Retron5
The Retron5 is an emulation box created by Hyperkin specifically to emulate older systems, primarily by using the original cartridges. While various official controllers can be used from the emulated consoles, the Retron5 is equipped with its own wireless controller. To play the games, the Retron5 utilizes RetroArch.
Emulated Systems[edit]
Controversy[edit]
Hyperkin encountered controversy shortly after launching the Retron5 in 2014. The console was found to make use of:
- RetroArch, but has measures to prevent a user from running their own version of it.[1] This is explicitly forbidden by the terms of the GPL3 software license, which RetroArch uses.
- Snes9x and Genesis Plus GX,[2] emulators that are not open-source since their licenses forbid commercial use. Hyperkin did not get a license to use them.
To make matters worse, Hyperkin initially didn't release any of the source code, which is a requirement of all the licenses. While they later acknowledged this,[3] the RetroArch developers have said that not all of the source code was provided.[4] This has yet to be resolved.
The source code for the libretro cores used can be found here.
References[edit]
- ↑ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/09/hyperkins_retron_5_console_allegedly_infringes_on_the_rights_of_multiple_emulator_authors
- ↑ https://www.libretro.com/index.php/retroarch-license-violations/
- ↑ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/09/hyperkin_responds_to_accusations_of_infringing_on_the_rights_of_emulator_creators
- ↑ https://www.libretro.com/index.php/hyperkins-retron5-continuing-licensing-problems/