RetroBlox Inc. has revealed a modular gaming console that’s compatible with original cartridges for legacy 8-bit and 16-bit hardware, allowing veteran gamers to craft an all-in-one solution for their retrogaming needs.
Unlike similar emulation-powered consoles like the Retron 5, the RetroBlox also supports legacy CD-ROMs, giving fans of the Sega CD, TurboDuo, and original PlayStation a new way to play their favorite games off those silver disc-thingys you used to buy so frequently.
RetroBlox pitches itself as an alternative to digital distribution and Nintendo’s own Virtual Console service, offering a way to play original cartridge media on modern televisions. The console reads data from 8-bit and 16-bit cartridges using connected cartridge interface modules, then outputs the results at 1080p to an HDMI display.
The RetroBlox console ships with a Hitachi LG Data Services-branded optical disc drive capable of reading legacy CD-ROM and DVD-ROM media, granting immediate access to complete software libraries for consoles like the Sega CD, TurboGrafx-CD, and the PSone. The console’s firmware is also upgradable via an included SD card reader, and RetroBlox suggests that support for additional CD-ROM consoles could arrive with future updates.
Gamers wanting to play original Sega Genesis or Super NES cartridges will need to buy corresponding “Element Modules,” which read data from specific cartridge types. All Element Modules also include controller ports for their designated consoles, ensuring compatibility with original Sega Genesis and Super NES controllers and accessories.
The RetroBlox console also gives players access to a personalized digital collection featuring all previously scanned cartridge media, along with Facebook and Twitter integration for sharing collection updates. The device additionally offers streaming support via Twitch and YouTube.
Pricing and release dates for the RetroBlox and its modules are not yet known. RetroBlox will seek funding for its console through a crowdfunding campaign launching in April.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 finally has a US release date and price, several months after the company first showed off the handheld in May. The highlight is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, which has been adopted by only a couple of other consoles besides the Atlas 8. This version will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on November 1 for $1,299.99.
Acer originally said the Atlas 8 would arrive in North America in October, but left pricing open at the time. The launch came amid the ongoing DRAM crunch, which has made memory more expensive across the PC industry and complicated pricing for hardware makers.
Gaming laptops and I have a complicated relationship. One of my first gaming rigs was an Acer Predator that was already outdated when I bought it. I was a broke college kid, and that was the best I could afford. So trying out high-end gaming laptops is always fun. But ASUS' ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lot more than a laptop that can run AAA games. It is portable, so you're not lugging around a 2.5kg machine everywhere you go. It is built well, none of that plastic chassis, and can even function as a normal laptop outside of just gaming.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.