Here are the latest updates on big retro collections and other related news.
I would like to refresh the unwritten “inclusion rules” to be in this article: For actual retro collections, they need to be >1TB (or close, or have the potential), they need to be for Windows, they need to be actively developed and I need to… like them. (It is my blog, ain’t it? I am definitely not claiming impartiality, although I do try)
Although only two months since last update and August usually being a “dead” month for some, we did have interesting updates!
So…
- Core Type-R. They have no sign of taking the foot from the pedal, although they have slowed down a tiny bit. A few updates both official and community. Definitely a collection to follow… if you can and have the space.
(I am still waiting for someone to give me a rough idea of the current official metrics and unofficial if possible)
- Complete Play. Colpipes78 has released a few older packs to public and will probably continue to do so, to “release pressure” from private tracker (and his seedbox). There were 3-4 interesting private updates and more coming according to his update post. One collection that is not slowing down.
- Pixel Nostalgia RGS. I am using the complete name for once. Not only RGS is what I call one of the “Big Two”, but is slowly becoming my favourite. I have GREAT news about this collections and this team and is the main reason of the article you are reading.
Well, remember The One Build I mentioned in my last article? Well, for ONCE in Emulation (where splits and fights are way too common), they joined forces with RGS! This will help both of them as Pixel Nostalgia will eventually be FOUR collections. One “full” and one “best of” and each of them in RetroBat (Windows) and Batocera (Linux/stand-alone) versions!
For now, we got a huge “update 1” for Retrobat, plus some separate Batocera packs (be careful to get Atari 2600 from the stand-alone new packs and get the media from it and throw them on update 1). This turns RGS Retrobat to a “monster” of more than 200 systems and more than 65K games! There are still some rough edges, but this will eventually be smoother out. Namely, update 1 and stand-alone (retrobat/batocera) packs came close together and some people got confused what overlaps what and what is not needed at all. Also One Build (although being the “small” version) still has a couple of systems with more games than RGS Retrobat. Finally the choice of “doubling” the same roms for more than one similar systems, is questionable (notably, C64 and C64GS seem to use same roms… Which are not even all cartridges, although GS is a cartridge only system – you CAN hide the system yourself, though).
Another GREAT new feature (which might be way too powerful, but I always hoped for it to return since VMan collection days), is the update service it includes! Now, if bugs or small missing are found post-release, can easily be fixed when using the update service. I just hope the scripts are always smart enough and error proof (not updating systems that are missing, overwriting newer files etc.). Up to now (they already released 4 or 5 patches), seems to work ok.
Smaller related news:
- CoinOps seems to finally slow down (to a stop). I am not sure if this came any newer “outburst” from the builder or people just became aware he just recycles things, I am not following on the intrigue that this project suffers from. I would probably not mention it at all, but I do, to at least give credit to nice unofficial spin-offs, like CC Reloaded that seeming DID have a new pack.
- Sleyk still hasn’t released anything. Also wouldn’t mention these “news”, but he seems to still have his own (empty) section in a well known emulation tracker.
More emulation news:
- Total DOS Collection #22 is out! Like every summer, here is the new (always huge) update to the project. Everything DOS is there, until more are found.
- C64 Dreams. I will keep posting, wishing the project resumes. It is too good to just not mention it.
- eXo released eXoDREAMM (the alternative emulator by Aaron Giles that emulates many Lucas Arts games). In the usual eXo quality of course (nothing less than great). I do hope eXo becomes more active with something like old defunct Gruby Adventurepack project, in other words something more generic than eXoScummVM (and monthly updated) to become the one-stop-for-emulation. Please eXo?
- AmigaVision AGAIN got a new release, with the highlight being that you can mount CD32 disc images through it (esp. for MiSTer use).
- DamienD and RetroPlay, release their packs as always, check my previous blog entries for details.
- FPGA to the outsider (me), didn’t seem to have HUGE news this time around (there is the usual core progress of course), EXCEPT that there is more mention both about official MiSTER successor to DE10 (getting a stronger FPGA) and MiSTER alternatives/clones that have started to kick off. I am not an expert, but excited that there are signs of evolution.
I include the latest sheet (old link still works): Big Two (and a half)
Note that I will probably eliminate One Build in the future, as it will become the (much needed) “lite” version of full RGS Retrobat and Batocera. Also note that possibly in the 66k games mentioned for Retrobat, MAYBE there are duplicates I failed to recognize (see what I mention above about update 1). Finally, in next version, I may point within the article the notable misses of one against the other (for people bored to read spreadsheets).
Until next time, all the best!