RetroN
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The RetroN is a series of game consoles created and developed by Hyperkin which allows users to play old video games from old gaming consoles, such as the original Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super NES. Since the release of the RetroN 4, it is connected via HDMI.[1] The latest in the series, RetroN 5, was released in 2014.
Releases
Early RetroN consoles
The original RetroN only played Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games. After this, the RetroN 2 was released in 2012, which removed the Genesis compatibility and left NES and SNES support.[2] This was followed by the RetroN 3, which also played Super NES (SNES) and Genesis games. The RetroN 4 was revealed at the 2013 Midwest Gaming Classic, on March 23.[3] It used HDMI to run games from the NES, SNES, Genesis, and the Game Boy line of portable platforms (Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance).[4]
RetroN 5
The RetroN 5, released in 2014 after being delayed from its original release date of October 31, 2013, is the latest console in the series.[5] The console is designed to run games from ten different platforms,[6] including the NES, Super NES, Game Boy line, Genesis and the Family Computer (Famicom) cartridges via HDMI, similar to the RetroN 4. It was described to have a good feel and run smoothly, but the look of the console was as good as expected. The developers behind the RetroArch project claimed "the RetroN 5 violates several licenses". This was because the console used the Genesis Plus GX and SNES9x Next emulators to launch some games. Both of the emulators are filed under a non-commercial license, thus meaning they cannot be used in commercial products, such as the RetroN 5.[7]
The RetroN 5 received positive and negative reviews. Huffington Post writer Michael Rundle gave the console a 4.5 out of 5 but said he wished it looked better and had the ability to play more consoles, such as the BBC Micro, Amiga and the Atari. He later said it is not as fun to use this as it is to play the games on the original machines.[6] Brian Easton, from BoingBoing said the same as Rundle in terms of how it looks, saying the design is "far from stylish". Easton finished his review by saying the quality is good although it "requires more force to remove them [the cartridges] than feels comfortable".[8]
References
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