Well, it’s finally happened. Songbringer, which met and exceeded it’s initial $9,00 Kickstarter goal by more than $6,000, is headed for your console. Songbringer coming to Retro VGS is what the backers have been waiting for. Wait… what? You don’t know what the Retro VGS is!? Seriously!!? Me neither. As a retro enthusiast, I feel like I’ve missed the boat here.
In the Songbringer coming to Retro VGS post, on the game’s Kickstarter updates, the dev laments the loss of the bygone days, where you would blow into NES cartridges to get them to work. (Pro tip: blowing into cartridges is actually bad for them as the condensation in your mouth can damage the contacts.) The post continues to talk about how the games, “still work to this day” and are never made obsolete by newer versions or patches. I too miss these days, which is why I have all of my old systems and methods of playing them on newer screens close by.
I was wondering why I would need another multi-player system such as the Retron 5, Ouya or any number of Raspberry Pi configurations that can play old games for that matter. It seems a little weird to shoe-horn in support for new games in a retro system. Apparently that’s not what this is. The Retro VGS is a retro-themed console, based on Atari Jaguar Manufacturing, which plays new retro-styled games on a cartridge.
I’m not wholly sure that anything like this is even remotely necessary. I like they idea of a new game in a cartridge as a novelty — something that commemorates my support of a title, and looks cool on a shelf. But why would I buy a new “retro” system to play new “retro” games, which are available on a machine I already own. Call me a skeptic of this system. Still, Songbringer fits the aesthetic that the developers have in mind for this machine, and by bundling it in, or simply partnering with another company, they may expand their install base.
What do you think of Songbringer coming to Retro VGS? Were you even aware of this future system prior to this? Let us know in the comments.
I did not know about the “Retro VGS” console until seeing this. And, frankly, it’s an unnecessary piece of hardware that probably won’t take off. I had the same reservations about Ouya and I was pretty much right about that one.
Here’s the strangest thing about these game announcements for Retro VGS…. The Retro VGS is going to hit Kickstarter itself later this year! So, it’s not even a done deal at this point.
As a game collector myself, I feel the Retro VGS is a bit of a pipe dream because only weirdo collectors like me are going to get it. There is very little room for it to reach mainstream attention (like the Ouya managed during its campaign with a call of “$100 video game console!”). It’s worth noting that the brains behind the Retro VGS also run the RETRO magazine which has its fans for sure.
Their magazine sucks, so I’m not at all hyped.
I haven’t checked it out, but have heard some people complain that they cover too many current games. I’ll always be a Retro Gamer fan, great mag.
I’m with you Serena and Marcus. I think the idea of a retro console is cool, but if I’m looking at it in my shopping card I don’t see myself pulling the trigger on it.
It’s funny, I owned a Jaguar up until a few years ago and it wasn’t great. Totally different system, I know, but hearing them mention it because of the fabrication and stuff immediately makes me think “I already had one of those collecting dust under my tv for 15 years, no thanks.”
But hey, I think them putting all the work into it and such is cool, so maybe it’ll be the greatest thing ever?
This is nice for people who want that old retro feel to it, but to be fair, it certainly will be a niche market at the end.
I’m really curious for the Kickstarter to start. I feel like it could go either way from a success standpoint. I’m also wondering how many they have to sell to be profitable.
Hmm good point, I guess we could look at the OUYA campaign for an example. However this one is for a cartridge base console, so perhaps the numbers may be smaller or higher than that campaign.