Meet the gamers with a decidedly retro edge. Remember Burgertime, Paperboy, Gunstar Heroes, Streets of Rage and Radiant Silvergun but have no problem wreaking havoc in Halo? Well then... welcome home.
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Meet the gamers with a decidedly retro edge. Remember Burgertime, Paperboy, Gunstar Heroes, Streets of Rage and Radiant Silvergun but have no problem wreaking havoc in Halo? Well then... welcome home. |
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03-09-2008, 06:48 AM
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#1 |
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Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs)
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Magic City
Posts: 4,057
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RetroDuo NES/SNES Clone Official Thread. Castlevania III, StarFox WORK, SMRPG WARNING
OVERVIEW
The RetroDuo is a NOAC / SNESOAC “clone” system developed by INNEX in response to the minor incompatibilities that years of Famicom and Super Famicom clones have proven to produce. Generally speaking, due to current, ongoing research by myself and others, while some minor incompatibilities have been discovered, the system has proven so far to be compatible to a greater degree than most other clone systems on the market. HARDWARE / AESTHETICS / VIDEO / AUDIO The RetroDuo is about 6 inches by 6 inches, and stands approximately 2 inches high. It currently is available in two finishes : black and red, and blue and white, both being mirror finish plastic similar to a Playstation 3.   The NES cartridge slot is in the rear of the unit, and the SNES/Super Famicom cartridge slot is in the front. The unit has a power switch which rests in the OFF position by sitting centered, and powers on the 8-Bit NES games by being pushed up and 16-Bit SNES/Super Famicom by being pushed down. There is also a reset button which has a spring loaded “click” when pressed.  The RetroDuo can run Super Famicom games (which have a different cartridge size/shape than US SNES games) from all regions with NO modifications to the systems hardware. It does not contain any plastic preventing this. The unit comes with two SNES style controllers (also mirror plastic, which I find to be potentially slippery), and uses standard SNES controller inputs. Compatibility reports from owners show that the unit allows for standard official SNES controllers to be used in place of the included controllers. On SNES games, all buttons are mapped to their correct buttons, and on NES games the B button is mapped to the top-left Y button and the A is mapped to the bottom-left B.  Video output on the unit is standard composite A/V including stereo channels, as well as S-Video. Tests run by myself and other owners have provided the following results:  When using the composite A/V cables for both NES and SNES games, the NES games display with a superior, more “solid” resolution, while SNES games have a slightly lower-than normal resolution, and have been reported to have minor “crawling” artifacts on screen. When using the S-Video cable for both NES and SNES games, the SNES games display with a much “crisper” resolution, however, the NES games display with minor “resolution tearing” (interspersed pixel color variations). Neither setup has been proven to be distracting to the point of not being able to play NES or SNES games in their “lower fidelity” resolutions, however, OPTIMAL resolution choices are NES with Composite A/V and SNES with S-Video. Due to the fact that the unit will default to S-Video display if the S-Video is plugged into the unit itself, you will need to unplug the S-Video from the unit when selecting NES games on the RetroDuo. SEE NES VIDEO COMPARISON PICTURES BELOW Audio for both NES and SNES appears to have the correct hardware and sound emulation, and while some instrumentation on the NES (notably the MIDI-style percussion) sounds a bit flatter/tinnier than an actual NES, it does not appear to be missing any sound channels. The unit is light, as most NES / Famicom clones tend to be. The pin-sets on both the NES and SNES also appear to be much looser-gripping than most NES and SNES clones typically are, though this has not appeared to cause any issues with gameplay in any of my tests, providing games are clean. SOFTWARE / HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY Again, as far as other popular NES / SNES clones on the market go, the list of games that are 100% incompatible is generally small when compared to the complete software library for both systems. However, some of those titles happen to be popular, and highly revered milestones in both systems’ respective library. The Retro Duo does an amicable job of providing higher, near-complete compatibility of the list of titles that are non-compatible on other clones. The RetroDuo also has proven to be compatible with devices that have given other clone systems trouble, most noteably : The Super Gameboy, as well as the NES Game Genie, and SNES Super Game Genie. I have successfully run import Famicom games in the NES portion of the unit using a “HoneyBee” style cartridge adapter. Recent tests run by DP Forum Member RemoWilliams have shown that the RetroDuo is compatible with both the Tototek SNES flash cart AND the www.RetroUSB.com "PowerPak" NES re-writable Flash Rom Multi Cartridge. Due to the unique nature of these products, this is a major mark in the favor of the Retro Duo console.  Through active testing by myself and others, here are a list of noteable games that have been reported “compatible” and/or "incompatible" on RetroDuo systems. (PM me with any updates to the list you have found!) SPECIAL COMPATIBILITY NOTES/WARNINGS: SNES "slowdown" reported on certain games : DP forum member and RetroDuo owner Nero99 reports that the SNES game "Demon's Crest" had noticable slow-down in areas containing a large amount of on-screen action while being used on a RetroDuo. This phenomenon was reported to severely impact the quality of gameplay, and was verified by Nero99 as specific to using the cartridge on a RetroDuo console, the same section of the game had no slow-down when used on an actual SNES. I'm awaiting further reports of games that have speed issues on the Duo vs. an actual SNES, and I will test the games in my collection when I have an opportunity. SUPER MARIO RPG COMPATABILITY WARNING/EXPLANATION : One particular game with a legacy of difficulty in terms of use on not only SNES clone systems, but also in ROM DUMPING, as well as use on OFFICIAL SNES and SUPER FAMICOMS in regions other than the one native to the cartridge is SUPER MARIO RPG. Reports on various internet sites have detailed that this game not only is dependant on a Nintento SA-1 processor chip (resident on the cartridge board) but in the alleged SECOND and THIRD software REVISION contains code that checks for the region-coded “lockout” chip on the SNES/SUPER FAMICOM SYSTEM on which it is playing. Since RetroDuos (as well as other SNES Clone systems) do not contain these region-coded-chips, the ONLY version of Super Mario RPG that is reported (and has been verified via video) as “working” is SOFTWARE V1.0 (which does not contain the region lockout check). I currently do not know any way of verifying which version of Super Mario RPG a cartridge contains. CURRENT RETRODUO COMPATIBILITY CHART - UPDATED 8/26/2008 FAMICOM (OFFICIAL & PIRATE) Compatible
Incompatible
NES OFFICIAL Compatible
Incompatible
NES REPRO/PIRATE Compatible
SNES OFFICIAL Compatible
Incompatible
SNES REPRO/PIRATE Compatible
SUPER FAMICOM OFFICIAL Compatible
Incompatible
Here are some video reviews I made, if you are interested in seeing the unit in action. RetroDuo Review Part 1 RetroDuo Review Part 2 RetroDuo NES Stress Test Part 1 (LIVE at the Digital Press Store March 2008!) RetroDuo NES Stress Test Part 2 (LIVE at the Digital Press Store March 2008!) Here are the NES MODE S-VIDEO/AV comparison shots. Low light used to avoid the camera flash washing out the screen.    
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The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali  
Last edited by Frankie_Says_Relax : 08-26-2008 at 05:47 PM. Reason: Updated compatability charts 8/26/08 |
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03-09-2008, 06:52 AM
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#2 |
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It belongs in a museum!
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 16,016
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Aside from the terrible "RetroDuo" logo, the unit is actually pretty...PRETTY!
Let me say that again: I've finally seen a good-looking Famiclone. It's a shame it doesn't seem to accept regular Genesis controllers - sure, you'd go with SNES if you had to make that choice (as they did), but the SNES controller just ain't a Genesis controller, shoulder buttons or not. |
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03-09-2008, 06:56 AM
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#3 |
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Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Magic City
Posts: 4,057
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Not only is it pretty, it has the official "Digital Press" colors!
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The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali
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03-09-2008, 07:08 AM
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#4 |
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Insert Coin (Level 0)
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oak Lawn, IL
Posts: 70
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Looks great, I'll have to pick one up. I've been waiting for a clone that could play Castlevania 3.
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03-09-2008, 08:13 AM
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#5 |
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You Cannot Leave the Magic
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: North Country
Posts: 2,596
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Bet those trails you were seeing were a result of your LCD screen and not the system. Hard to say though, I know every LCD screen I've ever used anywhere has some slight blurring.
How come everything looks sort of distorted on the videos, are you stretching stuff to fill a widescreen display?
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Last edited by Leo_A : 03-09-2008 at 08:20 AM. |
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03-09-2008, 08:30 AM
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#6 | |
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Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Magic City
Posts: 4,057
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Quote:
I'm used to it ... the side "black bars" are more distracting to me than the minor stretching (that I don't even notice anymore).
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The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali
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03-09-2008, 08:37 AM
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#7 | |
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Insert Coin (Level 0)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 116
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Quote:
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Tifa, I'm not fit to help anyone, not my family, not my freinds, no one..... (Cloud)  Which Final Fantasy Character Are You? Final Fantasy 7 |
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03-09-2008, 08:46 AM
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#8 |
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Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Magic City
Posts: 4,057
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 , sorry Nero!I searched the forums this afternoon but didn't see any full reviews, and I didn't catch your post in your thread that you were about to do one yourself ... didn't mean to steal your thunder. Was there anything you noticed about yours that I didn't elaborate on in my review?
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The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali
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03-09-2008, 09:05 AM
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#9 |
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Insert Coin (Level 0)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 35
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Do you have the messiah wireless SNES controllers? If so, did you try them out with the RetroDuo? How did they work?
thanks |
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03-09-2008, 09:10 AM
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#10 |
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Insert Coin (Level 0)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 35
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Also, this was in another thread:
To make a long story short, it works decently as long as I run NES carts through composite and SNES ones through S-video. Kind of a pain. Has this been an issue? Is it necessary to swap input cables or can I play both NES/SNES carts hooked up composite?? thanks again |
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03-09-2008, 09:44 AM
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#11 |
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Italian Cinema Connoisseur
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 620
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Thanks a lot Frankie!!! I have been curious about this clone for some time and didn't know if the rumors were true about it playing Castlevania III. I'm happy to see that it does.
I almost bought an FC Twin a whileback. Thankfully the place I went to buy it had had one on display. While the SNES looked and sounded good the NES sounded terrible. They had the first Super Mario Bros. setup to play and the music sounded completely different. So I wanted to ask... When playing SMB 1 is the NES sound on the Retro Duo better than the NES sound on the FC Twin? If so... then that seals the deal and i'm buying one. All in all that was an excellent review. Answered everything els I needed to know.
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03-09-2008, 11:41 AM
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#12 |
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You Cannot Leave the Magic
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: North Country
Posts: 2,596
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Composite should be able to do both.
And I haven't tried it, but I think you should be able to have composite and s-video hooked up simultaneousily, and you can just select which input you desire on your television, depending on the system. I don't see why it wouldn't work.
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03-09-2008, 05:50 PM
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#13 | |
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Insert Coin (Level 0)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 116
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Quote:
__________________
Tifa, I'm not fit to help anyone, not my family, not my freinds, no one..... (Cloud) Which Final Fantasy Character Are You? Final Fantasy 7 |
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03-09-2008, 07:33 PM
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#14 |
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Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Magic City
Posts: 4,057
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ANSWERS MOVED TO 1st POST!
__________________
The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali
Last edited by Frankie_Says_Relax : 03-11-2008 at 01:11 AM. |
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03-10-2008, 12:03 AM
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#15 |
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Insert Coin (Level 0)
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 151
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Where did you get yours? Do you have a reliable vendor for these?
Regards, Brian |
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03-10-2008, 12:07 AM
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#16 |
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Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Magic City
Posts: 4,057
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I got mine off eBay. The seller shipped it quickly and inexpensively and packed it well (though they sent me the wrong color).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230227857755 Last time I checked they appeared to have a few left...and they don't seem to be in shortage if you do an eBay search for "RetroDuo".
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The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali
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03-10-2008, 12:11 AM
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#17 |
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[citation needed]
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 7,456
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Thanks for the review Frankie! This looks like a winner to me!
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 your- possessive; "Is that your video game?" you're- contraction; you are: "Just because you hate on Mac users doesn't mean you're cool." |
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03-10-2008, 12:46 PM
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#18 |
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Administrator
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Delaware
Posts: 6,506
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Does the Retro Duo play Famicom & Super Famicom games as well? If not, have you tried a Honey Bee Converter for Famicom?
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03-10-2008, 01:05 PM
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#19 |
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AKA MaximumRD
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada
Posts: 891
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Wow! I think that re/black scheme is nice! Good way to combine systems.
Strangely for some weird reason I like the idea of playing original games on real hardware but anything other than the original hardware, of course I just like to be different as it's a good conversation starter!
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My DP Refs MaximumRD Classic Gaming and Computing blazerboyz : I THOUGHT IT BE A KEWL QUESTION TO ASK, HEY GUYZ I OWN A HOUSE. |
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03-10-2008, 01:44 PM
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#20 | |
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Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Magic City
Posts: 4,057
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Quote:
As I stated in my review and showed in the video, the multicart I have gave me a bit of trouble on the menu screen (it looked like it was displaying in PAL on an NTSC set) but once I got to the actual ROMS it was fine. I also tested Famicom copies (all HK pirates I think) of single game carts - F1 Race, Super Baby (?), and Super Mario 2 JAP with the adapter and they worked fine.
__________________
The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali
Last edited by Frankie_Says_Relax : 03-10-2008 at 01:57 PM. |
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03-10-2008, 08:11 PM
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#21 |
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Secret Secret, I've Got A Secret.
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
Posts: 1,088
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Hey Frankie, solid review man. Does the SNES slot have the american "tabs" that prevent you from playing Super Famicom/Euro SNES games?
I'm not sure how else to word it, and if you're not sure what I mean, taking pictures of the open SNES slot would answer well enough, whichever is easier. Thanks, and congrats on a good purchase!
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Welcome to Macintosh. 
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03-10-2008, 09:40 PM
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#22 |
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Insert Coin (Level 0)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 45
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Reporting from the frontlines of the DP Store, Frankie says that you are able to play any import SNES no problem. You do not need to file down any tabs, it works perfectly.
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03-10-2008, 10:13 PM
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#23 | |
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Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Magic City
Posts: 4,057
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Quote:
 There's some nice evidence of non-US SFC game in one. I see no tabs in mine that would otherwise block that type of action.
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The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents. ~Salvador Dali
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03-11-2008, 12:14 AM
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#24 | |
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Secret Secret, I've Got A Secret.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
Posts: 1,088
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Quote:
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Welcome to Macintosh.
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03-11-2008, 12:28 AM
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#25 |
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OPENING games since 1977
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Classic Jersey
Posts: 5,381
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Hey Frankie, that is fantastic! Great review, and from the looks of it, this is the ultimate NES/SNES clone....at least it is the nicest one I have seen thus far. Very cool!
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