Are Retro Consoles Still Necessary?

[@ferdgerbeler8494]

One of the greatest curses that can be laid is "May your hobbies become popular and mainstream"

[@Mariomayhem]

Just realised this...@_@

[@putridscene]

We've entered a golden age where the ability to make games for almost every gaming system since the medium's inception is available to anyone willing to put in the work. There are nearly 50 games coming out for the Sega Genesis in the year 2025. That is incredible.

[@xTheMenaceHimselfx]

Lemme know when there's new GameCube and Wii games

[@efeugurYT]

I want to make retro games when i grow up

[@DamianYerrick]

@@xTheMenaceHimselfx Some new games can be played on a Wii with the Homebrew Channel installed, whether via Letterbomb or via Smash Stack. You aren't going to see new disc games because of how much the discs differ from a standard DVD-ROM.

[@HeathenDance]

The recent fan made Doom for the 32x shows the true capabilities of the system.

[@HeathenDance]

@efeugurYT AND SO YOU SHOULD!

[@Infindox]

I think its good to own the old systems, but with how the retro gaming market is, it's also a good idea to invest in carts like the Everdrive that you can use to play on official hardware. Some people will fight with me that it's not the same thing as owning the actual thing, but with prices as they are now it's the next best thing.

[@Linklex7]

I’m all for convenience. I don’t care about the “original” hardware as long as the game works right. Retro gaming on original hardware is so expensive it’s not worth it. I’d rather have an emulator on my computer with the proper controllers (which you can buy off Amazon), an evercart, or a special console that plays older game like a retro duo.

[@HeathenDance]

@@Linklex7 Retro gaming on original hardware is only expensive if you buy the official releases. I have a multi-game pirate NES cartridge, with 800 games ;-) Including Super Mario Bros. 2 Japan.

[@wiinis-official]

A really fun thing I've been doing recently is collecting wireless controllers from manufacturers like 8bitdo and using them on older consoles... or my Chromebox that's modified to run retro games through Batocera. With consoles such as the Wii and PS2, I'd say it's worth it to look into homebrew and run games on those pieces of hardware. Anything older runs the risk of being pretty expensive.

[@Paul07791]

But legally you have to own the original carts anyway, ahem cough cough. As if, cough.

[@picsl8ed867]

The modern game industry could crash tomorrow, and I will not shed one tear. Just gonna sit here with my Retrotink4K and original consoles; it's all I need.

[@darthwoody9917]

We're definitely gonna get a repeat of what happened in 1983.

[@kek-senpai243]

Same here. I can't stand the current state of gaming, but I can return to retro games and bask in its glory

[@joeydigrado382]

​@@kek-senpai243 I never left.

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

​@@darthwoody9917Lol. That's not gonna happen.

[@dkell1597]

I got a ridiculously expensive computer With a new 4k monitor and a 4090 But guess what I use my Pi3 the most of anything playing old 8 bit 16 bit games I don't even know why I bother with the new tech anymore

[@f.k.b.16]

Don't forget retro games didn't track your every move nor advertise your brains out. And new retro releases, beyond the initial purchase, cannot do this either.

[@joeydigrado382]

@@f.k.b.16 👌🤘

[@albertlevins9191]

I am an emulator nerd and a data hoarder. Sufficing to say, I have done the legwork and I can play my favorite games from my childhood. But I miss the CRT monitor. There was a beauty in those moving pictures that flatscreens seem to have lost. I liked the video and I totally agree with you.😊

[@deoxysandmew2162]

Absolutely yes/ Very necessary in fact. I still pop my older consoles and even more frequent these days.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

i mean I don't soly because it's way more convent to emulate or play the rereleases... Also I don't want to botger with the up keep and overhauls so yeah I just keep them on display now...

[@xTheMenaceHimselfx]

​@@GreenBlueWalkthrough I would DEFINITELY emulate N64 and play NES and SNES physically because I just cannot stand that N64 controller and it would make games play a bit better on a PC

[@HeathenDance]

I'm 41 years old and only recently finished the original Metroid on my original NES, that I own since I was 9. What a memorable experience.

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

@@xTheMenaceHimselfx In my case, I always use a USB N64 controller to play emulated N64 games. 😄 Half for nostalgia and half cuz the games were designed around the N64's layout. There are not enough face buttons on a modern controller.

[@MIDNIGHT0521]

​@@HeathenDance42 going on 43 here, and I just recently done the same with Metroid, Kid Icarus, et al. Only exception being I got the console in '85/'86 so my original was long gone but acquired the one I still use today for only $20 in '00/'01 at FuncoLand. My next project is to redo The Guardian Legend. :)

[@animateddepression]

I wish I had garage saled and thrift stored more when things were almost free

[@MaccAttacc]

Great video. I was expecting the topic of Everdrives to appear since it's the middle ground of playing on original consoles but not having to pay $40+ per game. You transfer the roms on the Everdrive and still get the authentic feeling since it's not technically emulation. Sure, Everdrives are pricey, but when you can put the whole library of a console on it and still play on the original console, it's a very cost effective option.

[@tspawn35]

I was going to say who uses the physical media anymore. It's the feeling of playing on real hardware without having to change the game in the system. Everdrives, ODEs and mods to run off a hdd. I stopped collecting games a long time ago because every reto system I have has a way to load roms. I do mean every: atarti 2600, genesis, nes, super nes, n64, dreamcast, saturn, ps1, ps2, ps3, wii, og xbox and xbox 360. Which also gives me the ability to play game cube, master system and sega cd games. Also every handheld save my switch.

[@GiordanDiodato]

@@tspawn35 it's because those everdrives fail way sooner than actual carts.

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

There are cheaper alternatives to the Everdrive

[@Sinistar1983]

One reason that you'd want a retro console is for accuracy. Some games are still not emulated properly and some can't be emulated due to certain designs like dance pads or how advanced the coding can be. As a neo gameboy developer I've ran into issues with even the best emulators as my game takes advantage of some obscure calls. And if the emulation is any less than perfect then the sound breaks down very easily and it only works the real hardware or an incredible FPGA.

[@RM01_]

I just like the feel of playing on the original hardware yk I find it alot more fun than emulations

[@GiordanDiodato]

yeah sometimes certain games can't be emulated properly, like PS3 games or even some Saturn gaems.

[@PowuhToSeven]

​@@GiordanDiodato the thing for me was screen tearing.

[@jamiekuchma]

You will never be able to find and maintain arcade games, that is the only way to play them .....gasp ..emulation, if you don't emulate your only cheating yourself out of good gaming experiences, there will come a time when all of your consoles are dead and you will not be able to play them anymore, without emulation

[@Sinistar1983]

@jamiekuchma when did I ever mention arcade games? I'm just stating the facts as a developer how it's incredibly important to utilize the real consoles. If you look above I mentioned how certain quirks of these older machines aren't fully emulated. Your response does not comply to the statement above

[@GreenBunnyGamesGuides]

I have to agree, if you simply want to PLAY retro games, emulation and reproduction carts are a must

[@TheGunmanChannel]

My NES, SNES and 2 of my N64s no longer work unfortunately. For me it's a bit of both, I like my physical games and consoles, but I find myself emulating most of the time. Batocera is so good these days.

[@dirk8449]

Theres just something so satisfying about popping the cartridge in. And I loved the sega hardshell covers.

[@AllieRX]

The easiest and cheapest way to get into retro gaming nowadays is by getting one of those Anbernic, PowKiddy or Miyoo handhelds. They're very cheap and can emulate a lot of retro consoles. An old laptop is also a great for retro emulation, and you can even install Batocera on it. Buying and collecting real hardware, real cartridges/CDs and CRTs is for the most diehard retro enthusiasts.

[@kallemetsahalme5701]

easy comparison is that there are people who have a nice poster or painting on the wall, but you can just walk in to their house, take it away and replace it with something else and theyre just fine with it. for them a painting is a painting, a movie is a movie and a game is a game. but for some people that specific poster at that certain place presents something.

[@frankbizzoco1954]

Retro gaming has made me pick up a new skill, which is soldering. All of my consoles have gone under a full recap. There are plenty of tutorials on how to fix these things. I play on real hardware, retropie, android, pc, and the mini consoles. I use the Retrotink, and a CRT. The first time i saw the original Zelda played in a Famicom Disk System with the use of the microphone, i knew i had to have one. You really haven't lived until you have beaten the Pols Voice by yelling at it lol. There's just something about those clicks and clanks of a FDS that is very satisfying... I would not tell someone else they're doung it wrong. The only real tragedy would be is if these great games were lost to the addles of history. But like you said, there's quite a rabbit hole if you want to start collecting in original hardware now. Nice video!

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

Why do you play so many different ways?

[@frankbizzoco1954]

@user-vi4xy1jw7e because i like to tinker. Some ways are more expensive than others, of course. I like to see how different, or the same every method is. I'm also on the go a lot. Real hardware is best for gaming at home, and you want an authentic experience. Retropie is best if you just need to play something convenient. Android is great if you're on the go. It all has some sort of purpose. At least in my head lol.

[@Ian-of9oi]

I see parallels between vintage gaming and the collector car hobby. I’ve done both. In the future people will be soldering in capacitors the same way people use to rebuild carburetors.

[@jsmith1174]

It's worth it for the homebrew scene alone

[@HeathenDance]

Yes.

[@mrburns366]

No mention of Raspberry Pi or Mister FPGA? Wow, that's a major oversight.

[@ninjaguyYT]

You're a major oversight

[@armorgeddon]

Raspberry Pi runs the same emulators as PCs do, mostly just recompiled for it's CPU architecture with a few tweaks here and there to tailor it to the hardware. The result is much worth performance though compared to even 15 year old PCs. I'd only recommend a Pi if an ultray small form factor is needed, for anything else get a PC which can also be very compact with the ITX- and proprietary form factors. Mister FPGA and similar systems have their pros and cons to PCs and indeed should've been mentioned in this video.

[@vancetamolang8494]

I’ve been buying games and old systems on auction the past 2 years. Just to relive old memories. I’m thankful my parents still have a CRT so I’m able to relive those memories exactly the way I remembered. I now have a Mister Pi with SNAC adapters so I don’t need to pull out the consoles but still be able to play on a modern HDTV. It’s a weird mesh of emulation and playing on real hardware and IMO it’s the closest thing we have for preservation. But to answer your initial question: YES for old folks hitting their mid-life crisis, it is very much worth it and beats collecting old cars and motorcycles that our parents did which are even more expensive (and who has that kind of space).

[@pflynn12]

Clone consoles are meant to be another alternative which you can use your NES, SNES or genesis cartridges with

[@HeathenDance]

Yep. In some countries Famicom clones were way more popular than the official Nintendo system.

[@alface935]

Like in the Soviet Union where Dendy which was a Famiclone released in the year 1992 and became so popular that by the year 1994: "...Steepler sought to establish a partnership with Nintendo, attempting to contact the company's European division through its regional office in Germany. Initially, Nintendo did not respond to these overtures. However, upon learning of the popularity of 8-bit console clones in Russia, Nintendo reached out to Steepler in spring 1994. The company invited Victor Savyuk to Seattle for a meeting with Nintendo of America executives Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln. Following several days of negotiations, Steepler and Nintendo reached an agreement. Under its terms, Steepler ceased promoting Sega products and obtained exclusive distribution rights for Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy consoles in Commonwealth Of Independent States and all Post-Soviet States. The agreement also stipulated that Nintendo would refrain from pursuing legal action regarding Dendy sales. ..." Source: Dendy on Wikipedia

[@GiordanDiodato]

yeah but some still limited. for instance, Castlevania III only works on official hardware due to weird chips used.

[@CZpersi]

Hollowed be the FPGA.

[@HeathenDance]

@@alface935 Many people say Nintendo were sharks in the Industry. It's amazing the amount of piracy they allowed to exist. In Southern Europe, some stores had for sale BOTH the official NES and the Famicom/NES clones ahah. Guess which was cheaper lol.

[@GrnArrow092]

I'm someone who got into emulation back in the late 90's when the first NES and SNES emulators were developed. Since then, I was always looking for ways to play those old games on modern hardware. Some solutions didn't really work all that well. When I heard the NES and SNES classic consoles were released, I didn't hesitate to pick them up at my local Best Buy store. Since I had my private collection of NES and SNES games on my computer, I wondered if there was a way to put them on my classic consoles... and there was. I found an application that allowed games to be uploaded onto those classic consoles and I went for it. When I took those newly uploaded games for a test drive, it was like stepping back into the past. Sure, it wasn't the legal way to do it, but I doubted that anyone was going to care about those games that are more than 30 years old at this point in time.

[@elphive42]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention FPGA in this video at all. The MiSTer has turned 90% of my retro hardware from devices I regularly use into display pieces.

[@kvdrr]

no, but he did mention subscription services! that's a first dislike from me on this channel, sadly

[@NinjaRunningWild]

Same. I own most of the retro consoles but usually just play on my Steam Deck with EmuDeck or the MiSTer.

[@mrburns366]

He didn't mention flash carts either. Must be terrified of Nintendo Ninjas

[@thatssomegoodpie]

Old hardware breaking down is probably the most annoying and discouraging hurdle in my opinion. Just last year my SNES broke down, My OG Xbox broke down and my GameCube is starting to have issues with reading discs... I didn't bother replacing the SNES with an original one, I just got a Retron clone console which is brand new and works well enough for my purposes.

[@beauvogames]

I moved from England to America and as such, had to leave all my retro consoles behind. Shipping my old consoles thousands of miles and adapting to the different frequencies and stuff seems impractical, but so does rebuilding my collection with American versions. I'm very thankful for the Wii U eShop and Switch online service for providing a way for me to play these games. Though I prefer physical and love the "romance" of having all those physical versions and playing on the original hardware, I'm also not hugely fussed about the quality or having the *exact* same experience and am happy to just have an authentic *enough* experience and am grateful to have that with the modern emulations and re-releases 😊

[@user-sp4nu9gh2i]

I totally agree that retro consoles are still relevant and great to play. Just a shame it's getting expensive to collect now. I started years ago and some games that I picked up for next to nothing are now selling at high prices. I would not like to start over now

[@Benny.Nelson.7]

For those who wanted to read the message after 9:44 "But as great as PC emulation can be, there's a lot of people who just don't want to sit at a computer to play games. And setting up emulators can also be tricky process, often requiring technical know-how that not everyone has or wants to deal with. For many, the effort just isn't worth it compared to the straightforward simplicity of plugging in a vintage console and jumping right into the action."

[@Smurfideologue]

That TMNT nes background music put me back! Wow that track rocks so hard!

[@Efri3nd]

physical media is beautiful but with the resellers and scalpers inflating the prices to outrageous prices has ruined the hobby. Invest in a raspberri Pi and have it all in one. I did the change and its a game changer. Why pay 100 dollars for 1 cartridge when you can have it all in one. A PVM is also a must for the Pi

[@GiordanDiodato]

so piracy?

[@Efri3nd]

@@GiordanDiodato i prefer the term game preservation

[@Pentanteles]

Actually, if you buy used cartridge, you donate the seller. Nintendo or Sega already earned the money for it back in the time. For example, I'd like to buy the original Chrono Trigger for my SNES, but I live in Europe. This game was never published here. Should I still wait for official release? Of course not :)

[@joeydigrado382]

@@Efri3nd why? Because it's an investment and it will be worth more in the future.

[@Efri3nd]

@Pentanteles a majority of the time those sellers are scalpers. You'll donate 500 dollars for a used copy of earthbound and do the market more harm than good. By buying a product for that much you are only letting scalpers know that their are gullible people willing to pay outrageous prices. I honestly think reproduction copies are a better way to go. If you really feel the need to own a physical copy

[@Riz2336]

I just have one old console in my setup of game systems, the Sega Saturn. Got a lot of nostalgia for that one since it was my first system ever and it's got an amazing library of games for it

[@BreakingNVain]

I have a Super NT & an Analogue 3D on the way in 2 months. Couldn't be happier retro gaming on my 65" Samsung.

[@darthwoody9917]

I'm hoping a ps1 fpga clone comes out soon that can play physical discs.

[@RandallStevenson]

@@darthwoody9917 me too, PS2 preferably since you can still play PS1 on any PS3

[@OakleyGamer-17]

Hey thanks. I’m still chasing for an NES these days because I had one since I was 0-5 years old. I don’t know what happened but if disappeared somehow and a few years later I had a dream of the NES games that reminded me of the NES. Since then I’ve been looking for one and this video gave me extra detail for consoles. Thank you!

[@JakeRazorClawson]

Very informative video. Learned the truth about emulators, subscription services, and other technical details. Reasonable maintenance and availability of original hardware can be challenging, but rewarding to keep alive. I stopped playing systems when the 3d trend started, but still enjoy viewing a lot of "retro" gaming yt videos. Thanks for all the info and insight Gruz man.

[@TheJadeFist]

It may have gotten more expensive than it used to be, but it's still cheaper than buying modern consoles and new 60-80 dollar games.

[@Roscoe-111]

How bad new games have gotten on top of that... yeesh.

[@GiordanDiodato]

@@Roscoe-111 not all new games are bad though

[@Gameprojordan]

That doesn't mean much. Games this old shouldn't be just below the price of a modern game. The prices of these old games a decade ago made sense, nowadays it's overinflated purely out of greed

[@TheJadeFist]

@@Gameprojordan I'm just saying it's still cheaper than modern gaming over all. Also consider the fact that there are finite copies of games and systems, and I don't know about you I don't really plan on selling anything I own, and I know alot of people are the same that way. Every time a game is bought by a collector, generally speaking it's not returning to circulation unless someone dies or is desperate for cash.

[@joeydigrado382]

@@Gameprojordan the older something gets the more it will go up in value. It would be sad and suck if they didn't go up this much. Collectors have been waiting for this. But you can still buy GoldenEye cheaper than when it was first released, so I don't see what the big deal is.

[@thingsiplay]

Reverse Engineering and PC Ports There is a recent trend of N64 games being reverse engineered, and then ported to PC with enhancements. Games like Zelda and Starfox 64 in example. And it is even Open Source, which is a great thing!

[@DamianYerrick]

Why have I heard only about decompilations of Nintendo's own N64 games, and rarely if ever of third-party games?

[@thingsiplay]

@@DamianYerrick Nintendo games have a huge fanbase and a long history. They are often leading games in videogame history as well. Unlike most third party games, Nintendo games are only on Nintendo consoles. If the fans go through the immense work and effort to decompile a game, then it must be a special game, not something third party that nobody cares.

[@Wizard66]

One hardware alternative for modern displays are inexpensive clone systems with HDMI output like Hyperkens clone consoles for NES SNES Genesis Atari. There is also RetroUSB AVS & Analogues FPGA based retail systems for the high end.

[@mikedoherty8897]

I think both physical and digital will continue to be in demand for many years to come.

[@travis1044]

The algorithm has blessed me with this video. Subbed.

[@GamersAtticshow]

You hit every thing I was thinking about retro gaming . Great video I really enjoyed it :)

[@fritchoffnilsson2574]

What a great vid, Gruz. Breath of fresh air! Nostalgic as hell! Well done, my guy! 🙏

[@albatross1779]

I've never actually seen anyone give a flip about "legality" when it comes to acquiring ROMs, so that's a non-issue. Get a SBC handheld and away you go. Who wants to dump their own ROMs when someone else has done so already? The people who distribute ROMs are the ones who take all the risks and hats off to them, but I've never heard of cops breaking down someone's door for playing a ROM of Super Mario World they acquired on Internet Archive.

[@calebprenger3928]

there is no legal gray line with emulation. Even when buying at a used game store, original devs do not get money.

[@ZMAN_420]

Yes is my opinion. I still have my NES, Final Fantasy 1, The Legend of Zelda batteries still work. All original from the 80's. Great Videos!

[@ericbrynelson9725]

I don't mind the new tvs if the picture is clear enough its ok with me.

[@RyanMercer]

Yes. Yes they are. Which is why I horde them 😂

[@CompletelyAverageGameplay]

Given how old they are, you'd be foolish not to hoard them if you're serious about using and/or maintaining original hardware. I've had Famicom, SNES, Genesis, and PS1 consoles die on me in just the past couple of years. You should also keep one or two around for parts (depending on what broke on it). I try to keep between 5 and 8 of each console around or in storage.

[@RyanMercer]

@@CompletelyAverageGameplay Stop. Don't encourange me. I've bought 5 snes/super famicom, a n64, a genesis and a mega drive and about 20 more controllers in the past 2 months to add to the others and a dozen or so cartridges haha. Way too much of my YT income goes right to growing my collection.

[@CompletelyAverageGameplay]

​@@RyanMercer😂 Sorry! Once you start, it *is* hard to stop! I've been enjoying collecting retro arcade sticks of late.

[@RyanMercer]

@@CompletelyAverageGameplay 2 years ago it was game boy/gba/gb light/gb pocket/gb color variations for me. Bought 30-something that year, the affordable variations.

[@HUYI1]

If you can afford it and the game carts..... Sure 😂😂

[@PaulMaxJaeger]

I just download all the Roms and play them on my modded Wii U or 2DS XL with Emulators. Simple and cost-effective

[@Linklex7]

Same

[@Mario00064]

For Atari 2600, 7800, Jaguar, NES, SNES and Genesis you definitely still need original consoles (or the Analogue FPGA equivalent) for one reason - aftermarket games. Games are still being released for these systems and, especially with Atari & NES, there is no guarantee of a digital release. Plus, aftermarket devs often use custom chips so as to require use of a physical cartridge to play the game.

[@RobsRetroGaming]

it's the entire physical feel and experience of the retro consoles and all the components that I love. I use a CRT for all my retro consoles, and a flat screen for my emulator.

[@johndoh4132]

Great video. I'd love physical copies because I hate how much control the big cults....I mean corporations have. Unfortunately, the astronomical prices both on eBay and in stores make it impossible for most people to own. Plus, as you said, servicing games and consoles is crazy difficult for some people.

[@RandallStevenson]

You've neglected to mention companies like Analogue and Hyperkin

[@GiordanDiodato]

RetroUSB

[@AnnCatsanndra]

As a Dreamcast fan, there's no way to get the perfect original experience anymore.Even if you're lucky enough to have one with the optical drive in good condition, they're not lasting very long anymore, VGA inputs are disappearing, and VMUs are basically a secondary handheld console all on their own. There's no perfect emulators for it- though there's a ton that make for very playable games. And while one can swap out the optical drive with an ODE, then those drive-read sounds and load-speeds that kinda make up part of the experience is lost too.

[@painter194]

Great video! I haven’t heard about the N64 Bluetooth adapters yet. Just ordered, thx!

[@johntuel2375]

They are great for the original experience. For me, it's worth it. But I grew up with the evolution of consoles starting with an atari, so I have actual memories attached to them. Any kids that had any of those OG systems while growing up are lucky if you ask me.

[@RobiBrock]

MisterFPGA will change how you feel about your collection pretty quickly. You can play all the way up to N64, Saturn and PSX on a CRT if you wish with original controllers. Gives me the "nostalgia" without having to be a caretaker to games. These games are so well preserved that there is little issue of anyone "taking them away". But to each their own.

[@voteDC]

While I still have a lot of nostalgia for the systems I own, I'll almost always go for the emulated version. One of the big reasons is save states, just being able to save when and where I want is a godsend. No more sitting through the opening scenes of Grandia when I fancy playing through again because I can just load a save state from Sue running through the town.

[@plusah1268]

when i originally watched ur content, iirc the first vid of urs i watched was that smb3 top 10 romhacks like 10 years ago, I was kiiinda somewhat interested in retro consoles and man, it was stupid easy to get any retro consoles/games u wanted back then. it was just not expensive. like at all. bought an n64 with 7 games (3 of which are worth like 60$ each) for like 60$ 10 years ago. nowadays, u cant even go to sleep and dream a deal that good.

[@mikemayberry7121]

I have a CRT television about the same size as yours and an Atari 2600. People have fun at my Atari parties. I'm so glad I held on to all of that stuff.

[@spektred]

Its been too long since your last video man. We need more 😊

[@HAMMERHEAD-g3h]

No, the answer is no. Spend your money the way you want but when you have things like the RetroPie, its just silly to play on retro systems. I'll still get the same trip down memory lane playing on emulator as I did on the original console. Especially considering all the different controller options we have. Feels exactly the same to me.

[@Linklex7]

Facts. As long as the game runs well I’m fine with computers and Retro Pi. I’m not trying to take a 2nd mortgage on my house just to play Bucky O Hare on the NES.

[@albatross1779]

Personally, I've moved on from the old systems, but having experienced the OG hardware does make the experience of emulating that much better IMHO, because I can recall how it was, and miscellaneous things like the intro, load times, etc. It did surprise me to learn that kids nowadays want to experience the old systems for themselves, but I'm all for letting them. I've had my fun with it, and now that I've moved on, I want them to have that experience too.

[@HAMMERHEAD-g3h]

@@albatross1779 same here dude. I went from originally going back and playing all the games from childhood to exploring new titles. I'm pretty much at that point to where I'm nostalgia'd out lol. I like having all that stuff available to play when I want but I don't want a bunch of old junk sitting around in my house just to look at.

[@albatross1779]

​@@HAMMERHEAD-g3h For me, I'll keep what remaining old games and hardware I have for the time being, but it is true that it mostly just sits in storage, and I'm certainly not going to add other people's old junk to my old junk. I don't often play the old systems anymore because I don't need to. Modern devices like my Retroid really are a space saver in addition to a money saver. As a bonus, that thing can connect to my TV and supports external controllers so I can have the console experience too, in addition to taking it on the go.

[@joeydigrado382]

There is nothing like using a bright source of light to play game boy, and sitting in front of a PSone with the LCD screen. Or blowing into a NEs cartridge right before you pop it in. My childhood cannot be replicated with an emulator. There is nothing like holding a GBAmicro that a emulator can ever replicate. What emulator has tearaway or LBP with a back touch pad and front touch screen?? What emulator is worth 1000's of dollars with 40+ years of history attached to it?

[@user-gj1lb6xp3t]

as long as you're having fun do what makes you happy 🤙 I live in a small space in a big city so I have to make sure any physical media I buy is something I really want

[@Supafuh]

Really nice vidéo ✌️👍 I think the good compromise is retro console with a little CRT screen like yours (still affordable in after market and not too big in modern setups) coupled with a cartridge that supports sd cards full of roms ! I like this way of playing, best of both worlds😊 And I love emulation since 1999❤

[@fairlyamused]

I still love having the old hardware but then again I can solder. I have a whole stack of Atari 2600's I've been fixing.

[@American_Mike]

My Magnavox CRT is 27 inches and weighs almost 100 pounds.

[@stardestroyer81]

Gruz, your videos and shorts are so feel-good and fun to watch. Just thought you ought to know! Subbed

[@lucamatthewfry2328]

This was really well done, I enjoyed it. Subscribed :)

[@Skye_7_7]

Which cartridges are you using to compare prices to Nintendo Switch Online? It costs $20 (or $50 with Expansion Pack) & most NES, N64 & Super Nintendo games cost $5. The consoles cost $50 (that’s like 2 months of Nintendo Switch Online). There are some for $10 & maybe $15. Then there are the super rare collectible ones that are like $100, $200, $500, $1,000, and so on, but those are very specific games.

[@dontletmebrown]

“They’re like time capsules filled with cherished memories” hits the nail on the head. A great game is a great game. For someone who doesn't have the "cherished memories" you're referring to there's no reason to play it on the hardware the synapses of older people cling to. DKC is a killer title regardless of what hunk of plastic you play it on.

[@Mr_Mack88]

I still have 2 retro consoles a NES & SNES (they are clones of the real systems) and I play them from time to time, I have modern consoles too an XSX, PS5 & Switch OLED. But when I want to go back and play old games from my childhood all I have to do is go and boot up the NES & Super Nintendo, people might think it's weird to sit back and play old games. But people don't understand that nostalgia is a strong thing, especially for people who grew up in the 80s and 90s gaming going to places like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video with our parent's renting games and staying up late playing games, boy those were the good old days lol.

[@joeydigrado382]

Ill never stop buying and playing retro. It's my biggest collection.

[@blackhawk65589]

It's a tough choice. I do love retro consoles and holding game boxes as I flip though the manual. However, I find myself looking it as "clutter" and either store it in the closet, or struggle to find a spot in my tiny apartment.

[@keiganthetennessean1796]

I can't afford to collect old consoles but I respect those that do and LOVE seeing them on videos. What satisfies me and my budget is being able to still play the games and own entire libraries through emulation. Nothing beats the original experience but having an original-style USB gamepad hooked to a PC beats nothing.

[@kimjongun2946]

Only reason I have most of the old consoles is they are my childhood consoles and games which I never sold. No way I'd buy or attempt to repurchase all those old games today if I did not save them. It's just too expensive.

[@digitaladventurer2142]

Retro gaming has gone down the last few years but I think they are still relevant especially in the speedrunning community. Sometimes it is easier to just hook up an old system and TV then to try and make it work on a modern tv and consule.

[@Hartley_Papa]

I'm in my retro era at 38 an I'm enjoying gaming more then I have in a while. Marvel rivals with my kids is pretty fun though too

[@Notshaner]

Still hoping for some of those unfinished games to become a reality someday too. Such as the Mega Drive version of "Plok!" which would be really cool to see how they convert the music. The homebrew scene has done a great job at restoring existing games to a newfound glory too. "DOOM Resurrection" might as well be the best console version to exist ever since that update with how unique it is, alongside an option for the PC soundtrack. Though the newly made fan renditions on the Mega Drive sound chip sound so good already. And the 6-button controller support, right down to the MODE button being an extra input. They thought uo just about everything. Just imagining it releasing the way it did here, the 32X would've been remembered fondly for one great game.

[@thereasonableconsumer]

Bought an emulator usb stick that plugs right into a modern tv for $30. No lag, 10,000 games from 8 classic consoles, it even came with 2 remotes. If it breaks its not the end of the world.

[@joonaspalin848]

I would pay big bucks,if I could have my Nintendo and all the games I had back in the day back!!!

[@CHIPCORNFIELD]

good video man, keep it up brotha

[@8bitnation419]

Hell yeah, deals can still be found with the og stuff. I love emulation but what i mainly like about emulation is the portable aspect of it. But og stuff is so collectable. And also the Famicom is another option for the NES, they cost a lot less.

[@neowen8075]

I am a retro gamer and speed runner for that reason alone I prefer actual hardware as some of the tricks, A crt tv and a actual console is needed for certain games.

[@ZMAN_420]

Physical Media is really important to me. VHS also with videos. I remember going to the mom and pop video stores in the 80's.🤘🏻👍🏻🇺🇲

[@AceCorr]

Retro Consoles and games = feeding your NOSTALGIA! People feel comfort with nostalgia. Life was easier and simpler back in the 80s and 90s. Nowadays, people especially millennials are stressed out just by talking on the phone.

[@SomeRetroGuy]

Especially us Millennials because we got to experience the world before and after it turned into a long running South Park episode.

[@rickhunter7]

I own two small CRTs in very good condition. In spite of my family insisting I get rid of them I refuse to do so, I know their real value!

[@Everything-Wii]

Depends! On one hand, I personally collect because it feels the most authentic, but also because it feels good to own a piece of gaming history. I love physical media, and just as you said, they carry emotional weight and it feels like you actually own something. On the other hand, I recognize the price of collecting games. It's insane. And I've been lucky to find my stuff at thrift stores and yard sales, but that's not viable for everyone. So, long story short, let's respect each other's methods of gaming :)

[@Chris-Courage]

It's only cheaper and easier to play games on the Nintendo Switch if you already own a Nintendo Switch. If you don't own a switch, then finding a cheap CRT and buying that old console plus the few games you want to play, could actually be cheaper.

[@Linklex7]

Not anymore. People took advantage of the retro craze. Buying a CRT, NES, and Games could cost you thousands of dollars now.

[@mattmc5069]

I think the answer depends on each person. I grew up with NES and have many special memories playing it. But would I want to go back to a CRT to play one? I'm used to HD now and sometimes things change for a reason. It is easier to play games then ever before and while the games aren't outdated to me the way we used to play them is

[@Boarder4892]

So I write out the back can’t remember the last year that I had my former PlayStation two, but just about maybe two, maybe 2 1/2 months ago by now, I ordered a refurbished PS2 off eBay and since then have gotten back down on a couple of the original and PlayStation 2 games I had previously owned for my prior system. I have 264 MB PS2 memory cards and two original memory cards and they work and the games due too. For a good maybe four or five years, I had had a 42 inch Vizio, Smart TV and it’s an upgrade from the standard Vizio version of the same size I have that I gave to a friend of mine that I’m still friends with, but she used to live out here years ago, and when she got into her first apartment again after several years, I gave her my base Vizio version and got myself a 42 inch smart version. Now, coincidentally enough recently, my dad who has a membership to Costco, but a really nice updated 65 inch TV for the living room and my parents live just a couple miles up the street from me so it, I’m pretty much there in just a couple minutes by vehicle at least, and his 10 to 11-year-old TV which is still pretty much a flat panel/flatscreen 62 inch TV, Samsung, which is 20 inches bigger than my TV, I originally had that little analog adapter he showed in the video and I still have it attached, but my smart Vizio, which I now have put in my bedroom and this 62 inch Samsung, which is now in my living room both have the older analog cables with the red, white white and yellow, but I have that adapter that he showed a picture of, I have the exact thing and I did get it off eBay, so one of the ends holds those old-fashioned analog connectors, and the other side is an HDMI slot, mailed to Mail for the other side of connect into the TV, so between when I have been playing this PlayStation two on my 42 inch which is now in my bedroom and now on my 62 inch, this new big TV that is now in my living room, playing those games feels like I’m right back playing them how I was with my original version and I don’t see or feel any down scaling of the graphics, between the 42 which is now in my room and this new 62, which I have, it still turns on and it still works, I’m just now playing those games on a bigger TV, this refurbished PS2 is not emulator or anything. It’s pretty much just the same old classic system and the games that I own our games I previously owned so between the 42 inch and now the 62 inch, whenever I play the games that I previously owned and I switched back-and-forth, I feel they pretty much looked the same as they did back then, so there’s no down scaling of graphics, no detriment in the sound, I feel like I’m pretty much playing the games like how I remember, playing them almost exactly the same way just from a smaller TV now to a big TV. And currently with my new PlayStation 2, the games I currently have for it until I order more off eBay as well because the system in the games I ordered off eBay, are the first two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games, Driver, 3XTREME, Thrasher: Skate and Destroy, Dynasty Warriors 2, Stuntman and Test Drive. The nice thing about having the system back in is back when I had my original one, there weren’t any refurbished copies available I don’t think back then, or people in the business of trying to make them and I think the lens for reading the games went out, and also back then I didn’t have the money I do now for my job and being an adult in my early 40s, to re-purchase another system so I pretty much had to wait a handful of ears before I decided to get back down on something like this, but over the last, maybe five or six years I wanted to, and I told myself when I had the money and if I had the chance, and if I could afford it, I wanted to start getting down on old video game consoles I used to have as a kid growing up like the original Nintendo, super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Genesis, even the PS2, but the funny thing about all of those other game consoles I had, I think it’s funny that a younger generation of people between 18 and 30 are currently in the realm of the higher definition consoles with all of the games of cinematic quality that take hours and hours to play is their thing, and my mind is still back with how much I enjoyed these older generation consoles, but of any of the previous ones I had as a kid growing up, I had anywhere from 30 to 50 games for the PS2 so that game system for me had the biggest library I remember.

[@GiordanDiodato]

a lot of games haven't seen rereleases due to licensing issues or they're still really tricky to emulate.

[@vitamind.d.fishinsea8570]

It's an option that requires some (lots) of money, some space and perhaps even some maintenance skills. Many dont have the connection to the original gear but can appreciate it much like vintage cars or guitars. Folks like krizz need a medal for those of us that like the feel, aesthetic ans appreciate the various product design elements of the original stuff but cant afford to sell a kidney to buy some rare software. For me I personally enjoy sitting in front of a cathode ray tube getting a radioactive xray tan with the console at my feet and the particular controller in my palm.

[@IuriFiedoruk]

While I do have a videogames collection (Odyssey2, Dactar/Atari 2600, NES, SNES, GC, Wii, Master System, Mega Drive, Ps1 to 5, I end up playing my retro games mostly in... a little PSX Classic that I hacked to add emulators and runs everything very well and is nice and easy to use and play.

[@bxgeo5180]

Great video What are your thoughts on clone consoles?

[@solofalcon]

I miss collecting retro stuff in the early 2010s

[@mootbooxle]

I’ve got two great CRT’s that I’ve been having a hard time selling locally. Do people actually ship these?

[@HUYI1]

Personal opinion, NAH, i can play my nes collection on my handheld devices with many emulation benefits than using OG expensive hardware and relic bulky CRT tvs, can you carry those in your rucksack on the go? 😂😂 I still have my OG hardware but with limited space and time it makes the luxury of using retro hardware makes it very difficult

[@JoshOsRocks]

The answer is a combination between original hardware and emulation. I have consoles that i have a nostalgic connection to. On the other hand i am happy to emulate everything else.

[@kennylauderdale_en]

It's a matter of authenticity. There's meaning in the effort.

[@Metal-Josh]

I miss Super Mario 35!! That was a planned “flash in the pan” real shake too, that game was really really good. It was my favourite Switch game. No way to preserve that (as far as I know anyways)

[@markhoffman7437]

I have my original NES plus the limited run top loader one, snes classic with all my favorite games, N 64 I bought when it launched, gamecube, plus more recent Nintendo. I only go back to ps2 but it plays all my ps one games so we’re good there. It’s odd but whenever I just want to play a game for fun I always go old school. Just something about the classics that destress me.

[@RetroSho]

1:47 I dunno about "shortage". I have well over 40 CRTs... every last one came from dumpster dives or very cheap at estate sales. If you sincerely look for one, you will find many.

[@RM01_]

I got an nes for Christmas and I'm very impressed no problems with it I've knocked it a couple times by accident no damage done and I found a clean one so it's not yellow it looks brand new only thing is games are very expensive

[@jimbotron70]

There are special carts with SD slot...

[@slckb0y65]

i got a retropie for every 8/16 bit consoles and playstation, tbh for my use it's plenty accurate enough. might upgrade to a FPGA based SOC someday whenever it's powerfull enough to be an upgrade to my current config, but tbh i kinda like the tweaking possibilities offered by retroarch, save states and what not.