Retro Console Options

by cmack · Published March 21, 2025 · Updated March 27, 2025

This is a live article. It will be updated frequently to refine and expand on the options presented.

TODO:
Continue adding details to existing listings.

Last updated: March 24, 2025

There are still tons of old retro consoles floating around out there, and there’s been a renewed interest in going back to experience some of those memories we all had with our childhood gaming systems from back in the day. The big names we all know: Atari, Nintendo, Commodore, they all conjure up images and sensations that many of us long to feel once more, now and then.

So for those who clung to their babies, or maybe even re-purchased them from somebody else online, they can have that nostalgia fairly readily. Others will result to emulating those old platforms, which on today’s hardware is quite the cakewalk.

So, let’s take a little trip, and look at some stuff that’s available for our beloved consoles, both original physical and emulation, with a specific focus on performance and convenience.

Most of the cartridge-based systems will have SD card-based storage options available, so there’s no need to spend tons of cash on a whole wall of secondhand carts that may or may not work.

Many of the consoles will have video mods available to either drastically improve the stock video output, or update it to work with HDMI, and the C0pperdragon LumaCode solutions are singularly epic for this.

This is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to all consoles throughout history, but rather a rundown of ways to make using the popular consoles of our youth more convenient and fun. For example, when the Nintendo DS came out, there were a bunch of models released to address more features and more affordable price points. Now? Just get the best of each; they’re quite a bit cheaper than they used to be, so get the DSi XL and/or the 3DS XL (or LL from Japan; region won’t matter if you mod it).

As a quick aside, it should be noted that the actual games content for these consoles is running around pretty freely on the internet, if one puts in the effort to look for it. However, I’m not going to provide sources for that content here, because while there’s probably little to worry about with the stuff that’s decades old, there are grey areas and overlaps (think “Mario”) that makes sharing that content a… questionable legal tactic. I will link to sites I trust or think are at least trustworthy, but will not be hosting actual game content here. Just know that I can confirm that it is out there and accessible, but please do be careful; some of those content sites are rife with skeevy and doctored files. Check related forums for reliable sources. I’ll mention useful forums where applicable, too.

1st Gen

The consoles in the 1st generation primarily carry their value in nostalgia alone, and since they came along on the heels of the legendary Pong itself, most of them are copycats of the Leader of the Band. As such, their content is more closely tied to the actual hardware design, and it’s the use of the thing where all that nostalgia is really found.

Otherwise, let’s face it: Pong isn’t really that deep, nor is it entertaining for very long. If you had/have the original cabinet or one of the home consoles, you’ve got the part that carries the “magic”. The game itself ain’t it for Gen 1! 🙂

What I’m saying is that there’s no point looking for mods for these consoles, or even really emulating them (though if you’re that desperate, look up Plasma Pong instead). Cartridges weren’t a thing yet, so everything was built-in on the board, and “everything” was like 5 variations of the same Tennis/Squash/Hockey concept.

2nd Gen

Can be emulated with:

PC

Raspberry Pi 4/5

Android

Raspberry Pi 0

Atari 2600 (1977)

Available Options

=> Clean up video signal for CRT input

=> Convert video output to pixel-perfect HDMI

=> Consolidate the entire game library on a single cart (with SD card storage)

=> Active homebrew community; new games still being released!

Mods

=> Ultimate Atari Video board
(DIY), starting at $34.99
Updates the video signal for RCA/S-Video connections to be much cleaner and stable

=> Lumacode / RGB2HDMI
Creates a semi-digital video feed from the console’s video output chip. The signal is intercepted at the actual generation point, and output as a greyscale image stream. The RGB2HDMI module then reads that stream, and replaces each specific grey level with the appropriate Atari palette color, and outputs the results over HDMI. The result is a pixel-perfect graphic display, which can also be artificially “muddied up” a little with CRT overlay effects, as well.

Games Sources

=> Atari VCS ROMs Collection
Hobbyist site, attempting to filter out the redundant and alternate releases so you can find exactly what you’re looking for in its most-original format.

As the games themselves were pretty small, it’s not hard to find collections of every release for the console online.

Library Management

Harmony/Harmony Encore
You want the Encore version. Put your games on a SD card, slap the card in the cart, and plug the cart into the console. The Encore can also handle the sometimes-larger homebrew games that Harmony standard version can’t (yes, people are STILL making games for the 2600!!)

=> Dev site/store
Good launching point for information and links to forums, manuals, firmware etc.
=> Harmony Encore reseller ($69.99)

Emulation Options

Dedicated
=> Stella

Collection (available by default or after enabling a core)
=> MAME
=> RetroArch

Mattel Intellivision (1980-1991)

Available Options

=> Convert video output to pixel-perfect HDMI
=> Consolidate the entire game library on a single cart (with SD card storage)

Mods

=> STICDigitizer (LumaCode by C0pperdragon)
Needs to be paired with RGB2HDMI for the color palette and HDMI output

Games Sources

=> The Internet Archive
=> ROMspedia

Library Management

=> Backbit Pro
Universal cart that provides access to your games library on SD card, and can be connected to dozens of legacy systems, using purpose-made cartridge slot adapters. Some soldering may be required for initial setup.

Emulation Options

Dedicated
=> jzIntv

Collection (available by default or after enabling a core)
=> MAME
=> RetroArch

Atari 5200 (1982-1984)

Available Options

=> Convert video output to pixel-perfect HDMI
=> Consolidate the entire game library on a single cart (with SD card storage)

Mods

=> GTIAdigitizer (LumaCode by C0pperdragon)
Needs to be paired with RGB2HDMI for the color palette and HDMI output

Games Sources

=> ROMspedia

Library Management

=> AtariMax Atari 5200 Ultimate SD Cartridge
$129 + shipping

=> Pi=powered multicart (DIY)

Emulation Options

Dedicated
=> Atari800

Collection (available by default or after enabling a core)
=> MAME
=> RetroArch

Milton Bradley Vectrex (1982-1984)

Available Options

=> Consolidate the entire game library on a single cart (with SD card storage)

Mods

=> Nothing major to report
Most mods are more elaborate one-off controllers, no video mods really possible since the console’s main gimmick relies on directly manipulating the CRT electron beam to draw images (like the old-school laser shows used to do). Because of this, there’s no video signal to intercept or clean up that any modern display would understand.

Games Sources

=> ROMspedia
=> Homebrew sources listed at AtariAge Forums

Library Management

=> VecMulti Cartridge ($100)

=> Backbit Pro ($129)
Universal cart that provides access to your games library on SD card, and can be connected to dozens of legacy systems, using purpose-made cartridge slot adapters. Some soldering may be required for initial setup.

Emulation Options

Dedicated
=> There are a few options available, but due to the unique methods used to produce the display, while emulators can do well enough to make the games playable, the experience still falls short of the original.

Collection (available by default or after enabling a core)
=> MAME
=> RetroArch

ColecoVision (1982-1984)

Available Options

=> Convert video output to pixel-perfect HDMI
=> Consolidate the entire game library on a single cart (with SD card storage)

Mods

=> TMSDigitizer (LumaCode by C0pperdragon)
Don’t forget RGB2HDMI will be required too!

Collection (available by default or after enabling a core)
=> MAME
=> RetroArch

Sega SG-1000 (1983-1985)

Available Options

=> Convert video output to pixel-perfect HDMI
=> Consolidate the entire game library on a single cart (with SD card storage)

Mods

=> TMSdigitizer (LumaCode by C0pperdragon)
Don’t forget RGB2HDMI will be required too!

Games Sources

=> ROMspedia

Library Management

=> Sega flash multicart for SG-1000
DIY, based on Rpi Pico clone

=> Megacart for SG-1000 and SC-3000
Built, stores up to 127 games, with integrated menu functionality
$95USD, plus shipping

Emulation Options

Dedicated
=> Multiple options

Collection (available by default or after enabling a core)
=> MAME
=> RetroArch