Duckstation is very clever.
I started FF7 on my Miyoo Mini ages ago, but got sidetracked with making babies. Now I've transferred my save file over to my phone and Duckstation, and the downsampling feature is magic. It renders the game at a high resolution (5x in my case) then downsamples the whole thing to PS1 native res. So you get quality 3D models that also, magically, blend in with the old 2D backgrounds. If you've ever seen the Switch or PS4 rerelease, you'll know how important this is for games with static backgrounds.
Duckstation also has a clever feature that gets rid of the PS1 texture wobble, although I think I like the wobble.
Side note, it's clear to see why FF7 became a classic. It's got some fantastic world building, and the soundtrack is full of choons.
Can anyone tell me, without spoilers, where in the PS1 original Rebirth ends? Is it after THAT bit? I want to start Rebirth once I've seen its content in the original.
My favourite emulator at the moment is PPSSPP. I've got absolutely perfect versions of my favourite PSP games running on my arcade cabinet (and, hopefully soon, my phone if I can transfer the games over). Managed to even get Rock Band Unplugged with all the DLC going to boot. I'm a happy camper.
That is exactly where Rebirth ends. And yeah, FF7's status is well earned.
Thanks Al!
Yeah PPSSPP is great too, and seems to run really well on everything. Once you bump up the resolution a little, it makes PSP games looks almost new.
I like to emulate PSP games on devices with two analogs and 'fixing' games that maybe even just needed it for the camera.
I upgraded PPSSPP to gold, I like it so much.
What does that give you? It's less than a fiver on Android, so if it's worth it…
The warm fuzzy feeling of supporting the PPPSSPP devs, nothing else. (And there's nothing wrong with that, I would if I could.)
But the upgrade page clearly mentions additional features. Just not what. 
I can't remember if it does anything else. 😆
Looks like it's just duplication of the store page text, nothing more. Wonder if it's one license for both platforms? I'd use it more on PC than mobile, but happy to drop the fiver to support.
In other news… the arcade machine is sooooooo close to being done. All the images are in, I'm sticking with all the formats supported and games I have, not going to look at adding more or upgrading software further in the future since it all does what I want it to do. Just need to do one last sweep to make sure all the controls work as intended and confirm all the games actually work, and then it's… done? Only took six years (most of which it say languishing, to be fair).
From their FAQ on their site:
"It's the same as the regular version functionally (see Why Gold?), but by buying it you support the development of PPSSPP."
Oh, and you get a fancy gold icon. JEALOUS
Probably a question for Al, but this here:
https://try-retrolink.de/products/retroboy%E2%84%A2?variant=49772228084051
Not asking about the unit itself but the UI shown… what's this running on? Not Android, for sure. I have an old handheld which has a UI that has the same button icons across the bottom, but not the same other bits. Curious as I really like this clean style - I'd probably try to mess about with the old handheld if I knew what it was and where to start. I want to say… something about onions? 
I'm not completely sure but that looks like the jelOS ('just enough linux operating system' or something like that, so its er, linux) OS and that thing looks like a knock off Powkiddy product and that's usually what they come with I believe.
AFAIK only the Miyoo has Onion OS, for some reason not teven the Miyoo A30 got it (yet, but doubtful ever tbh)
that thing looks like a knock off Powkiddy product
Form factor seems to ape this, albeit with an analogue stick:
https://droix.net/product/anbernic-rg35xx-plus/
Bet it's dodgy as fuck.
Fuck sake… I know what the front end is. A smart person would have looked at the loading screen on his device, wouldn't he?
https://emulationstation.org/
https://powkiddy.com/en-uk/products/powkiddy-rgb10s-3-5-inch-4-3-ips-oga-screen-open-source-handheld-game-console-special-back-button-childrens-gifts
Yeah pretty much, not really a reason to get other than curiousity, then again I don't really feel the need to buy Powkiddy things either and they're legit, there was the RGB30 for that certain screen aspect (I don't have a handheld emulation device with it…yes I know I'm just making flimsy excuses to buy these things now lol) but then Anbernic made the Cube and the Cube XX andnnnnnnnd poor Powkiddy tbh (and the ZPG Unicorn tbh)
Though having an Analog Pocket has killed my drive for that aspect ratio now, and I get to use actual carts! I'm going to bit the bullet one of these days and buy the rip off price for the Fire Red/Leaf Green carts at CEX and report back if it's fake! :)
Probably a question for Al, but this here:
https://try-retrolink.de/products/retroboy%E2%84%A2?variant=49772228084051
Not asking about the unit itself but the UI shown… what's this running on? Not Android, for sure. I have an old handheld which has a UI that has the same button icons across the bottom, but not the same other bits. Curious as I really like this clean style - I'd probably try to mess about with the old handheld if I knew what it was and where to start. I want to say… something about onions?
That's an R36S running Emulation Station through ArkOS. The R36S is a hugely underrated machine. It's slightly more powerful than the Miyoo Mini Plus and the RG35XX (it can run PS1 easily, and can even manage some PSP and Dreamcast stuff) and you can get one for about £25 on Ali Express.
It can also run the mind-boggling Portmaster, through which I have a flawless version of Super Mario 64 running on mine at 60fps.
Oh damn, I really thought that was some version of jelos 
I forgot what it's called but there was also another Miyoo clone that looked SUPER similar. The only Miyoo I'd want is the smaller original, but I'll confess I'm a bit apprehensive about aliexpress, I know it's a legitsite but some of the stuff on there looks so dodgy man.
Yeah, I find that you have to only buy from the listings that say that thousands of the item have been sold. If it says "9 sold" there's a good chance it's a scam.
If anyone does buy an R36S, then I would say to throw the sd card that it come with in the bin and get a decent branded one instead. You can set up a card with ArkOS on pretty easily. If I can do it, anyone can. It's not as good as OnionOS but it works okay for the most part. It seems to be based around a clunky version of retroarch, from the menus.
Found the Miyoo look alike, it's called the R33S 
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery they say! I legit can barely tell a difference lol
Kids on the streets are saying it's all about the sturdy Trimui Brick though
That's an R36S running Emulation Station through ArkOS. The R36S is a hugely underrated machine… and you can get one for about £25 on Ali Express.
… you have my attention. My current handheld emulation device (something Anbernic) is Android, a bit clunky/crap and has terrible battery life. Definitely want something smaller from, but still good… the dream would be to match my arcade cab for heft, going up to PS2 and arcade games from no later than the millennium, but that's Odin levels of money I don't have. So… hmmm.
It's slightly more powerful than the Miyoo Mini Plus and the RG35XX (it can run PS1 easily, and can even manage some PSP and Dreamcast stuff)
Only 'some'? Why the distinction?
It can also run the mind-boggling Portmaster, through which I have a flawless version of Super Mario 64 running on mine at 60fps.
I dunno what Portmaster is. Sounds fun though.
Amazon.de has both the R36S and the R40S… one better than the other? I'd look for specs, but they mean nothing to me. I just to need to know 'it runs everything up to THIS' and that's it. The R40S reviews seem to say it stutters at N64/PSP levels, which isn't really great… I'm stuck here, aren't I?
If you want something to run PS2, then the R36S is not going to be anywhere near good enough, and would probably be a downgrade on what you have. It belongs in the bracket of the Miyoo Mini etc. It's great for retro consoles and PS1, but as I say anything above that is hit and miss. It will play some PSP and Dreamcast, but not all games on those systems are equal, and performance ranges from "acceptable" to "nope." It sounds like the R40S is kind of similar performance, so it's probably the same chipset in a bigger shell, but I'm not sure.
The form factor isn't ideal, especially if you want to use the analogue sticks and shoulder buttons. I wouldn't have it as my main emulation device, but it is great as something you can chuck in your pocket and not worry about.
For PS2 maybe look into the Retroid Pocket 4? I would say RP5 but it's more expensive. I'm sure there are compromises but I remember the hype on it being what felt like the first real step into playing PS2/GC on a non phone/SD device.
Might end up having to be at native/1.5 resolution and frame skipping on and all that but it -apparently- works OK, I can't personally vouch for it though.(If I sound like I don't trust it it's because I feel like I have different standards on what is considered playable to most people I see talk about this)
If all the hype was true this does mean RP5 is probably the best alternative to the Odin 2 Mini, more brute force power in that chip.
RP5 is only just over $200, which is… acceptable? Definitely better than the $450 they're asking for the Odin 2 Pro. Hmmmmmmm.
The only question is… GameCube or SNES?
https://www.goretroid.com/en-de/collections/frontpage/products/retroid-pocket-5-handheld
The RP5 does look good. What about a second hand Steam Deck?
I feel like we've had this conversation before. 😂
What about a second hand Steam Deck?
Too big and cumbersome for me. The OG Switch is too big for me, so that's a monster. And yes, that does mean the Switch 2 also isn't for me purely on form factor (I rarely play on TV, so that's not an option).
I feel like we've had this conversation before. 😂
RP5 is only just over $200, which is… acceptable? Definitely better than the $450 they're asking for the Odin 2 Pro. Hmmmmmmm.
The only question is… GameCube or SNES?
https://www.goretroid.com/en-de/collections/frontpage/products/retroid-pocket-5-handheld
That's that bought then. I'm so weak.
With a carry case added and expedited postage to DE, it was £226. I can live with that. Here's hoping it works as desired…
What ya going to play on it? Sly Racoon? Earth Defence Force? The Mark of Kri? Flipnic? Seek & Destroy? Amplitude?
The OLED is supposed to be super good so I am going to reccomend Okami. Also don't be too shocked if some games aren't perfect out of the box, emulation do be like that sometimes. This should still run any PS2/GC game, some games just dont play nice.
What ya going to play on it?
Initially, I'll be pulling everything that's on my arcade cab over, so that's a fair whack of games before I even think of anything else. Probably going to start at the top end with PS2 (Amplitude, God of War, Manhunt), PSP (LocoRoco, Patapon, GTA Chinatown Wars, Rock Band Unplugged) and GameCube (got a hankering for StarFox Adventures!), then regress to arcade stuff… Rainbow Islands and Rod-Land are calling. Also, the Naomi versions of Crazy Taxi and Monkey Ball.
The OLED is supposed to be super good so I am going to reccomend Okami.
I mean… maybe? I have that on Switch, so if I was to play that (and replaying it is on my list), I'd probably just do it there on my Lite.
Also don't be too shocked if some games aren't perfect out of the box, emulation do be like that sometimes.
Yeah, I know. I've given PS2 Burnout 3 a go on my cabinet and not only does it chug a bit, but for some reason there's no skybox. Just a big black space where the blue skies of the first track should be. But I'll tinker and see what happens.
I didn't realise until yesterday that there's a dock to attach it to the TV. I have a Bluetooth controller (and it's also GameCube purple!) so maybe that's in my future.
Spent most of the day watching set-up videos for the RP5 and putting Emulation Station onto an Android device, and now I'm very excited.
Resi 4 classic on handheld is always exciting
This thing is fucking awesome. And thanks to the setup video I've been using, I have a newfound appreciation of RetroArch since I'm now starting to understand how it works. A bit. Now to just finish setting up, getting all my games on there and I'll never need another retro device again.
Hell yeah dude, I'm glad it wasn't fiddly or anything, but that's usually one of the upsides to Retroid products over Anbernic I think. If I got one of these I think I'd lick the screen corner to corner, that's what microfibre cloths are for
Will write something properly, at length, when I'm done tinkering with it - setting up is fine, making everything work and checking each title when you have hundreds of games takes a while - but for now, tl;dr:
Fucking hell, the Retroid Pocket 5 is goddamn amazing. I'll never need another retro device to do what I want to do ever again.
I still really want one, the RP Mini too but if only that screen were a bit smaller, I just want another PS1 device like my 405M
I bought Pico 8 (after messing about with the emulated version on Onion OS), and Splore alone is worth the 12 quid. It's a curated, online frontend that constantly feeds you new micro games, and it's really the only way to find the good stuff.
There are some fantastic experiences on this thing, some really great one-shot game mechanics and yes, there's some crap too. But because there are no real save states, and you're typically only playing these games for 5 minutes at a time, it doesn't really matter. It's a lovely, curated box of wonders that really respects your time, and is the perfect antidote to AAA MEGA GAMES.
Yeah, other than Celeste and stuff like Poom, there's even games like strategy rpgs and stuff on there. I haven't played it on a native handheld yet because I dunno if I even can, funnily enough I think I saw a Powkiddy RGB20 in CEX the other day. 
Is it a stupid idea to buy the Retroid Pocket Mini for PS1 games? It's got the same chipset as the RP5 so it's obviously mega overkill, and the screen is smaller than the 405M I use for PS1 games currently, except for it being much higher quality. Yeah it's all sounding pretty pointless on paper but for some reason I think it'd be nice. :/
I get it for portability, but the RP5 is great and not that big… why you'd want a tint screen to squint at, I dunno. But I'm old and have varifocals, so anything smaller than a decent size phone is practically invisible to me.
