RETROAD's "Dendy" is an HDMI NES/Famicom for Post-Soviet 90’s Kids - 8bitjoystick

[@roberto1519]

I find these NES clones fascinating, I heard about the Dendy from a friend in a retro gaming forum years ago. Nintendo didn't officially release the NES in Brazil as well and over there, the most notable clones were called Dynavision and Phantom System, some of these clones have very decent quality and I remember most of them supported both NES/Famicom carts without adapters, and multi-button controllers for combinations of A+B and turbo, meaning some controllers actually have 6 buttons. Are you somewhat familiar with the clones I mentioned? What an adorable cat!

[@8bitjoystick]

Oh he is my furry furball. He has to get into absolutely everything that I do. I think it's fascinating to cure about how video games developed around the world in the 1980s without the internet and a lot of communications between nerds around the world. So it's fascinating to hear about tech toy and how they were able to turn the Sega Master System into this incredible thing in Brazil. So it's almost like this alternative reality where the master system beat the NES. Or then there is the UK where almost no one had any consoles for the 8-bit era and micro computers ruled. I know quite a lot about US and Japanese retro games, but it's fascinating to learn about other games systems around the world and what was popular and different in different countries.

[@J_Skeezy]

I hear it as " Retro'd " and found it had a nice ring to it going down Nostalgia Lane.

[@8bitjoystick]

@@J_Skeezy your guess is as good as mine. I mean the company has no social media presence, so it's impossible to find out whose theory is right. I still love this little thing.

[@bbqlilia448]

I was hoping you’d be wearing that great hat through the whole video

[@8bitjoystick]

Shoot that's a great idea. I absolutely should have done that. The problem is that I took that picture during the winter snowstorm and here I am making a video in the middle of the summer

[@Dark_Jaguar]

I think I know what's going on with your copy of Tetris on that adapter. It's an issue with my "Retro Freak" NES to Famicom adapter as well, and also an issue with how some NES carts were manufactured. Tetris, and a handful of other later run NES games, didn't run the connector pins on one side of the board all the way to the edge, and the other side coated the upper half of it's pins in a masking layer. To top all that off, there is another green bar of masking layer running along the very bottom of those half-length pins. The result is that the metal contacts in the cart connector have a very narrow range they need to contact to form a solid connection. The official NES cart connector manages this, but many adapters fail. I used the exact same short black adapter you had to use to make it work correctly, because it's the only one I have that forms that solid connection. Amusingly, the toploader NES also fails to make a solid connection on these particular carts.

[@8bitjoystick]

I will have to look into that. I'll have to see if Nintendo Tetris is on any bootleg multi-carts I have. My EverDrive does not work on this system. I can run Tengan Tetris and BulletPoint Tetris OK.

[@Dark_Jaguar]

@@8bitjoystick I can't speak to the Dendy clone, but if you try that with the adapter on a real Famicom, I think it'll work.

[@8bitjoystick]

@@Dark_Jaguar yes, it works great on both real Famicoms and even my handheld 8bit Pocket Famicom clone

[@Dark_Jaguar]

@@8bitjoystick Oh same adapter too?

[@8bitjoystick]

@@Dark_Jaguar Yes, I have two 72-in to 60 Pin adapters, one I got at Pink Gorilla Games in Seattle and the other by Retroroad that I got on AliExpress.

[@kotjr9074]

Мне очень понравился ваш ролик. Исходя из своего опыта, сделаю немного более точных дополнений. Системы Денди в начале девяностых не имели IDMI выхода. Там были специальные гнезда, и специальный шнур, который нельзя подключить к телевизорам прошлого поколения типа Sony Trinitron. Мы в основном играли на телевизорах собственного производства, где были нужные выходы. Что касается игр, то вы полностью правы - Tetris от Nintendo ни я , ни мои друзья никогда не видели. И к нам поступал этот очень неинтересный серый тетрис, с русскими мелодиями) Также мы никогда не играли в Castlevania и Megaman и Legend of Zelda. Мы даже не слышали о этих великолепных играх. Зато у нас была очень популярна Contra и Super Contra. Она к нам поступала на мультикартах на которых содержалось штук по 20 версий Contra с разным оружием и с 30 жизнями. Про Konami Codes мы даже ничего не слышали тогда) "Девяностые" для нас было смутное время, и играючи тогда в восмибитные игры мы просто отправлялись в другой мир, где было наше незабываемое детство. Ваш ролик очень интересный и занятный. Мне он очень понравился

[@8bitjoystick]

Of course. HDMI did not exist in the 90s. Another nice thing about HDMI is that it works with modern TVs all over the world. Russia and the US used different old TV standards so at least I can use HDMI on this one. It would be hard for me to use a real Dendy in the US these days. As an American who was a child in the 1980s I played video games for years growing I can't imagine not having video games during the Soviet era and then having the Dendy going go on sale and introduce video games to millions of kids who has never seen them. It must have been exciting. Конечно. HDMI не существовало в 90-е годы. Еще одна приятная особенность HDMI - он работает с современными телевизорами по всему миру. В России и США использовались разные старые телевизионные стандарты, так что, по крайней мере, здесь я могу использовать HDMI. В наши дни мне было бы сложно использовать настоящий Денди в США. Будучи американцем, который был ребенком в 1980-х годах, я много лет играл в видеоигры. Я не могу себе представить, чтобы в советское время не было видеоигр, а затем в продажу поступила Dendy и представила видеоигры миллионам детей, которые никогда не играли в видеоигры. видел их. Должно быть, это было захватывающе.

[@kotjr9074]

@@8bitjoystick Посмотрите передачу "Денди Новая Реальность" это наше первое знакомство с этой системой. Вам будет интересно. В некоторых сериях есть походы в магазин Денди . Мне очень интересно ваше мнение по этому поводу

[@darthputinsidious9282]

@@kotjr9074 да не поймет он всего прикола и тех времён 90ые🤣 у них другая реальность была тогда , это щас мы одинаковые все - глобализация

[@Raziel_77]

Мы играли на чёрно-белых телевизорах через антенный кабель, что мешало соседям смотреть первый канал. Третьей Кастлы не было, но были первая и вторая части. Также я играл в Рокменов - 1, 3, 5 части. Другие три не попадались. Конами код был описан в книжках с кодами и прохождениями, где можно было найти также прохождение 2-й Кастлвании (у нас пираты на стикере её называли Castlervahia). Уж какие только стикеры мы не видели на пиратских картриджах. Может у нас не было Зельды, зато были японские игры и пиратские игры. Например Moon Crystal, Captain Tsubasa 2 или Somari, Street Fighter 2... И самое главное - наш денди был в 50гц, медленная музыка до сих пор лучше быстрой звучит.

[@tonyg5597]

Nice touch with the Russian Shapka in the thumbnail...sets the scene.....without the ear flaps you might be confused with Grizzly Adams :)

[@8bitjoystick]

Well, we actually had a surprise record snowstorm in Oregon this past winter and I like to wear that hat and ironically to keep my head from freezing. Ironically, since the late '80s actually my father traveled to and from Russia several times a chemistry professor. I should have asked him to get me a Dendy. One thing that I failed to mention is that the dendy systems were probably PAL while this thing is NTSC for the AV output. At least with dealing with HDMI TVs, you don't have to worry about competing TV standards

[@tonyg5597]

@@8bitjoystick Probably for the best….While PAL had a better resolution it was rather sluggish in gameplay….not that I knew any better back in the day when playing on the Megadrive or SNES

[@thehien115]

May I ask what is the background music? :D Thanks for the video :D

[@8bitjoystick]

I believe it is a traditional Russian song specifically music A from Nintendo's Tetris

[@thehien115]

@@8bitjoystick Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy - Tchaikovsky

[@8bitjoystick]

That's why I initially thought. But then I did a little more research and found out it was not. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korobeiniki#:~:text=Outside%20Russia%2C%20%22Korobeiniki%22%20is,composer%20Hirokazu%20Tanaka%20in%201989. ​@@thehien115

[@crashbandicootspyrohinson05]

Ok so will this famiclone retrotoad/dendy work with the famicom disk system?

[@8bitjoystick]

No. It did not work with the FDS or any EverDrive

[@codeninja1]

Thanks for the history lesson on Dendy. Glad the russians werent too far behind in video games. But imagine just getting all those games. Talk about a backlog.

[@8bitjoystick]

The Nintendo Famicom hit Japan in 1983, when the first Dendy system went on sale in 1993 they had almost a decade of 8-bit Nintendo games waiting for them. I bet personal computer ownership was also pretty low at the time so for many post-Soviet gamers it was their first experience with video games.

[@kotjr9074]

@@8bitjoystick Все верно бро. Простые аркадки типа Ballon Fight и Lode Runner мы даже не знали что они выпущенны в 1985) поголовно на всех картриджах с играми копирайты были вырезаны, и мы не знали в каком году были сделаны эти игры) Battletoads , правда, знали какого года. У нас это была одна из самых крутых игр, которая поступала с читом старт+вверх, после нажатия которого добавлялись жизни обоим игрокам.

[@teddycaster248]

Hello! I from Eastern Europe, thank you very much for good and informative video. I often hear "illegal Famicom clone", but I think it not correct and absurdity. Because, if people say about "illegal clone", it mean what exist some kind of "legal clone"? But, if to think about it a long time, you maybe agree with me, I think "Legal clone" - it only can be game console with "Nintendo" logo. Do you know or hear about existance of some kind of legal clone? Sure no, so I not understand when people use this kind of terms. Here possible to dispute a long time without final result, because terms not correct and we not knew many information about Taiwan video game industry and what kind of relationships be between some of Taiwan companies and Japan. 8 bit Dendy console of 90-s, not a illegal clone or a legal clone in same time, and it definitely not a pirate or counterfeit production. Dendy conlole be made by Taiwan "TXC Corporation", it be production ordered by Steepler company. Every Dendy console had sticker on buttom about country and company where it been made. Before Dendy era, this company (TXC) produced Micro Genius consoles, it official Taiwan buisness company, they never not hide somewhere where they not be. Every sold Dendy console has guarantee and "Dendy shops" had people whom occupy by repair of consoles. Before sign contract with Nintendo about selling Super Nintendo, "Dendy company" had same contract with Sega about distribution of Mega Drive 2 console. Contract with Sega expired, and be new with Nintendo. I very like what now RetroGaming so much important and today, like in 90-s, exist Dendy consoles, and other modifications of retro consoles and people can play it and knew much about retrogaming and it history. 90-s be the golden moment for my country, most bright, colour, interesting and positive time for a long long times. It be only time in history of my country when people here be real free. Sad, what it all finished since year 2000 when authority be changed on the communistic revanchist regime which keep killing today. Retrogaming very important, many people try to hide in retrogaming. I think it psychologically need much for people to return on coup of hours in past, in what bright time of great expectations and ability, like they want to feel again emotions and soul experience of what time - where "all be ahead" and many people thought "finally all will be ok now". Good what people have possibility for retrogaming how exit from our gray and dark life time without hope. P.S. Sorry, for my poor English. All the best to you. Glory to Ukraine!

[@8bitjoystick]

But people need to remember is that Nintendo did not exist in the former Soviet Union and the company did not try to enter the market until they actually partnered with Steepler and Dendy sold the Super Nintendo in the Former Soviet Union countries. I can't imagine what it would have been like to get almost a decade of video games to be released all at once after never getting a chance to play video games. American kids started having video game consoles around 1977 and arcade games around that time. It actually strikes me to be very similar to the experience of Brazilian kids growing up with TecToy manufactured Sega systems because foreign manufactured game systems were too expensive to sell to Brazil due to their tax laws and also differences in the value of currencies. It's amazing that Dendy was able to actually make a profit by reaching millions of kids with much last money than Western gamers. Sadly, it's when they started to partner with Nintendo for the Super Nintendo system that they couldn't operate with the same level of profitability and they couldn't make a go of it. I do think it's also a little crazy how they sold both Nintendo and Sega systems as Dendy systems. In the US and Japan, the two companies were fierce rivals. Then again in South Korea, both Sega and Nintendo systems for sold by Samsung. Well, I think the story of Dendy is relevant today because we're in an era where there's a lot of retro game systems and retro games that are not being packaged and sold currently. For example the PC Engine/TG-16, with the exception of one mini console there is no legal way to play the games unless you're going to physically track down some very expensive increasingly rare cartridges and CDs. Your English is great. Better than my Ukrainian. I have some Ukrainian made EverDrives and I love them. I'm sorry to hear about the brutal war and I wish that my government would do more to help Ukraine stay free. Slava Ukraini. By the way, I don't blame the Russian people before the actions of the bastards that are running their government. As an American, I know what it's like to have bastards running your government. That that's enough politics. I do think that this game system was interesting because it was made specifically for former Soviet Union kids to be nostalgic about the Dendy systems they had as a kid.

[@teddycaster248]

@@8bitjoystick Thank you! Unfortunately, I from Russia it very shame and in last coup of years I write what I from Eastern Europe it sounds better. And Unfortunately, russian society very ill now, it not same people what be in 80-s, 90-s and now 86% really support war, hate free world, USA, Europe and countries of former western blok. It result of last 20 years country degrodation, and I not understand how this people will be rebuilding democratity again someday, I not think what it possible. I love Ukraine, and very worry for this tremendous country with great people whom send the bald bastard in 2014. I remember when in end of 1994 started war in Chechnia - everybody in russia be in shock, horrified by this and nobody not support it and not undertand why what war started. Authority tryed to justify it, but people not believe in war propaganda. But, now it different new people here without moral, lower IQ level and for much of them state TV with propagand of hate replace they own brains. Difficult to live here when you all around by this angry and agressive zombies, when you need to choose right words in talk because people began to write the denunciations like it be in 30-s in Stalin era. It painful and a lot dissapointment in own country and it people, only 2 of 10 people you can met - will be normal. Maybe it will be interesting for you, in USSR in 80-s be rumors about Atari video games. Only several people have it, and it be bring from foreign countries by privileged people whom worked in diplomatic embassies in Europe or people from army whom be on duty in Eastern Germany. So, be many rumors, but nobody not saw what it is, how it looks and work. And in end of 80-s some people whom worked in state office had old PC where and play in "Rise Out", "Prince of Persia". Ordinary people in USSR not have PC at home. So, era of video games for everybody be opened in 90-s after democratic changes and appearing of "Dendy" and somekind of paid PC clubs in shops where stay written off old PC from state institutes and kids come where to play in "Rise Out" and other sinple, but interesting games. In beginings of 90-s 1 US Dollar = 6 Rub. My dad on work get 3,50 Rub per month. So, parents not be able to buy Dendy for kids, it be possible only how all family purchase. Nobody not hear about Super Famicom or other things. After Dendy, appeared Sega MD2 it be much more expensive,then Dendy and it be every schollboy space dream. (I saw a coup of times Panasonic 3DO console in center of Moscow, it cost some crazy money I not be able to count "zeroes" on price, so it be much some museum artifact when real gaming thing). When SNES appeared it be expensive too like Sega and in spite of reforms in country ordinary people not became rich and wages stay low (Now after 20-25 years it stay low too). In 1997 appeared Sony PlayStation1, it become popular console because a lot of pirate discs which be really cheaply. For example, SNES pirate game cartridge (in 1997) cost be 600 Rub., PS1 game disc cost be 15 Rub., so you can count how many games be possible to buy on same money like one SNES pirate(! not original) game cartridge. Only a coup of years ago I get knew about existance of NEO-Geo, TurboGraphics, Sega Master System... it never not be known here, like arcade which be very rarity. I be very impressed when in big shop in center of Moscow saw MK2 arcade and Sega Daytona 500 👍 Wow, it be fantastic! I watching videos about retrogaming, it very interesting to see and get know a lot new information about different systems, games and see how games changing an etc. Thank you! RetroGaming Rules! ✌😎 P.S. Games on russian language from your video, it appeared in recent years on emulators, but on TV game cartridges no be games translated on russian. And I not like translated games, to play on English exellent incentive for kids to learn English. I remember how I and Dad opened dictionary, rearching new words it be very interesting and give us a lot.

[@8bitjoystick]

Well, I hope you and your family can stay safe in the current regime. My father was a profession that helped co-ordinate scientific relationships with the University of Serpukhov and the University of the Far East in Vladivostok and he traveled Russia during the end of the Soviet era and also during the early years of the Russian Republic, I have never been personally but he loved going to Serpukhov and Moscow.@@teddycaster248

[@drfamicom]

😂 the two boys on the box are playing what koreans call “chicken fight”. not sure what it’s called in chinese tho. here is a video of what the game/sport actually looks like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4CrdKKtiKaCick

[@8bitjoystick]

I did not know that. I am surprised that has not caught on in the US. Here in the US we had to play "Dodgeball" as kids where we smack the heck out of each other in the face with rubber balls for school physical gym activities.

[@Lahire-s7l]

Cool famicom lone top console

[@8bitjoystick]

Thank you. It's actually pretty fun to use. Especially since I have regular Famicoms

[@demonprincess5634]

ooohhhh....🐱🐱🐱

[@8bitjoystick]

I like it when folks who grew up in the Former Soviet Union watch this video.

[@mercster]

I can see "ret-road" or even "ret-roe-ay-dee" if you squint, but... in no universe would "Retroad" be pronounced "ret-ro-road." Not even the Chinese are that bad at English.

[@8bitjoystick]

Normally I frown on grammatical and linguistic pedantry especially since I had a segment in this video on how it's unknown to pronounce the company name, and a prior video I went on to discuss my problems with the term retro to describe older video games. But it is a mystery. I guess I could look at other KZbin channels and see how they pronounce it but the company itself has almost no English language internet presence beyond their store page.

[@mercster]

I dunno, in retro 3rd party controllers, the turbo buttons were usually above the normal ones.

[@mercster]

@@8bitjoystick It's not really pedantry, "retro road" is 3 syllables, "retroad" is 2. There would need to be at least 2 extra letters in the name to get "retro road."

[@nakamanga5412]

9:56 Eh.....NO!, Castlevania 3 (Akumajou Densetsu) should not sound like this, in fact, the sound of this famiclone doesn't sounds like a real NES or Famicom anyway. Is it a recording error?

[@8bitjoystick]

So I believe what happened is when I recorded the video it picked up my microphone instead of the HDMI capture. I will make a brief follow-up test video tomorrow to show you what Akamajo densetsu sounds like on it. But, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will make a follow-up video