Unboxing & Review: Budget-Friendly Nyko Portable Docking Kit for the Nintendo Switch

In this video we unbox and review the Nyko Portable Dock designed for the Nintendo Switch and available for nearly half the cost of the standard dock available from Nintendo.

The Nintendo Switch has pretty much taken the gaming world by storm, even more so than the Wii. Being able to play console-quality games on the go with 720P graphics and solid controls has really hit a cord. One downside to this is when you do want to dock it and play on the TV you have to have a dedicated dock. That normally meant shelling out $90 for the official Nintendo dock. Well popular accessory manufacturer Nyko announced a portable dock that promised to do everything the stock dock did, minus potentially scratching your display, and do it for only $49.99. Too good to be true? No, not really!

From the box the Nyko Portable Switch Dock is really well put together in-terms of packaging and included accessories. Nyko could have omitted both an AC power cable and HDMI cord to keep their costs down and margins up but both are thankfully included. They could have gone with a Micro USB connector, again to keep costs down and margins up but instead they included a robust power brick with USB-C connector. For $50 you're getting quite a lot.

Setup is super easy; simply slide the backstop out from the storage slot in the bottom of the dock and lock it into place on the top of the unit. Connect the power and HDMI and you're ready to play with portable power on the big screen in no-time.

During game play the system felt exactly the same as if I had been using the official dock from Nintendo. There wasn't any noticeable lag, latency or graphic reduction by using this 3rd party accessory. As weird as it may sound it was a bit awkward getting the Switch lined up in the dock since there it no-longer is aligned by itself like on the stock Nintendo unit. It just took a little extra eyeballing and I had it connected.

Please note that the reason why the game play for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is smaller compared to Double Dragon 4 and Sonic Mania is due to a copyright claim against my original upload which had Mario Kart in the large portion of the video. This was my work-around solution to that issue.

After testing I cannot endorse the Nyko Portable Dock for the Nintendo Switch highly enough. It works as designed for nearly 1/2 the cost of the OEM Nintendo dock. It has all the ports, all the capabilities, all the video quality for only 50-bucks. This has found a permanent home in my collection due to the fact it makes it so easy to play my Switch in a second room now. If you're looking for a second dock for your Nintendo Switch and don't want to shell out $89.99 the Nyko Dock will do what you need and save you money doing it.


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Review & Unboxing - Should You Buy the Nyko Super Miniboss Wireless Controller for the SNES Classic?

In this video we unbox, discuss and review the Nyko Super Miniboss wireless controller for the Super NES Mini Classic Edition.

The Super NES Classic Edition mini 16-bit home console is an amazing piece of hardware. It provides a great retro gaming experience and you don't need to build anything! One of the minor shortcomings of the system, in my view, is the corded controller. Yes, they feel amazing to use, but they're corded and, to that end, the cord is just too short. That's where accessory maker Nyko is trying to fix the issue with their successor to their NES Classic controller with the Wireless Super Miniboss.

While inspired by the SNES controller, the Super Miniboss definitely marches to the beat of its own drum. The A/B/X/Y buttons are slightly more spread out on the face of the controller and the L/R buttons are thicker too. The D-Pad is overall larger and the start/select buttons have been relocated to accommodate the Turbo button. Not only with the SNES Classic and Super Miniboss are you playing with Super Power, you're playing with Super Turbo Power.

The Super MIniboss includes the controller itself, the receiver dongle and a USB charging cable. From the box the Super Miniboss is not paired to the dongle so you'll need to do this before you can play, but you can't do this following the instruction sheet as they are incorrect. The manual claims the controller will auto-pair to the dongle where in reality you need to hold down the select button for a few moments after you power the controller on to initiate the pairing process. Annoying to say the least. This isn't the only incorrect item in the manual as the process to get back to the main menu is incorrectly stated in the manual too. The manual calls for you to hold the turbo button and tap select when in realty you need to hold both for 3-seconds to get back home.

Game play is ok but not great. The larger D-pad hindered things a bit, especially since I didn't feel like I was getting full range-of-motion out while trying complicated movements like in Super Street Fighter II. I could hit my moves occasionally, but not nearly as precisely as on the stock controller or the 8bitdo SNES 30 controller. Platformers seemed to measure up better, Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country for example and F-Zero was playable.

Shifting to my NES Classic with Hackchi2 I tested out NES, Famicom, SNES and Genesis games. This is where I noticed the worst problems as with games like Punch Out I was late consistently with my button presses. I got taken to Round 2 with Glass Joe for crying out loud!

The turbo button continued to work well here, especially in games like Metroid and Contra where hitting the fire button repeatedly was made much easier. Regardless of what I played, however, I always felt just a bit more disconnected from the game play as compared to the 8bitdo or stock controller.

In the end this isn't a great option for wireless play on the SNES or NES Classic Editions. The lag and latency are pretty noticeable across the board and that hurts the fun. For a second or backup controller it would be ok but there are definitely better options out there. You can find some of those options by visiting CastlemaniaGames.com, a supporter of the channel, and by using promo code RoX10 you can save 10% off your next order.


Why The Nyko Super Miniboss RoX
- Wireless for $20
- RF and not WiFi
- Programmable Turbo Functionallity

What Could Be Improved?
- Controller and dongle do not come out of the box paired
- Errors in instruction manual prevent you from being able to use the controller unless you search Google for a solution
- Lag/Latency was definitely noticeable
- I didn't care for the placement of the Turbo/Start/Select Buttons
- Range of motion on the D-Pad hindered game play



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Should You Buy a Nintendo Super NES Classic mini 16-bit Retro Video Game System? A RoXolid Review

In this video we test and review the Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition, discuss the features and see how it stacks up against the NES Classic and the original Super NES 16-bit system.

Perhaps one of the worst kept secrets after last year's wildly popular NES Classic Edition was that Nintendo would eventually give the same "Mini" treatment to the successor, the 16-Bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The SNES was an amazing machine when it was originally released, from the audio chip designed by Sony of all companies, Mode 7 Graphics, an amazingly designed controller (which, if you didn't realize is STILL the inspiration to the latest PS4 controller) the SNES was perhaps the best experience in home console gaming ever. Cramming that into a small package is no easy task, but Nintendo has set out to do just that with the 2017 Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition.

Like the NES Classic the year before the SNES Classic comes preloaded with 21 games from a variety of genres. From perhaps the greatest platformer of all time in Super Mario World, the run-and-gun classic Contra 3, the best Castlevania game ever in Super Castlevania IV and the best action adventure game in The Legend of Zelda - a Link to the Past, the games lineup is extremely good, if a bit limited.

The SNES Classic has everything you need to get hooked up and playing right in the box. Two controllers, that's right, 2 controllers come with the system and are perfect clones of their OG counterparts. Learning from one of the biggest criticisms of the NES Classic the controller cord length is longer, however it's still not as long as it could/should be. The good news is that the connector is the same as the NES Classic so if you have any of the extension cables from that machine you can repurpose them with the SNES Classic.

Once connected to your TV setup is simple. You progress through the basic setup menus, select your language, etc and are delivered to the main menu. From here you can see all 20 games you can play immediately, however Star Fox 2 cannot be played right away. Don't worry, all you need to do is complete the first level of the first Star Fox and Star Fox 2 becomes playable.

Bouncing around from one game to the next to the next is a bit of a chore due to the lack of a home button or any button press shortcut. If you press L/R/Start/Select you reset the current game you are playing however you need to go to the console itself and flick the reset button to get back to the main menu. So let me get this straight , I can reset with a button combo but not get back to the main menu? That's a fail. Wait, no, that's a Phail.

Game emulation feels great, just like the NES Classic. I need to play more to see if there is a latency issue like the NES Classic had, my initial feeling is there is as I don't remember being as bad at Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo as I ended up being. Audio is spot on, and between CRT, Pixel Perfect and 4:3 ratios the video looks spot on.

I'm a little underwhelmed by the games lineup as there are some notable titles missing. First of all there isn't a single sports title on the system, and no, Super Punch Out is NOT a sports game. The NES Classic had Tecmo Bowl, an amazing game, but no Madden, NBA Jam, nothing. Sure, the Genesis was THE home for sports games in the 16-bit era but there were some great titles.

I'm also a bit shocked that other titles are absent. Chrono Trigger is a well-regarded title and it is missing. Pilotwings, a launch title and cult classic is not here. Earthworm Jim, Turtles in Time, UN Squadron, Mortal Kombat, Super R-Type, Gradius 3, Harvest Moon, Dr. Mario/Tetris, Killer Instinct, Super Star Wars, I could go on but you get the point. I know these games take up more space than an NES game storage-wise but as an act of contrition for screwing up the NES Classic availability having more games would have been a nice start from Nintendo.

I'll admit, I do love this little machine, however there was potential to be so much more. I think the lineup of games is good, not great but good. I think the molding and design is spot-on. The controllers feel great, with albeit short cords, the system itself looks spot-on and the software is proven. There are ways it can be improved, and I hope Hackchi2 and 8BitDo have solutions at the ready to make this good system great.

Why it RoX:
- Increased supply means you can actually get one!
- SNES Games in HD with HDMI Output
- Molding is spot on
- 2 Controllers
- Emulation is very good
- While limited the games here are classics
- Cheaper than buying the games individually
- You can play an official release of Star Fox 2

What could be improved:
- No way to get back to the home screen from the controller
- The controller door is way too difficult to open
- Only 21 games
- Controller Cord is still too short
- Star Fox 2 really doesn't seem that good IMO
- Some lag/latency felt initially
- Lack of sports games
- Some games feel like filler if you're not fans of certain genres (RPGs, I have no use for them)

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Subscribe to Enter to win a Retro-Bit RES + 8-bit HDMI Equipped NES Clone System Giveaway from RoXolid Productions

In this video we cover our upcoming thank you to our subscribers as we hit the 500-subscriber mark with a giveaway of a Retro-Bit RES + 8-bit HDMI Equipped NES Clone system.

This channel, RoXolid Productions, has always been about you, our viewers, fans, community and subscribers. As we close in on 500 YouTube channel subscribers I have decided to thank you for your support and fandom. Once we hit 500 subscribers we will draw one eligible subscriber at random to receive a Retro-Bit RES + 8-bit HDMI Equipped NES Clone system. Not only will you win a RES+, you'll win OUR RES+! Thats right, we're giving away the actual RES+ that we used in our unboxing and review video. To be eligible you simply need to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and live in and have a shipping address in the lower-48 continuous states.

This giveaway is not sponsored by or endorsed by YouTube or Retro-Bit. The system that will be given away will be shipped via USPS or UPS, which ever method is less expensive. No insurance will be provided , however the standard $50 insurance will cover the cost of the unit. The console was purchased from Fry's Electronics at a value of $34.99 plus tax. No warranty is provided or implied with this unit. Upon the request of the winner the unit may be autographed before shipping.

Should You Buy a Xiaomi Mi Box Review 4K Android TV Streaming Box - A RoXolid Review

In this video we review and ask if you  Should You Buy a Xiaomi Mi Box Review 4K Android TV Streaming Box?

Media streaming boxes, Fire TV boxes, Kodi Boxes, whatever you want to call them boxes seem to be popping up everywhere. Google's entry into the fray, Android TV, is much like their phone operating system in that it is open source and available for third parties to implement on different hardware. One of the most popular manufacturers of Android Devices in China has been Xiaomi (pronounced jau-me) and, while you could import them in via eBay in the past, they have started to ship their products to retailers here in the USA. One of their first products, the Mi Box, is a 4K streaming box designed to help you cut the cord and gain access to services such as Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, Kodi and others.

The Mi Box is pretty simple in its design. It's a small box with 1 HDMI port, 1 USB port and a power input. With only one input there's not much you can hook up to the MI box without the use of a USB hub. The AC input uses a barrel-type connector, cheap to produce I am sure but a bummer because you can't use a Micro USB or USB Type-C connector. This is a Wi-Fi only device too as there isn't a port on it for a network cable. If you don't have a decent router you're going to have issues.

The remote control is nice, with dedicated power button and volume rocker button in addition to the home button, back button, microphone button and the up/down/left/right rocker around the home button. One issue that cropped up at an annoying frequency was that the remote would frequently come unpaired from the system. I would have to walk over to the system and hit the home and back buttons to re-pair it to the console probably once a day.

When I fired up the system it started to download an update about as soon as it was connected to my Wi-Fi. It took a few minutes to download and install. Signing into the system, apps, etc was quick and easy. The Operating system takes up 2.9GB of 8GB total on the system, definitely a limiting factor in the potential of the device.

Watching video content was largely hit and miss. Plex videos, such as those I recorded using my Plex Pass DVR, often broke up, pixelated or had buffering issues. I could not use this as a serer for Plex either. The 3x2 CPU setup simply wasn't up to snuff for complex transcoding. Other services such as Netflix, Vudu or Amazon TV worked ok, but also occasionally buffered.

Gaming was another aspect of Android TV where the Mi Box just doesn't come through and perform. Input lag via Bluetooth controllers was terrible. I'd hit a button on my 8Bitdo controller and it took an eternity for the character on-screen to respond. It made NBA Jam, Super Mario World, Star Fox and Donkey Kong Country unplayable.


Should You Buy a Mi Box?
My hopes were very high going into this review but the Mi Box just didn't measure up. From lag, pixelated images, small storage, no hard-wired network support and a remote which would frequently come unpaired from the system the Mi Box just doesn't measure up. For the money you can do better, from Roku, Amazon Fire TV and other systems. I would definitely look elsewhere for a streaming solution as the MI Box comes up pretty short.

Why it RoX
- Low Price
- Nice remote
- Full access to Android TV apps

What Could Be Improved
- Holy Lagtastic Batman!
- Remote would frequently come un-paired
- Input lag on bluetooth game controllers
- Colors look washed out
- Cannot run Plex Media Server
- No hardwired network support
- Only 8GB on-board storage

Should You Buy a Nintendo Switch Hybrid Portable Home Console - 6-Months Later - A RoXolid Review

In this video we look at how the Nintendo Switch has fared 6-months after it launched.

The Nintendo Switch really has helped redefine Nintendo as a hardware manufacturer. Games, games have always been their strong suit but hardware, well they've had some recent misses. The Wii U, while a system I own and loved, never found the success of its predecessor. But Nintendo has found lightning in a bottle with systems such as the Wii, 3DS and other systems as well. The Nintendo Switch really is something different, but as the Wii U and Virtual Boy both proved, different doesn't always mean better.

The Nintendo Switch can be best defined as a hybrid console, able to connect to your home TV via a dock and be played like a traditional home console but also undocked and played on the go like the 3DS. The hardware was developed between both Nintendo and nVidia, makers of the powerful nVidia Shield tablet and Shield TV. The system is capable of displaying visuals in 720P in handheld mode and 1080P when docked. For media the Switch uses both digitally downloaded content and physical cartridges, similar to the 3DS here too. The controllers, or Joy Cons as they are called, connect to the side of the main Switch Console itself or can be detached and used as separate controllers or slid into the Joy Con Grip to use as a more traditional controller.

The Nintendo Switch didn't come out of the gate with a ton of games back in March but what it did launch with was Zelda - Breath of the Wild. Many have called this a masterpiece while, personally, I think it is highly over-rated. As time went on there was a bit of a drought for quality games. We got a re-release of Super Mario Kart 8 with all the DLC already available, a version of Tetris and a sequel to a great new IP from the Wii U in Splatoon 2. The lineup is getting stronger, 3rd party developers are jumping on board and independent developers have truly found a home on the Switch. While an ok lineup I have to say 6-months in there's still not a ton there that is compelling. That should change soon with the release of Super Mario Odyssey.

A big strike against the Switch currently is the complete lack of any sort of Virtual Console what-so-ever. I mean even the Wii had downloadable NES games shortly after launch and the Switch still doesn't? That's grade-A ball-droppage right there. The expense of accessories is another major bummer as extra Joy Cons, the Pro Controller and extra docks are all stupid expensive. Think about this, at $90 Nintendo is saying nearly 1/3rd of the cost of the Switch is tied to the dock! That's craziness!

The Swich is full of potential right now, but isn't that what we've been saying about many Nintendo hardware releases for years? I like the ability to have console-quality gaming on the go but generally when I am on the go I'm the one driving. I rarely play in handheld mode but when I do it's a good experience. The controls work well, they're comfortable and intuitive. There are pieces missing from the Switch that I hope Nintendo fixes soon but until then there's the SNES Classic that I'll be enjoying soon too.

Why it RoX:

- It's a portable system you can play on your TV

- Nintendo first-party titles are always top notch

- Ports of Wii U games for better exposure/controls to a new audience

- Amiibo support

- Pro controller is great

What could be improved:

- A cool system needs cool games and the library is very limited currently

- No 4K option at this time

- Accessories are way over-priced

- No Virtual Console

- Online chat...via phone app? Seems like an afterthought

- While critically heralded I was not a fan of Zelda: BotW

- Small on-board storage

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Unboxing the Xiaomi Mi Box Android TV 4K HDR Streaming Box

In this video we unbox the Xiaomi Mi Box Android TV 4K HDR Streaming Box.

More and more content is delivered via the internet, whether we're talking about video, pay tv, Netflix, Hulu, music or even games. Xiaomi is well known as a discount manufacturer of devices, from smartphones and tablets to laptops. They have expanded their reach into the world of set-top boxes with their Android TV-powered Mi Box 4K HDR Streaming Box.

Coming in at a low, low $69.99 price tag the Mi Box definitely undercuts the competition in-terms of cost, but thinking of the Mi Box as "cheap" versus inexpensive may or may not be accurate.

From the box the Mi Box includes the Mi Box itself, an HDMI cable, power cord, 2-AAA batteries and a bluetooth-equipped remote control. In our box we also got coupons for free Sling TV service, discounts on other services along with the manuals and quickstart guides.

Make sure to subscribe to our channel here as we have our initial setup video filmed and will be posting soon. We're also conducting our tests and will also be posting our full-blown review soon, along with a "Which is Better" video between the Xiaomi Mi Box and the nVidia Shield TV 16GB 2017 edition.


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Unboxing the Xiaomi Mi Box Android TV 4K HDR Streaming Box

In this video we unbox the Xiaomi Mi Box Android TV 4K HDR Streaming Box.

More and more content is delivered via the internet, whether we're talking about video, pay tv, Netflix, Hulu, music or even games. Xiaomi is well known as a discount manufacturer of devices, from smartphones and tablets to laptops. They have expanded their reach into the world of set-top boxes with their Android TV-powered Mi Box 4K HDR Streaming Box. 

Coming in at a low, low $69.99 price tag the Mi Box definitely undercuts the competition in-terms of cost, but thinking of the Mi Box as "cheap" versus inexpensive may or may not be accurate. 

From the box the Mi Box includes the Mi Box itself, an HDMI cable, power cord, 2-AAA batteries and a bluetooth-equipped remote control. In our box we also got coupons for free Sling TV service, discounts on other services along with the manuals and quickstart guides. 

Make sure to subscribe to our channel here as we have our initial setup video filmed and will be posting soon. We're also conducting our tests and will also be posting our full-blown review soon, along with a "Which is Better" video between the Xiaomi Mi Box and the nVidia Shield TV 16GB 2017 edition. 

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Should You Buy a Nyko Charge Dock Pro for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller? A RoXolid Review

In this video we unbox and review the Nyko Charge Dock Pro designed for the NIntendo Switch Pro Controller.

Keeping your gaming accessories charged and organized can be a significant challenge, especially with first and third party add-ons. Nyko has a history of making outstanding optional accessories for Microsoft XBox, Sony Playstation and Nintendo consoles. Their latest accessory is designed to make it easier to charge up the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller thanks to their Charge Dock Pro.

At $20 this ambiguous hunk of plastic includes the dock itself, a four foot long micro USB-equipped cord for power, a 1A/5v power brick and a small clip-on dongle that attaches to the Pro Controller itself and connects it to the dock. It is simple but effective in its design.

From the box setup took seconds. It would have taken less time if I wouldn't have had the USB plug upside down when trying to plug into my Switch dock but that's all on me. Once connected the dongle has a small LED which lights up to indicate power is being provided. And when I say SMALL LED I mean VERY SMALL. Like almost impossible to see in any real light. But once connected the Charge Dock Pro does a nice job of charging the Switch Pro Controller, even if it does charge a little slower than if connected via USB-C, but that's the nature of the beast.

For 20-bucks the Nyko Charge Dock Pro does a nice job and is totally worth it if you want to clean up your game shelf. I'm glad I spent the money and I think you will be too.

Why it RoX!
- Inexpensive way to organize your Switch Gear
- Does a good job of charging the Pro Controller
- The Dongle doesn't affect usage at all and can always be left on
- Can be powered via the Switch dock itself
- You can link multiple Charge Dock Pros together if needed
- Did I mention it is ONLY 20-Bucks?

What could be improved?
- Micro USB is cheap to produce but slower to charge than USB-C
- The LED is too small and too dim to see in most lighting conditions
- Only charges one Nintendo Pro Controller at a time

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Should You Cut the Cord with Hulu with Live TV? A RoXolid Review

In this video we show you the ins and outs of Hulu with Live Tv.

One thing I love is saving money, but saving money isn't worth it if something is cheap but not a good value. In the world of cord cutting, IPTV and streaming TV services Hulu was one of the first quality on-demand content providers. Hulu gives you the option to watch both first run and classic television shows on your schedule, however it always feels like it was lacking a certain something. On demand is good but there's still a need for live content. Hulu with Live TV looks to fill that gap for cord cutters and cord shavers alike.

Hulu with Live TV is currently priced at $39.99/mo, the only plan they offer. That fee gives you access to over $50 channels, a cloud-based DVR and full access to Hulu's extensive on-demand library. While not the least expensive out there this price point presentation puts them square in the middle, where the majority of the price wars are happening.

Hulu's on-demand DNA is easy to see, but it also is apparent as weakness. There's no program guide to speak of, device compatibility is limited to phones, tablets and the 4th Generation Apple TV, and the live TV experience definitely felt lacking. That being said it is sure to come as no surprise that the strength of the service is the on-demand access which is exceptional.

Picture quality was very good and there tended to be little of any buffering, except on initial launch for some reason. The audio was crisp and changing channels was simple and easy.

The overall value of Hulu with Live TV can be measured 2 ways. First of all if you already subscribe to Hulu or Hulu with limited commercials then you are looking at a upgrade fee essentially to get Hulu with live TV. If this is the case you're going to have an increase of $28-$32, depending on which tier of service you already have. If you do not have Hulu at all then the $39.99 monthly cost is on par with what you would get from the other major service providers. DirecTV now, Sling TV and PlayStation Vue are all right around the same cost for a similar level of service.

Hulu with live TV works and works well, but it definitely has some growing to do. The lack of device compatibility, no program guide to speak of at all and some buffering issues that we ran into on the live side definitely hurt our experience. the on-demand access is exceptional, the use on mobile devices is great and that 40 bucks a month it's a pretty good value.

Why it RoX
The best on-demand experience out there
Only $39.99/mo
Very good assortment of channels

What Could Be Improved:
The streaming device compatibility is anemic
I'm paying the premium price, give me commercial free access for on demand
Excessive buffering on initial launch
Local channels are not available in my area

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8-Bit HD NES Clone Battle - Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD Versus Retro-Bit RES+

In this video we see who the king of the 8-bit HDMI HD NES Clone systems is between the Retro-Bit RES+ and the Reigning Champion the Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD.

In the black corner we have the challenger, the Retro-Bit RES+ 8-bit HDMI-equipped NES clone. The RES+ is a derivative of Retro-Bit's existing RES Retro Entertainment System but does update the platform with a new 720P HDMI Output, making it ideal for use on flat screen TVs. Out of the box it includes 2 controllers, Micro HDMI power cord and wall wart and an HDMI cable. See more about the RES+ in our review, found here - https://youtu.be/fUP4j54nSbg

In the red corner is the reigning and defending 8-Bit HD champion,  Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD Entertainment System. This spunky challenger leads the pack in-terms of pricing but also comes with AV outputs, great games compatibility, 2 exceptional controllers and a whole lot more. Learn more about the Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD by watching our review, found here - https://youtu.be/n3pOjStI9bI

To determine our overall winner we rated the following factors:
Design
Included Accessories
Controllers
Game Play
Audio Quality
Value

Design:
Both systems are very unique in their look, tending to go down their own path instead of trying to emulate the original NES or the top loading NES-101. Each are offered in just one color, black for the Retro-Bit RES+, grey for the 8-Bit HD. Both feature two controller ports and an HDMI out as would be expected but from here they are a bit different. The Retro-Bit RES+ uses Stereo AV output and a Micro USB connector for power where the Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD uses a barrel-style connector and mono AV outputs. While minor we do have to award a point for the design to the RES+ from Retro-Bit

Included Accessories:
Both systems include an HDMI cable, power brick and cable and 2 very good controllers. The Retro-Bit RES+, however, omits an AV cable where the Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD included a set of AV cables. Due to this factor we the 8-Bit HD takes this round.

Controllers:
As mentioned in the video both systems include 2 controllers, a great feature out of the box. The Retro-Bit controller mimics the overall shape and feel of the original NES controller with a few minor tweaks. The Start and Select buttons have been moved higher on the controller and the A button is now angled higher than the B button. It is a very serviceable controller and works well, however I don't care for the placement of the start/select buttons at all. The buttons and D-pad also felt like they were stiff and not as complaint as the original NES pad.

The  Gamerz Tek controllers have a different look and feel to the outside casing but it's a good change. The rounded corners are comfortable and don't dig into your hands like the originals can. The Start/Select buttons, while being rubber membranes and overall smaller, are in the right location and work great. The A/B buttons are also in-line and the D-Pad feels great.

Both controllers are good but I, personally, prefer the Gamerz Tek controller. The buttons feel better, the start/select location really bugged me and the rounded corners of the Gamerz Tek just feels better.

Gameplay:
Both systems played everything I threw at them, no compatibility issues at all. Neither have an NTSC/PAL switch so if that's important to you these aren't the systems you want. The color pallets look solid although I do like the Gamerz Tek look just a touch more. But this is so close I'm calling it a tie.

Audio:
UGH! I really hate the fact that the audio is off on both systems. Take a listen, especially to the Super Mario Bros audio, you can't miss the audio being off. Neither system wins here.

Value:
While in the video I mention that I've seen the Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD for $30 and the Retro-Bit RES+ for $35 I see Amazon has them at $35/$40 respectively. Sill a $5 difference but both slightly higher than mentioned. That being said the both include the exact things, EXCEPT AV cables. That, plus the lower overall price tag, makes the 8-Bit HD the better value.

Winner:
This was tough, both are amazing but the Champ pulled this one out as I have to give the nod to the Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD again, but the Retro-Bit is a great system definitely worth consideration.

Points Breakdown
RES+
Design

8-Bit HD
Included Accessories
Controllers
Value

Ties:
Audio
Gameplay





Gamerz Tek 8-Bit HD on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/8-Bit-HD-Entertainment-System/dp/B01MYXNB7G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504794235&sr=8-3&keywords=8-bit+hd

Retro-Bit RES+ HD on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Retro-Bit-RB-NES-7390-Gaming-Console-Nintendo-Entertainment/dp/B073DV931V/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1504794311&sr=1-1&keywords=retrobit+res+%2B

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Should You Buy a Retro-Bit RES Plus NES Clone System? A RoXolid Review

In this video we review the new Retro-Bit RES+ NES Clone console that features A/V outputs along with upscaling to 720P via HDMI output. 

Retro-Bit has made quite the name for themselves in recent years with their line of quality clone systems. Whether you're looking for a system that will play NES, SNES or Genesis games you'll likely find a solution from Retro-Bit.

The RES+ is a derivative of Retro-Bit's existing RES Retro Entertainment System but does update the platform with a new 720P HDMI Output, making it ideal for use on flat screen TVs. Out of the box it includes 2 controllers, Micro HDMI power cord and wall wart and an HDMI cable. 

The 720P Clone NES market is getting more and more crowded each and every day and there is a lot of competition out there. As such the Retro-Bit provides a good value for the money, but leaves a few opportunities on the table. 

Why it RoX

2 included controllers

$35 price tag makes it easy to justify

Very good games compatibility

Solid color pallette choice

What could be improved:

The audio, I'd give my copy of Zelda for an NES Clone that doesn't drop the ball on audio!

I'm not a huge fan of the controller, I don't like the convex buttons or the placement of the start/select buttons. 

No A/V cables included 

Would We Recommend You Buying It?

Sure, it is definitely not a bad system at all. The colors look good, gameplay compatibility is solid and at $35 it is a solid in vestment. 

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Unboxing the Retrobit RES+ HDMI NES Clone

In this video we unbox the Retrobit RES+, the Retro Entertainment System Plus. This NES Clone system promises to deliver the up-scaled NES experience without the monster price tag of similar systems such as the AVS. In preparation for our review we go through how the RES+ comes out of the box and the different accessories it comes equipped with. Make sure you are subscribed to be alerted when our review goes live in the coming days!

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Should you buy a Hyperkin Smartboy Game Boy Game Adapter? A RoXolid Review

Retro gaming is all the rage right now and the folks at Hyperkin really push the envelope. From NES, SNES, Genesis/Mega Drive, Master System, Famicom, Super Famicom and other systems Hyperkin has continued to develop amazing pieces of tech. One such amazing piece of tech started as an April Fools gag, and I’m of course talking about the Smartboy.

The Smartboy attaches to an Android-powered phone equipped with a USB-C port and allows you to play physical Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges directly on your phone. While you can play these games on your phone you do not play the cartridge itself. The Smartboy borrows inspiration from Hyperkin’s own Retron 5 system as the cartridge has its ROM dumped onto local memory on your smartphone. This process works decently, however the load time can vary depending on the size of the game itself. It is for this very reason that the Smartboy ONLY plays Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, Game Boy Advanced games were deemed too large and took too long to download the ROM to the phone. This, to some, can limit the appeal of the Smartboy.

Once you have downloaded the 2 free apps and connect the cartridge the Smartboy does a good job playing games. There is a little bit of latency added with the Smartboy, odd for a device which connects physically to your phone via USB-C. Here’s the thing, USB-C is faster than Micro USB and a physical connection should be faster than Bluetooth. On some games this caused more issues than others, most noticeably playing platformers.

Overall the Smartboy played everything I threw at it except for Donkey Kong Country. We’ve reached out to Hyperkin and they have acknowledged that the Smartboy doesn’t have 100% game compatibility as the hardware depends on 3rd party software, namely the MyOldBoy! app. This is one instance where having software developed separately truly hurt the performance of the hardware.

At $50 the Smartboy is an inexpensive novelty. My issue comes from being able to buy the real hardware with 100% game compatibility for under $30. If the Smartboy had better compatibility, better latency and the software was less of an afterthought I could possibly recommend trying it. But for right now it doesn’t feel like the Smartboy is ready for primetime and it cannot replace my Gameboy Advance SP for portable gaming. I hope Hyperkin continues to work on development as there’s a lot of potential here, but people don’t buy potential; they buy finished product.

Why it RoX:
Has an “Oh wow” factor when you see it
They actually did it
Allows you to play physical cartridges on your smart phone
Amazing sound and video quality
Replaces crappy touch screen controls with decent feeling physical controls

What could be improved
While the hardware is nice the software feels like an afterthought
You can’t see all the on-screen options on the MyOldBoy! App, leaving the user to guess at selections.
USB-C and Android only limits market penetration
Load times on GBC games can be loooooooong
No support for GBA
No official emulation support
You can get the real hardware for less


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Should You Buy a Gamerz Tek 8Bit HD NES Clone Console?

There are a ton of different options out there these days for playing classic and retro Nintendo Entertainment System games and we, as game players, reap the benefits. The latest console we had a chance to test out is the Gamerz Tek 8Bit HD console, which we recently unboxed. This system is a true clone, no emulation, and plays real genuine NES cartridges. How does the Gamerz Tek 8Bit HD measure up? Were there any issues with compatibility? How do games look and sound on this sub-$30 console? Should you buy one? Watch to find out.

Why it RoX?
Awesome value for the money
2 Controllers, and they're usable!
Great games compatibility
Good color palette
AV and HDMI output
Small size

What could be improved?
The audio is off and it's distracting
AV out is mono not stereo
Power is a barrel-style connector, not Micro USB
The plastic design is a little uninspiring


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Unboxing the Gamerz Tek 8Bit HD NES Clone Console

We’re in an era where what’s old is new again and the folks over at Gamerz Tek are here to breathe new life into your old Nintendo Entertainment System games. Where the NES connected to your 80’s-era tube television via RF Modulator or AV Cables and were perfectly acceptable for your 13” black and white tube TV that just isn’t going to cut it in the 21st century. That’s where the 8-bit HD comes in, allowing you to connect your 1983 copy of Super Mario Brothers to your 2017 HD 4K flat panel tv. We just got our version from Amazon today and this is our unboxing, showing you what all comes in the box. Make sure you come back for our full-blown review.

8-Bit HD on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/8-Bit-HD-Entertainment-System/dp/B01MYXNB7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502311391&sr=8-1&keywords=8bit+hd

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Unboxing the Hyperkin Smart Boy Game Boy Adapter - Play Cartridges On Your Phone

Several years ago Hyperkin shocked the world with an adapter for smart phones which was reported to allow you to play your classic Nintendo Game Boy cartridges on your phone. Sure, emulators had been out for some time but the promise of Hyperkin’s adapter was that you’d be able to play with physical controls. After a lot of interest, design, testing, tweaking and modifying Hyperkin has actually done it and brought their April Fool’s joke to life and the result is the just-released Hyperkin Smart Boy. Much like their proof of concept piece the Smart Boy will allow you to play your Game Boy and Game Boy Color (or Game Boy Colour) games natively on your smart phone. Check out how the Smart Boy comes out of the box, how it fits our test phone and more in this unboxing.

Make sure you are Subscribed to RoXolid Productions to see the full review once completed!

Thanks to Live Action Games for help with this review. Make sure to throw them a like on their Facebook Page at

https://www.facebook.com/LAG217/


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Should You Shave The Cord With PlayStation Vue

In this episode of our Cord Cutting series we delve into the world that is Playstation Vue, Sony's answer to cutting the cord. PS Vue offers great features such as time shifting, on-demand and cloud-based DVR. recently Sony made changed the pricing structure of their service and took it from perhaps one of the most budget friendly services to a me-to service. What was our favorite service when we started this journey to an also-ran. Make sure you watch our full overview to see how Playstation Vue works.

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Should You Shave the Cord with DirecTV Now: 30-days Later

As people search for ways to get more for less DirecTV and AT&T released their DirecTV Now over the top streaming service. We've been using the service for the past month and found some (mostly) good, (rarely) bad and greater perspective on what this service has to offer. Take a look at this follow-up to our initial DirecTV Now overview.

Should You: Shave the Cord with DIRECTV NOW video: https://youtu.be/B9jE6iSXceM

Should You: Shave the Cord with SlingTv?: https://youtu.be/vGV5XkaLPrs

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Should You: Shave the Cord with DIRECTV NOW

Cutting the cord and shaving the cord is more popular than ever. With all the different contenders out there one of the most popular pay-tv providers, DirecTV, has entered into the cord shaving and online streaming game with their new service, DirecTV Now. We take a look at DirecTV Now, some of the features that it has, some of the limitations it has and how it stacks up to our previous test service Sling TV. One thing to remember on DirecTV Now is that you can only stream on two different devices at one time so if that is a consideration for you this may not be the service for you.

See our overview of Sling TV at the link below:
https://youtu.be/vGV5XkaLPrs

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Should You: Shave the Cord with Sling TV?

In part 2 of our cord cutting and cord shaving series we look into one of the many different providers that are out there to help you possibly save money every month by shaving the cord. in this video we're looking at Sling TV specifically the orange and blue packages that are available out there. Sling TV is one of many different streaming services that provide paid TV channels at a reduced cost compared to cable or satellite. How does Sling TV measure up? Will it fill the need that we're looking to fill? We investigate those questions and more in our video.

See our overview of DirecTV Now at the link below:
https://youtu.be/B9jE6iSXceM

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Should You: Cut or Shave the Cord - First Steps

Should You: Cut or Shave the Cord?

I've been generally unhappy with my pay TV service for some time and looking for Alternatives and how to cut the cord. I recently picked up an HDHomerun Prime from Silicondust and begin the process of testing and seeing what my needs were versus what I could find out there. And this video I will show you some tips and tricks that I've picked up as we begin down the road of cord cutting in 2017.

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Should You Buy an AV2HDMI Adapter?

In today's living room the HDMI connector is king. Unlike audio/video connectors of the past it is capable of carrying a lot of data in one simple and easy connection. This was not always the case however. Back in the dark ages, we'll call them the 1980's and 1990's, we had to suffer through low-resolution connections such as RF (gasp), Component (Shriek!) or Composite (Faint!!!).

It is possible to connect devices from yesteryear to modern HDMI-equipped televisions. We have one such offering here in the Mini AV2HDMI adapter. Purchased off of eBay for under $15 I wanted to see if this little box was the miracle I was hoping for to help me connect my Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Famicom, Sharp Famicom  Twin, Super Famicom and Nintendo N64 via HDMI.

The connection is super simple, just connect your AV cables to one side, the Mini USB cable to another and finally your HDMI output cable to a third. Once connected and power has been provided you're ready to go. Sort of. The systems I was trying to up-scale all ran at a naitive resolution below even today's Standard Definition Standard of 480P. To begin with the adapter is having to up-scale a pretty crummy resolution. Beyond that when I connected ANY input device to it I had a noticable audio buzz coming through my system. I tried different Mini USB cables to make sure the insulation wasn't too thin and causing RF noise, different HDMI and AV cables but the buzz was always there. Just for that fact I would say pass on this adapter, but there are more reasons yet to come.

On my classic NES titles they were all blown out to 16:9 aspect ratio with no way to bring them back to their naitive 4:3. This lead to the graphics not scaling properly and also some pretty gnarly artifacting in the graphics themselves. The title screen on Mike Tyson's Punch Out is one of the worst offenders but everything from Super Mario Bros to Excitebike and everything in-between had weird artifacting in the graphics. When compared to my NES Classic there's no comparison, the AV2HDMI does a poor job at up-scaling.

There is one thing that this adapter does well and that's convert AV cables to HDMI. That's about all it does well. The 720/1080 switch didn't seem like it changed ANYTHING, at least I never noticed a discernable change. If you're on a smaller TV, like 24-27" you might not notice all the artifacting I did on my 60", but even on my 48" in my media room it was distracting and, honestly, my AV cables looked BETTER on the same TV!

If you're into retro gaming and looking to connect your old system to an HDMI port pass on these adapters. They are all over eBay and if they are anything like this one they are port adapters, not up-scalers. Don't waste your money on this, instead save your pennies and have the guys at https://www.game-tech.us/product/hi-def-nes/ upgrade your console for you, you won't be disappointed. Or less expensive but super fun is to pick up an NES Classic, it supports HDMI naitively!


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