SeveredLegs

@nessisonett The Irish were slaves to the potato. Show some respect.

@nessisonett Are you posting this comment a machine made in the USA? If so, you probably paid more and got a lower quality machine.

@Zidentia No problem. In their beta survey they sent out to people who pre-ordered, they were asking a lot about people's N64 collections, which is a good sign. In addition to that, they have stated via Twitter and on beta test live streams that they are looking into potentially creating modules for N64 and PSP, but haven't confirmed anything officially. In addition to that, they are having conversations with their CD-ROM drive manufacturing partner on the possibility of providing GD-ROM drives that could be purchased as an upgrade to provide Dreamcast support. But none of this is confirmed; it's just stuff that they're mulling around.

@Guitario The cheapest route is just to use your existing PC, but that doesn't solve needing to configure everything and get all the correct bin/cue files and all that. The Polymega is the easiest way to play CD-based games. The fact that it will play backups makes it even simpler. Emulating NES, SNES, Genesis, TG16, etc.? Yeah, that stuff is real easy. But these CD-based consoles are a huge pain in the ass, because you need the right bios files, RAM add-ons, and you have all these goofy files and stuff. I've done the Raspberry Pi stuff and it's just never as simple as people make it out to be. Try configuring multiple controllers for a Pi, then map all the buttons over manually when it's not recognized correctly. Even just getting a Bluetooth controller working on a computer is a hassle, because you need to check if you're on D-input, X-input, etc. Then all of a sudden AB and XY are reversed. The complications never end. Will it be enough to shoot Polymega to stardom, I dunno. But configuring a computer is not something even 1% of the population can do.

@Guitario The target audience for this is for people that don't want to go through the hassle of purchasing $400 worth of computer parts, assembling, configuring, downloading the correct bin/cue/chd/iso/rom files, and then buying a bunch of adapters for controllers just so they can have a weird-looking box on their TV stand with a bunch of wires running out of it every which way. No sense in comparing it to something like this, which is focused on ease-of-use an high-quality emulation.

@Zidentia The Element Module for Mega Drive (J/E) works with Genesis (U) and 32X (J/U/E). The Element Module for SNES works with SNES/SFC (J/U/E). The Element Module for TG16 works for all regions of TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine. The Element Module for NES works ONLY for U/E Nintendo carts, NOT Famicom carts (they require a different set of mappers and aren't supported at this time, even with a converter).

@blockfight Or the person who can just burn copies of the CD games they want. That was what made this a no-brainer for me.

@denis09 Why compare it to building and configuring a computer? That's not who it's for. People will pay a few hundred dollars to have all the guess work taken out of it. We're adults in our 30's, we have jobs, and the experience looks simple. Configuring a Pi for box art and different controllers is a huge pain in the ass. This eliminates that.

@stevep The modules come with custom designed controllers, which would be $30 alone. Cost-wise it's reasonable. You gotta pay money if you want good quality stuff.

Actually you can install games to the hard drive. And you can install an M.2 solid state hard drive for additional storage. Some people might want to play off the CD for nostalgic purposes, but the system is geared towards having a library saved into the machine so you don't need to constantly switch modules unless, for example, you want to use the original NES controller, etc.

It looks like Golden Axe: The Duel is going for about $80 on Ebay, but I'm pretty sure you'd have no problem just burning an iso/rom of the game and installing it that way, if you're into that sort of thing. Frankly, that's what I intend to do when I get mine.

@DrDaisy Yes, they will work instantly. You can install them to the hard drive, or play them from the CD.

@cleveland124 I meant custom-designed hardware on the whole, not the processor. The specs don't matter; only the performance. I brought it up because it's worth noting that this isn't some repackaged stuff made as a cash-in. It's a complete experience designed and refined for (too many) years.

But yeah, I mean...there's plenty of video evidence as to the quality of the thing. But like anything else, you don't know until it's released en masse. Looks like we'll know in a few months.

@stevep The quality of Polymega is there for sure. Yes, it's not cheap, but this isn't like the Retron 5; it's a custom-made x86 processor designed from the ground up. It's not like these ARM chips that you're used to. Sarumaru has done countless streams of it on YT and aside frmo some random compatibility issues, which will be fixed, the thing looks impressive. When it comes to the modules, and the fact that it all integrates into a single piece of hardware that requires only a single HDMI port, I think there are some clear benefits. I think if you investigate it a bit, you'll know if it's for you. To me, the cost isn't a big deal because it does everything I want and I don't have to configure anything.

@Axlroselm There are a few games built into the system for each system, but they're not great ones for the most part. You have to use the module to install the games, but once the games are installed, the module isn't required unless you want to use your original controller. In the case of SEGA Genesis, Retro-Bit has worked with them to make their Genesis/Saturn controllers work (both the USB wired and USB 2.4 GHz versions), so you could obviously play Genesis games without the Element Module physically connected. Other features may be added in the future, they said.

@GrimmFTW The way translations work is you put the original disc/game into the system, and you sideload the patch from an SD card. Then with the game, you can pull up a sub-menu and apply/remove different patches (as many as you want). Supposedly the system knows when the rom/iso needs headers added/removed, and if you use save states, it automatically knows which save state corresponds to which patch, etc.

@retro_player_77 There is not any support for uploading roms to the system.

@kupocake The Genesis module plays Genesis / Mega Drive (J/E) and all regions of 32X in the same unit. As for backups, it appears the system recognizes copies of CD-based games. If you have a repro of an officially released game, it should recognize it. As for actual carts of games that weern't officially released, the system will play them just fine, but it won't install them unless the developer/whoever has the rights to it supplies Playmaji with information on the game. In short, Playmaji isn't out there looking up cool rom hacks that people put on cartridges and manually adding stuff. They may in the future, they may not, but their official goal is 100% support of officially released games on all systems.

@Fido007 It's software emulation, but based on all of the live streams I've seen on this guy Sarumaru's YT page, it's extremely high quality on all systems. The company has licensed specific emulators, and in some cases worked personally with the developers of said emulators in order to increase the quality. Obviously many people are going to have an FPGA-or-bust mentality, but for people like me that never actually played TGCD games, I'll take something that's 99% that I don't have to configure since I don't know the difference anyway. Input lag and sound/video synchronization appears to be excellent. Didn't notice and sync issues, and input lag is going to depend on what type of controller you're using (USB/wireless/original/etc.).

@GoodGoshJosh It appears that bootleg CD games work just fine and if the data is the same as one of the versions of the game that they have on the system, it installs it as if it was a real disc. This was a big selling point for me, since I have a ton of Saturn / NGC / TGCD / etc. games that I've never played before.

@Sir_Ronson They provide support for Neo-Geo X arcade stick (USB), PlayStation Classic (USB), and Retro-Bit Genesis/Saturn controllers (both wired and 2.4 GHz). There might be others as well, and they will work with any third party company to extend additional support. Don't expect third party USB converters to work, though, because those have a whole different sort of thing going on.

@DrDaisy It plays the cartridge games instantly, and installing an entire CD-based game takes 1-3 minutes roughly. Games can be played while installing. The system includes includes metadata for all games in all regions already on the hard drive.

@Shworange N64 support may be possible in the future. Separate "Element Modules" can be purchased for NES (USA/Europe only, potentially Famicom in the future), Genesis/MD (all regions), SNES/SFC (all regions), and TG/PCE (all regions). The modules include original controller ports.

@GamerFromJump Patches are applied almost instantly, and the system remembers which save states used which patches, etc. It's a sub-menu once you select the game to apply the patch. It also can tell whether or not a header needs to be removed/applied (that's what they promised anyway). I think ips and xdelta patches work.

The element modules have connectors for original controllers, and if they were designed to work on an original system, they'll work on this. For the base unit (which handles the CD-based systems), they include a generic controller, but Retro-Bit replicas are currently supported for Saturn and Genesis (both wired and 2.4 GHz), the PlayStation Classic controller works via USB (and alters the button names/symbols on the menu), and the NEO-GEO X Arcade Stick works natively via USB. They have stated that they wish to support any controller that the developers will work with them on.

@PortuGuy It reads CD's, not GD's or DVD's.

@bluemujika It's all regions for all of the systems listed. You can sort by region, etc. All of the game metadata and cover art is included on the system the moment you buy it.

@Coalescence FPGA is really expensive. Individual systems are like $200 each (as I'm sure you know) and there are only FPGA systems for a few consoles. The opportunity to have high quality emulation and a great user interface to organize everything was attractive enough to me to pre-order it. One HDMI connection for all that *****? Hell yeah. Plays burned CD's too, so I can have a proper way to play all the TG-CD, Neo-Geo CD, and Saturn games I've wanted to try over the years. I never had any of those systems, so even if there were FPGA consoles for them, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyways.

@Link41x This is the dumbest thing I've heard in a lonnnnng time. Congrats.

This is a cool mod, but I already have a XenoGC with an SD2SP2 mod and it works great. Not sure what the cost comparison is out-the-door, but I suppose either are pretty cool options. I like the option of being able to burn a disc, which (admittedly) is required for SoulCalibur II to work right, for whatever reason.

@PharoneTheGnome Your post doesn't make any sense. To get FPGA consoles for NES, SNES, and Genesis, I'd have to spend $600. And that number doesn't include TurboGrafx-16, TurboGrafx CD, Playstation, Saturn, Neo-Geo CD, 32X, and SEGA CD. The Polymega bundle for all of those systems is $500, and includes a generic controller and 4 additional controllers modeled after NES, SNES, Genesis, and TG16. All of the videos they have shown of the emulation suggests it's very high quality. And it will all use a grand total of one single solitary HDMI port. But by all means, if you have a TV with 10 HDMI ports, then great.

@bolt05 Find me a rom dumper that has the features of this, for all of these consoles, with the interface, modules supporting original controllers, and rom hacks. And neither of the products you mentioned cover even what the base unit offers in the form of CD-based games. You couldn't even make accurate comparisons, which is pretty disappointing for someone named after a Disney movie. Another internet troll rushing to judgment. This product is clearly meant for the versatile every-gamer, not for the few people that are going to build a Mister or Pi. What the Retron 5 is missing (accurate emulation, low input lag), the Polymega has pretty much proven it can deliver on (and that's not coming from me, it's coming from places like RetroRGB). Now, mass-producing a product...THAT's the question. And can it hold up over time? And can they deliver the support? THOSE are substantive topics. Comparing it to a Retron 5 is puts you in the category of the clowns who always say "LOL I CAN BUY A RASPBERRY PI FOR $35!!!!!!" Thank you and goodnight.

@sleepinglion OK, so you spent $600 and won't be able to play TurboGrafx, PlayStation, Saturn, and NEO-GEO CD games? And you already need 3 HDMI ports? Delays aside, this is still worth waiting for.

@bolt05 Oh look another cynic. Guess the product isn't for him.

@Damo The biggest question I have (and I created an account to ask it) is whether or not we can burn CD-R's to play the CD-based games. It's so unrealistic to even attain some of these games from NEO-GEO CD, Saturn, PlayStation, TurboGrafx-CD, and SEGA CD. Of course, I know just by reading the response in this Q&A regarding flash carts, he's not going to outright advocate downloading images and burning them to upload to the console, but frankly, I don't see myself buying this if I can't. But on the other hand, if I can purchase the CD-based games legitimately from the storefront from enough major developers, then I still would. I see this as being the most pivotal issue. Regarding the cartridge games, I don't need the flash cart because I can get my hands on enough of the games physically to make it work. Your thoughts?