Retro VGS console

[ElPolloDiabl]

I just found this article:
“Retro VGS” console aims to revive the humble video game cartridge
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/05/retro-vgs-console-aims-to-revive-the-humble-video-game-cartridge/

You can already get the Retron 5 which emulates several consoles.
Amiga related because we have retro hardware too.

[trekiej]

I was hoping that someone would make a new console that uses carts.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Nice.    Heck, Kickstarter, I'd back that.  

[sm3]

Nice.    Heck, Kickstarter, I'd back that.  

I believe I read that Kickstarter is the plan, once he gets more of the details ironed out.

They are using the original Atari Jaguar molds and cartridge cases, which is kind of cool!

[trekiej]

I wonder if the commode look is still an option with a cd player.

[XDelusion]

I can't afford it right now, not in the least, but maybe by the time it is ready.

I like that they are bringing back the Jaguar case, it is by far one of the most interesting designs ever made. Cheesy yes, but awesome, also yes!

For the controllers they are borrowing from the SNES looking Controller for the Wii U which is fine by me.

I have seen a demo for an original platformer that was started as homebrew for the SNES, but they ported it for this instead and it looks like it would be very enjoyable to play! Like a launch platformer title should be. That's some true 8-bit/16-bit console war ethics for you there! And the thing is is that this is suppose to be able to pull off material back to the 4-bit era, on up to the 32-bit era. So long as it plays DOOM...
...I'm one excited little monkey, though I am dying to know the specs on this, CPU and RAM especially!

[ElPolloDiabl]

@ above
It says : FPGA combined with ARM architecture.

I'm wondering whether it will have a long development time like the FPGA Arcade?

[danbeaver]

I'm hoping for one that plays 8-track cartridges!

[XDelusion]

I'm hoping for one that plays 8-track cartridges!

No doubt!

[Britelite]

I was hoping that someone would make a new console that uses carts.

Yeah, I can't wait to pay 60-70 bucks for cartridges with games that most likely can't compete with games released in the 90's

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Yeah, I can't wait to pay 60-70 bucks for cartridges with games that most likely can't compete with games released in the 90's

If they price it at that they have to know it's gonna flop.  Benefit of the doubt, seems like pretty savvy folks working on it.  Wonder how well it could emulate an Amiga?  Aah, the horror!  A cartridge-game playing Miggy!  :laughing:

[Britelite]

If they price it at that they have to know it's gonna flop.

They can't escape the fact that producing decent cartridges is not cheap, and I'm guessing the amount of cartridges is also not big enough to drive down the price.

Wonder how well it could emulate an Amiga?

If I read the article correctly, they're talking about performance comparable to old 16bit consoles. So it's probably not going to emulate anything
(Updated) seems like the article has been updated and they're talking about FPGA+ARM, so it might have a bit more horsepower than previously stated. But still, would you really pay for amiga games on cart, that couldn't even be played on an Amiga?

[gertsy]

Hardware cartridge distribution or downloadable software distribution.  Hmm we all know which one will be much more expensive.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Hardware cartridge distribution or downloadable software distribution.  Hmm we all know which one will be much more expensive.

They have a target audience: the late-30's to early-40's something nerd who still owns shelves full of video game cartridges from the 1980's, and/or is now making enough money to buy all the types of toys they couldn't afford as a kid.  C'mon, you know they're out there.  

[som99]

Flash based cartridges could be quite cheep to produce in quantities. It's not 1990, heck with such low prices on 1-2GB flash NAND's and moderate volume on PCB production and a piece of plastic shell I can not see why prices should have to be super high.
But hey anyways even if prices should be high I personally don't see any problem since I pay those prices for games today. Just because it targets early to mid 90s hardware specs doesn't mean it's not worth the money. I mean I still play games that are 25+ years old, it's not all about em graphics, a new system with some old school goodness would be really nice

Cross my fingers this project works out.