RetroN 5 $129.99 with free shipping @ ThinkGeek - The RetroN 5 deals thread

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$129.99 with free shipping at ThinkGeek


Important Information
​Warranty registration - http://www.retron5.com/warrantyregistration_/
Patch Notes / How to Update (Last update 6/10/2014) - http://retron5.in/?src=98f13708210194c475687be6106a3b84

I've included the text from the pre-order era of this OP in spoilers for reference.
UPDATE 5/27/14: It's real this time. Hyperkin's June 6 release date is happening. Many mom and pop stores that have received their units have started selling them already, and many people who have ordered from Amazon (myself included) are reporting getting emails from Amazon notifying them that their orders qualify for release day delivery and are updating estimated delivery status to June 6th, no longer showing the "we need more time" placeholder. It's worth noting that so far only people who have ordered the grey unit from Amazon are receiving order updates (which coincides with Hyperkin reporting on their facebook page that they had shipped Amazon's grey preorder units, but Amazon had yet to place an order for the black units). All consoles that have been shown off online by reviewers, people who have been able to buy them before the street date, or Hyperkin themselves have all been grey consoles to this point. No word on black consoles. Another note: Chris Gallizzi of Hyperkin responded to an inquiry about Newegg orders by saying that he is not aware of any issues with Newegg's preorders, and they should be good to go for the launch.

UPDATE 5/22/14: Just one day after IGN and Polygon reported that Hyperkin would begin shipping units to retailers on May 22 (today as of this writing), Hyperkin essentially confirmed that. They have announced that the launch date for the long overdue RetroN 5 is June 6th, 2014. In a much quieter fashion (just by responding to a random person's comment) they confirmed this would be for North America only and that the console would launch in the UK in September. There is also one more small hitch. The rumor that the first batch of units would be only for mom/pop B&M retailers and that NO units from this batch would go to Amazon or Newegg has been gaining some serious steam. While Hyperkin has been responding to a decent amount of comments on their facebook page from excited fans, they continue to ignore questions about when Amazon orders will ship. So it seems those of us who preordered on Amazon still don't have a solid release date. Fulfillment could happen any time between June 6th through September or beyond.

UPDATE 5/21/14: IGN today reported that the RetroN 5 would begin shipping out on May 22 (tomorrow, as of this writing)! This coincides with Chris Gazzilli, Hyperkin's project manager, posting a picture on his facebook page of a massive shipping container full of RetroN 5 units. Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems hell may have just frozen over.

UPDATE 5/13/14: Hyperkin has listed the RetroN 5, and it's controllers, on their company wholesale store for authorized retailers to buy. The console (both colors) and controllers (both colors) are listed as sold out. I'm not sure if they were in stock and sold out quickly, or if they haven't been made available yet. Regardless, it's good news that the system is listed for the first time ever. Additionally, reviewers such as GameSpot and several youtube reviewers have received their review units, which appear to be retail units. The RetroN 5 seems to finally be around the corner. We'll see, but things look promising right now. One thing to note: the listing for the console on Hyperkin's wholesale page indicates that each wholesale box contains six units. If this is the case, it would seem to debunk the previous report of the console being shipped in quantities of four per retailer.

UPDATE 4/25/14: While this hasn't technically been confirmed by Hyperkin, I take it as fact. It's worth remembering that NOTHING has been officially confirmed by Hyperkin. Hyperkin has remained silent until unofficially confirming almost all known info in random interviews with various youtubers and forum members. Therefor, again, I take this as fact:

I spoke to Hyperkin today.

Here are the "unofficial" details.

The "end of May" release is a "soft" release. Meaning they really are waiting for the next batch due in the summer for the official real release. Amazon is NOT getting any of the units released at the end of May. Each retailer is only getting 4 units. Retail on the unit is $139.99 and $39.99 for the additional controller. The reasons for the price increase are both cosmetic and technical but if it works as it should then it should be a great retro system.

Our 4 are already taken with pre-orders. If you know any stores locally that are getting units, and you want one for end of May, then i suggest you contact them and put money down. Keep in mind that each store is getting 4 units only for the soft launch.
UPDATE 4/17/14: Hyperkin has increased the price of the RetroN 5, saying "north of $100, between $129.99 and $149.99". Alll pre-orders from Amazon should be honored via their pre-order price guarantee. I believe Newegg has the same guarantee, I am not sure about Stone Age Gamer or 8 Bit Classics. Think Geek still hasn't opened pre-orders on the unit, instead offering a link to be signed up for email notifications as to when it will be available. Also on the Amazon front, they have sold out or pre-orders. Furthermore, it is more likely you'll learn the ETA from Amazon, Newegg, or whoever you ordered it from. Hyperkin has gone on record of saying they will never again announce a hard release date for anything.

UPDATE 4/12/14: After Hyperkin denied the console was delayed again and vigoruosuly shoved the month of April up everyone's ass for half a year, today they delayed the vaporware console yet again. At the Midwest Gaming Classic, they did their annual presentation. They ignored the planned April 2014 release, but finally somebody in the crowd asked about it. The Hyperkin rep said it was releasing in "30 days, guaranteed". This is not the first time they used the word "guaranteed", last time was about April so this doesn't mean jack shit. So maybe it'll randomly show up at people's houses at the end of may, maybe it wont, and maybe my ass will fly out of my ass.

Retron 5 Delay History:
-Summer 2013 (which they continued to say after summer was over, claiming they meant "Indian Summer" or "California Summer"....i'm not making this up)
-December 10 2013
-Quarter 1 2014
-Quarter 2 2014
-First two weeks of April
-April 2014, guaranteed
-Gauranteed within 30-40 days of April 12, 2014
-June 6 2014

DELAYED. ANY UPDATES FROM HYPERKIN WILL COME ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/HyperkinGames

UPDATE: In a recent interview, Hyperkin confirmed that the initial batch of units WILL NOT BE ENOUGH to meet day ome demand. Also confirmed was the ability for the system to act as a multitap. Example: in a four player SNES game, two players could use snes controlles, one player could use the retron controller, and one player could use a genesis controller. Interview can be found here.


Pre-order at Amazon (SOLD OUT)
Pre-order at Newegg: Black (SOLD OUT) or Grey (SOLD OUT)
Pre-order at Stone Age Gamer (DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, RELEASE DAY DELIVERY NOT PROMISED)
Pre-order at 8 Bit Classics (DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, RELEASE DAY DELIVERY NOT PROMISED)





UPDATE: Hyperkin claims that they opened up some packaged retail units and discovered some units had faulty pins. because of this, the Retron 5 has been delayed. No new release date has been announced, although Hyperkin has stated the unit will release in 2014 and that they are aiming for Q1. This is the Retron 5's third delay.

EDIT: Preorders are sold out at Amazon and Newegg.

Retron5 pre-orders have finally (about damn time) opened.

For those of you who have been following this console, you know it's quite highly anticipated and looks to be far better than any clone system released before.

For those unfamiliar, here's a little info:

  • It's one system that plays games for the following systems: NES, SNES, Genesis, Mega Drive, Famicom, Super Famicom, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance.
  • Two controller ports for each console will be built in with the system. It will also come with one wireless universal controller.
  • Outputs in HDMI and upscales for HDTVs. Early impressions and videos of this have been extremley postive. From the website: "The RetroN 5 will up convert the video signal to show clearer and cleaner images, with vibrant colors on an HDTV with a resolution output of up to 720p through the use of shaders. You will also be able to select the aspect ratio in our GUI, from the standard 4:3 to the HD ratio of 16:9."
  • Features a user interface (dashboard. Somewhat similar of the PS3 interface in appearance, in my opinion).
  • Features save states. From the website: "Most games did not allow for you to freely save your games. The RetroN 5 will allow you to save their games at any point during gameplay, and will feature an autosave feature upon shutdown. You will be able to load your saves at anytime during gameplay."
  • Button reassignment supported. From the website: "Users will be able to program the controller to assign buttons to their preference. In turn, the RetroN 5 will save these custom layouts, so that users will not have to constantly reconfigure the button configuration. This feature will also be available to people wanting to remap their buttons on their original controllers."
  • 100% game cartridge compatibility, without lag.
  • Sega Power Base Converter compatible, allowing Sega Master System games to be played.
More information is here. It may be a bit dated since this was from back when they first announced the console, but I figured it was the best site to link since it also featured some screenshots as well. http://hyperkin.com/blog/2013/03/retron-5-details-revealed-from-the-midwest-gaming-classic/ There is also plenty of info on Hyperkin's facebook page.

I've been looking forward to this for a long time, and i'm extremley excited that pre-orders are finally open. For one console that not only plays all of these console's games, but upscales them and features save states (either to the cartridge (if supported) or the console itself)...this seems like a great deal. And if you've been following the hype for the console, there is a good chance it could end up selling out. Hyperkin isn't a huge company and this thing has a TON of pre-release demand (just check out the comments on the facebook page). I like the look of the black one a bit better, because it seems to be the traditional console color nowadays. But I opted for the grey model because the black console and controller seem like they'd be fingerprint magnets.

Preorder either color here at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-RetroN-Gaming-Not-Machine-Specific/dp/B00DZIX3CQ/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1378958043&sr=8-13&keywords=retron+5 or here at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=retron%205&N=-1&isNodeId=1&RandomID=65244712392254220130925161655

Here are pictures of the two consoles, since the pictures on Amazon aren't that great:

Grey:
Retron-5.jpg


Black:
e3_retron5_03550.jpg

 
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Icee. Checked around and it started on Feb. 1st here. Wish I had found out sooner. Oh well not a deal breaker either way just a small punch in the food bank.

 
Icee. Checked around and it started on Feb. 1st here. Wish I had found out sooner. Oh well not a deal breaker either way just a small punch in the food bank.
If you are concerned that your preorder wouldn't have been taxed if you got it in before they started to charge tax don't. I had a preorder that shipped after they started to charge tax and I still got hit with the taxes. You were going to be charged taxes no matter when you preordered.

 
swanky, you can download and upload save data to carts that support it so that you could still play it in an actual machine and keep your progress.

 
swanky, you can download and upload save data to carts that support it so that you could still play it in an actual machine and keep your progress.
When I heard that in the video I got way more confident in the machine. I pre-ordered it a while back but mainly just to play the games but it looks like they are going all out.

This is such great news as it means people wont have to restart their games and I can start playing Shining Force in the place I left off.

 
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Pre-ordered the gray one on Amazon! This will be perfect to take to college, so I only have to take my game cartridges. Can't wait till April!
 
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So I just looked at my order and I saw I still have my old bank card as the method of payment on the order and I promptly changed it. So this is a reminder for people that placed the order months ago as I did to make sure the method of payment is still valid :D

 
I was just about break down and place an order for one of these.  That is until I saw the Megatron that transforms into a Mega Drive... :joystick:

THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED!!!!!

:whee:   :whee: :whee:

Seriously though I did finally caved and put in a order for a Retron, and yes I know the toy mentioned doesn't transform into a working Mega Drive.  But we can still hope can't we?! :robot:

 
Have one ordered on Newegg, the payment option I used isn't going to be working when this launches, tried contacting them and no luck on that end, would it just be a better idea to pre-order on Amazon at this point? Not sure if these second batch ones will be launch models or not.

 
Have one ordered on Newegg, the payment option I used isn't going to be working when this launches, tried contacting them and no luck on that end, would it just be a better idea to pre-order on Amazon at this point? Not sure if these second batch ones will be launch models or not.
Is there a difference in the ones you get day one and the ones you get a month later?

 
It would be so cool if retro game stores held midnight releases for this.
It's too late now. They really killed the momentum this system had by announcing it so prematurely. As someone who works at such a store, I know a majority of the people who would have been day one buyers have lost interest. Most will still pick them up, but they stopped paying attention to its release schedule.

Four months ago I would get multiple people asking every couple of days. Now, I will only hear it brought up by someone every few weeks.

 
Is there a difference in the ones you get day one and the ones you get a month later?
I guess not in reality, it's just that this thing was announced so long ago I just kinda want to get it as soon as I can since I've been waiting a while haha, not really a huge deal though I suppose since I already have the systems separately

 
Hyperkin posted a new RetroN 5 video! I'm thinking this is on target for an April release or unless it's an April Fools joke Like one poster on youtube mentioned. System looks sexy. Start stocking up on games people cuz ebay is gonna be a warzone.. Unless, y'know, you already have them and can laugh at all the people paying premium prices. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2klaZhD1Kc

 
Hyperkin posted a new RetroN 5 video! I'm thinking this is on target for an April release or unless it's an April Fools joke Like one poster on youtube mentioned. System looks sexy. Start stocking up on games people cuz ebay is gonna be a warzone.. Unless, y'know, you already have them and can laugh at all the people paying premium prices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2klaZhD1Kc
Fairly sure they already said march something. I ended up posting it again on their facebook and I want to say on here as well. The official facebook account said it a while back.

Edit: Nevermind I just looked up my old post and I did say April.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/topic/319722-the-retron-5-pre-order-thread-pre-orders-re-opened-amazon/?p=11486992

 
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Is it possible to access the system menu from a retro controller (snes/gen/nes)? I'm guessing there's a way to may a button combo since all the buttons are remappable. 

 
Is it possible to access the system menu from a retro controller (snes/gen/nes)? I'm guessing there's a way to may a button combo since all the buttons are remappable.
Yeah, that was one thing that sort of stuck out to me too. I wonder if the console will have a button on it to get to the menu or if it will require a remappable button or the Retron controller.

 
So glad I preordered both colors back a long Tim ago. Getting both for $76 each is going to be like heaven for me. I'll be able to unhook so many systems with scart to component conversions it's going to be amazing.
 
I have been debating preordering this for months. Today is the day I finally gave in. Maybe I will cancel tomorrow, as waiting on one from AWD may be cheaper.
 
Is it possible to access the system menu from a retro controller (snes/gen/nes)? I'm guessing there's a way to may a button combo since all the buttons are remappable.
I heard somewhere awhile ago that pressing DOWN + START on a snes/gen/nes controller will access that menu

 
If I preordered on Amazon when it was first announced will I get it for the $76? I don't recall if Amazon ever dipped that low...

 
If I preordered on Amazon when it was first announced will I get it for the $76? I don't recall if Amazon ever dipped that low...
You are mixing tenses and confusing me (I'm assuming others as well). Unless you have a time machine you can't get it for the $76 now unless already preordered it before they dropped the prices on preorders. If you do have a time machine then why not go forward into the future to the point when the system is in a clearance bin somewhere instead?

 
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Someone give me a refresher.  They removed the AV Output and only have an HDMI on these didn't they?  I couldn't find a clear answer and just want to make sure.  The reason being, I was talking to my brother about these trying to sell him on it.  He has a SD TV side by side with an HD one, and perfers to game on the SD one while watching TV on the HD... he's weird. :lol:

 
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If you're dedicated to playing games on an old TV then the RetroN 5 probably isn't for you. It sort of defeats the purpose.
I disagree. All of these systems generally looked much better hooked up to SDTVs. I used to have a 27" Hitachi, and all my older systems looked great on it. If I still had an SDTV, I'd prefer to hook up the Retron to that. HDTVs generally make these games look worse.
 
You are mixing tenses and confusing me (I'm assuming others as well). Unless you have a time machine you can't get it for the $76 now unless already preordered it before they dropped the prices on preorders. If you do have a time machine then why not go forward into the future to the point when the system is in a clearance bin somewhere instead?
Let me break it down for you. Amazon has a pre order price guarantee. I ordered day one. If the price on Amazon was ever $76 then I should get it at that price. Was it ever that low on Amazon or was that at other retailers?

Hope that was easier to follow.
 
If you already preordered day one then it should have adjusted down already. If not I'd call Amazon about it. There was no actual price drop seen, preorders just magically dropped in price.
 
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Let me break it down for you. Amazon has a pre order price guarantee. I ordered day one. If the price on Amazon was ever $76 then I should get it at that price. Was it ever that low on Amazon or was that at other retailers?

Hope that was easier to follow.
Check your order. Amazon did not drop the price of the product as it was OOS. They merely adjusted prices for existing orders. You can confirm you got the adjustment by viewing your order.

Right now they are back in stock on Amazon for MSRP.

 
[quote name="prateeko" post="11543214" timestamp="1392911595"]Let me break it down for you. Amazon has a pre order price guarantee. I ordered day one. If the price on Amazon was ever $76 then I should get it at that price. Was it ever that low on Amazon or was that at other retailers?

Hope that was easier to follow.[/quote]
Yes I remember for a day it was listed at $76. So you should get an adjustment.
 
Someone give me a refresher. They removed the AV Output and only have an HDMI on these didn't they? I couldn't find a clear answer and just want to make sure. The reason being, I was talking to my brother about these trying to sell him on it. He has a SD TV side by side with an HD one, and perfers to game on the SD one while watching TV on the HD... he's weird. :lol:
Search for HDMI to AV or HDMI to Composite on Amazon and then you can play on a tube TV if you prefer

 
Someone give me a refresher. They removed the AV Output and only have an HDMI on these didn't they? I couldn't find a clear answer and just want to make sure. The reason being, I was talking to my brother about these trying to sell him on it. He has a SD TV side by side with an HD one, and perfers to game on the SD one while watching TV on the HD... he's weird. :lol:
Though the retron 5 will have a built in HD upscaler which is why it should look fine on an HD TV, SD content typically looks better on a tube TV.

 
If you already preordered day one then it should have adjusted down already. If not I'd call Amazon about it. There was no actual price drop seen, preorders just magically dropped in price.
Gotcha, I will call since my orders have not been updated. Thanks guys. $76 is too damn good to pass up even if they're taking forever
 
Search for HDMI to AV or HDMI to Composite on Amazon and then you can play on a tube TV if you prefer
Yeah that's what I figure I might have to do then if he's interested in one. He just has this issue that he has to watch TV and Game at the same time and refuses to shell out for a second HDTV, even if it's one of those cheap crappy ones.

CRT 4 life son!
Or until that damn thing finally dies on him. Since it takes over 7 minutes to "warm up", that shouldn't be long. :lol:

 
I disagree. All of these systems generally looked much better hooked up to SDTVs. I used to have a 27" Hitachi, and all my older systems looked great on it. If I still had an SDTV, I'd prefer to hook up the Retron to that. HDTVs generally make these games look worse.
Yes, old games do look better on SDTV. But that's the purpose of the RetroN 5, so that you can play your games on that giant HDTV that you spent money on, without your games looking like butt.
 
Yeah that's what I figure I might have to do then if he's interested in one. He just has this issue that he has to watch TV and Game at the same time and refuses to shell out for a second HDTV, even if it's one of those cheap crappy ones.

Or until that damn thing finally dies on him. Since it takes over 7 minutes to "warm up", that shouldn't be long. :lol:
No warm up here...just pure, unadulterated CRT goodness! :D/

 
Yes, old games do look better on SDTV. But that's the purpose of the RetroN 5, so that you can play your games on that giant HDTV that you spent money on, without your games looking like butt.
If you're gonna do that then just play the games on your PC or laptop and hook it up to the TV.

 
If you've seen their Facebook page that's probably an underestimate. It's pathetic how they are unable to post anything without drones of people asking for a release date.
And it's weird because I posted on here some date that they said on their facebook. They gave a very specific time a month or so ago...but it was just whoever runs their facebook page that said it.

 
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