As you're probably well aware, emulation is a fantastically convenient way for us to play our old games but it does suffer from a few problems. Many of those issues surround the legality of playing copies of ROMs downloaded from the internet, a grey area which has been debated for decades by people in no position to give legal advice.
The Retrode 2 skirts this issue altogether, acting as a USB-compatible port for your Super Famicom/Nintendo and SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges. A cartridge slotted in the Retrode has its ROM files mounted as virtual files on a USB drive which can be accessed by your favorite emulator. It also features ports for connecting your original SNES and Genesis controllers, which are mounted as HID-compliant devices.
It's also not terribly cheap. The one US-based distributor for the product, Stone Age Gamer, is currently accepting pre-orders at a price of $84.99 (free shipping). In Europe, you can snag one for a little over €70 direct from Retrode. Still, if you want to feel good about yourself when you're playing emulated games, is that really too much to pay for peace of mind?
About the Retrode [Retrode via Perez Start]
Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work.
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Contest:
3:30 PM on 01.03.2012 | 
Tho might pick one up once the price drops if they still exist that is.
In a word, yes.
Emulators are popular because they are infinitely convenient. Anyone who wants to play with an original gamepad likely already has a Smartjoy or similar USB adapter. If cartridges are *that* important to an individual, I sincerely doubt they would purchase this instead of just getting an original console from Ebay.
I'm finding it hard to imagine a scenario in which any consumer would think this was a good buy.
There should be a console able to read any kind of old cartridge and display it in emulation perfection. Because a real N64 on HDTV isn't pretty at all, it looks much better in emulation.
this thing is worthless. you can get a used snes for less than 80$.
I CANT CUM TO THIS
File too. Emulation is touchy these days. I'm wondering has anyone actually been taken to court over having roms? Or just court ordered to take down sites that offer downloads?
Since virtual console on wii it seems all the websites have gone away
It seem to simply read the rom file from the cartridge from an emulator. You are technically playing with the cartridge with your PC and having acces to the saves too!
I like the idea of having a SNES ripper available for cheap, good for peoples in possessions of proto, unreleased etc
Nice way to get my 100% Yoshi Island savegame!
Emulators and ROMS? Free.
USB SNES/Genesis/etc controller? $10 each on Amazon.
Downloading ROMS and Emulators and configuring the settings to be played by my 360 controller and getting the satisfaction of not paying a penny for classic titles?
PRICELESS.
Then again, I know there's a LOT more involved in those kinds of things. A person or two (or a lot) will try and tell me that it can't be done because "Nintendo wouldn't _______ from ______ by ______"
Still, a man can dream...
...or am I missing something?
Because the law about playing emulated software is that you have to dump the ROM file from your own cartridge. Obtaining the ROM from a third party, even if you physically own the game, is not legal. Remember all those disclaimers about "you can only download this if you own the game, but must delete within 24 hours if you don't"? Yeah, those are all lies.
It's a shame this wasn't out 12 years ago, when people besides fanatical collectors might still have their cartridge collections. Here's hoping this company makes a very limited run, and moves on to more timely and relevant projects.
I know it's more trouble than it's worth, but I like owning NES cartridges, played on my NES, hooked up to my shitty old TV.
http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?products_id=34
There are flashcards for NES, SNES, n64 and Mega Drive. They work just like those R4 cards everybody knows from their DS.
... I watch too much Arrested Development.
Put in game. Turn on system. Play.
For me it should never be more difficult than that. I have little enough time to play as it is already.
They should make one of these for the 8-bit generation and perhaps one for the Neo Geo and Nintendo 64.