AYANEO has paused its Kickstarter campaign for the Pocket Play smartphone as part of its "Service Improvement Plan" to address community complaints about unfulfilled orders and delays.
Epilogue is launching the SN Operator, a device that connects Super Nintendo cartridges to modern PCs, scheduled to ship in April next year. Preorders will open on December 30 at noon ET. The SN Operator is compatible with PC, Mac, and Steam Deck, allowing users to back up games and save progress through the Playback app, which also supports co-op gameplay and RetroAchievements. It reads data directly from cartridges instead of using hardware emulation and supports mouse controls for classic accessories. Epilogue plans to expand its product line, potentially creating an Operator device for NES games in the future.
Emulation is a popular use for retro gaming handhelds, allowing them to mimic older devices like the Game Boy, Super Nintendo, and PlayStation 1 to play games originally released for those platforms. Emulators can recreate all the processes of old consoles using modern hardware. Emulation can lead to minor inaccuracies in sound or graphics, but also allows for games to be upscaled to higher resolutions and supports save states. Emulation is legal as long as copyrighted software is not distributed to run on emulators. Retro gaming handhelds can also play Android games and stream games from the cloud. There are ways to play PC games on retro gaming handhelds using Linux or Android, either through fan-made ports or compatibility layers. Some concerns exist with using certain apps to play Steam games on Android, but the future may hold an official way to play Steam games on these devices.
Abxylute is a startup company based in Silicon Valley that aims to revolutionize the way businesses operate by providing cutting-edge solutions for their digital needs.
RetroAchievements adds achievements to over 10,000 games on various consoles, including GameCube, PSP, and GBA. RetroAchievements recently announced support for Dolphin on Android devices, allowing users to earn achievements while playing GameCube games on their phones.
Steam releases approximately a dozen new games daily, which can make it difficult for players to find new favorites. Recent notable PC game releases include:
- Everdeep Aurora: Released on July 10, developed by Nautilus Games.
- Dread Flats: A first-person horror game set in a "murder building" in 1990s China.
- Last Report: Released on July 12, developed by Moonpixel Games, this point-and-click adventure follows a park ranger uncovering disturbing events through CCTV footage.
- Occlude: Released on July 11, developed by Tributary Games, this occult card game features a "reality-bending" narrative.
- Azrael's Tear: Released on July 12, developed by Intelligent Games Ltd., this retro game originally from 1996 involves a quest for the Holy Grail in a futuristic setting, focusing on puzzles and exploration.
GameNative is an open source application that allows users to play games from their Steam library on their Android devices with minimal adjustments and modifications. The app is based on the Pluvia platform and uses the Winlator app for emulation. It supports titles with DRM protection and offers features such as on-screen keyboard, controller overlay, and saving. However, the app is still in development and may have bugs and crashes.
The owner of a retro game store is not opposed to emulation and believes it has had a positive impact on retro gaming by helping people discover games they otherwise would not have played. Many customers of the store also emulate games, even those they purchase from the store, as it offers benefits like save states and improved framerates. Emulation has actually grown the owner's market as it creates a steady pipeline of people interested in retro games, leading them to collect physical games and memorabilia from the store. The owner emphasizes that the most important thing is to enjoy games, whether through original systems or emulation.
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is a sequel to the original game, Beyond the Ice Palace, which was released decades ago and received mediocre reviews. The original featured a nameless hero in a non-ice world with a simplistic ending. The sequel improves upon the original by offering a more engaging experience with hidden treasures, revisitable areas, and skill-based platforming. Combat is enhanced with versatile weapons, and the game balances nostalgia with modern gameplay principles, making it a worthy investment in the gaming landscape.
