While the Consumer Electronics Show is typically the place for tech companies to show off the gadgets of the future, retro gaming brands have embraced the show as a place to showcase their own upcoming products. To that end, Retro-Bit, Hyperkin and My Arcade have new products on display that are sure to appeal to the nostalgic gamer.
Retro-Bit has the most new products on show, continuing its multifaceted approach to the retro market. The ones which have generated the most buzz are the new officially licensed Sega accessories, covering the Mega Drive, Saturn and Dreamcast. All three consoles will be receiving three types of new controllers: standard versions for use on original hardware, USB versions for use on computers, and wireless Bluetooth versions which can be used with Bluetooth-compatible hardware or (with a receiver dongle) the original hardware. Mega Drive pads are exclusively the six-button versions, Saturn controllers use the Japanese designs and were shown in a variety of colour configurations, and the Dreamcast pads were shown in white and black versions.
Additionally, all three consoles will be getting officially licensed power cables, composite AV and S-Video cables. A controller extension cable was shown for the Saturn, and a VGA box was revealed for the Dreamcast. Prices and release dates have yet to be announced for any of the Sega items.
The next two cartridge releases from Retro-Bit have also been revealed: Holy Diver (NES) and R-Type Returns (SNES). Holy Diver is a popular Castlevania-style platform adventure which had previously only been released in Japan, meaning that it will be released in NES cartridge form for the first time. R-Type Returns combines Super R-Type and R-Type III: The Third Lightning on one cartridge, and should be fantastic value given the price of the latter game. Both games will be available for pre-order later this month, and join Retro-Bit’s existing range of NES and SNES releases including the Data East All-Star Collection and the Jaleco Brawler’s Pack.
A new handheld all-in-one console is also coming from Retro-Bit, the Go Retro! Portable. The Game Boy-style unit uses the casing from the abandoned Super Retro Boy project, and features games from Capcom including Mega Man, Commando and 1943. The packaging boasts of over 300 games and a rechargeable battery with ten hours of life per charge, and the machine is expected in September of this year. Also on display were existing products including the Super Retro-Cade plug and play console (reviewed in Retro Gamer issue 177), the Super Retro Trio+ and the Retro Entertainment System+.
Our friends at Gizmodo UK have taken a look at the “Ultra Game Boy” – a prototype device that Hyperkin will doubtless have to rename prior to launch. This machine accepts original Game Boy cartridges (with the possibility of also running Game Boy Color carts), and promises a number of features to enhance your Game Boy experience. These include a backlight with customisable colours, durable aluminium casing and an internal battery which charges via USB-C. The device is slated for release in the summer at a sub-$100 price point. Hyperkin also launched the SupaRetroN HD this week, a SNES-compatible console with HDMI output and original cartridge support for $69.99.
CES 2018: Game Boy Is Coming Back Thanks to Hyperkin https://t.co/eychWywbGO pic.twitter.com/NhP2uhydJg
— Gizmodo UK (@GizmodoUK) January 10, 2018
My Arcade has recently been making waves with functional miniature arcade cabinets featuring iconic Data East games such as Burger Time and Karate Champ, and at CES it revealed that we’ll be seeing Namco games joining the range this year. Amongst the games on display were Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaxian, Mappy and Rolling Thunder, each standing just six inches tall and featuring authentic cabinet art. The existing models retail for $29.99, and we’d expect to see something similar for the new games.
What are you most excited about from CES? Let us know on the forum, on social media or by writing in to our Mailbag section.
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