The RetroGen!!!!

Retrogen Review:

Hi guys,

My RETROGEN arrived in the mail yesterday and the minute I put my hands on it I started plugging in cartridges to give it a test drive. All of them seem to work fine EXCEPT Castlevania: Bloodlines. Which makes me very sad . The device itself is incredibly light and well made. The screen is a good size, it's not as big as it appears on the box or in pictures, but its a solid 2.8". The buttons are nice. It takes a little while to get used to them because they are set at an angle but they get the job done. I haven't tried TV out yet but I'm sure it works well. The music that comes out of it is slightly off. It's not a big deal really, I actually find it kind of funny.

The only thing that isn't too good about it is the D-Pad which surprised the hell out of me because the D-Pad on the Retrogen "looked" a whole lot better then the GenMobiles one. The D-pad is a big solid silver disc on the left hand side. It works well with platformers and shooter games but is almost impossible to use during a fighting game like Street Fighter II or Samurai showdown. There is also a bit of slowdown that effects certain games. An example of this would be that I get a little slow down in Contra Hardcorps and quite a bit of slowdown in Earthworm Jim. You can barely notice it though so it won't hurt your experience.

Final Words:

The Achilles heel of this portable is the D-pad. Everything else is done very well. The screen is a perfect size and the graphics are clear, the buttons are responsive and spring-y, and the music is OK. If you could overlook the crappy D-pad then I would say pick it up. If not just wait for the GenMobile.

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To Purchcase:

http://www.gsubooks.com/

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For further information about the new retro Sega systems and hand helds please click on the link below.

http://the-coolinator-lounge.blogspot.com/2009/08/whats-deal-with-retro-gaming-part-2.html

Thanks for reading and comments are always appreciated!

What's the deal with Retro-Gaming? Part 2

Since my first article on Retro-Gaming many a things have come to pass. First off, I've discovered that there are these retro twin systems that have the capability of playing old 8-bit and 16-bit cartridges all in one. A very nice design, if I may say so!

FCTWIN!


http://www.dkoldies.com/FC3-Plus-System-Genesis-Nintendo-NES-SNES-p/fc3%20-%203%20systems%20in%201c.htm

They come fully loaded with two controllers and a light gun for old school gun games like Duck hunt and Hogan's Alley!


Then I found out that the new Genesis console is no longer called the "Firebox". It was renamed the Firecore.....you know....like HARDCORE! And it seems to be as well made as its last incarnation but this time with a port for downloadable content from the web. This is due to Sega wanting to develop 20 new 16-bit games for download with the new Firecore system. I would assume its to lure people into buying it considering most kids now a days have no idea what a cartridge even is. Dam kids! Some have criticized its predecessor's sound quality but hopefully they have fine tuned it this time around for our retro gaming enjoyment. The second new Genesis console is literally the same thing as the Firecore but the design of the system itself looks like Sonic's spikey head. What's next Sega? Sonic Roller-skates? Sonic Toasters? Sonic toothpaste? I guess its always a good time to exploit Sonic for financial gain. Eitherway, The system does look sharp.








FireCore! GenCore!



Remember! Each new Genesis console comes fully loaded with 20 games. Most of which are very good.....some are...ehhh...but how can you complain? When I first got my Genesis in the early 90's I never got a free game with it. All I got was the console and a controller with one foot of cord.


Its raining Nomads!!!!



This is a strange series of events that has been goin on in the retro gaming world. A few months back we heard rumors that there was going to be a Sega Nomad clone. What triggered it was a random video being circulated on YouTube which was filmed at some kind of gaming convention. In the video some chubby Asian guy said there was going to be a new Genesis console (The picture on the power point presentation in the video was the Gencore) and there would be a new Sega Nomad clone handheld (Picture on the projection screen resembled the RetroGen). Since then our wonderful friends at Gamesboro have been taking pre-orders for the device. This is where the story gets complicated. Most people have put in their pre-orders for their Retrogen's but just the other day AtGames has allowed pre-orders for .....you guessed it... THEIR Nomad clone!

The RetroGen is manufactured by a company called Innex and the GenMobile (The other Nomad Clone) is made by AtGames! So as you can tell this was right out of left field. Who would have thought in the year 2009 we would be getting not one but TWO Nomad clones?







RetroGen! GenMobile!



What are the differences between the two? Well, from what I see the RetroGen has a larger screen while the GenMobile has a slightly smaller screen but has 20 preloaded games on it like the HandHeld Megadrive and the new Genesis consoles. I don't know about you guys but I'm in somewhat of a dilemma here. I may just buy them both if I can't make up my dam mind! Decisions.....Decisions......



Honorable Mentions:





Handheld Megadrive

20 games in one. No cartridge slot but can plug into your TV. Great present for a younger family member or a person who commutes.


Click here to check out all the cool new stuff - http://www.gsubooks.com/