nes/snes retro duo! pics, review, hacking info 7/27/10

Franky · Post by **Franky** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:09 pm

If you want more games for your compatibility list, you can check mine here, I update it somewhat regularly: http://rdpal.blogspot.com/2008/07/compa ... -list.html

lovablechevy · Post by **lovablechevy** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:11 pm

Franky wrote:If you want more games for your compatibility list, you can check mine here, I update it somewhat regularly: http://rdpal.blogspot.com/2008/07/compa ... -list.html

thanks! i'll add the link to the first post!

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:21 pm

Hey, looking at the diagram I posted for wiring up the controller IC, I think the pin labeled as "SL" should be "CLK1" - can anyone verify this for me? I'm not looking at the board right now, so going from memory I think it's CLK1.

Edit: Okay, I answered my own question. The answer's yes, and it's CK1, not CLK1.

Franky · Post by **Franky** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:01 pm

Sorry for the bump, I just wanted to mention that my compatibility list (located here: http://rdpal.blogspot.com/2008/07/compa ... -list.html) has just passed 100 games!

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:45 pm

If you're following a pinout for a standard SNES controller IC or are wiring up two 4021's then you'll need the following information:

P1 or P2 on the Retro Duo = Data 1 or 2
PL (either one on the board) = P/S
CK1 or CK2 = Clock 1 or 2
VCC and GND are the same

Combine the information in this thread with the information found here and you're golden.

Joel Schmidt · Post by **Joel Schmidt** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:18 pm

EDIT: I've tried playing LoZ II on my toaster box style NES and have the game lag/status bar corruption issue, so I guess it could be said that the Retro Duo IS able the play the game exactly the same as an original system.

However, I have not tested it on one of the newer top loader NES systems to see if occurs there. (I need to get one and then mod it for A/V support.) I still need to take a photo of the difference in color palette for the sand on the overhead map though.

Just to clarify though, my copy is the original Gold Case release. Is your copy the same or the re-released gray case? It could be a version issue that was later corrected.

Also, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest does not have correct music channel support with the Retro Duo. All I hear when playing the game on my Retro Duo is the bass effects. I tested it on my original NES Unit, a FC Twin and the FC Dual and on those systems I hear all the music channels, so it is not a problem with my cartridge. No other games have this issue with my RD, so it seems safe to assume it is a hardware limitation for that game. Possibly caused by whatever hack/mod was required to get CV III to work?

lovablechevy wrote: can you show pics or a video of what you mean? my game plays perfectly fine...

zzattack · Post by **zzattack** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:03 pm

I've received my console today and before destroying it I figured I could at least use it to add a little to this list

I can confirm that these 5 games work perfectly fine:

* Bulls vs Blazers
* NHPLA Hockey
* Super Socces Champ
* NBA Showdown
* NHL '94 (already on your list)

eggeye · Post by **eggeye** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:38 pm

hi guys. new here. I have a problem with my retro duo and i'd really appreciate some help. Basically the console won't play snes games but nes games seem to work fine. Has anyone else heard of this problem? I just opened it this evening brand new. I've tried leaving the s-video in and out but all i get is a blank screen. I really hope that i'm not going to have to return it to the ebay seller....

Any advice or help is really appreciated.

SonyPortableizer · Post by **SonyPortableizer** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:49 pm

Is the warranty gone?
Are you sticking them in the right way?
Are they clean?

Other then that I can help-You would be surprised how many times this is the problem, well for me at least

eggeye · Post by **eggeye** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:55 pm

well i tried a lot of games so i dont think its that they're dirty. the NES ones worked straight off. Im in Europe but presumably that doesn't matter... I'm using an american-EU adapter. I'm sticking them in with the label facing forward...

Joel Schmidt · Post by **Joel Schmidt** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:34 pm

eggeye wrote:well i tried a lot of games so i dont think its that they're dirty. the NES ones worked straight off. Im in Europe but presumably that doesn't matter... I'm using an american-EU adapter. I'm sticking them in with the label facing forward...

What is the model of the cartridge adapter? If you look at the list on the first page, several European PAL games do not work on the RetroDuo... It is very likely the same problem exists with your adapter.

eggeye · Post by **eggeye** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:08 am

im actually using mostly US cartridges but ive tried both. At first i thought it was a hi-def TV incompatibility thing but then i got the NES games working perfectly. ah sorry, i meant a 2-pin adapter for the wall socket, we have three pin plugs here.

im getting blisters on my hand from playing ninja gaiden!

eggeye · Post by **eggeye** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:58 am

this is incredibly annoying. can anyone with a general knowledge of electronics confirm to me that this can't be a problem with the TV./tuning/voltage...

Is there any point getting a step-down convertor?

Otherwise I'm going to need to try and return it as soon as possible....

zzattack · Post by **zzattack** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 4:12 am

there's no point in getting a step down converter
the retro duo works on 5v anyway and the supplied adapter steps down 110-230V to 5V so its sort of region free.

one thing you could try is implementing
this hack

lovablechevy · Post by **lovablechevy** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:15 am

eggeye wrote:this is incredibly annoying. can anyone with a general knowledge of electronics confirm to me that this can't be a problem with the TV./tuning/voltage...

Is there any point getting a step-down convertor?

Otherwise I'm going to need to try and return it as soon as possible....

you might want to have a look here. starting with post #180 and on, the guy was having the same issues as you. if i remember correctly, he was sure he was slowly frying his retro duo by not using a step down converter. but, i suggest just readin over all that was said concerning it. sorry, i don't have time to do it right now...

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nes/snes retro duo! pics, review, hacking info 7/27/10

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