads in the tail end of the game, looks for the header info (which isn't there), finds none, assumes no cart is connected, and just boots up S&K normally instead of the NO WAY screen.

[TyrannicalFascist]

Hmm. Interesting. Well hopefully they'll fix Sonic 2 + Knuckles in their next update.

I did some controller tests and here are some results:

NES controller - works
NES Max - works, including turbo features, although the circle pad on mine is barely responsive
Messiah NES controller - works, including turbo features

SNES controller - works
Super Game Boy Commander - Obviously I can't check the Super Game Boy feature buttons as the SGB is not fully compatible yet. However, I tested it on several types of games. Generally, it functions like a normal SNES controller and it feels great on Game Boy games. I tried it on Mario Kart Super Circuit for GBA - when switched to SFC mode it functions as expected, however when switched to SGB mode, I found that the L and R buttons worked but only if they were the only button pressed. By this I mean I could shoot a shell, but only when I took my finger off the A button for gas. I'd be curious if that means that the SGB feature buttons would work if the accessory was fully supported.
Retro-Bit wireless SNES controller - receiver gets power, but controls don't respond. System may not recognize that is is a SNES controller.

Genesis 3-button controller - works
Genesis 6-button controller - works
Genesis 6-button Arcade Stick - works, including turbo switches
Genesis 6-button wireless controllers - can't test without a Genesis extension cable as the receiver was designed to fit two side-by-side controller ports

Somewhere around here I have a NES Advantage and a SNES Super Advantage I want to test as well.

[dashv]

Great info TF.. I've test ed controller support as well. It's in the compatibility list.

Don't forget to add yourself to our entries and to add the ones we are missing (like the nes max).

[TyrannicalFascist]

Great info TF.. I've test ed controller support as well. It's in the compatibility list.

Don't forget to add yourself to our entries and to add the ones we are missing (like the nes max).

Sure thing!

[dashv]

Great info TF.. I've test ed controller support as well. It's in the compatibility list.

Don't forget to add yourself to our entries and to add the ones we are missing (like the nes max).

Sure thing!

Thanks! You're awesome! 

[Rx_79]

The price on this thing is skyrocketing.  Its at $235 on amazon

[dashv]

Not worth the scalper prices.

[Nacho3]

Who pays these outrages prices for systems that they could have either preordered or wait til more come out and they are not sold out in the stores anymore? Somebody obviously does because it happens every console launch.

[dashv]

Who pays these outrages prices for systems that they could have either preordered or wait til more come out and they are not sold out in the stores anymore? Somebody obviously does because it happens every console launch.

I hear ya!  In this case pre-ordering really didn't help.

My Amazon pre-order still shows no sign of shipping.

The console I got  was from a local mom and pop shop and he didn't scalp me.

[Rx_79]

I think gamers have a fear of stuff becoming super rare before they can get their hands on it. and that makes them pay over retail prices for stuff.
 
Like with the Ni No Kuni wizard book, or Xenoblade for the Wii.  It even happens to some DVDs. Dragon Ball Z season two yellow box and Dairugger vol 3 come to mind.

The problem is the scalpers know this and really love ripping off collectors.

[TDIRunner]

I think gamers have a fear of stuff becoming super rare before they can get their hands on it. and that makes them pay over retail prices for stuff.
 
Like with the Ni No Kuni wizard book, or Xenoblade for the Wii.  It even happens to some DVDs. Dragon Ball Z season two yellow box and Dairugger vol 3 come to mind.

The problem is the scalpers know this and really love ripping off collectors.

Don't forget the parents of kids who really don't know anything about this stuff.  They know they want to get their kid something, and when someone says "that's what it sells for", they just shrug their shoulders and pay up.

[kingjohn3]

Is the big deal about the Retron 5 that its a cheaper alternative to the Analogue?

[JDavis]

Oh! There was another firmware update(v1.31) a couple days ago (the 9th, one day after the previous update) but I guess I missed it in all the e3 hype. Here's the details:

- Fixed problem writing saves back to cartridge for GBA games using the SRAM and FLASH save types
- Fixed regression that caused SuperFX games to malfunction after saving/loading a state
- Tweaks to power control which fixes several NES/Famicom games that were previously triggering a "power error"
- Fixed an issue causing removal of SD cards to occasionally not be registered
- Fixed small error with button mapping display where + and - on the wireless controller were inverted
- Added support for SNES CX4 games (Megaman X2 etc)
- Added support for NES mapper 95

My previously non-working games this update fixed:

NES - Batman: Return of the Joker (the power error they mentioned)
NES - Super Mario Bros + Duck Hunt + World Class Track Meet (used to not register at all, now does. Duck Hunt still can't be played and I don't have a power pad to test WCTM with)
SNES - Contra III - The Alien Wars (used to pull up as Unknown and just load black screen)
SNES - Megaman X2 (used to pull up as Unknown and just load black screen after Capcom logo/jingle)
SNES - Yoshi's Island (used to crash on certain levels)

The following is now closer to working:

Famicom - Supervision 76 in 1 pirate cart (used to not register at all, now registers as "76 in 1" and menu works, but picking any game just boots you back to the cart's menu)

No changes on the Sonic & Knuckles or Homebrew/repro front in this update.

I did some controller tests and here are some results:

NES controller - works
NES Max - works, including turbo features, although the circle pad on mine is barely responsive
Messiah NES controller - works, including turbo features

SNES controller - works
Super Game Boy Commander - Obviously I can't check the Super Game Boy feature buttons as the SGB is not fully compatible yet. However, I tested it on several types of games. Generally, it functions like a normal SNES controller and it feels great on Game Boy games. I tried it on Mario Kart Super Circuit for GBA - when switched to SFC mode it functions as expected, however when switched to SGB mode, I found that the L and R buttons worked but only if they were the only button pressed. By this I mean I could shoot a shell, but only when I took my finger off the A button for gas. I'd be curious if that means that the SGB feature buttons would work if the accessory was fully supported.
Retro-Bit wireless SNES controller - receiver gets power, but controls don't respond. System may not recognize that is is a SNES controller.

Genesis 3-button controller - works
Genesis 6-button controller - works
Genesis 6-button Arcade Stick - works, including turbo switches
Genesis 6-button wireless controllers - can't test without a Genesis extension cable as the receiver was designed to fit two side-by-side controller ports

In addition to any of those that I have, I've tested...

NES Advantage - Works, including slow (turbo start) and turbo functions (including variable turbo speed). You won't be able to plug it into both ports and switch players without an extension cable.

Retro-Bit wired SNES "Super Retro" controller - The wired version of the wireless controllers TyrannicalFascist tested, I presume. These work, and work well. Probably the best modern 3rd party "retro" controller. The plastics feel cheap, but the ergonomics and build quality make up for it. Super comfortable.

Is the big deal about the Retron 5 that its a cheaper alternative to the Analogue?

No. The Analogue NT doesn't do SNES, Genesis, GB, GBC, GBA, Master System (with an adapter), save states, filters, controller/button remapping, etc. etc. etc.

The Analogue NT is just an RGB modded Famicom with NES cartridge and controller ports added in, stuck in a fancy new shell. With an optional HDMI upscaler.

The RetroN 5 is a legitimately new system that natively outputs in HD and plays several systems' games through emulation using the original carts and controllers.

It's apples to oranges.

[TyrannicalFascist]

In addition to any of those that I have, I've tested...

NES Advantage - Works, including slow (turbo start) and turbo functions (including variable turbo speed). You won't be able to plug it into both ports and switch players without an extension cable.

Retro-Bit wired SNES "Super Retro" controller - The wired version of the wireless controllers TyrannicalFascist tested, I presume. These work, and work well. Probably the best modern 3rd party "retro" controller. The plastics feel cheap, but the ergonomics and build quality make up for it. Super comfortable.

I'll have to try my pirate GB multicarts again.

Yes that's the wired version of what I tested. My version as far as I know is exactly the same build, only gray and wireless - imagine if they could support that - certainly a better wireless option than the Retron 5 controller.

Okay bootleg/pirate results:

-Pokémon Arcoiris -- Unknown Cartridge, works
-Pokémon Chaos Black -- Unknown Cartridge, works
-Pokémon CrystalShards -- Unknown Cartridge, works
-Pokémon Naranja -- Unknown Cartridge, works
-26-in-1 (GB, contains Sonic 3D Blast 5) -- Unknown Cartridge, shows white screen
-Sonic 6 -- Recognized as Sonic 6, works!
-Sonic Adventure 7 -- Unknown Cartridge, shows white screen
-Super 64-in-1 (GB, contains Super Mario 4) -- Unknown Cartridge, shows menu, all selections just reload menu, except "Flipull" which works
-New Super Color 25-in-1 (GB, contains Super Mario 4 and Super Mario World 7) -- Unknown Cartridge, shows menu, all selections just reload the menu
-18-in-1 (GB, contains Super Mario 4) -- Unknown Cartridge, shows menu, but no matter the selection always pulls up "Flipull"
-156-in-1 (GBA) -- took over 30 seconds to load, Unknown Cartridge, shows menu, of the 4 options it only lets me select Super Mario Advance 4, which loads and then has the same corrupted save issue that the real SMA4 cart has. Won't let me select the other 3 options (Kirby's Nightmare in DL, Kirby & the Amazing Mirror, 156 NES Muit Games)

[kingjohn3]

Ok, so are emulators as good as the original? Is there a marked difference? I guess my question is, if you have the original system and it works fine do you really need a Retron?