The magic of emulation has let us enjoy unforgettable classics, but it also became a cheap trick for unscrupulous companies that release clones limited in every way. The folks at retroUSB aim to break that trend with their AVS console. Real hardware means real support, so the AVS improves some aspects of the original NES, offers HDMI and USB connectivity, and is so faithful to the original design that if you plug in a Power Glove, it works without issues.
Today I woke up a bit annoyed to see that a local project aims to launch a "new and revolutionary" console to bring back all those classic systems we grew up with. In essence, the "console" is nothing more than a Raspberry Pi with a custom case, and after doing some quick math, I realized I could replicate the exact same setup for less than half its price. While I'm very happy to see and verify that retro is making a comeback, it makes no sense to try to pass off a Raspberry Pi with RetroPie preinstalled as "revolutionary". What we really want are things like the NES Classic Edition, and if the budget allows, something on the level of the retroUSB AVS.
What makes this console different? An appropriate word would be "everything", but as potential consumers, we need more details. First, the AVS is the first console to follow in the NES's footsteps that uses FPGA technology, meaning it can imitate with high precision the functioning of all the chips found in the original NES. That brings us to the second point: 100 percent compatibility with NES and Famicom cartridges, as well as accessories like the Famicom Disk System and the Power Glove (assuming someone wants to experience the terror of playing with that glove). Third, its HDMI output delivers 720p resolution with different pixel scalings, and without the classic "flicker" we remember in certain games. Finally, the console is very easy to update via its mini USB port, and this includes both firmware and score tables.
The external appearance of the retroUSB AVS is in line with what we could expect from a console designed in the '80s: a Spartan, futuristic, not entirely practical mix, with a certain yellowish tint that gives it even more "authenticity". The AVS is already available via pre-order, and its price is $185. General deliveries will begin in the last days of September.
