Retrode: Dump your SNES/Genesis games via USB!

[Rodrigo]

Do you have old gaming cartridges that you no longer know what to do with? Perhaps you have an old gaming console that went kaput and a collection of old games just collecting dust? If that’s the case; and if you happen to own some Nintendo SNES or Sega Genesis Game Carts, then you are indeed in luck. Thanks to a device called the Retrode (http://www.retrode.org/wordpress/) you can re-live those old days of console gaming.
Just plug either your Nintendo SNES or Sega Genesis Game Cartridge into the Retrode and then plug the device into any available USB port on your Mac or PC (http://www.geek.com/articles/games/convert-sega-genesis-and-snes-cartridges-into-roms-with-the-retrode-20100415/#). Then your computer will detect the Retrode as a mass storage device. At that point, you can either copy the game ROM over to your computer (http://www.geek.com/articles/games/convert-sega-genesis-and-snes-cartridges-into-roms-with-the-retrode-20100415/#) or play it straight from the Retrode using your favorite console emulator. As long as you own the game, there are no piracy issues. Sweet!
So if reliving your glory days on the SNES or Sega Genesis on PC or Mac sounds like a fun way to kill some time, you can score a Retrode over at Stone Age Gamer for about $97.
See more at Stone Age Gamer (http://stoneagegamer.com/retrode.aspx), found via CrunchGear (http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/04/13/retrode-easily-turns-your-snes-sega-genesis-cartridges-into-roms/)


Read more: http://www.geek.com/articles/games/convert-sega-genesis-and-snes-cartridges-into-roms-with-the-retrode-20100415/#ixzz0lAqhcsxF



via geek.com http://www.geek.com/articles/games/convert-sega-genesis-and-snes-cartridges-into-roms-with-the-retrode-20100415/

That's awesome, I am thinking of getting one. :D

[ASSEMbler]

Too expensive

[emu_kidid]

Too expensive, but if there was nothing else, I'd probably buy it.

[gorgyrip]

it's similar to this:
http://www.ziegler.desaign.de/GB-Flasher/photos/photo_03.jpg

[windjammer]

I believe it's this http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24807 re badged.

Shame I liked their old logo.

[retro]

Too expensive

Stone Age Gamer site is down, they say after the 13th you can use code SAG418 for 12% off - valid for 2 weeks.

That makes it... still too expensive! :lol:

[gorgyrip]

a schematic will be nice for a home project.

[ave]

Nice idea, but as said it's too expensive as that anyone would really care. And if you own the game, why not just download the ROM and emulate it directly?

No need to argue with authenticity of the cartridge, considering it's most likely gonna be a lowres SNES/MD-game being displayed on an HD LCD display like everybody uses them nowadays.

[i2a2n2]

I own one and I have to say it was a great investment. dumped a bunch of SNES prototypes with it.

[Trenton_net]

For the most part, I would think a simple Chinese copier would suffice.

[MottZilla]

Game Doctor SF units are cheaper and have the functionality to play back ROM dumps on the console later. The only disadvantage I've heard compared to the Retrode is that it can dump Super FX games where as I'm not sure if the GDSF7 can dump those or not.

I've also heard you can dump/write SRAM in cartridges but you can do that with a GDSF with the original Bung PC tools.

[Michael]

I think the fact that more adapters are being made may actually make this pretty cool one day. Site says they're adding n64/gameboy support. Somebody made a trubographic 16 add on and somebody did virtual boy. I don't understand why there wasn't nes/famicom support from the start.

It says there is wii support coming. Since I use my wii for most all my emulator stuff, that actually sounds useful. Rather than dumping, copying to sd--that sounds cool to plug and play. But I agree that it seems expensive.

So while the audience is small, it can be useful.

[indask8]

I have a retrode since a little while now...

It does it's job pretty well...

I have used it to dump my entire snes/sfc game collection (and especially keep safe some very very precious save files). ^^

Only a few games have resisted so far... either games with very specific chip, or games with "dirt" contacts (I clean my games contacts with an earbud and some 70% alcohol... but sometimes its not enough...).

[Teancum]

So I guess as far as price goes. can you get a copier for each of the systems the retrode supports so far. I'm new to the world of copiers so I'm not sure. Right now a Retrode and the first round of adapters can be purchased for $120 which gives support for Snes, Sega Genesis, Atari 2600, N64, GB,GBC, and GBA. I know as well someone has made a virtualboy adapter and wouldn't be surprised if some more obscure adapters came soon too.