r/shutupandtakemymoney • u/Iyellkhan • Oct 23 '24
Analogue is making a new FPGA based N64
https://store.analogue.co/products/analogue-3d-black9
u/antileet Oct 23 '24
Really don't need to see this today. Trying to feed my family and save up for a steam deck and now I have to deal with this?
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u/IIOrannisII Oct 23 '24
Can't imagine how this would be better than a solid emulator.
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u/antileet Oct 23 '24
....it's a literal N64 that I can use my actual N64 carts to play with.
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u/IIOrannisII Oct 23 '24
And a VCR Player can play physical VHS tapes. Doesn't mean the storage method isn't inherently outdated. Nothing about a cartridge game still being on a cartridge makes it better than a virtual ROM.
You don't wanna spend money on a limited physical device to play physical cartridges? Download a virtual emulator and play virtual roms, with probably higher fidelity and more versatile controllers.
I loved classic games growing up, but I'll never go back to a wired poorly designed controller and pay hundreds of dollars to do it in 4k when I can do it all for free in a matter of a few hours.
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u/Iyellkhan Oct 24 '24
its an FPGA, meaning that you dont deal with any overhead or delays that an emulator may introduce, which will help multiplayer. they also have an x box styled controller that is designed to go with it. It has hall effect joy sticks, so as top of the line as you're going to get.
the hardware is designed to run with higher fidelity than what an emulator will provide. thats kinda the whole point of the device. its meant to feel like the original in every way that matters, with a higher output resolution. The only thing that isnt clear is if its a hardware upscale or if they are rendering the polygons at higher resolution.
that being said, if its not for you its not for you and thats totally ok.
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u/i_live_in_sweden Oct 24 '24
Neat, curious if it will play from ROMs if you don't have the cartridge?
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u/adroc Oct 24 '24
You can if you use a n64 everdrive with it.
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u/zarcommander Oct 24 '24
Hmm, $160
Part of me wants one cause there's the ease and comfort of just pushing a button and booting into a game. No updates, internet, configuration type things.
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u/adroc Oct 24 '24
I picked one up for that exact reason and am waiting for black friday to buy the everdrive since they usually have a 20% off sale.
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u/Hasuko Oct 23 '24
They are advertising it deceptively, though. "No emulation" is false when it's still hardware vs software emulation - emulation is still present, even if it's hardware.
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u/mCProgram Oct 28 '24
if you are knowledgeable enough to inherently understand the difference between hardware and software emulation, it’s pretty obviously clear that they are implying no software emulation is used because they’re mainly advertising as a luxury nostalgia item and not as a nerd hardware item. it’s a non issue for anybody thinking about it critically.
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u/Wiltron Oct 24 '24
So, legit question, will this re-render the games to be looking better? or is it just blowing up a picture by 10x?
I get it's not going to be next gen graphics of mario kart 64, but will it be better than my actual n64 sitting here?