retro gaming – Retro Game Corps

GMKtec NucBox 5 Micro PC Review: Fantastic Price to Performance!

April 19, 2022by RussLeave a Comment

The new GMKtec NucBox 5 is a huge upgrade from previous tiny PC models: it has an 11th-generation Jasper Lake N5105 processor, WiFi-6, Bluetooth 5.2, and lots of new ports. Let’s take a deep dive into its potential for PC gaming, retro emulation, and as a dedicated Batocera machine, too.

Buy it on Amazon
15% off on Amazon this week

GMKtec website
Discount Code: 15%OFFEaster (good for one week)

This will bring the final price to $254.99 (256GB) or $339.99 (512GB)

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Guides, steam deck

EmulationStation on Steam Deck! Showcase and Guide

March 30, 2022by Russ4 Comments

Well, that didn’t take long. The desktop version of EmulationStation works really well with the Steam Deck, and allows you to streamline your emulation setup on this impressive handheld. Plus it works in perfect sync with EmuDeck, allowing you to have preconfigured emulation settings AND multiple options when it comes to organizing your ROM library. In this video we’ll go over basic setup, add artwork, and improve how it displays in SteamOS.

Download EmulationStation Desktop Edition here, and be sure to check out their extensive user guide.

Other tools used in this video:
EmuDeck for emulator auto-configuration
SteamGridDB for posters, heroes, grid, and logo images
ScreenScraper.fr to sign up for a free account for scraping images

Note that while I didn’t show it in the video, you can go into Main Menu > Other Settings and adjust the default emulators to your liking. This is helpful if you have a preferred RetroArch core or want to use a standalone emulator.

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Guides, odin

Android Emulation Starter Guide

March 13, 2022May 24, 2022by Russ10 Comments

Last updated: 23MAY2022 (see Changelog for details)

The Android operating system is found everywhere — on phones, tablets, retro handheld devices, media streaming devices, and even some TVs. This guide is meant to help you get acquainted with game emulation on any number of Android devices.

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odin, Reviews

Review: AYN Odin

February 6, 2022February 7, 2022by Russ2 Comments

At long last, the AYN Odin has been released. Let’s take a look at this promising new handheld and see if it lives up to the hype. Spoiler: it does.

The device is still being sold via its Indiegogo page. Please note that the prices are listed in Hong Kong dollars.

Odin compatibility spreadsheet

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Miscellaneous

100K Subscribers! Here’s what’s next.

December 9, 2021by Russ1 Comment

Amazingly and unexpectedly, this little project has grown to 100,000 subscribers. Let’s talk about the future of this channel, and I’ll give away a bunch of stuff too.

Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/user/retro-game-corps
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/retrogamecorps

Enter the giveaway here

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Guides, Reviews

Review: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2021)

October 31, 2021October 30, 2021by Russ12 Comments

Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick 4K Max packs an impressive retro gaming value for its $55 MSRP — essentially, it contains 75% of the NVIDIA Shield’s gaming performance at 25% of the cost. In this video we’ll go over setup, customization tips, and emulation performance of this device.

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Guides, Reviews, RG350

THIS is the handheld I’ve been playing the most. Here’s why.

October 3, 2021by RussLeave a Comment

Unexpectedly, the Anbernic RG280V has become my favorite device to pick up and play for quick gaming sessions. In this video I’ll share six reasons why I love it so much, and one thing about it that’s kind of a bummer.

Buy one here
RG280V setup guide
RG280V metal shell

Song during introduction — “Return to Form” by T-120

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Reviews

Super Console X Cube Review: $52 Plug-and-Play Emulation Box

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021by RussLeave a Comment

With a starting price of $52 (64GB model), the new Super Console X Cube is the new budget option for plug-and-play retro game emulation. So let’s see if it has any benefits over previous models.

Buy one here (AliExpress, cheapest)

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Guides, Reviews

TrimUI Model S (PowKiddy A66) — Updated Review & Guide

July 11, 2021July 11, 2021by Russ7 Comments

Last updated: 11JUL2021

The tiny TrimUI Model S (now rebranded as the PowKiddy A66) has received a lot of excellent development over the past few months, so it’s time for me to revisit my initial review. And while I initially recommended avoiding this device, these new updates have changed my mind — this is now a device worth considering. Let’s check it out.

Buy one here (PowKiddy A66)
Buy the old TrimUI Model S

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Guides, Reviews

Retro Game Emulation on an iPhone

July 7, 2021January 27, 2022by RussLeave a Comment

Last updated: 27JAN2022 (see Changelog for details)

The iPhone can do a lot of things seamlessly, and it’s a very powerful device. But something as simple as running an NES game can be quite challenging. So let’s set up your iPhone as a retro game emulation device — no jailbreaking required.

Like with my previous video about gaming on an iPhone (which covered standalone games, Apple Arcade, and streaming), the Backbone One is an essential component of gaming on iOS. There are other options available, like the Razer Kishi or GameSir X2 BT controller, but the Backbone One is miles better than these options thanks to its ease of use and helpful app integration.

One final note before we get started: emulation on iOS is a moving target. With each new iOS update, some things may get broken, or (very rarely) things might actually improve. My advice is to be patient with new iOS updates, and give the development teams to catch up. I’ll keep this guide updated with the latest developments going forward.

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