The latest generation of consoles has done little more than offer computers wrapped in modern shells. These systems have become slaves to constant updates and controlled downloads, losing all the essence we once recognized in the old consoles. The Retro VGS project aims to restore that essence in a very particular way: bringing back the cartridge as the medium for current games.
A New Take on an Old Idea
The question comes up again and again, but the answer doesn't change: retro games and consoles are experiencing a peak in popularity because the market keeps failing to deliver rich, engaging experiences. Personally, I haven't touched a so-called Triple A game in months, spending my hours either emulating Commodore 64 classics or getting lost in indie titles like RimWorld, which, by the way, has become pure heroin. Yes, I'm interested in graphic-heavy games like Elite: Dangerous, and I'm keeping an eye on rumors of a possible Fallout 4 announcement, but the industry is finding it harder and harder to surprise. When inspiration is lacking, the old manuals get pulled out, and the best part is that their ideas aren't limited to software.
This is how we encounter the Retro VGS initiative. Unlike other specialized systems like the RetroN series, the goal of Retro VGS is not to offer a platform that reads old cartridges, but to develop a classic console that uses cartridges to run modern games. Why? Well... why not? The project's leaders explain that the cartridge, technically "solid-state storage", is one of the most durable. Anyone who can get their hands on a Nintendo NES or an Atari 2600 with cartridges will surely find that these systems still work like day one, something that definitely won't happen with the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 in twenty years. The console still lacks official specifications, but one plan is to support USB controllers and old pads with DB-9 connectors. As for video output, the range will be wide, from RCA to HDMI.
A Risky Proposition
Now, if you're wondering why the renders show a console similar to the Atari Jaguar, it's because the minds behind Retro VGS have managed to track down the original equipment used to manufacture that console and its cartridges. In other words, having that machinery saves half a million dollars on research, development, and tooling. The next big step is to set the hardware boundaries — that is, finding what is 'enough' and not falling into 'exaggerated' — and, of course, to tempt developers. A real danger for Retro VGS is ending up in the same barren territory as the OUYA, a console that failed to deliver on any of its promises. While the idea catches our attention, returning to the cartridge adds a layer of complexity that I'm not sure we could fully accept, unless the cartridge configuration is flexible and lets us load our own games...
