What you guys are describing is something called "the ritual" the whole sequence of physical actions that precede the intended objective, it's a psychological thing we humans have that gives meaning to actions, I'm a huge PS1 fan and I like to burn CDs and play original, people ask me why don't you put an ode or emulate and like you say, it's because I like standing up,picking a game from my library, opening the console, put it in, turn it on and listen to the BZZZZZT sounds of the drive, that's the ritual and it's a huge part of authenticity,100% with you guys
The biggest difference is the price. Emulation is free. A lot of people don’t care about getting up picking a game out when I have everything on my screen
Very well said about the car, book, and comic thing, I'm definitely going to use that now if someone questions why I collect retro games. It's weird how in other hobbies, people understand the reasoning but for some reason with video games, a lot of people say "well just emulate it"
I understand not everyone will have access to retro games on original hardware, but for those of us that do, there's nothing like it. It's almost a ritual of sorts to insert an original game in its original console, and even playing it on a CRT television is special. I love it!
Love this topic. When you mentioned worrying about whether the game is playing correctly on emulation, I can totally relate. Another huge thing I have noticed is that the sound is usually worse with emulation. Those old soundtracks deserve to be heard the way they were intended.
It depends on if I can get my butt off the couch and into my game room. I'll play a lot of the same games on collections that I do original hardware. Zelda, Castlevania, Castlevania IV, Ninja Gaiden...these are just a few games I play on original hardware, mini-consoles, Nintendo Online. But I think I've said it before in a comment to one of your videos. Whether it's the newness and stiffness of a controller or input lag being an actual thing, timing is ever so slightly different playing it on original hardware. I noticed it on Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, Donkey Kong Country... In some games where reflexes have to be on point, input lag can mean everything.
I am with you guys. For me, it is 100% also about the ceremony of interacting with these machines. The sounds, the lights, the controls, the touch and feel are so much part of it, not just the game.
You guys are right about the real cartridge vs emulation. You appreciate and dedicate yourself more to a real thing that you’ve actually spent money on. As opposed to having 100s of games at one time, then you’ll run into the Netflix issue where you don’t know what to pick or you end up playing each game for 5-10 min over and over until you finally get tired and turn the tv off 😂
I already do that with physical games. I buy even dvd that I buy. So that is a BS argument. I don't care as much anymore. It doesn't matter what it is. I get bored easily. You just want to waste money.
To be honest with you, this is more of a skill/self control issue. If you can keep a small list of games that you are playing through and don't juggle too many games of the same genre, then you don't run into the issue you described.
When you go out of your way to own something physically, you've made a commitment to it and that commitment will keep you coming back to it. Like say, give someone 4 physical games and they'll play them a lot, give someone an emulator with thousands of ROMs and they maybe spend like 5 minutes on a game then move onto the next, making no effort to get into it or better at it. And like you said, having the device to play back the media, having the media for it, putting it in, turning it on. It's a satisfying experience. And you get more invested as you improve your physical media setup. With emulation it's often: download emulator which comes with thousands of ROMs incld. Play it a little, get bored, aka it's soul-less experience you'll not be passionate about.
@MaI2Me you can also use native settings and filters to have the original look but also one day these original hardware systems and specially crt tvs will die out crts are also kinda getting close to that point sadly
100% the reason i play on OG hardware too. I feel like i'm not really playing the game with emulation. It just feels off to me. I need the case, the disc and the whole experience involved with it.
Great stuff. I think you guys hit the nail on the head about collecting in general. I'm a big comic book guy - I've been collecting since 1983. My collection is in the tens of thousands, but I'm a reader first, and a collector second. Sure, it would be easy to read it all digitally, but I want that book in my hands. I want to really digest the art. Thank you for describing collecting physical media so perfectly.
Yea because you can increase the resolution on PS1 PS2 PSP N64 Dreamcast roms. So yes it does look better but sometimes u want that authentic 96 look and feel.
I relate completely. Early on in my collecting I started to dabble in modding gameboys to add backlights & what not and I quickly realized it was defeating the purpose of collecting vintage games. It's to experience old things as they were. Same with music, movies, etc. I don't want a digitally remixed and remastered copy of an album I had as a kid. I want the actual CD, tape or record that I had back then. For movies on my CRT, I love finding the standard def versions on DVD since that was how I watched older movies outside of the theater. Usually on tv broadcasts on my tube tv which were cropped/panned & scanned, etc. to fit the 4:3 ratio. Plus I have a 13" CRT so wide screen is way too small lol.
For me, I just love gaming in general. So I am both a collector and I also use emulation. I don't discriminate and think there is room for both. And both have their benefits. The physical stuff is great for being able to experience and play the games in ways they were originally intended. The authentic experience. Plus, I enjoy the "artistic" side of it too. I'm a sucker for the box art, CD art, cartridges, etc and looking at them produces some blissful nostalgia of my youth in the 1990s. It's a trip down memory lane. It can't be taken away or taken down like digital or certain rom sites. It's right there in physical form. And the games are guaranteed to run 100% accurately. I also agree with the point in the video about the "process" of playing physical games adding to the whole charm and experience (picking out a game off the shelf, putting it into the console, hearing the sound of the disc drive or clicking of the cartridge into place, etc) Emulation I use more out of convenience. So I don't have to handle all the cartridges and CDs as much and cause more wear and tear on the items. Plus it's faster and more convenient than digging out the physical stuff and manually putting in each and every game, swapping them out, etc. It's also a great way to try out the rarer and more expensive games that may not be in our physical collections. And it's far far cheaper, and free in most cases. Though some of the newer emulation consoles out there are also getting up in price considering what they are. Still way cheaper than collecting physical though. For me I was lucky I started collecting around 10 years ago when prices were cheaper and the stuff was way more abundant. At that time garage sales and flea markets were still littered. There was more retro stores in my area, etc. So I basically am set and had the majority of the stuff I really wanted before prices really blew up in 2020. Good video once again fellas. Cheers.
Pull the cartridge out , hear that click and watch the blinking light , pull it out, re insert it, pull it out, re insert it with a wiggle, pull it out , shout a F - bomb, blow into the cartridge, re insert it, then it turns on . . . 👍 😂
Didn’t have you pegged as a Nada Surf fan. Saw them in Philly a few years ago and they were awesome! I only emulate games that are way out of my price range. Love physical! Great video as always!
Authenticity has an inverse relationship with accessibility. Whatever your reasons just share awesome games with each other, and teach the next generation. If your kids grow up obsessed with forkknife you’re doing it wrong!
I speak as someone who does own a ton of physical media: if you’re overly focused on “the experience” I feel like you’re focusing too much on the trees. A good game is a good game regardless. It deserves to be looked at as a whole.
I emulate for portability and travel. Hard to play a game in bed when your game rooms are on the first floor and in the basement. I found a way to do original equipment emulation cheap by being older than dirt and still having every system and game I've ever owned starting with the Atari I got for Christmas in 1978. 🤣
It sounds dumb, but I just can't get myself interested in playing an emulated old game (official or unofficial); on the other hand, I get the disc of an old game, play it the way it was intended, and I get immersed on the experience. Might not be the cheaper method, but I'm all for physical old games! 👾
I've been mainly playing 2D games, both on OG hardware and emulation. Without a doubt the best way to play them is on OG Hardware. Emulation is only 60%-80% accurate on how a retro game actually plays and that's using the best emulators that are currently available.
Well said gentlemen. I agree 100% I still buy vinyl, cds, dvds, game cartridges. Do I want a digital sports card? No, I want to buy a pack of sports cards and have that physical Lebron James Rookie card in my hand and collection. Well done showing such emotion for the topic calmly and with beer actually left over at the end. Cheers
Right there with ya. I have heaps of physical and raspberry pi emulators with basically everything but the process of taking a cartridge out and putting it in is priceless. Cheers boys
I’m console agnostic but have a strong preference for old vintage hardware. One day I’m playing on one of my SNES consoles, another day I’m playing on one of my Analogue consoles or MiSTer. Day after I’m playing on a PC emulator. It’s all just a preference. I’ll always go for a raw game experience from an old console on a CRT with carts though. I have to push back on you boys’ comment stating “the experience isn’t there” for emulation however. It’s there, it’s just different. It’s easy to forget that many younger folk in the community grew up with emulators. It’s all they know. They get an entirely different experience that evolves as those solutions get better. I love this topic however. It’s always subjective and fun to hear both sides of the argument.
Nothing beats the feeling of actually owning something going to The store buying it leaving with it in your hand Also vinyl kicks a I need some Local H RECORDS
Great video fellas, the people that say emulation is better I say good for them. An old cart and a CRT will absolutely be my go to until the day I leave this world or all my stuff dies. I have the same mindset as you guys I stream real consoles and real games, even went as far as having an external capture for my CRT haha. Cheers.
That feeling that you’re describing of playing a crusty old console on a tiny CRT in an uncomfortable sitting position is an experience that people who never got to do. It probably wouldn’t understand…. It makes total sense to me and I’ve got my eyes out for a CRT in the near future so I can go back to playing N64 the correct way. Great video guys love the channel . Subbed 🎉
Some people don't have that entitlement of owning physical media because of how expensive the prices can be. For myself, I love physical media because of that authentic feeling. I had Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Genesis, N64 games passed down to me and the majority of it are those heavy hitters that are expensive which I feel so good about not having to spend over $2,000 for little Samson or $700+ on Power blade 2
I 1000% support the idea of authencity and using the original hardware and games if possible, but for a lot of people it is difficult due to needing working equipment, maintenence, or they cannot justify the cost. I love gaming and have nostalgia for a lot of the 90s and 2000s consoles. But i lack space in general, and the games can get really expensive - especially when you want to buy newer games too. It does feel weird when emulating, but i love the ability to do it because a lot of them are expensive, difficult to find, or just the fact that they will eventually break. Its hard to reconcile it, but i am just happy to be able to play at all. Sometimes you just have to compromise.
I'm 100% with you guys especially if you grew up on those consoles there's just something that screams "if I'm going to do this I want it the way it was when I was younger" I think for me it boils down to nostalgia but if I'm going to play a old game it has to be the authentic experience
Love you guys and your passion for gaming! 100% agree with you, I try to play authentic and nothing beats the feeling of physically picking out a game and putting it in the console.
Great collection! I bought my first LV when I was 25 and I've only used that bag a few times haha. Also, I love your clutch! I have an Eva clutch with the DE print and I love the little chain. But I don't want to spend that much money right now and the kislux always gets me the bag I want and it's just as good as the LV and one of my favorites. Durability
I feel exactly how you both feel. I would add that I like owning a copy of games I have. As you've said before in videos, you don't own digital media. Games can be taken away from the online portion of consoles without warning. Also, maybe I'm wrong. But Roms can get corrupted which means you lose everything. Just like it can happen to memory cards. So physical media works more often than not. Playing things how they were meant to be played is perfectly said.
I’m with you guys. I love physical games, vinyl, Blu-ray Discs, and all that stuff. It adds to the experience, and it’s my hobby, I’ll do it how I want.
Yous guys are authentic. 💯 My personal preference is Retro Fighters N64 controller > OEM N64 controller when playing with actual N64 hardware on a CRT TV. Also, the SNES Switch controller is pretty good too. And I'm not smelling any of my games. 😂 At the end of the day, I prefer playing on my actual hardware for the intended experience, but I also enjoy digital and/or emulation too just for the ease of use and quality of improvments (such as save states). Take care!
This. Love me both sides of the coin. Buy discs as much as possible but not going to miss out on awesome games because they don't have a disc or it's limited and very high priced.
I’m 100% on the same page as you guys. Retro gaming for me is also about the full experience and not just playing the game. Call me a snob but I’m all about the purity and nostalgia of that “feel” Cheers boyos! 🍻
I totally agree with everything pointed out in your video. Also for me, it's knowing and appreciating the limitations of the system you're playing it on. Emulators can emulate a wide range of systems. I can't appreciate that the way I appreciate the real deal.
My hot take - the box art and slip cover usually have a BIG impact on what I decide to play. Something about the artwork puts me in the right frame of mind to enjoy the game to it’s fullest
I like to do a good middle ground. Just bought a MISTer a month ago. This hardware recreation is amazing. Cycle accuracy, digital and analog output, and you can use the original controllers with zero lag. I find myself playing more games now that I have it. I had a choice, mod all my consoles with Flashcarts/ODEs and HDMI output or condense and get a MISTer for a lot less. So I play on my MISTer, but i still collect games, systems, and still do software emulation.
I do both as well but find myself doing emulation more for convenience but nothing beats pulling a game off the shelf and looking at the actual manual, then popping it into the original console and picking up the controller. YES, my commitment is much more when I buy and play a game over emulating it.
i agree with the Authenticity argument , i also think Emulation is necessary for what it does and offers. Emulation's point is not to replace systems. its to emulate systems that you may or may not have access to anymore. with enhancements , sometimes achievements too. its mostly a tool that eases the way you wanna play a game or a system you already own. or maybe you still own the game but your console broke or something , or maybe you don't have either but ultimately , Authenticity is a valid point. the only issue with that , which causes Emulation to be popular is that it can become expensive in places. i'm not saying it is where you are but it is in a lot of other places just the other day i saw a 3DS being more expensive than Wii U , Switch , PS4 and XBOX Series S .... or Gamecube costing 5 times the price of a backwards compatible Wii that does ... the same things. so there's pros and cons to both , i think people shouldn't imply or force you into doing one or the other when you do both (for example saying just emulate and forget about expensive systems is stupid and also on the other hand saying emulation is JUST PIRACY and nothing else is also stupid when you realize there's more hacked/modded consoles out there than there is pirate sites coz people pirate on real hardware too , they have for a long time , remember Disc swap?) , so what matters most is enjoying video games at the end of the day imo.
Of course I love playing on original hardware with a CRT, but as someone who grew up playing it that way and now getting back into retro games, the official classic releases are something else. With a CRT filter enables, those old 8 bit and 16 bit games look pretty amazing on a 4K OLED and sound great with a modern stereo. I imagine what I would have thought playing my favorite games when I was little on these giant modern TVs and that brings a different experience. I’ve already played them the way they were meant to be played. I like the variety for that reason.
As a comic book collector I can totally understand the appeal of having the real physical object even though there are cheaper and more convenient digital alternatives
Yea i have 4 handhelds with over 2000+ games altogether but i collect physical 1 for the nostalgia (obviously) but also its a hobby to see how complete you can find some of these and when everything comes crashing ill still have all the games to entertain me lol
Emulation, physical, love it all. Same with music. Used to love collecting vinyl and still buy physical music when I get it for a good price. Same with old games. We need to focus on preserving media rather than focus on arguing over what's the best way to play. Not that you guys were trying to deter away from the more important conversation. 🍻
I like that we live in an age where gamers have choices. I think it's great that in these conversations, you guys always make it a point to state that this is what works for you; I see too much 'You should be doing this/that' in this hobby... ...that said, I'm a CIB guy. I grew up poor, so getting a new game was VERY rare and was an event. The drive to and from the store, reading every last word on the back of the box and the manual cover to cover...I still get that feeling of excitement decades later. Collecting and playing are not mutually exclusive; both are rewarding in different and - to me - complimentary ways. One thing I often consider with regards to emulation is that infinite choice can lead to infinite indecision as well as a lessening of the value for that experience. I've found - when going through a list on a multicart - that I don't tend to stick with a game, kind of like channel surfing. When I buy a game, I've spent hard earned money (and effort to find and acquire it) so I stick through the frustrating deaths, trials and tribulations. I understand that it's all psychological and would never presume this to be the same for others, but it is a driver for physical and original for me. Aside from that, I'm VERY sensitive to latency. One of my favorite games is Mega Man X, and I've gotten to the point of being able to speed run the game. I can feel the latency in every port that's ever been released for that title, and I've come to notice it with many other titles. In the end, talking about the hobby and all its facets is awesome. If people can play want they want to play in the way(s) they want to play, that truly is a wonderful thing!
I have the arcade versions of Punchout!!! and Donkey Kong on the Switch, connected to a 4K OLED. There’s some kind of lag with those games. My timing is completely off with the Switch versions.
For sure it is! I made a short a while back on the lag in the Nintendo World Championships NES Edition. Even with the best TV setting etc it's still there. The best solution I've found is handheld mode but it's still there a little bit.
The only time i ever Emulate is if i wonna try a game i have not played before i will use retroarch and play through say the first stage or two of a game to see if i like it and if i do then im straight to buying a physical copy, Emulation is good for that but i just love the experiance and feeling you get from popping a cart/disc into a console hearing the clicks and clanks of jamming that sucker in there and pressing the power button on the console, just soo satisfying and before all of that just turning on that crt and hearing that high pitch noise as it powers on also like was said in the video knowing your playing the game as it was originaly intended just puts my mind at rest.
I respect the authentic side of retro and I would tell anyone the same as you gentlemen were describing in your video. But hands down for just me...the N64 Brawler controller was a lifesaver. The original N64 controller is just painful LoL. I'm in Hog heaven playing my original N64 with my N64 Brawler controller on a CRT TV. I can't get enough playing my N64 now. I appreciate the quality you guys put into your videos. I'm a big fan!
Respect. I think I get where you guys are coming from. I'm glad I don't need the ritual part of this cause I feel like it adds a premium to the experience (used game prices specifically). There is definitely something to be said about popping in a disk or slotting in a cartridge, but I'm glad I have the option to play on my PC, retrogaming handheld, modded hardware etc so I can play the game and enjoy it, rather than save up to afford the ebay tax. Come to think of it, my steamdeck is basically my entire retro library right now. I play that thing in the little pockets of free time I have and I usually go straight for retroarch of PCSX2 cause the type of games you can quickly fire up, get a few rounds in and go back to your day are bountiful back then. But like I said, I can respect where you guys are coming from and it sucks youve met some resistance for enjoying games the way you like to enjoy them.
Counterpoint: use this money for cost of living, quit your job and focus on your back library or emulate. Could launch so many projects or new careers with that backdrop you've got there. Best part about emulation is storage space. Emulating chipsets and CRT virtualization is just going to improve. Especially when I learned my original SNES I've saved all these years was released with an 'inferior' chip configuration, the access to original hardware is going to become severely limited so we're all going to rely on rereleases of the consoles themselves or there's no hope moving forward. Just the reseller market for something like Analogue is egregious. I like game manuals and am nostalgic for the smell of the plastic but I'm already unhappy with the amount of crap I own and I don't even fill a whole house. I've done 10k+ IT solutions, a third of them onsite, and many with old obscure proprietary software that hasn't been maintained for 30 years, so I have very little confidence that there'll be a reliable supply chain for console and cartridge repairs if there isn't a resilient third party hobbyist network, and that still risks the kind of quality control you guys were talking about with new Saturn controllers. I also live in rural Montana and don't carry a smartphone. Maybe I deprive myself of modern amenities enough that I appreciate the stuff I do pick up. Just replaced my desktop PC I'd been running since I built it in 2011. Still have a Zune 120GB. The idea of romanticizing a vinyl or other original hardware is no different to me than someone romanticizing an NFT. You do you
I'm glad you brought up the aftermarket controller thing. I've been thinking for years now how there really are no high quality aftermarket controllers available as far as I know. Like nothing has an amazing D pad these days that you can buy. I think it's an open market waiting to be filled. I would love to see a high quality version of something like the NES and SNES controllers, along with something like a 360 controller but with an actual good D pad.
Good for y’all … everyone’s situation is different , I’ve got a small collection of sentimental stuff but I never turn it on , I also am married with 4 kids and multiple jobs w/ limited space in my house so having mounds of retro collections ain’t in the cards , but that’s why I’m able to enjoy y’all’s videos and other TH-camrs like metal Jesus etc . If there is something I want to play like old Dreamcast stuff I’ll do emulation and also series s emulation has helped scratch the itch huge for some old psx games … cheers to everyone’s different circumstances lol
I wish I could thumbs up you guys more than once. You guys are speaking the TRUTH! Best way to play is to go authentic, 100%. I also emulate as well as play on real hardware, and the real method with real hardware and a real game wins every time.
While I've been paring down my collection of the cheaper stuff, I've been getting flash carts to replace them to play on original hardware, with a focus on playing on the original hardware at the best output possible, such as rgb converters, hdmi up scalers, ect.
Much as I love emulation, I gotta agree, authenticity is key. That's kinda why I'm pretty much saving for a Polymega, that way I could still play all my physical games while still having my emulation for backup or vice versa.
Flashcards cdrs at optical drive emulators will get you the authentic gaming experience however the only thing that misses is you know looking at it on the shelf and popping it out with the artwork on the cartridge and popping it in so if that's important to somebody that's the one thing you need to have the real game for
I'm with you here on most fronts my guys! The authenticity, real ownership and even the hunt itself are incredibly important aspects to this hobby for me as well. I do have a mini pc with Batocera installed which is great fun but it serves a different purpose. If I want to play MediEvil, my favorite PS1 game, I'm not going to boot it up on Batocera. I'm going to grab the case from my shelf, fish the disc out of it, stick it into my PSOne and boot it up that way. On the flip side, if I want to play something I don't own or can't play at home easily like say an arcade game or REALLY expensive title I can't buy then my Batocera box is perfect for that. On the TV side, I could go either way with this. I do have a Retrotink 4K that feeds into two flat panels but I also have my late Grandmas old 27" SD CRT that I use primarily for Composite video sources that look ugly on flat panels like my NES or for light gun games. CRT's are becoming harder to get and I got lucky with mine since I got it for free and its one of those fabled unicorn models that has Component and S-Video but still supports light guns so anything available to anyone is a good option here these days. For controllers, I partially agree with the build quality on many 3rd party retro focused ones. I like the Brawler for the N64 but I have gone through a couple of them as they tend to break in a Smash 64 enthusiasts hands. I grew up with the original trident so I don't mind it, but its gotten smaller for my now adult hands. The sticks are also fragile so they need constant care. The Retro Fighters Dreamcast controller is a godsend. I hate the original, its just so cramped and bad even for its day. Most other 3rd party offerings are indeed garbage. Bad shape, bad inputs, lousy analog sticks, dead zones, shoulder buttons that break too easily, I could go on. If I need an alternate controller for any reason, I tend to gravitate to arcade sticks with plug conversions dongles or bluetooth dongles like Brook and use good 1st party modern controllers like the Switch Pro, DuelSense or Xbox 360 controllers.
I love my 8bitdo controllers. I think it’s awesome that modern accessories are being made for old hardware. I do agree for the most part about authentic vs convenience. It has such a different feel.
I have a steamdeck loaded with batocera, and i have a little chinese anbernic handheld. They are great fun and I love them for travel and finally "beating" some old games i never could in the day. But most my gaming is in my game room on one of 19 vintage to modern consoles. All but a couple of which i bought new in my 30+ years of gaming. I just find the old school way very comforting and a much more escapist experience.
The reason why I personally went with emulation (mainly mister FPGA) is because it's a compact all in 1 solution. I don't have the space to keep many consoles hooked up with their individual games. Having the mister hooked up my CRT feels close enough for me.
I understand where you guys are coming from on playing games the way they were meant to be played being a preferred experience. For me, though, I'm going through the process of modding all my consoles. That way, I can have access to more games for cheaper on the original hardware on a crt. But, NDRs will always be on a cartridge or disc.
There’s nothing like playing a classic retro on a CRT. My cousin use to bash me for holding on to a CRT (1999 SONY Trinitron), but once he sat down and played SEGA consoles on mine, he changed his mind and started to see why it’s important to the oldies. Now I will say that certain disc-based consoles from the past can look absolutely immaculate in VGA, but overall dealing with this topic…nothing like the good ol physical touch of those generations in plain sight.
the controller scam has me frankly mad as F!!!!!!! the dual shock 3 controllerwith the sixaxis sticks stilldont drift.but they plastics broke...sony used to be the best and nintendo was the stuff.its crazy how things have changed...its crazy how time has made us slaves again....
My "Retro" games are all GBA, GBC, and some GB games. Most of my collection is just Pokemon -- which is so basic, but ultimately I'm too young of a guy to go back and buy a bunch of expensive games I didn't grow up with. I agree though, I love the feeling of having physical games and I have a greater connection to the physical games I own. That's why I have a small super curated 3DS and DS collection and why I have over 150 Switch games. When it comes to my gameboy games though, minus the Pokemon games, I just tend to use an Everdrive. It makes it a lot easier too as when I travel with my GB (actually an Analogue Pocket), I only need to bring 1 Pokemon game and an Everdrive. I really prefer original hardware (or FPGA in Analogue Pocket's case) or at least having a physical copy of a game. I don't pay for Switch Online -- but I would buy individual copies of some of these retro games if they were to be sold individually.
I like to think I split it down the middle. I have a Linux retro handheld and a Steam Deck, but I also have an old JVC D-Series CRT with a bunch of consoles hooked up to it. Another thing I have hooked up to it though is a Windows 10 PC running a specific AMD video driver CRT Emudriver, which basically allows me to send a 480i or 240p signal to the CRT over component. I sit back in a chair, I grab a 8 Bit Do Pro 2, and play pretty much everything 5th gen and back that way.
I started out with emulation with a pc...then I bought original system controllers that plug in through usb...then I bought a crt and an hdmi to rca converter...and although it was a decent experience there were still problems. The image was overly flickery which I thought was probably just the converter and no way to make it go away. Windows 11 also didn't like the low resolution so it was a pain keeping it outputing 480p and would bug out often. So I finally just gave up and bought original hardware and I'm really happy I did. It's the most authentic experience you can have and emulation is never perfect...there's always imperfections, hickups, audio crackles, slowdowns, missing visuals or effects, even with a high end pc. To me it's also about recreating 80s energy, 90s energy, or 00s energy. I want to recreate that energy from the past as accurately as I can cause I miss those days and it makes me feel good to immerse myself in that energy.
It’s getting to the point where I only want to collect what I want to collect. And then I’m going to sell everything else. But, then once I sell everything I want to sell, I want to buy the Everdrive for NES, SNES, N64, GB, GBC, and GBA. There’s literally no reason to have a wall of video games for games that I’m either only going to play once or not play at all. But I still want the ability to play them should I want to without going to a retro store to buy it and then find the shelf space for it.
Amazing video. I also collect physical copies of tv shows and movies because often streaming services take the movies and shows out. Plus in Sweden we don't have the same shows and movies even if they are that streaming service original show. My little brother who is 23 years old has a huge collection of CD albums.
totally get your guys point of view and agree with most of what you said, but then FPGA became a thing in recent years. my MiSTer FPGA with the reflex adapt and original controllers for each system i play is already at a point where i genuinely cannot tell the difference from real hardware, and i am anal about input lag and authenticity. the games feel and play incredible and the input lag is so low it feels like i'm playing on a CRT even though i'm on my Sony X95K. the MiSTer has impressed me so much that i am at peace moving on from original hardware up through PS1 / N64 now. great video!
I have sort of a mix of both with original hardware with mostly original copies of games. I mod original controllers to be Bluetooth, and use scalers to get them on my modern TV. There’s certain aspects of the og experience that I don’t really want to deal with like moving a crt from apartment to apartment (I’m in my mid 20s and move a lot) and having cables on controllers. I love the full og ritual but have found some compromise in my setup.
I agree 100%, I try to play original games on original hardware. But I also emulate. That being said, I really like playing on the Switch NSO, there may be a slight lag, but it doesn’t hurt the experience. Great Whitney T Wes.
I'm pretty much in the same boat, except for arcade games (even though I do actually own 8 real arcade cabinets). When you're playing with an emulator it feels like there's less incentive to keep going, since you have no real investment in the games. I did recently pick up a MiSTer FPGA set up though (Taki's clone, MiSTer Pi), and have started playing N64 on there (via HDMI and via my CRT, with the official NSO N64 controllers connected via USB), and that really does recreate the authentic N64 experience. That's probably going to be my main jam for playing (true) retro games from here out, once I get the adapters for all of the consoles it supports.
I am fortunately not burdened with the desire to handle physical media or play on CRT TVs, but when it comes to music, I grew up listening to it mostly on FM. As such, I can't listen to a lot of those old songs on streaming or CDs, because they sound too clean. So I definitely understand where ya'll are coming from.
Both are very important and yet each method of experiencing these games are very different. It's good to have the original games but it's important to preserve these games as well as the community often preaches about. The ones that have the means to collect and play them as originally intended are lucky but it's also important to make these games accessable to everyone especially if the game companies won't make a meaningful effort to do so or else it fades into obscurity.
You're right about the quality control on this modern 'retro' hardware. The controllers have major quality control issues based on what I've seen on vids here. Makes it come across as over-hyped cheap trash. Then there's these modern retro consoles which have cart slots or a disc drive. Then you read into them and you find out that they rip an image from the media then emulate it to varying degrees of quality. And quality control control comes in again... like say a Retron modern retro gaming console with cart slots... having cart slots which grip so tight they damage the cart (death grip.)
What you guys are describing is something called "the ritual" the whole sequence of physical actions that precede the intended objective, it's a psychological thing we humans have that gives meaning to actions, I'm a huge PS1 fan and I like to burn CDs and play original, people ask me why don't you put an ode or emulate and like you say, it's because I like standing up,picking a game from my library, opening the console, put it in, turn it on and listen to the BZZZZZT sounds of the drive, that's the ritual and it's a huge part of authenticity,100% with you guys
The biggest difference is the price. Emulation is free. A lot of people don’t care about getting up picking a game out when I have everything on my screen
I only emulate when the game is super expensive. When it comes to digital, I only go for indies. But for the most part, I love physical.
yea,like when some ps2 games cost 70 or even over 100 dollars just to get in person is too much
Agree
But that's literally illegal
@@elwinroyale Who gives a fuck???
@@elwinroyale oh no
Anyways
Very well said about the car, book, and comic thing, I'm definitely going to use that now if someone questions why I collect retro games. It's weird how in other hobbies, people understand the reasoning but for some reason with video games, a lot of people say "well just emulate it"
I understand not everyone will have access to retro games on original hardware, but for those of us that do, there's nothing like it. It's almost a ritual of sorts to insert an original game in its original console, and even playing it on a CRT television is special. I love it!
Love this topic. When you mentioned worrying about whether the game is playing correctly on emulation, I can totally relate. Another huge thing I have noticed is that the sound is usually worse with emulation. Those old soundtracks deserve to be heard the way they were intended.
On Emulation: You know what I like best? The price.
thats the best reason, and the space it saves.
I like how I can move my steam deck to any room or location and emulate pretty much any console or game I want.
Price and convenience and save states
The higher resolution
It depends on if I can get my butt off the couch and into my game room. I'll play a lot of the same games on collections that I do original hardware. Zelda, Castlevania, Castlevania IV, Ninja Gaiden...these are just a few games I play on original hardware, mini-consoles, Nintendo Online.
But I think I've said it before in a comment to one of your videos. Whether it's the newness and stiffness of a controller or input lag being an actual thing, timing is ever so slightly different playing it on original hardware. I noticed it on Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, Donkey Kong Country...
In some games where reflexes have to be on point, input lag can mean everything.
I am with you guys. For me, it is 100% also about the ceremony of interacting with these machines. The sounds, the lights, the controls, the touch and feel are so much part of it, not just the game.
💯
Totally agree.
What about the smell? You're forgetting the smell.
@@naciremasti absolutely the smell! Nothing quite like a C64 cassette from the 80's
You guys are right about the real cartridge vs emulation. You appreciate and dedicate yourself more to a real thing that you’ve actually spent money on. As opposed to having 100s of games at one time, then you’ll run into the Netflix issue where you don’t know what to pick or you end up playing each game for 5-10 min over and over until you finally get tired and turn the tv off 😂
I already do that with physical games. I buy even dvd that I buy. So that is a BS argument.
I don't care as much anymore. It doesn't matter what it is. I get bored easily.
You just want to waste money.
Playing a game on its original hardware with physical buttons will always beat emulating on a phone and playing on a touchscreen
Oh homie, we go hard on this in our next video
Retro achievements can help with that issue
To be honest with you, this is more of a skill/self control issue. If you can keep a small list of games that you are playing through and don't juggle too many games of the same genre, then you don't run into the issue you described.
The thrill of the hunt is real! And nostalgia baby!
When you go out of your way to own something physically, you've made a commitment to it and that commitment will keep you coming back to it. Like say, give someone 4 physical games and they'll play them a lot, give someone an emulator with thousands of ROMs and they maybe spend like 5 minutes on a game then move onto the next, making no effort to get into it or better at it.
And like you said, having the device to play back the media, having the media for it, putting it in, turning it on. It's a satisfying experience. And you get more invested as you improve your physical media setup.
With emulation it's often: download emulator which comes with thousands of ROMs incld. Play it a little, get bored, aka it's soul-less experience you'll not be passionate about.
Nothing beats playing old school on a CRT. Anything else introduces input lag. If people just try it, they will notice the difference.
Emulators can now remove input lag with runahead and other features
💯
For me it’s not that much about the input lag but about the look. I just dislike the look of emulated old games, just ugly in my eyes.
@MaI2Me you can also use native settings and filters to have the original look but also one day these original hardware systems and specially crt tvs will die out crts are also kinda getting close to that point sadly
@MaI2Me I had a original nes ps1 ps2 and xbox but sold them and just emulate now because well I care about the games not the systems tbh
@@ChrisTheCasual you just can’t recreate the look of a CRT on a modern display, it’s never the same 🤷♂️
100% the reason i play on OG hardware too. I feel like i'm not really playing the game with emulation. It just feels off to me. I need the case, the disc and the whole experience involved with it.
The opened can sound was a real nice touch, great video as per usual fellas!
Great stuff. I think you guys hit the nail on the head about collecting in general. I'm a big comic book guy - I've been collecting since 1983. My collection is in the tens of thousands, but I'm a reader first, and a collector second. Sure, it would be easy to read it all digitally, but I want that book in my hands. I want to really digest the art. Thank you for describing collecting physical media so perfectly.
Every emulated game I have played looks and runs better that’s what I care about.
Hmmmm
Go beat Punch Out and report back
Yea because you can increase the resolution on PS1 PS2 PSP N64 Dreamcast roms. So yes it does look better but sometimes u want that authentic 96 look and feel.
I relate completely. Early on in my collecting I started to dabble in modding gameboys to add backlights & what not and I quickly realized it was defeating the purpose of collecting vintage games. It's to experience old things as they were. Same with music, movies, etc. I don't want a digitally remixed and remastered copy of an album I had as a kid. I want the actual CD, tape or record that I had back then. For movies on my CRT, I love finding the standard def versions on DVD since that was how I watched older movies outside of the theater. Usually on tv broadcasts on my tube tv which were cropped/panned & scanned, etc. to fit the 4:3 ratio. Plus I have a 13" CRT so wide screen is way too small lol.
For me, I just love gaming in general. So I am both a collector and I also use emulation. I don't discriminate and think there is room for both. And both have their benefits. The physical stuff is great for being able to experience and play the games in ways they were originally intended. The authentic experience. Plus, I enjoy the "artistic" side of it too. I'm a sucker for the box art, CD art, cartridges, etc and looking at them produces some blissful nostalgia of my youth in the 1990s. It's a trip down memory lane. It can't be taken away or taken down like digital or certain rom sites. It's right there in physical form. And the games are guaranteed to run 100% accurately. I also agree with the point in the video about the "process" of playing physical games adding to the whole charm and experience (picking out a game off the shelf, putting it into the console, hearing the sound of the disc drive or clicking of the cartridge into place, etc)
Emulation I use more out of convenience. So I don't have to handle all the cartridges and CDs as much and cause more wear and tear on the items. Plus it's faster and more convenient than digging out the physical stuff and manually putting in each and every game, swapping them out, etc. It's also a great way to try out the rarer and more expensive games that may not be in our physical collections. And it's far far cheaper, and free in most cases. Though some of the newer emulation consoles out there are also getting up in price considering what they are. Still way cheaper than collecting physical though. For me I was lucky I started collecting around 10 years ago when prices were cheaper and the stuff was way more abundant. At that time garage sales and flea markets were still littered. There was more retro stores in my area, etc. So I basically am set and had the majority of the stuff I really wanted before prices really blew up in 2020.
Good video once again fellas. Cheers.
Black Myth Wukong just got a physical release announced. Win for physical games!
Pull the cartridge out , hear that click and watch the blinking light , pull it out, re insert it, pull it out, re insert it with a wiggle, pull it out , shout a F - bomb, blow into the cartridge, re insert it, then it turns on . . . 👍 😂
Didn’t have you pegged as a Nada Surf fan. Saw them in Philly a few years ago and they were awesome!
I only emulate games that are way out of my price range. Love physical! Great video as always!
Authenticity has an inverse relationship with accessibility. Whatever your reasons just share awesome games with each other, and teach the next generation. If your kids grow up obsessed with forkknife you’re doing it wrong!
I speak as someone who does own a ton of physical media: if you’re overly focused on “the experience” I feel like you’re focusing too much on the trees. A good game is a good game regardless. It deserves to be looked at as a whole.
Wes rocking the Whitney Houston shirt!!! That shirt Is as dope as the product that killed her. Respect ..RIP
I wish rob was rocking a Kevin Costner shirt.
@@DongCorleone I kinda wish it was a bobby brown shirt lol
@@MarksTH-cam1 😆. I guess it's Their Prerogative?
A much needed episode!! Thank
You guys
I emulate for portability and travel. Hard to play a game in bed when your game rooms are on the first floor and in the basement. I found a way to do original equipment emulation cheap by being older than dirt and still having every system and game I've ever owned starting with the Atari I got for Christmas in 1978. 🤣
It sounds dumb, but I just can't get myself interested in playing an emulated old game (official or unofficial); on the other hand, I get the disc of an old game, play it the way it was intended, and I get immersed on the experience.
Might not be the cheaper method, but I'm all for physical old games! 👾
I've been mainly playing 2D games, both on OG hardware and emulation. Without a doubt the best way to play them is on OG Hardware. Emulation is only 60%-80% accurate on how a retro game actually plays and that's using the best emulators that are currently available.
Couldn't agree more, nothing beats the real deal!
Well said gentlemen. I agree 100% I still buy vinyl, cds, dvds, game cartridges. Do I want a digital sports card? No, I want to buy a pack of sports cards and have that physical Lebron James Rookie card in my hand and collection. Well done showing such emotion for the topic calmly and with beer actually left over at the end. Cheers
Nada Surf, nice. Getting some classic 120 Mins vibes.
Right there with ya. I have heaps of physical and raspberry pi emulators with basically everything but the process of taking a cartridge out and putting it in is priceless.
Cheers boys
I’m console agnostic but have a strong preference for old vintage hardware. One day I’m playing on one of my SNES consoles, another day I’m playing on one of my Analogue consoles or MiSTer. Day after I’m playing on a PC emulator. It’s all just a preference. I’ll always go for a raw game experience from an old console on a CRT with carts though.
I have to push back on you boys’ comment stating “the experience isn’t there” for emulation however. It’s there, it’s just different. It’s easy to forget that many younger folk in the community grew up with emulators. It’s all they know. They get an entirely different experience that evolves as those solutions get better.
I love this topic however. It’s always subjective and fun to hear both sides of the argument.
Nothing beats the feeling of actually owning something going to
The store buying it leaving with it in your hand
Also vinyl kicks a
I need some
Local H RECORDS
Great video fellas, the people that say emulation is better I say good for them. An old cart and a CRT will absolutely be my go to until the day I leave this world or all my stuff dies. I have the same mindset as you guys I stream real consoles and real games, even went as far as having an external capture for my CRT haha. Cheers.
That feeling that you’re describing of playing a crusty old console on a tiny CRT in an uncomfortable sitting position is an experience that people who never got to do. It probably wouldn’t understand…. It makes total sense to me and I’ve got my eyes out for a CRT in the near future so I can go back to playing N64 the correct way.
Great video guys love the channel . Subbed 🎉
Boom! Appreciate the support. Cheers!
As a dad with 2 kids and a full time job, the Switch has been my go to and I've been beating games on it consistently. Love it.
Some people don't have that entitlement of owning physical media because of how expensive the prices can be. For myself, I love physical media because of that authentic feeling. I had Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Genesis, N64 games passed down to me and the majority of it are those heavy hitters that are expensive which I feel so good about not having to spend over $2,000 for little Samson or $700+ on Power blade 2
I 1000% support the idea of authencity and using the original hardware and games if possible, but for a lot of people it is difficult due to needing working equipment, maintenence, or they cannot justify the cost. I love gaming and have nostalgia for a lot of the 90s and 2000s consoles. But i lack space in general, and the games can get really expensive - especially when you want to buy newer games too.
It does feel weird when emulating, but i love the ability to do it because a lot of them are expensive, difficult to find, or just the fact that they will eventually break. Its hard to reconcile it, but i am just happy to be able to play at all. Sometimes you just have to compromise.
I'm 100% with you guys especially if you grew up on those consoles there's just something that screams "if I'm going to do this I want it the way it was when I was younger" I think for me it boils down to nostalgia but if I'm going to play a old game it has to be the authentic experience
Love you guys and your passion for gaming! 100% agree with you, I try to play authentic and nothing beats the feeling of physically picking out a game and putting it in the console.
I love the convenience of Batocera and I think the new controllers are awesome.
Great collection! I bought my first LV when I was 25 and I've only used that bag a few times haha. Also, I love your clutch! I have an Eva clutch with the DE print and I love the little chain. But I don't want to spend that much money right now and the kislux always gets me the bag I want and it's just as good as the LV and one of my favorites. Durability
I feel exactly how you both feel. I would add that I like owning a copy of games I have. As you've said before in videos, you don't own digital media. Games can be taken away from the online portion of consoles without warning. Also, maybe I'm wrong. But Roms can get corrupted which means you lose everything. Just like it can happen to memory cards. So physical media works more often than not. Playing things how they were meant to be played is perfectly said.
I’m with you guys. I love physical games, vinyl, Blu-ray Discs, and all that stuff. It adds to the experience, and it’s my hobby, I’ll do it how I want.
Yous guys are authentic. 💯 My personal preference is Retro Fighters N64 controller > OEM N64 controller when playing with actual N64 hardware on a CRT TV. Also, the SNES Switch controller is pretty good too. And I'm not smelling any of my games. 😂 At the end of the day, I prefer playing on my actual hardware for the intended experience, but I also enjoy digital and/or emulation too just for the ease of use and quality of improvments (such as save states). Take care!
This. Love me both sides of the coin. Buy discs as much as possible but not going to miss out on awesome games because they don't have a disc or it's limited and very high priced.
Preach! I feel the same way. It's just a different engagement level with physical media, the way it was meant to be played.
I’m 100% on the same page as you guys. Retro gaming for me is also about the full experience and not just playing the game. Call me a snob but I’m all about the purity and nostalgia of that “feel”
Cheers boyos! 🍻
I totally agree with everything pointed out in your video. Also for me, it's knowing and appreciating the limitations of the system you're playing it on. Emulators can emulate a wide range of systems. I can't appreciate that the way I appreciate the real deal.
My hot take - the box art and slip cover usually have a BIG impact on what I decide to play. Something about the artwork puts me in the right frame of mind to enjoy the game to it’s fullest
I like to do a good middle ground. Just bought a MISTer a month ago. This hardware recreation is amazing. Cycle accuracy, digital and analog output, and you can use the original controllers with zero lag. I find myself playing more games now that I have it. I had a choice, mod all my consoles with Flashcarts/ODEs and HDMI output or condense and get a MISTer for a lot less. So I play on my MISTer, but i still collect games, systems, and still do software emulation.
I do both as well but find myself doing emulation more for convenience but nothing beats pulling a game off the shelf and looking at the actual manual, then popping it into the original console and picking up the controller. YES, my commitment is much more when I buy and play a game over emulating it.
i agree with the Authenticity argument , i also think Emulation is necessary for what it does and offers. Emulation's point is not to replace systems. its to emulate systems that you may or may not have access to anymore. with enhancements , sometimes achievements too. its mostly a tool that eases the way you wanna play a game or a system you already own. or maybe you still own the game but your console broke or something , or maybe you don't have either
but ultimately , Authenticity is a valid point. the only issue with that , which causes Emulation to be popular is that it can become expensive in places. i'm not saying it is where you are but it is in a lot of other places just the other day i saw a 3DS being more expensive than Wii U , Switch , PS4 and XBOX Series S .... or Gamecube costing 5 times the price of a backwards compatible Wii that does ... the same things.
so there's pros and cons to both , i think people shouldn't imply or force you into doing one or the other when you do both (for example saying just emulate and forget about expensive systems is stupid and also on the other hand saying emulation is JUST PIRACY and nothing else is also stupid when you realize there's more hacked/modded consoles out there than there is pirate sites coz people pirate on real hardware too , they have for a long time , remember Disc swap?) , so what matters most is enjoying video games at the end of the day imo.
If you like collecting, go for it! If you just want to play Dr. Mario with your niece though, it's kind of a lot to set up a CRT and working NES.
Of course I love playing on original hardware with a CRT, but as someone who grew up playing it that way and now getting back into retro games, the official classic releases are something else. With a CRT filter enables, those old 8 bit and 16 bit games look pretty amazing on a 4K OLED and sound great with a modern stereo. I imagine what I would have thought playing my favorite games when I was little on these giant modern TVs and that brings a different experience. I’ve already played them the way they were meant to be played. I like the variety for that reason.
As a comic book collector I can totally understand the appeal of having the real physical object even though there are cheaper and more convenient digital alternatives
Yea i have 4 handhelds with over 2000+ games altogether but i collect physical 1 for the nostalgia (obviously) but also its a hobby to see how complete you can find some of these and when everything comes crashing ill still have all the games to entertain me lol
Emulation, physical, love it all. Same with music. Used to love collecting vinyl and still buy physical music when I get it for a good price. Same with old games.
We need to focus on preserving media rather than focus on arguing over what's the best way to play. Not that you guys were trying to deter away from the more important conversation. 🍻
yes, preservation is what's most important and to do it as accurately as humanly possible.
I like that we live in an age where gamers have choices. I think it's great that in these conversations, you guys always make it a point to state that this is what works for you; I see too much 'You should be doing this/that' in this hobby...
...that said, I'm a CIB guy. I grew up poor, so getting a new game was VERY rare and was an event. The drive to and from the store, reading every last word on the back of the box and the manual cover to cover...I still get that feeling of excitement decades later. Collecting and playing are not mutually exclusive; both are rewarding in different and - to me - complimentary ways.
One thing I often consider with regards to emulation is that infinite choice can lead to infinite indecision as well as a lessening of the value for that experience. I've found - when going through a list on a multicart - that I don't tend to stick with a game, kind of like channel surfing. When I buy a game, I've spent hard earned money (and effort to find and acquire it) so I stick through the frustrating deaths, trials and tribulations. I understand that it's all psychological and would never presume this to be the same for others, but it is a driver for physical and original for me.
Aside from that, I'm VERY sensitive to latency. One of my favorite games is Mega Man X, and I've gotten to the point of being able to speed run the game. I can feel the latency in every port that's ever been released for that title, and I've come to notice it with many other titles.
In the end, talking about the hobby and all its facets is awesome. If people can play want they want to play in the way(s) they want to play, that truly is a wonderful thing!
nostalgia knows no bounds, what ever hits that feeling is the right choice! great perspectives.
I have the arcade versions of Punchout!!! and Donkey Kong on the Switch, connected to a 4K OLED. There’s some kind of lag with those games. My timing is completely off with the Switch versions.
For sure it is! I made a short a while back on the lag in the Nintendo World Championships NES Edition. Even with the best TV setting etc it's still there. The best solution I've found is handheld mode but it's still there a little bit.
The only time i ever Emulate is if i wonna try a game i have not played before i will use retroarch and play through say the first stage or two of a game to see if i like it and if i do then im straight to buying a physical copy, Emulation is good for that but i just love the experiance and feeling you get from popping a cart/disc into a console hearing the clicks and clanks of jamming that sucker in there and pressing the power button on the console, just soo satisfying and before all of that just turning on that crt and hearing that high pitch noise as it powers on also like was said in the video knowing your playing the game as it was originaly intended just puts my mind at rest.
I respect the authentic side of retro and I would tell anyone the same as you gentlemen were describing in your video. But hands down for just me...the N64 Brawler controller was a lifesaver. The original N64 controller is just painful LoL. I'm in Hog heaven playing my original N64 with my N64 Brawler controller on a CRT TV. I can't get enough playing my N64 now. I appreciate the quality you guys put into your videos. I'm a big fan!
I collect games I like from the past that meant something to myself as a child. I’m not buying everything as far as retro games is concerned.
I have nostalgia for original hardware but love emulation's convenience (and price). Either way I respect everybody's choice.
Respect. I think I get where you guys are coming from. I'm glad I don't need the ritual part of this cause I feel like it adds a premium to the experience (used game prices specifically). There is definitely something to be said about popping in a disk or slotting in a cartridge, but I'm glad I have the option to play on my PC, retrogaming handheld, modded hardware etc so I can play the game and enjoy it, rather than save up to afford the ebay tax. Come to think of it, my steamdeck is basically my entire retro library right now. I play that thing in the little pockets of free time I have and I usually go straight for retroarch of PCSX2 cause the type of games you can quickly fire up, get a few rounds in and go back to your day are bountiful back then. But like I said, I can respect where you guys are coming from and it sucks youve met some resistance for enjoying games the way you like to enjoy them.
Counterpoint: use this money for cost of living, quit your job and focus on your back library or emulate. Could launch so many projects or new careers with that backdrop you've got there. Best part about emulation is storage space. Emulating chipsets and CRT virtualization is just going to improve. Especially when I learned my original SNES I've saved all these years was released with an 'inferior' chip configuration, the access to original hardware is going to become severely limited so we're all going to rely on rereleases of the consoles themselves or there's no hope moving forward. Just the reseller market for something like Analogue is egregious. I like game manuals and am nostalgic for the smell of the plastic but I'm already unhappy with the amount of crap I own and I don't even fill a whole house.
I've done 10k+ IT solutions, a third of them onsite, and many with old obscure proprietary software that hasn't been maintained for 30 years, so I have very little confidence that there'll be a reliable supply chain for console and cartridge repairs if there isn't a resilient third party hobbyist network, and that still risks the kind of quality control you guys were talking about with new Saturn controllers.
I also live in rural Montana and don't carry a smartphone. Maybe I deprive myself of modern amenities enough that I appreciate the stuff I do pick up. Just replaced my desktop PC I'd been running since I built it in 2011. Still have a Zune 120GB. The idea of romanticizing a vinyl or other original hardware is no different to me than someone romanticizing an NFT. You do you
I'm glad you brought up the aftermarket controller thing. I've been thinking for years now how there really are no high quality aftermarket controllers available as far as I know. Like nothing has an amazing D pad these days that you can buy. I think it's an open market waiting to be filled. I would love to see a high quality version of something like the NES and SNES controllers, along with something like a 360 controller but with an actual good D pad.
8bitdo has great d pads imo
@@KevinFought thanks, I'll check em out
The more I watch your videos the more I'm thinking: I wouldn't mind having a smoke and beer with you lads, playing retro video games all night.
Agreed guys. 100% same thoughts for me. 👌🏼
Good for y’all … everyone’s situation is different , I’ve got a small collection of sentimental stuff but I never turn it on , I also am married with 4 kids and multiple jobs w/ limited space in my house so having mounds of retro collections ain’t in the cards , but that’s why I’m able to enjoy y’all’s videos and other TH-camrs like metal Jesus etc . If there is something I want to play like old Dreamcast stuff I’ll do emulation and also series s emulation has helped scratch the itch huge for some old psx games … cheers to everyone’s different circumstances lol
I love the third party scene. The fact they make modern style controllers for original hardware is amazing.
I like confert.
I wish I could thumbs up you guys more than once. You guys are speaking the TRUTH! Best way to play is to go authentic, 100%. I also emulate as well as play on real hardware, and the real method with real hardware and a real game wins every time.
Your comment on Ford vs. Chevy has me thinking you guys should do your favorite bad games / “so bad, it’s good” games, if you haven’t done it already!
Yeah kinda like guilty pleasures. Sounds like a fun idea
While I've been paring down my collection of the cheaper stuff, I've been getting flash carts to replace them to play on original hardware, with a focus on playing on the original hardware at the best output possible, such as rgb converters, hdmi up scalers, ect.
I go all digital emulation saves allot allot allot of space and money only get a physical games for my favorite games
🤘 I saw that Local H!
Much as I love emulation, I gotta agree, authenticity is key. That's kinda why I'm pretty much saving for a Polymega, that way I could still play all my physical games while still having my emulation for backup or vice versa.
Flashcards cdrs at optical drive emulators will get you the authentic gaming experience however the only thing that misses is you know looking at it on the shelf and popping it out with the artwork on the cartridge and popping it in so if that's important to somebody that's the one thing you need to have the real game for
I'm with you here on most fronts my guys! The authenticity, real ownership and even the hunt itself are incredibly important aspects to this hobby for me as well. I do have a mini pc with Batocera installed which is great fun but it serves a different purpose. If I want to play MediEvil, my favorite PS1 game, I'm not going to boot it up on Batocera. I'm going to grab the case from my shelf, fish the disc out of it, stick it into my PSOne and boot it up that way. On the flip side, if I want to play something I don't own or can't play at home easily like say an arcade game or REALLY expensive title I can't buy then my Batocera box is perfect for that.
On the TV side, I could go either way with this. I do have a Retrotink 4K that feeds into two flat panels but I also have my late Grandmas old 27" SD CRT that I use primarily for Composite video sources that look ugly on flat panels like my NES or for light gun games. CRT's are becoming harder to get and I got lucky with mine since I got it for free and its one of those fabled unicorn models that has Component and S-Video but still supports light guns so anything available to anyone is a good option here these days.
For controllers, I partially agree with the build quality on many 3rd party retro focused ones. I like the Brawler for the N64 but I have gone through a couple of them as they tend to break in a Smash 64 enthusiasts hands. I grew up with the original trident so I don't mind it, but its gotten smaller for my now adult hands. The sticks are also fragile so they need constant care. The Retro Fighters Dreamcast controller is a godsend. I hate the original, its just so cramped and bad even for its day. Most other 3rd party offerings are indeed garbage. Bad shape, bad inputs, lousy analog sticks, dead zones, shoulder buttons that break too easily, I could go on. If I need an alternate controller for any reason, I tend to gravitate to arcade sticks with plug conversions dongles or bluetooth dongles like Brook and use good 1st party modern controllers like the Switch Pro, DuelSense or Xbox 360 controllers.
I love my 8bitdo controllers. I think it’s awesome that modern accessories are being made for old hardware.
I do agree for the most part about authentic vs convenience. It has such a different feel.
I have a steamdeck loaded with batocera, and i have a little chinese anbernic handheld. They are great fun and I love them for travel and finally "beating" some old games i never could in the day.
But most my gaming is in my game room on one of 19 vintage to modern consoles. All but a couple of which i bought new in my 30+ years of gaming.
I just find the old school way very comforting and a much more escapist experience.
The reason why I personally went with emulation (mainly mister FPGA) is because it's a compact all in 1 solution. I don't have the space to keep many consoles hooked up with their individual games. Having the mister hooked up my CRT feels close enough for me.
I think this is perfectly stated. In this new gaming world there's room for it all formats
I understand where you guys are coming from on playing games the way they were meant to be played being a preferred experience. For me, though, I'm going through the process of modding all my consoles. That way, I can have access to more games for cheaper on the original hardware on a crt. But, NDRs will always be on a cartridge or disc.
There’s nothing like playing a classic retro on a CRT. My cousin use to bash me for holding on to a CRT (1999 SONY Trinitron), but once he sat down and played SEGA consoles on mine, he changed his mind and started to see why it’s important to the oldies. Now I will say that certain disc-based consoles from the past can look absolutely immaculate in VGA, but overall dealing with this topic…nothing like the good ol physical touch of those generations in plain sight.
the controller scam has me frankly mad as F!!!!!!! the dual shock 3 controllerwith the sixaxis sticks stilldont drift.but they plastics broke...sony used to be the best and nintendo was the stuff.its crazy how things have changed...its crazy how time has made us slaves again....
My "Retro" games are all GBA, GBC, and some GB games. Most of my collection is just Pokemon -- which is so basic, but ultimately I'm too young of a guy to go back and buy a bunch of expensive games I didn't grow up with. I agree though, I love the feeling of having physical games and I have a greater connection to the physical games I own.
That's why I have a small super curated 3DS and DS collection and why I have over 150 Switch games. When it comes to my gameboy games though, minus the Pokemon games, I just tend to use an Everdrive. It makes it a lot easier too as when I travel with my GB (actually an Analogue Pocket), I only need to bring 1 Pokemon game and an Everdrive. I really prefer original hardware (or FPGA in Analogue Pocket's case) or at least having a physical copy of a game. I don't pay for Switch Online -- but I would buy individual copies of some of these retro games if they were to be sold individually.
110% agree with you guys!!..Love your videos and follow you on TH-cam!!..Keep up the passion...the love for video games!!🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤
I like to think I split it down the middle. I have a Linux retro handheld and a Steam Deck, but I also have an old JVC D-Series CRT with a bunch of consoles hooked up to it. Another thing I have hooked up to it though is a Windows 10 PC running a specific AMD video driver CRT Emudriver, which basically allows me to send a 480i or 240p signal to the CRT over component. I sit back in a chair, I grab a 8 Bit Do Pro 2, and play pretty much everything 5th gen and back that way.
I started out with emulation with a pc...then I bought original system controllers that plug in through usb...then I bought a crt and an hdmi to rca converter...and although it was a decent experience there were still problems. The image was overly flickery which I thought was probably just the converter and no way to make it go away. Windows 11 also didn't like the low resolution so it was a pain keeping it outputing 480p and would bug out often. So I finally just gave up and bought original hardware and I'm really happy I did. It's the most authentic experience you can have and emulation is never perfect...there's always imperfections, hickups, audio crackles, slowdowns, missing visuals or effects, even with a high end pc.
To me it's also about recreating 80s energy, 90s energy, or 00s energy. I want to recreate that energy from the past as accurately as I can cause I miss those days and it makes me feel good to immerse myself in that energy.
It’s getting to the point where I only want to collect what I want to collect. And then I’m going to sell everything else. But, then once I sell everything I want to sell, I want to buy the Everdrive for NES, SNES, N64, GB, GBC, and GBA. There’s literally no reason to have a wall of video games for games that I’m either only going to play once or not play at all. But I still want the ability to play them should I want to without going to a retro store to buy it and then find the shelf space for it.
Amazing video. I also collect physical copies of tv shows and movies because often streaming services take the movies and shows out. Plus in Sweden we don't have the same shows and movies even if they are that streaming service original show.
My little brother who is 23 years old has a huge collection of CD albums.
I feel the exact same way, and I've tried to explain this to other gamers. Most just look at me like I've got bugs crawling out my ears.
totally get your guys point of view and agree with most of what you said, but then FPGA became a thing in recent years. my MiSTer FPGA with the reflex adapt and original controllers for each system i play is already at a point where i genuinely cannot tell the difference from real hardware, and i am anal about input lag and authenticity. the games feel and play incredible and the input lag is so low it feels like i'm playing on a CRT even though i'm on my Sony X95K. the MiSTer has impressed me so much that i am at peace moving on from original hardware up through PS1 / N64 now. great video!
I have sort of a mix of both with original hardware with mostly original copies of games. I mod original controllers to be Bluetooth, and use scalers to get them on my modern TV. There’s certain aspects of the og experience that I don’t really want to deal with like moving a crt from apartment to apartment (I’m in my mid 20s and move a lot) and having cables on controllers. I love the full og ritual but have found some compromise in my setup.
I agree 100%, I try to play original games on original hardware. But I also emulate. That being said, I really like playing on the Switch NSO, there may be a slight lag, but it doesn’t hurt the experience. Great Whitney T Wes.
I'm pretty much in the same boat, except for arcade games (even though I do actually own 8 real arcade cabinets). When you're playing with an emulator it feels like there's less incentive to keep going, since you have no real investment in the games. I did recently pick up a MiSTer FPGA set up though (Taki's clone, MiSTer Pi), and have started playing N64 on there (via HDMI and via my CRT, with the official NSO N64 controllers connected via USB), and that really does recreate the authentic N64 experience. That's probably going to be my main jam for playing (true) retro games from here out, once I get the adapters for all of the consoles it supports.
I am fortunately not burdened with the desire to handle physical media or play on CRT TVs, but when it comes to music, I grew up listening to it mostly on FM. As such, I can't listen to a lot of those old songs on streaming or CDs, because they sound too clean. So I definitely understand where ya'll are coming from.
Both are very important and yet each method of experiencing these games are very different. It's good to have the original games but it's important to preserve these games as well as the community often preaches about. The ones that have the means to collect and play them as originally intended are lucky but it's also important to make these games accessable to everyone especially if the game companies won't make a meaningful effort to do so or else it fades into obscurity.
You're right about the quality control on this modern 'retro' hardware. The controllers have major quality control issues based on what I've seen on vids here. Makes it come across as over-hyped cheap trash.
Then there's these modern retro consoles which have cart slots or a disc drive. Then you read into them and you find out that they rip an image from the media then emulate it to varying degrees of quality. And quality control control comes in again... like say a Retron modern retro gaming console with cart slots... having cart slots which grip so tight they damage the cart (death grip.)