Retro Duo Portable - RDP 2 in 1 Portable System

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Lets not get way off topic, but the YLOD isn't the same as the RROD. The RROD affects a crazy number of 360s, maybe even as high as 70% of all systems made before 2010. To not get it is to have dodged a bullet. The YLOD on the other hand, is rare, and only occurs when all other heat-related countermeasures are exhausted.

I've had to heatgun my 2006 HDMi-free 360 at least two dozen times where as my day one launch purchase PS3 has never once had a problem with heat.

Again, I don't want to get into a fanboy-ish PS3 vs 360 rant here. The analogy was to compare apples to oranges, not the RROD to the YLOD.

[Taiyaki]

Lets not get way off topic, but the YLOD isn't the same as the RROD. The RROD affects a crazy number of 360s, maybe even as high as 70% of all systems made before 2010. To not get it is to have dodged a bullet. The YLOD on the other hand, is rare, and only occurs when all other heat-related countermeasures are exhausted.

I've had to heatgun my 2006 HDMi-free 360 at least two dozen times where as my day one launch purchase PS3 has never once had a problem with heat.

Again, I don't want to get into a fanboy-ish PS3 vs 360 rant here. The analogy was to compare apples to oranges, not the RROD to the YLOD.

Agreed, the YLOD is almost non existent where as the RROD is rampant. There's a major difference here and that is that Sony has an established history for building good consoles. Also there is no precedent for what happened to Microsoft with the 360, it was an incredible problem.

There is precedent for portable clone systems, I haven't bought any prior to the supaboy but my friends have and I've seen two models of the Megadrive in portable form and both were really poor reproductions, the Nomad would beat both with it's pinky while sleeping. Then the Supaboy, wow what can I say... I never had a second of enjoyment the entire time playing it was frustration at what a piece of crap this was, glad I returned it.

Also people criticize the engadget review but in his comments he added details, I think there's no reason for them to spew falsehood, they just saw the system on display and they found it unimpressive.

I've had 3 xbox 360's, two japanese and one american and none of them has had a RROD, so I always felt people treat their xbox like they treat any console expecting it to be sturdy when in reality it's like an infant in a cocoon, you need to make sure it's bathed in care or any little breeze will kill it.

[nusilver]

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/show...English-Review

As I've finally started a Pokefami DX thread, I won't be posting anymore in the rdp or supaboy threads, except where it pertains directly to those two devices.

Enjoy!

[MarioMania]

When are we going to have some Youtube Videos of te RetroGen??

How many people have it anyways??

[nusilver]

When are we going to have some Youtube Videos of te RetroGen??

How many people have it anyways??

The RetroGen adapter? Mine delivered today, from what I can tell. I can post a quick video this weekend, but I only own two Genesis games - X-Men 2 and Jurassic Park. But I will test the bejesus out of those games :P

[MarioMania]

Get more games

Then Test it...

[nusilver]

Notes, so far, of the RetroGen adapter (keep in mind I've never owned a Genesis):

No issues on my SDTV
Haven't tried it on my HDTV
Color output looks accurate from what I *remember* these games looking like....~20 years ago
Works on both American models of the SNES
Works on the Pokefami DX
Jurassic Park plays perfectly so far - two levels in
X-Men 2 plays perfectly so far - two levels in
Up next: Castle of Illusion

[Satoshi_Matrix]

put some Sonic into that thing! is the audio off? That's the big question.

[nusilver]

put some Sonic into that thing! is the audio off? That's the big question.

gotta get some sonic first. just debating between 2 and 3. i guess i can get them both.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Well, I actually meant Sonic 1. You really should get the whole trilogy though. AND sonic & knuckles.

[MarioMania]

Just want to know can it be opened??

[nusilver]

Well, I actually meant Sonic 1. You really should get the whole trilogy though. AND sonic & knuckles.

i'm on this. you just wait!

[nusilver]

Just want to know can it be opened??

Sure. Four philips-head screws. nothing fancy. Made in China. You know. American Companies! Yeah!

[Choses]

I bought the RDP on DasCheap, it was actually very easy for me and I am Canadian. But they sent me an old tracking number for some item delivered in 2010. Seems fishy, but I hope it's just a mistake.

[nusilver]

I bought the RDP on DasCheap, it was actually very easy for me and I am Canadian. But they sent me an old tracking number for some item delivered in 2010. Seems fishy, but I hope it's just a mistake.

That's actually not something to worry about. Tracking numbers are often recycled with couriers - try it again later, I'm sure it will update appropriately.

[Choses]

Yeah that must be it. I sent them a message, and they just called me, I was quite surprised. It really shipped according to the guy, so I feel better now. I also know that I suck at talking in english.

[thegamezmaster]

I bought the RDP on DasCheap, it was actually very easy for me and I am Canadian. But they sent me an old tracking number for some item delivered in 2010. Seems fishy, but I hope it's just a mistake.

Where is it on DasCheap site and how much? I couldn't find it. Thanks.

[nusilver]

Where is it on DasCheap site and how much? I couldn't find it. Thanks.

you have to search "retro duo portable", not RDP, i.e. : http://www.dascheap.com/retro-duo-portable.html

[Choses]

So I received my RDP !
...First thing I notice : a high-pitched sound. Oh no.

I'll try it more later.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

So I received my RDP !
...First thing I notice : a high-pitched sound. Oh no.

I'll try it more later.

Facepalm Dot Jay Pee Gee

[nusilver]

So I received my RDP !
...First thing I notice : a high-pitched sound. Oh no.

I'll try it more later.

Don't suppose you care to crack it open and post pics of the boards? The model number on the ribbon attaching the screen to the board would be extra nice to have.

[Choses]

I took some pics of the inside. I'm not sure what is the ribbon you're talking about, maybe it's deeper in the system.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2uzwcpw.jpg

http://oi42.tinypic.com/s1jg1u.jpg

http://oi44.tinypic.com/2rxjjm8.jpg

http://oi43.tinypic.com/de30pz.jpg

http://oi42.tinypic.com/30t5ll3.jpg

[nusilver]

I took some pics of the inside. I'm not sure what is the ribbon you're talking about, maybe it's deeper in the system.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2uzwcpw.jpg

http://oi42.tinypic.com/s1jg1u.jpg

http://oi44.tinypic.com/2rxjjm8.jpg

http://oi43.tinypic.com/de30pz.jpg

http://oi42.tinypic.com/30t5ll3.jpg

interesting. looks very, very close to the Pokefami DX - same chips, same wiring of the sound and image board to the speakers; etc.

take a look at this picture (sorry it's horrible, i need to replace the camera lens) - notice the white numbers that you can't read that are running along the ribbon connecting the screen to the board? I'm curious if you've got the same exact screen as the Pokefami DX - if you can flip the screen up and check, that'll tell us. If not, no worries - I've got a red one pre-ordered as well.

How's the sound now that you've had more time with it? Are there horizontal lines pulsing on the screen when you turn the volume up and music is playing?

Thanks for opening it up.

[Choses]

The sound is not so great overall. It's my only portable SNES so I can't compare it, but I think it could be better. And there's that uncomfortable noise coming from the speakers.
As for the screen, there are no lines when the volume is at its loudest.

I think I prefer not opening it again. I don't want anything bad to happen to it.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Just got my RetroDuo today. I'm full of piss and vinegar as it's not all I had hoped for, but thankfully it is a step up from the Supaboy in many regards. The audio for my unit seems as near to perfect as its gonna get. It is MUCH better than the Supaboy.

But I'm curious if Choses can help verify some of my findings.

I'll need time to work on a full review but here's my findings so far:

The controllers it comes with are excellent, easily the best clone controllers I've ever used. They feel light, yet solidly built and capable of taking some punishment.

Castlevania III does NOT work. There are severe problems with the audio until the titlescreen, the intro is filled with graphical garbage/glitches, and then the game crashes when actual gameplay should begin.

The NES Powerpak does NOT work with the RetroDuo Portable.

As expected, the NOAC seems to be in the NES to SNES cartridge adapter.

The NOAC sound doesn't seem wrong, but it does seem like its being over-amplified. It's been a while since I had a stock RetroDuo, but I think it might be the same issue all over again. I wonder if an audio dampener can be made to correct this?

The Supaboy buzz is nonexistent in most games, but you can still faintly hear it in certain games like Super Mario World. What is present is barely audible, unlike the Supaboy's which becomes difficult to ignore even after several minutes of gameplay

-Some of my games have wavy lines through them like there's major sych issues. I thought this might have been caused by something loose internally, but its not something that happens across the board. For example, it occurs with the Super GameBoy every single time I've tried it, but it does not have this issue with Donkey Kong Country 2.

-The same deal as the Supaboy, the RDP doesn't seem to properly reconize sweeping diagonal dpad inputs in shumps. In fact, testing it with Zelda, pressing down right actually began to give me the opposite input of up left! What in the hell?!

-Like the Supaboy, Composite video output is dark and grainy.

I'll be testing it further and write up a lengthy detailed review of it, but these are my initial findings.