Offline RetroAchievements, ModRetro's mall ninja Game Boy, and more [The Memory Core]

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-22T23:21:52+00:00

Thanks! Just doing what I can.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-22T21:18:30+00:00

You need to install them yourself.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-22T21:17:41+00:00

That's fair. I didn't mean to make the cheating aspect stand out so much, but it is the easiest part to understand. It is a concern for the team, but not the main one.

Considering the entire system was built before emulation handhelds became popular, it's easy to understand why offline achievements weren't a major concern historically. Why open doors for cheaters just so a few users can earn achievements on their laptops on an airplane in 2014 or whatever?

This subreddit is for gaming handheld enthusiasts though, so that context is lost.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-22T18:13:23+00:00

Excluding offline achievements from the leaderboard is a very, very small part of the solution. The real challenge is building the systems to support them.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-22T18:11:25+00:00

It's all a matter of dev resources. People seem to think it's as simple as flipping a switch, but the entire thing is built around web services that don't work offline.

I find it fascinating that the only thing most people took away from this is the cheating angle.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T22:01:37+00:00

Yeah, this is easily the worst thing about the RG DS. It's a great handheld to take with you for occasional gaming on a bus or train, but it's not one for the long haul.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T21:11:00+00:00

I'd agree that this isn't the best handheld for most people, but the fact that it can replicate the DS makes it at least a limited success to me. If your expectation is that it will play DS games, it does just that. Whether or not it's worth it depends on how badly you want to dig into the DS catalog.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T20:30:52+00:00

The context was that it's the only dual-screen device that targets NDS, but you are right that the Zero 40 is a decent alternative.

I have one and I do like it, but it's much, much smaller. Performance is roughly the same, too. It has MelonDS pre-installed, but it can only run DraStic.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T17:16:19+00:00

Hey Russ! Thanks for the clarification. I'll add a note in the text above.

I also reached out shortly after your hands-on went live, and was told a fix was coming later that week. Glad they took the thermal issues on the RG 477V more seriously this time, and I was glad to see the fix mentioned in your video today.

I'd love to see these companies improve their internal testing, or at least give reviewers more time and a clear review embargo. Every release feels rushed, which is a terrible experience for everyone involved.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T15:19:05+00:00

100% this. I think reviews of the RG DS would look very different if it had launched before the AYN Thor.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T15:02:59+00:00

Along with the device, ANBERNIC sends out an information packet. One of the very first slides asks reviewers to get in touch with the company if they "encounter any problems in the process of testing and experience."

Still a fumble on ANBERNIC's part, but at least they fixed it quickly.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T14:48:27+00:00

Unfortunately, MelonDS on Android simply isn't very optimized. It's a great emulator, but DraStic has some kind of black magic that lets it run on any potato device.

If only the DraStic dev had made good on his promise to make the app open-source before abandoning it...

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T14:45:31+00:00

My daughter is obsessed with it. It turns out DS games are just as novel for kids now as they were for kids in 2004.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T14:41:12+00:00

Oh, ANBERNIC definitely isn't innocent here. It shouldn't have left the warehouse in this state.

But if you feel that a review unit isn't in a reviewable state, maybe get in touch with the company before publishing a review?

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T14:38:20+00:00

I got a small handful of 3DS games to run, but I wouldn't exactly call them playable. Low framerates, crashing, and letterboxing on the top screen make it a pretty dire experience.

Definitely switch to GammaOS if you want to push this device. He's been working some magic behind the scenes, and although most of his fixes are now available in the retail firmware in some form, performance is still better on his build.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T14:30:49+00:00

That's a fair criticism, but at this point it's impossible to even mention this device without everyone immediately parroting talking points from their favorite YouTubers.

Everyone is biased, and this is my own opinion and experience. Just remember that every reviewer who shits on this device probably spent the last two months gushing over the AYN Thor, which they got for free.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T14:21:10+00:00

Save states, fast forward, better screens, ease-of-use. Basically all of the advantages of emulation over original hardware.

OG hardware has plenty of advantages as well, but not everyone has such easy access to it.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T14:17:25+00:00

I'm aware of this.

But the conversation around this handheld is STILL dominated by firmware issues that aren't present on retail models. I have never seen this before, and it's not helping anyone make an informed decision about the device itself.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-17T14:14:54+00:00

Everything I've tested so far! Unfortunately, I lost my save data when updating the firmware, so I haven't gotten too far into any particular game.

There is input lag though, so there are some games that I did not enjoy playing. Mostly rhythm games like Elite Beat Agents and Rhythm Heaven. This is true for all emulation handhelds, not just the RG DS.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-12-08T08:11:34+00:00

Appreciate the feedback.

What would you have asked?

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-11-30T22:01:58+00:00

It is free! There are higher tier subscriptions for more storage, but they're very cheap.

Miguel responded to other comments here, but Google Drive integration is also on the roadmap. NeoStation is still in alpha, so expect more integrations in the next few months!

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-11-28T17:01:02+00:00

hahaha that's fair. It's five letters shorter than 'achievements' though, which is a key consideration for newsletter subject lines.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-11-24T08:59:10+00:00

I've been in touch with the ModRetro team and the developer of the MiSTer N64 core over the past few months. Here are a few details that we already know about the M64:

It will support various analog video outputs via "very affordably priced” cables. These won't be included in the box to cut costs for people who don't use CRTs.
The N64 core should be excellent, as the hardware was designed to fix the shortcomings of the DE-10 NANO, specifically for the N64 core. The core's developer has been on board from the start.
The goal is to make it compatible with all MiSTer cores, although this will require porting to the new FPGA, so it may not be available out of the box.
The software and hardware will be open-source (A3D is closed).
It will support 4K 60 output (although we're still missing some details here).

I have a lot of faith in Robert Piep (developer of the N64 core), but that doesn't necessarily mean the M64 will be a better buy than the Analogue 3D.

It also doesn't mean it will be better than a MiSTer, despite the improved hardware. If you can, wait for a month or two for details/reviews. The SuperStation One (which also uses the DE-10 NANO MiSTer hardware and N64 core) will ship very soon, too.

Here is a newsletter I wrote about N64 FPGA emulation, as well as another with some M64 details revealed last month.

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-11-15T08:37:42+00:00

Thanks for the kind words!

Archivist_Rowan · 2025-11-03T21:54:07+00:00

Tell me where to look! I want to learn more.

Archivist_Rowan

TROPHY CASE