Introducing myself

[ronan]

Hello everyone,

I created this forum to provide a way for us to exchange information without relying on addictive/FOMO-inducing platforms like Discord, where information gets lost and you feel compelled to check every 15 minutes to avoid missing something (and where the same topics keep repeating). I also wanted to avoid platforms like Reddit where endless scrolling is the norm and information isn't well categorized.

I love the spirit of old-school forums where everything moves at a slower pace, where you feel like you actually get to know each other, and where it's much easier to find information. The rhythm is much more calm and deliberate.

A bit about me

I'm French, living in Brittany, and in my thirties. My passions include:

• Sailing (I have a small sailboat) and the sea in general (I volunteer as a sea rescuer)

• Photography (especially film) - I develop and print black and white photos and would love to discuss this with more people

• Technology, particularly retro computing - I appreciate both the historical aspect and the minimalism. I think my ideal phone would have been a Nokia 3310 or an old Blackberry if only they supported LTE or 5G.

• I collect vintage Apple hardware: Mac SE/30, Apple II, old Apple digital cameras... But I also have a NES and Super NES with a CRT screen.

• I'm a developer (jack of all trades - currently doing full-stack web dev, but I also work on low-level stuff in C)

• I enjoy electronics projects, 3D printing, and DIY/mechanics for fun.

I love everything retro, which is also why I enjoy driving my old Defender (when it works!)

I'm looking forward to getting to know more people and helping this community grow with a kind and supportive spirit. I created this forum, but I want it to belong to everyone, so please don't hesitate to send me any suggestions you might have.

[ShinRyusei]

Wow Cap'n, your a Cap'n in real life, too! That's pretty cool. Our interests are almost scarily similar. Programming, development, technology, computing, retro tech, DIY tinkering, and even the sea! I guess that's a match made in heaven. You have made my desire for a boat very strong, maybe I should look into one in the future...

But (officially) welcome to the forum! Thanks for creating this place, it's already a really nice community. I didn't expect it to grow so fast.

Since you're into retro gaming and own a CRT, have you heard of FPGA gaming? The SuperStation looks really cool, and I really want to get one when I have the money.

[ronan]

Yes real captain in real life

Our interests are almost scarily similar. Programming, development, technology, computing, retro tech, DIY tinkering, and even the sea! I guess that's a match made in heaven.

Unbelievable !

You have made my desire for a boat very strong, maybe I should look into one in the future...

Great idea! Just a heads-up, though: owning a boat is so absorbing you might end up spending all your time on it! Are you near the sea?

Since you're into retro gaming and own a CRT, have you heard of FPGA gaming? The SuperStation looks really cool, and I really want to get one when I have the money.

Yes, I'm familiar with those. I looked into buying one of their analogue consoles at one point but found them quite expensive. Besides the cost, I'm not a fan of their strategy of limited production runs, which seems designed to create artificial scarcity. In the end, I prefer sticking with the original hardware. I also find that having a smaller selection of games helps me focus better, as huge libraries can be overwhelming. Plus, I genuinely enjoy the aspect of collecting the physical consoles and games.

[ShinRyusei]

Great idea! Just a heads-up, though: owning a boat is so absorbing you might end up spending all your time on it! Are you near the sea?

I live in Florida. I walk outside for 5 minutes and there's giant birds and bodies of water everywhere.

But seriously, I gotta look into boats. The water has always mystified me, and moving here has only made that interest skyrocket. I have to visit Venice someday.

Yes, I'm familiar with those. I looked into buying one of their analogue consoles at one point but found them quite expensive. Besides the cost, I'm not a fan of their strategy of limited production runs, which seems designed to create artificial scarcity.

Oh, I'm not talking about Analogue. They're one of the companies who popularized it, but the technology goes far and beyond that. They're practices are whatever, but more devices are coming out from different companies who don't follow such practices.

The one that has my eye is the SuperStation, which is about $220 and can play up to N64. It had a pre-order period where it was $150, and I will forever be pained I lack the funds to acquire it at such a price.

Given you're a tinkerer with a 3D printer, you might be more interested in the MISTER Pi, which the SuperStation is based on. It's about $155 fully loaded, and has all the same power and features, except you could print your own cases and accessories.



I'm not quite there yet, so I'd rather have the set top box. Both are top quality products, though! Definitely check them out. They'd look amazing on that CRT of yours. I can't wait to get my own someday.

In the end, I prefer sticking with the original hardware. I also find that having a smaller selection of games helps me focus better, as huge libraries can be overwhelming. Plus, I genuinely enjoy the aspect of collecting the physical consoles and games.

I understand this somewhat, and was originally of that mindset, but moving makes you really question how much of this stuff you want to keep. Plus, I play with a lot of translation patches and other similar things, so until I fully learn Japanese, there's no way I can go entirely physical. Even beyond that, the QoL and other patches I apply to some games will constrain what I can and can't play on physical hardware.

One big selling point of FPGA Gaming that is seldom bring up is the perfect arcade emulation. There's so many boards that have been perfectly preserved, so maybe look into that if you're curious.

[sleeplost]

I enjoy driving my old Defender

Old defenders are such beauties, lucky you!

I live in Florida.

Hey, me too!

The one that has my eye is the SuperStation, which is about $220 and can play up to N64.

Had no idea this existed. Going to look into it.

[ronan]

The one that has my eye is the SuperStation, which is about $220 and can play up to N64. It had a pre-order period where it was $150, and I will forever be pained I lack the funds to acquire it at such a price.

Given you're a tinkerer with a 3D printer, you might be more interested in the MISTER Pi, which the SuperStation is based on. It's about $155 fully loaded, and has all the same power and features, except you could print your own cases and accessories.

I did not hear about these projects ! The only one I knew about was Mister FPGA !

Today I'm not playing enough to justify a new device. Do they really make a difference compared to software emulation ? Maybe only on some special games ?

Old defenders are such beauties, lucky you!

Thank you! It was difficult to find one at a reasonable price as they're quite rare!

[ShinRyusei]

Hey, me too!

Awesome, it's nice to meet another Floridian. North, or South?

Had no idea this existed. Going to look into it.

Heck yeah, please make a review for the community or something of the sort when you get one. I have no idea how long it's gonna be before I can buy one.

I did not hear about these projects! The only one I knew about was Mister FPGA!

Today I'm not playing enough to justify a new device. Do they really make a difference compared to software emulation? Maybe only on some special games?

The MISTER Pi is a significantly cheaper clone of the original MISTER DE10-Nano board made because of how expensive and inaccessible the original setup was getting.

The sell for FPGA is that it's perfect, cycle accurate, and compatible with everything without a fuss. Software emu can be a pretty big pain in the butt even with older consoles (I'm looking at you N64), so I'd say if you want something simple, perfect, and plug n' play, it'd be better. It's also super cheap now, and supports so many arcade boards you wouldn't know what to do with. (Software emu still struggles a lot with arcade boards!) It's much simpler to set up than any software box, and has minimal, if any issues. It is basically made for CRT setups like your own, so that's the main reason I'd recommend it. The Superstation in particular has both analogue and digital I/O.

[sleeplost]

Awesome, it's nice to meet another Floridian. North, or South?

Lifelong South Floridian with family in the Caribbean and Western Europe. Been very blessed to see a lot of the Western hemisphere.

Heck yeah, please make a review for the community or something of the sort when you get one. I have no idea how long it's gonna be before I can buy one.

I'm in no rush to buy one, either. Trying to develop more thoughtfulness in my budget. But if I ever do I promise I'll post here.