Let's Read Electronic Fun with Computers and Games

Atari 2600 Keystone Kapers from Activision | The Third Time REALLY IS the Charm!

*26* Mind Blowing Atari 2600 Games!!!

Cheap Retro Game Emulation Devices - Cheap Powerful Mini Computer

China manufactures hundreds of devices that play retro video games.  These are technically illegal because Chinese companies don't pay royalties for these games.  These devices are a form of software piracy.   However, nobody seems to care.  You can buy them on the Walmart, Target, Amazon, and eBay websites.  I have ordered several from the Chinese Ali Express website which has the lowest prices.  (Temu sells the same stuff as Ali Express, but reportedly the Temu app spies on its customers.)

U.S. Customs could ban these devices but it doesn't.  I have heard reports that the government wants to crack down on IP infringement, but so far they haven't. 

I have bought several of these cheap handheld game systems and given them away as gifts.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804860822095.html

Although they are cheaply made, they are fun to play with.

Yesterday I found out about this 5 TB hard drive that contains almost every retro video game ever made.

This is plug-and-play with a Windows PC.  For more complex games it will need a cheap graphics card or APU, although the simpler 8-bit and 16-bit games will run on almost any hardware.

I was going to create my own emulation drive, which is very labor-intensive, but this drive already has everything set up.  The cost is $229 on Amazon, but only $128 on the Ali Express Website.  This is so cheap I ordered it.  An empty 5-terabyte drive costs almost as much.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807318506307.html

I use an Xbox controller, which normally costs around $45.  I got mine for about $30 on Black Friday.

Last year I bought a very powerful mini-computer that has recently gone down in price.

https://www.amazon.com/MINISFORUM-7940HS-Barebone-Radeon-PCIe4-0/dp/B0C7V29HBQ/ref=asc_df_B0CC23D3HS

https://store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-um790-pro?variant=43865372786933

If you need a computer that can play these games, this video talks about a cheaper mini-PC that is surprisingly powerful.

https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-GTR5-Computer-Quadruple-Fingerprint/dp/B09J2MDZ9F?th=1

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806317944686.html

Let's Go to the Carnival on Atari!

I think that Carnival is underrated by everybody. I played it throughout the 1980s and the machine was around for the whole decade. I still play it occasionally through emulation, like on my hacked NES Classic. In terms of fun, I think that Carnival is comparable to Bezerk although most people would not agree. If you compare the 1980 arcade, which is a fixed shooter, to the 1979 Space Invaders, Carnival has more variety of play. I prefer it slightly over Galaxian, another 1980 game. Although the 2600 version doesn't have a bonus stage, it is really impressive and fun for a 2600 game. This is one of several 2600 games that I love. The others are: Battle Zone, Pole Position, Pac-Man Jr, and Boing!

How Atari 2600 Games Evolved Into Masterpieces!!!

The PS5 Pro Reveal will make you an XBOX FAN!!!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kBga7_tTSSU

@john2001plus
3 weeks ago
We need to be honest about the price.  With a drive and stand we are looking at $805 plus tax.  For that, I can buy or build a decent computer which can play games.  It might not be 17 teraflops, but it would be adequate, and also a computer.  This is not cost-effective unless you have money to burn and are fanatical about console gaming.

Both Sony and Microsoft promised 4K gaming at up to 120 FPS.  Now Sony is telling us to spend $800 to get real 4K gaming at 60 FPS.  It might be too strong to say that they lied to us, but I am feeling misled.

The PS5 Pro would need to be twice as fast to do what they are promising.  It is only 67% more powerful than the PS5, which is why they claimed "near fidelity mode" at 60 FPS.

The PS5 and XBox Series X are good consoles. I see very little reason to spend $800 to get a better frame rate in fidelity mode.  Neither will anyone else.

The PS5 is four years old.  Chip technology has improved a great deal in four years.  After four years, they should be able to give us a more powerful system for the same $500 price.


@AllDayErrDay.
2 hours ago
By your own admission, the PS5 Pro is more powerful than any comparably priced PC build. While you're correct about the PC being a computer as well, it hardly makes a difference if the primary utility for the appliance is gaming. Also, with the difference that it would cost to make a comparable PC, one could easily just buy a laptop for all their computer needs. Not to mention, your PS5 can perform most basic computer functions such as web browsing and even office tasks.
While I'm not ecstatic about the price, it is understandable, especially when compared to similarly specced PC builds.
Also, if you're not aware, these companies typically take losses on console sales as they can recoup the losses via software sales(games and dlc). While I'm absolutely sure they will be incurring some loss on the PS5 Pro at its current price point, the truth is that they aren't incentivized to lower the price further as there is simply no competing console to insight this course of action.



@john2001plus
2 minutes ago (edited)
 @AllDayErrDay.  You are correct about the power/price compared to a PC.  If money were no object, I would buy it.  The question is if I want to spend $800 on a gaming system when I could spend $800 on something else that might also play games.  For me, the primary utility of a PC is not gaming, but gaming is a nice bonus. 

The Xbox Series X is maybe 75% as powerful, currently sells for less than $500, and I have seen temporary sales under $400.  I am curious as to what the price will be on Black Friday.

Both Sony and Microsoft promised 4K gaming at up to 120 FPS.  Neither quite lived up to the hype.   Now Sony wants us to spend $800 to get what we were promised four years ago.  Apparently, we can't have both 60 FPS and high resolution unless we get a more powerful system.

Resolution isn't everything but it is nice to have.  I am more into retro gaming, so lower-res games can still be fun.

Maybe I would rather have a Switch 2.

Towering Inferno! First Stop the Fire, Then Save Atari!

Time Runner Released for Home Computers!