The console-like experience implies an ease of use that runs counter to everything about emulation, from how you get the games into the emulator to the weird bugs/crashes that weren't there on original hardware.
I think the Polymega is actually great and got most of the way there with the console-lile experience, but boy howdy there were significant costs associated with the effort.
You can recreate some of that with a slick front-end for emulators (Reset Collection is a great one in my experience) but even the best of those will still require a fair bit of user mucking about to make them work and look their best, and all of that hurts the "console-like experience."
It's a cool thing to aim for and I wish them luck, but I think there are reasons this is still a (partially) unaddressed need in the market.
Judging from the Polymega Discord the statement about systems going out regularly is a bit of an overstatement. While I wait for a Polymega I've been doing almost all retro gaming on my phone with an Xbox controller and a clip. Save states have helped me beat a bunch of twitchy stuff. Fast forward is helping me get through some RPGs I didn't have the patience for, and translation patches are opening up some gems I never tried before. Good times all around.
I used to be original hardware with original media but during the pandemic I started on a project to back up my games, and that led to me trying out emulators on my phone and being incredibly impressed with the experience on stuff like Redream, PPSSPP, and AetherSX2. Just having save states and being able to fast-forward has helped me enjoy games like Ikaruga and Skies of Arcadia in ways I wouldn't have been able to before.
Dreamcast is my favorite console by far. So many amazing titles that could have been on this list too. Giant Gram 2000, Mars Matrix, Project Justice, Gigawing 2, Gauntlet Legends, Dynamite Cop, and on and on
Comments 6
Re: EmuDeck Machine Aims To Elevate Retro Game Emulation To A "Console-Like Experience"
The console-like experience implies an ease of use that runs counter to everything about emulation, from how you get the games into the emulator to the weird bugs/crashes that weren't there on original hardware.
I think the Polymega is actually great and got most of the way there with the console-lile experience, but boy howdy there were significant costs associated with the effort.
You can recreate some of that with a slick front-end for emulators (Reset Collection is a great one in my experience) but even the best of those will still require a fair bit of user mucking about to make them work and look their best, and all of that hurts the "console-like experience."
It's a cool thing to aim for and I wish them luck, but I think there are reasons this is still a (partially) unaddressed need in the market.
Re: The 'Small Universe X Sugar Cubes' Handheld Has A Rotating OLED Screen
@-wc- The Evercade EXP does that. It's a neat idea for sure.
Re: All Outstanding Polymega Pre-Orders Will Ship This Year, Says Playmaji
@Exerion76 I think it shows an unmatched commitment to retro gaming to not ship your new system to anybody until it qualifies as retro itself.
Re: Best Retro Gaming Systems - What's The Dream Option For You?
Judging from the Polymega Discord the statement about systems going out regularly is a bit of an overstatement.
While I wait for a Polymega I've been doing almost all retro gaming on my phone with an Xbox controller and a clip. Save states have helped me beat a bunch of twitchy stuff. Fast forward is helping me get through some RPGs I didn't have the patience for, and translation patches are opening up some gems I never tried before. Good times all around.
Re: Poll: How Do You Play Your Retro Games?
I used to be original hardware with original media but during the pandemic I started on a project to back up my games, and that led to me trying out emulators on my phone and being incredibly impressed with the experience on stuff like Redream, PPSSPP, and AetherSX2. Just having save states and being able to fast-forward has helped me enjoy games like Ikaruga and Skies of Arcadia in ways I wouldn't have been able to before.
Re: Best Dreamcast Games
Dreamcast is my favorite console by far. So many amazing titles that could have been on this list too. Giant Gram 2000, Mars Matrix, Project Justice, Gigawing 2, Gauntlet Legends, Dynamite Cop, and on and on