Engadget goes hands-on with the RetroDuo Portable NES/SNES

by Jordan Mallory on Jan 15th 2012 6:00PM

We don't know if you guys realize this or not, but CES is a big show. Like, really big. So big, in fact, that our crack team of ground forces couldn't possibly see all that there is to see, no matter how efficient and devilishly handsome they may be.

Thankfully, our sister site Engadget was also at the show, and they got to spend some hands-on time with the RetroDuo Portable, an NES/SNES combo device from classic console fabricator Retro-Bit. Functionally, the device serves the same purpose as the SupaBoy released by Hyperkin late last year, albeit with a few catches. Hit the source link for Engadget's full write up, and ask yourself a very important question: Which is more valuable, $90, or memories?

Source: Engadget

Tags: CES, CES-2012, engadget, NES, retro-bit, retrobit, RetroDuo, RetroDuo-Portable, SNES, SupaBoy

Reader Comments (46)

$90. Memories kinda suck.

Memories are often better left that way, nostalgia can be cruel :(

@Pete207

That is often true, but I can attest that many old games, especially from the SNES, hold up remarkably well. Instead of designing games that the tech couldn't support, they used their limitations to set their boundaries, and got really creative within that space.

Not to sound like a retro-nut (I still love new games), but I find it refreshing to play them in between the bigger releases. This generation especially, the contrast to games that knew what they were about is downright educational.

For $90 I want almost perfect emulation. The RetroDuo consoles can't promise that, so I doubt this could either.

Of course Engadget is there. They have to be. Something is terribly wrong if they weren't there.

Get me something where i need to own the cartridge to DL and play on the go. I'm all against piracy, but these developers never see a cent of these old games anyway (not including virtual console releases).

@Mr Esc is the namesarcasm is my
Depending on the chip design, these remakes are prone to the same issues as some emulators, sometimes more.

Sound issues, graphic issues, etc. Unless this bucks the trend, an original SNES still trumps if you want a true 1:1 experience, which is the only reason to ignore emulators as far as I'm concerned. If this gives the same issues I'd rather run an emulator on the PSP/etc.

This is still cool, but it's good to be aware of potential issues if you're hoping for a perfect experience.

@tehtimeisnow

Time to play "Twelve Year Old or Troll?"

Or twelve year old troll?

@tehtimeisnow Trollve year old?

Or just wait for the SNES catelog to come to 3ds?

Where the hell is the second player? lol

What memories? Emulation of these games has been around for 15 years, youtube has been filled to the brim with videos of these games for 5 years, the virtual console has had them for the past 4 years.

If you were around back in the day when these things were new, this is NOT going to be the first time you've thought about/seen/played/bought again Super Mario Kart since then.

I would have loved to see the look on Reggie's face when this was shown to him.

LAWSUIT TIME!

@tendoboy1984
These things have been around for years. This one isn't going to get a lawsuit.

@tendoboy1984 patents for hardware consoles has expired.

@tendoboy1984
Yeah, its really eating into SNES system sales right now.

@Prince David

So Nintendo no longer owns the rights to the NES or Super NES? Does that mean the old Mario and Zelda games can be copied freely as well?

I guess Nintendo should have renewed their patents years ago to prevent stuff like this from happening.

@tendoboy1984
I don't think Nintendo is concerned with people being able to use formats they are no longer selling. Distributing the games through modern means either freely or for personal gain is another matter entirely.

@Panic

These clone consoles (and PC emulators) ARE keeping people from buying the Virtual Console versions. And yes digital downloads are a source of revenue for Nintendo and other publishers.

@tendoboy1984
I doubt the market for a device that plays NES/SNES cartridges is substantial enough for Nintendo to worry. That, and there really isn't any legal ground for them to stand on now that the patents on those systems have lapsed.

Where are all the PS1 clones, Dreamcast clones, Sega Genesis clones, Saturn clones, TurboGrafix-16 clones, etc. etc. etc.?

@tendoboy1984

Good question, maybe more people (or at least these types of people) just enjoy the SNES over all of those systems. :P Personally If I could make a portable system of anything it would just be an SNES and maybe a DreamCast.

After creating a portable SNES i'd feel complete and i'd never need another portable system :)

@Pikachief

Game Boy Advance says hi. It's basically a portable SNES.

@tendoboy1984
Genesis clones exist, actually. They're frequently bundled in those multiple-consoles-per-device knock-offs; I know I've seen ones that are NES, SNES and Genesis compatible, all in one box. That being said, support for all three leaves something to be desired, but it could be worse.

Now, Saturn knock-offs... that'd be the day.

@tehtimeisnow
SHUT........THE F********K...........UP!

@tehtimeisnow
and looking at your previous comments I can just tell that you're a casual X360/kinect & iPhone owner who's got a worm up his ass telling him to hate on everything else...please....for the love of God......Just shut the f**k up and delete your goddamned account...

@tehtimeisnow
The media lied. People like you are what killed Steve Jobs.

@tehtimeisnow
Did I mention that you're an A$$ hole? No you say? well, YOU'RE AN ASS HOLE!!!! (Replace "$" with "S" children)

@tehtimeisnow
Opps, sorry about that, I was here then I was there and suddenly I remembered that I had a message to give to you. Honestly, it's my mistake, no really, here it is: YOU'RE A BLASTED NECROMORPH! ....There, you see, no harm done. You got your message and I'm on my way.

@tehtimeisnow

People, please just click on the ban button. Talking to it only acknowledges it.

But can it play my Starfox 2 cart?

..... :)

This device has absolutely NO value whatsoever especially now that we have phones that can run roms. Heck, if you want to play classic games bad enough do it on your pc. An xbox 360 controller or ps3 controller has ALL of the buttons you need.

@newtype06 No buttons on the phones though. And sure you can play them on pcs, but then they aren't portable. A hacked psp 1000 is probably the best option if you don't want to buy this.

@newtype06 Devices like this are actually extremely popular in the retro gaming market. They're not meant expressly for portability, like playing on the bus or something, but its handy to have around the house. Retro collector types will eat it up if it a quality product.

@newtype06

Or do it the legit way and buy the Virtual Console version.

Nintendo and other publishers make money selling these games digitally, and people who download PC ROMs and emulators are keeping these companies from generating revenue.

@Hoops

Or do it the legit way and buy the Virtual Console version.

Nintendo and other publishers make money selling these games digitally, and people who download PC ROMs and emulators are keeping these companies from generating revenue.

I will buy this day 1 , a portable snes what's not to like?

@type2red Too big and bulky? Cartridges hard to find and who wants to carry 50 cartridges around with them at all times? The price? Probably doesn't have 100% compatibility.

@Hoops Not entirely true. Have you ever heard of a Dingoo? They're pretty obscure and I probably would've never have found out about them until my friend mistook my Gameboy Micro for one and told me about them. They're pretty cheap handheld wise and it plays Nes/Snes/Sega Master System/GBA/GBC/Neo Geo Pocket, also a lot of video formats and music. The emulation on it is better than any I've seen on a PSP. The only thing the PSP emulates better is PSX/1.

@CaptainProtonX
But how effective will that be? Many people here have proven that you can be hopelessly stupid/fanatical and keep a safe spot.

Reported anyway, in vain or not.

@tehtimeisnow: Someone do something about this guy. I have pressed a gazillion times the report button in every of his stupid comments and he's still around here. JOYSTIQ PLEASE BAN THIS GUY ALREADY!

@tehtimeisnow

I love my iPhone but you're an idiot. No wonder people hate us iPhone owners.

Mega corporations not making money?! Oh knows! Let me go and have a little cry...

Now that I've done that, I believe with my next paycheck I will be opening that zombie outbreak simulator theme park I've been dreaming of. (sarcasm)

Cool, so now we can get hit by a train or bus while playing S/NES games! Sure, people were already doing that on PSPs, Iphones, and Androids, but now we get to do that in style.

On a more serious note, no support for Super Scope nor SNES Mouse I take it?[/sarcasm]

@Mmmmz

I still use my original SNES whenever I can, but make no mistake, emulators have come a long way. The best ones are pretty much 100% perfect by now, no more sound or graphics issues.

The only thing holding them back from being true to the original experience is they're missing that nice CRT phosphor glow (the NTSC screen filter isn't quite the same) and the physical stuff such as, well, the console and TV (SNES controllers can be hooked up to the PC).

The info that Joystiq either doesn't know or has left out is that there is an adapter called the RetroGen which will allow you to play Sega Genesis games on either an SNES or the Retro Duo. There is also an adapter to allow you to use NES game cartridges in the same way, too.

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Engadget goes hands-on with the RetroDuo Portable NES/SNES

Reader Comments (46)

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 6:05PM xddga said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 6:13PM Pete207 said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 2:40AM RedRaptor82 said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 6:18PM jlatimer11 said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 6:19PM MHazell said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 6:32PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 6:32PM Mmmmz said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 6:57PM Styli said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:04PM Roflrex said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:09PM SirUrza said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:09PM DjiegoMoz said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:26PM Dick Socrates said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:27PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:40PM KirbyCommando said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 9:03PM Prince David said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 10:06PM Panic said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 11:26PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 2:23AM darkinchworm said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 2:38AM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 4:24PM darkinchworm said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:29PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 10:14PM Pikachief said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 2:47AM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 4:48PM Shadow Hog said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:29PM legacybush said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:32PM legacybush said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:32PM darkinchworm said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:41PM legacybush said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 7:43PM legacybush said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 8:30PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 8:31PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 8:49PM newtype06 said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 9:26PM Hoops said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 1:44AM SurlyDuff said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 2:41AM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 2:42AM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 9:10PM type2red said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 9:24PM MEGATOOL said

Posted: Jan 16th 2012 2:41AM Churrotastic said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 9:55PM darkinchworm said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 10:18PM doppel said

Posted: Jan 15th 2012 11:12PM lolkeits said

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