Hasta La Gadget!

This strange looking box is capable of something no other device ever built is – it can play the original cartridges, ROMs and discs from 18 different retro gaming systems.

The beastly Project Unity system was built by modder Bacteria, and it took him over 3500 hours and three years to assemble. Inside, it contains original circuitry from 15 classic systems, but works with a single master controller, a single power supply, and a single (SCART) video output connector. All tolled, it cost Bacteria about £700 (~$1076 USD) in parts to build, but its really his time and labor that represents the majority of the cost.

Inside the system is approximately 100 feet of cabling, and the whole thing weighs in around 44 lbs. The system has physical hardware from an Atari 7800, Sega Master System, Sega MegaDrive (Genesis), Super Nintendo, Nintendo NES, Nintendo 64, NeoGeo MVS, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo Gamecube, NEC TurboGrafx X, Colecovision, Intellivision, Sony Playstation 2, and Amstrad GX1000 consoles. He says it can actually play games from 18 total systems, including PS1 games on the PS2, Atari 2600 games on the 7800 and GBA games on the GameCube.

In order for all of the games to work with a single controller, he built a series of special NES cartridges which plug into the controller, providing system specific interfaces for the single mega-controller.

Bacteria explains the build and how Project Unity came together and how it works in the extensive video below. The system and controller demo starts around 9:30.

You could play all of these consoles using MESS or other emulators, there’s something to be said about using the original hardware to play games without the quirks that most emulators exhibit.

If you’re wondering about the big nondescript square box it’s all set inside of, Bacteria says he built it that way so it would all fit neatly into the cabinet under his TV. While it may not be the prettiest looking console I’ve ever seen, you’ve got to hand it to Bacteria for his persistence and technical abilities.

Awesome job!

Headphones come in all shapes and sizes, some more flashy for the more fashion conscious, to more conservative and otherwise boring-looking models which are either priced really cheap, or cater to the audiophile who don’t really care how their headphones look like, but are more concerned about the sound. In any case for those looking for more flashy type of headphones, perhaps this modded pair of headphones might be of interest to you. Put together by lyberty5, these headphones are modded using parts of an SNES controller, as you can see on the cups of the headphones.

One side will feature the D-pad, while the other will sport the colorful buttons that many have come to know and recognize. Unfortunately according to lyberty5, the headphones used are cheap headphones, so don’t expect amazing sound to come from them, but for the SNES fan, this might be worth collecting. At the moment it does not appear that lyberty5 has plans to sell his creation, but if you’re interested in checking it out, watch the video above where he takes you through the process needed to put the headphones together!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Cowon D20 Offers 90 Hours Of Non-Stop Music, O-Bow Laser Violin,

If you recall, a few weeks back, we mentioned that Hyperkin was working on an update to their popular retro multi-console, the RetroN. Well, today, they officially showed off the console, and it’s been renamed the RetroN 5, since it has five cartridge slots.

Hyperkin Retro N 5 rendering

Announced at this weekend’s Midwest Gaming Classic, the RetroN 5 made an appearance as both a rendering (shown above), and as a shiny red prototype console, still bearing the RetroN 4 badge, and without the promised GBA slot.

Hyperkin Retro N 4 prototype

The five-slotted console will be able to play original cartridges from the NES, SNES, Genesis, Famicom, Super Famicom, Mega Drive, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color and Game Boy. In addition, it will offer an HDMI output for playing games on today’s HDTVs, and a special video enhancement circuit to ensure high quality playback at resolutions up to 720p.

The RetroN 5 will also offer technology to improve the audio quality compared to what you’re used to hearing from emulators, with the ability to increase playback frequency if you so choose. While you can play games using the original controllers from the various retro systems, the RetroN 5 will ship with a Bluetooth wireless controller(s?), complete with a lovely clicky microswitch D-Pad.

Hyperkin Retro N 4 prototype wireless controller

Hyperkin has also suggested that you’ll be able to use controllers from different systems on each other’s games. For instance, you could play an NES game with a Genesis controller. The system will also have its own custom interface, which will provide the ability to save states, map buttons, and tweak gameplay speed by “overclocking” the game systems. You’ll also be able to assign settings to macro keys on the sides of the controller for easy access. While the menu UI I saw was clearly in the early stages of development, it was already accessible on the prototype system.

‘ Hyperkin RetroN 5 Prototype UI

Hyperkin hasn’t revealed the pricing or an exact release date for the RetroN 5, but they’re hoping to release the system this July – though they were clear they want to give their development team enough time to put a shiny coat of polish on the finished product, so that date isn’t carved in stone.

Here’s video from today’s announcement for more details on the system.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Like the RetroN 3, but imagine a Gameboy Advance port

As much fun as I’ve been having playing Tomb Raider this week, I still like to dabble in some old-school gaming from time to time. The only issue is I tend to gravitate towards emulators since I no longer own my classic video game systems, but Hyperkin’s RetroN 4 console seems to be something I, and I’m sure many of you, would want in your old-school gaming lives.

The RetroN 4 will feature four cartridge slots that will allow you to play NES, Super NES, Sega Genesis and Game Boy Advance games all hooked up to your HDTV setup through its HDMI output. We bet if you took this thing back in time to your younger self, it would make them the coolest kid on the block! (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Sonic Dash for iOS Will Finally Star SEGA’s Mascot In An Endless Runner, Tomb Raider’s First Multiplayer Pack Hitting Xbox 360 On March 19,

Strip Doctor Who of its BBC production values, translate it into a 16-bit role playing game and you have something so deliciously geeky that it really ought be made a reality. More »