Main > Consoles
Why are HD Retrovision cables for SNES and Genesis / MegaDrive so expensive?
KenToad:
I have a Genesis model 1 "high definition" console with sub-optimal composite out. As far as I can tell, the HD Retrovision component cables are the only way, short of internal modification, to pull a sharp picture from the system. I haven't looked too deeply into the gbs-control, though. I'll look forward to seeing your capture of it.
Yeah, I would assume that the next decade or two will see a lot of 80's and 90's tech hardware just fail permanently. For now, I have a decent CRT with component and S-video inputs. I have my SNES and N64 connected through S-video and they look pretty good. The Genesis really doesn't look great outputting composite, so I've been trying to change that.
Howard_Casto:
Well imho you should be getting rgb scart cables for all of your consoles that support it. That's the standard in the retro gaming community and I don't see that changing. Then you feed that into the upscaler of your choice. (Unless you are in europe then you might be able to just plug it into the tv). The model 1 genesis supports rgb out... nobody uses composite anymore unless that's the only option. I just mentioned the the gbs control because it has the unique option to output component instead of vga with a simple cable adapter. I tried my model 1 on the gbs control and I was very satisfied with the picture.
The NES, the 2600 and older consoles are composite only without extensive modding. Just about everything released after that, however, supports some sort of rgb out (rgb scart, component, or hdmi).
KenToad:
Yeah, with SCART, it would feel like starting from zero. I've watched several of the My Life in Gaming videos that attempt to show how to get the best setup to play these old games. To me, SCART with upscaler seems way too expensive and complicated for the, IMO, tiny difference it makes. For SNES, I'm pretty happy with S-video on a decent CRT. If I had a Genesis with better quality composite out, I'd probably stick with that.
As for the future, I'd argue that SCART connections married with upscalers are going to be a tiny blip on the overall timeline, even compared to lesser used options like S-video and component. Upscalers that utilize SCART are just too expensive and dependent upon the end user to configure to be truly popular solutions. Eventually, once the original consoles bite the dust, we'll all have tiny FPGA-like boxes that play all the older consoles through whatever standard replaces HDMI, I guess.
I went ahead and ordered the HD Retrovision Genesis component cable along with the model 2 to model 1 adapter from Canada. Sometimes it feels like I just need to get these things off my mind. Otherwise, I'll waste too much time pondering. And that's exactly why I don't do crowdfunded stuff or preorders, with rare exception.
Howard_Casto:
SCART is just a connector.... it's 15khz rgb which isn't going anywhere as every old console and nearly every old arcade machine used it. With all due respect I think it's actually fpga that's going to be a blip in the broader scheme of things. To 99% of the people out there, it's just more expensive emulation (and in a way it kind of is) so it's only going to stick around until system on a chip boards get fast enough to properly emulate the more modern consoles. Here in the US and in japan we've jumped from format to format, but rgb scart has been the standard in Europe pretty much the entire gaming timeline. I figure it's still got legs and the upscalers aren't terribly expensive. If you don't want to mod, the OSSC or retrotink line of products are under 100.... gbs control is well under 100. You don't have to buy one for every system.... one will cover it all. You'll just be spending a little more for a scart cable instead of the standard ones.... yeah it's more but not much more if you shop around. The hd retro vision cables are expensive and for one console only, so imho they make absolutely no sense if you want to save money and have several consoles.
As for the longevity of the original consoles.... well some of them are well over 40 years old and with a bit of maintenance they still work fine. If optical drive emulators hadn't come along I would have agreed with you on the newer stuff but now that they have I don't think that will be a serious concern in our lifetime.
KenToad:
I really don't agree that most people see FPGA as more expensive emulation. Some do, for sure, but to me they seem like a minority (they want to equate FPGA with their pi ;) ). I agree that 99% of people can't tell the difference between high and low level emulation. I guess you shouldn't be able to tell the difference, if both are done well. And I agree with your suggestion that the landscape will radically change when the system on a chip hardware gets fast enough to cheaply and easily emulate 3D stuff like Dreamcast, GameCube, and PS2 (I'm making some assumptions as to what specific consoles you were referencing).
I would really like to know what kind of numbers of people worldwide still use SCART connectors. It seems like virtually no one here in the states has gone that route. Just looking up prices on Amazon, SCART cables are expensive. SCART switchers are expensive. You need multiple cables and at least one switcher if you're going that route with an OSSC or some other type of upscaler like a SCART version of Retrotink, so price is definitely a big barrier to entry, even with the cheapest options.
Most of the HD Retrovision cables are decently priced at around $30. I just couldn't understand why the SNES and Genesis cables retail for $70.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version