Emulation boxes: Difference between revisions
Deleting Pandora because it is a generic emulation box, with no particular reason to list it out of the hundreds of boxes, except probably that whoever put the listing on heard of it and not of the others. |
|||
| (5 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
An '''emulation box''' is a device built for the specific purpose of running emulators. While it can technically be any small computer, the emulation boxes we list here are primarily single-purpose embedded devices intended to capitalize on nostalgia despite a multitude of better alternatives being readily available (like computers, mobile devices, and game consoles). There are generally | An '''emulation box''' is a device built for the specific purpose of running emulators. While it can technically be any small computer, the emulation boxes we list here are primarily single-purpose embedded devices intended to capitalize on nostalgia despite a multitude of better alternatives being readily available (like computers, mobile devices, and game consoles). There are generally three types of boxes: | ||
;First-party boxes | ;First-party boxes | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
;Third-party boxes | ;Third-party boxes | ||
:Use their own branding because they don't have a license to use the actual companies' trademarks. A legal ruling for emulators has allowed them to use the name of the console in marketing (such as advertising the ability to play games from a specific console on the packaging), but not as the name for the box itself. | :Use their own branding because they don't have a license to use the actual companies' trademarks. A legal ruling for emulators has allowed them to use the name of the console in marketing (such as advertising the ability to play games from a specific console on the packaging), but not as the name for the box itself. | ||
;Generic emulation boxes | |||
:A large number of these devices are Chinese, often constantly produced in new versions with slightly different form factors. Some are Western such as the Retroid Pocket. Hundreds of these devices exist. They generally don't have any game licenses, though many come with pirated ROMs. They may be handhelds or consoles, with handhelds more common. | |||
First and third party emulation boxes are often locked down. Many of them have jailbreaks which let users unofficially add their own games. They cost more than generic boxes, although some of this is because the games are licensed. Quality varies by quite a bit. | |||
Generic boxes are single-board computers, usually ARM-based, specifically designed for use with emulation. Even low end ones can play up to 16 bit systems and the PS1. They are normally not locked down, and most have custom "firmware" available for free, which is usually a Linux or stripped down Android system packaged with free emulators. Custom firmware is usually recommended over the emulators they come with, which may not be up to date (and are often not there legally anyway). It is generally not worth buying these with ROMs or SD cards since the SD cards can be unreliable and ROMs are easy to get. | |||
==First-party boxes== | ==First-party boxes== | ||
| Line 114: | Line 118: | ||
|[[m2engage]] | |[[m2engage]] | ||
|Offical SEGA product designed to emulate Game Gear games. The form factor is small and is difficult to play by Western users, as the device was meant to not be sold outside Japan. 5 variants of the handheld exist, 4 being in retail and one being exclusive as a Limited Edition for Aleste Collection. Only the Aleste version includes Master System games. | |Offical SEGA product designed to emulate Game Gear games. The form factor is small and is difficult to play by Western users, as the device was meant to not be sold outside Japan. 5 variants of the handheld exist, 4 being in retail and one being exclusive as a Limited Edition for Aleste Collection. Only the Aleste version includes Master System games. | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 131: | Line 134: | ||
|$299.99-$499.99 <small>(Deluxe bundle)</small> | |$299.99-$499.99 <small>(Deluxe bundle)</small> | ||
|[[Mednafen]], [[Mesen]], [[Kega Fusion]], and [[MAME]] | |[[Mednafen]], [[Mesen]], [[Kega Fusion]], and [[MAME]] | ||
|Modular system. | |Modular system. First emulation box with CD support and one of the few to run on an Intel processor instead of ARM. Emulates PS1, Saturn, Genesis, Sega CD, 32X, TG-16/CD, Neo Geo CD, NES, SNES (only disc-based systems are supported out of the box, cartridge-based systems requires a separate add-on for each system). | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Retron5]] | |[[Retron5]] | ||
| Line 161: | Line 164: | ||
|Miniaturized X68000 personal workstation. Limited run. The standard pack comes with a joypad and two games: Gradius and ChoRenSha 68K on SD cards. Full-sized USB keyboard (mechanical switches, X68000 layout), USB mouse, and more games on SD cards are available separately. Capable of booting from third-party floppy/disk images. | |Miniaturized X68000 personal workstation. Limited run. The standard pack comes with a joypad and two games: Gradius and ChoRenSha 68K on SD cards. Full-sized USB keyboard (mechanical switches, X68000 layout), USB mouse, and more games on SD cards are available separately. Capable of booting from third-party floppy/disk images. | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[wikipedia:Evercade|Evercade]] | |||
|Blaze Entertainment | |||
|[[ | |Multiple systems | ||
|$ | |$100-130 | ||
| | |Proprietary | ||
| | |Third party box which makes games available for sale on cartridges. Over 100 cartridges are available. | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Controversy== | ==Controversy== | ||
===Poor catalog=== | ===Poor catalog=== | ||
A first party box may prove to be lacking due to its game catalog missing some essential title. This is often the result of messy licensing issues that continue to plague consoles today, as many games are a nightmare to relicense due to some external factor. It doesn't help that first-party boxes often lack the ability to load games externally. This is done to prevent the manufacturer from having to admit support for cartridge and disc formats that the emulation community uses, as it would by extension imply support for unofficial emulation. | A first-party box may prove to be lacking due to its game catalog missing some essential title. This is often the result of messy licensing issues that continue to plague consoles today, as many games are a nightmare to relicense due to some external factor. It doesn't help that first-party boxes often lack the ability to load games externally. This is done to prevent the manufacturer from having to admit support for cartridge and disc formats that the emulation community uses, as it would by extension imply support for unofficial emulation. | ||
These limitations have caused many to [[Modding Consoles/Flashcarts#NES.2FSNES.2FPSX.2FMD_.28GEN.29_Classic|modify]] their systems just to be able to get more use out of it. | These limitations have caused many to [[Modding Consoles/Flashcarts#NES.2FSNES.2FPSX.2FMD_.28GEN.29_Classic|modify]] their systems just to be able to get more use out of it. | ||
Some redistributors of third party boxes that pre-load them with games (which in itself is illegal to redistribute with the game images preinstalled) may contain game images that aren't 1:1 identical to the originals either due to possibly cobbling them from various sources. Use the guides on the website where possible for obtaining game images. | Some redistributors of third-party boxes that pre-load them with games (which in itself is illegal to redistribute with the game images preinstalled) may contain game images that aren't 1:1 identical to the originals either due to possibly cobbling them from various sources. Use the guides on the website where possible for obtaining game images. | ||
===Licensing=== | ===Licensing=== | ||
| Line 187: | Line 190: | ||
==DIY solutions== | ==DIY solutions== | ||
{{WIP|section}} | {{WIP|section}} | ||
If you don't want to be limited by any consumer product, but still have something you can technically call an "emulation box," you can make one yourself! These single-board computers tend to be cheaper and offer more than a first party box will: | If you don't want to be limited by any consumer product, but still have something you can technically call an "emulation box," you can make one yourself! These single-board computers tend to be cheaper and offer more than a first-party box will: | ||
;Nvidia Shield TV | ;Nvidia Shield TV | ||
| Line 202: | Line 205: | ||
===Distributions=== | ===Distributions=== | ||
These Linux distributions offer complete emulation packages for single board computers and other systems. | These Linux distributions offer complete emulation packages for single board computers and other systems. | ||
:[[Recommended_linux_distros#Emulation_focused|Emulation focused Linux distros]] | :[[Recommended_linux_distros#Emulation_focused|Emulation-focused Linux distros]] | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 212: | Line 215: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://www.thegameconsole.com/game-console-clones.html Game Console Clones] (TheGameConsole.com) | * [http://www.thegameconsole.com/game-console-clones.html Game Console Clones] (TheGameConsole.com) | ||
* [https://psdevwiki.com/psclassic/index.php?title=PS1_Classics_Emulator_Compatibility_List PSDevWiki: PS1 Classics Emulator on PS Classic Compatibility List] | |||
[[Category:Emulation consoles]] | [[Category:Emulation consoles]] | ||