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Retron 5 gets 3rd Party Controller support via the Nes30

Lifesperience is now Raycommend, which can be found here:    Ray Commend   8bitdo, the creators of the Nes30 and other clone gamepads , have recently released a firmware updates that allow them to directly link to Hyperkin's Retron 5 system wirelessly via bluetooth.  If you have a Nes30 pad, then simply update your firmware by following the directions via this link , and start playing!! You can see the official Retron 5 controller default to Player 2, while the Nes30 is Player 1. Due to the Retron 5 gamepad having more buttons than the Nes30, mapping isn't absolutely perfect, but works well enough with the NES, SNES, Sega Master System (with adapter), Gameboy, and Gameboy advance systems.  The Genesis mapping is missing buttons " ^ " and " > " which would correspond to "C" and "Z" buttons on the official six button Sega Genesis controller.  Fortunately, there are options to remap gamepad buttons via the Retron 5's set...

Why Android gaming has not gone mainstream

The Ouya, Madcatz Mojo, Nexus Player, Gamestick, Fire TV, etc... All of these microconsoles have tried to find a place in the living room and have failed miserably.  It makes one wonder just how out of touch with reality the people who actually make these things are.  It really should not be that difficult to get the right combination of features to make these microconsoles more attractive to casual or even hardcore players.  Let's take a minute to see what some of the current issues are. Storage: In a day and age where these microconsoles are attempting to lure gamers to purchase games solely via the cloud without a physical copy, the storage on these devices are pathetic.  Generally these consoles come with anywhere from 8gb to 16gb of storage.  Once you factor in the OS, and any additional software that comes with your console, you're looking at anywhere between 5gb to 12gb of storage if you're lucky.  With even Android games coming in at 2gb to 4g...

Hyperkin's latest update ruins Retron 5 experience: Here are the downgrade links for the Retron 5

Lifesperience is now Raycommend, which can be found here:    Ray Commend   There is no easy way to say this.  Hyperkin's latest v2.2 firmware for the Retron 5 is a bug-filled mess which for many people (myself included) will ruin your Genesis experience.  As soon as I upgraded, my Genesis carts would no longer be detected by the system, and sometimes, even the other cartridge slots would stop detecting games. These were carts that worked perfectly fine on prior firmwares.  They also work on the original consoles (which I also own) flawlessly.  At this time, the Hyperkin website only links you to the v2.2 firmware  or strangely enough, the v2.0 beta 6 firmware . The only fix in my case, was to downgrade back to v2.1 which resolved my issues.  Game cartridges once again detected just fine.  For those of you out there wondering, downgrading is the easy part.  Finding the links for the prior firmware files was the painful par...

Impulse Controller on Android Review

It started on Christmas morning.  As I joyfully shuffled through the various boxes in fancy gift wrap, I came across one with a width smaller than a 3DS game box, and about as thick at two neatly stacked CD cases.  Wasting no time, I furiously tore at the packaging, and wondered what hidden goodie was just out of my sight.  Then, there it was! The Impulse controller pocket remote & keyfinder. The Impulse next to my car key fob.   It's tough to really describe just how small this device is.  Sure, I can give you the Dimensions, (2.7" long x 1.3" wide x 0.6" high) but actually using the diminutive device actually doesn't feel as cramped as you'd think.  As long as you keep your expectations realistic, (it's not going to be as comfortable as a PS4 or XB1 controller) then you're in for a treat.  The controller is small, but manages to keep a tactile feel to the buttons.  Each of the five front facing buttons in addition to the Dpad ...

Moto 360 Review FULL Review (Updated with lots of pics!)

The Moto 360 is easily the most attractive smartwatch in the current market.  Not only does it look and feel the most like an actual watch in comparison to its competition, but its design is simple, elegant, and beautiful.   From the stainless steel case, to the Horween leather band, and even the fancy packaging, this "watch" is the most impressive, and comfortable device that I've ever worn on my wrist. Left: ipod Nano - Middle: Moto 360 - Right - Accutime standard Watch In terms of size, the Moto 360 is comparable in size to many standard watches.   Next to my normal watch, its just slightly thicker, and actually feels lighter.  It's very close in size to Apple's ipod nano, but with a much bigger screen.  Speaking of that display, it's a 1.45" 320 x 290 backlit LCD display with a ppi of 205, and covered with Corning Gorilla glass 3.  The weight is a very light 49g, and itls rated at ip67 for water resistance.  It will survive the rain, ...

The Nexus 9 is a huge disappointment

Perhaps I expected too much out of this tablet, since it does not seem like it was rushed to market.   Today, Google has announced the Nexus 6, 9, and player, and out of the three devices, it seems like the Nexus 9 really got the short end of the stick.  Not that it's a horrible device by any means, after all, it has a powerful 64bit processor that should be great for gaming, and the device itself is slim and slated to weigh under a pound. Unfortunately, for a Google device that is priced at a premium, it falls short of modern expectations.  Let me explain: The first problem is that a $400 tablet in 2014 is going to be released with a measly 16gb of storage.  To top it off, it's going to max out at 32gb of storage at $599 for the LTE version.  The Nexus 6 will max out at 64gb.  Meanwhile, Google continues to dodge questions about adding Micro SD support and with this being a tablet, there aren't really any physical space restrictions.   Matias Dua...

Retron 5 hacked to launch RetroArch and play ROMS off your SD card

It appears that a someone going by the screenname of  RetroN Labo  on Youtube has successfully hacked the Retron 5 console to run the full version of  Retroarch.  In the video shown, various emulators that are not part of the original firmware are playable including the PC Engine, Playstation One, Nintendo DS, and Wonderswan.  As the stock firmware from the Retron 5 is programmed to load games from an original cartridge when it is inserted, this hack appears to run ROM and ISO files, most likely from the SD card slot built into the back of the console. In most of instances shown in the video, emulation appeared to run smooth, and the games previewed looked playable. Currently, Hyperkin (Retron 5 manufacturer) is in hot water with Retroarch's creators due to using their emulator cores without permission.  After being discovered, Hyperkin has shared their code, and claims that they have removed any infringing code from their console. ...