Author: taternews

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Time Crisis HDTV Light Gun Kit

https://retrorgb.com/time-crisis-hdtv-light-gun-kit.html

Let’s be real—playing Time Crisis with a light gun on a modern TV should feel like stepping into an arcade… not wrestling with your Wi-Fi router.

Enter the G‘AIM’E TV Mini-Console: a cute, plug-and-play box that lets you play classic light gun games—Time Crisis, Point Blank, and more—on your HDTV. Sounds like a dream, right? Well… it’s got charm, but zero chill. The gun’s camera needs a perfect, unobstructed view of your screen, meaning you’ve got to stand like a statue six feet back. Miss the target? Blame the tech—not your aim. (Spoiler: it’s the tech.)

And yeah, it works—sometimes. Jason from RetroRGB tested it side-by-side with a real CRT, and the results? Spotty. One shot hits dead-center. The next one thinks you’re aiming at the ceiling lamp. It’s like playing darts with a blindfold and a GPS glitch.

Still, props to the team for trying. At $100–$200, it’s not cheap—but it is legally licensed, and the foot pedal for Time Crisis? Chef’s kiss. Just don’t expect to win a tournament. As one commenter put it: “I’d play a few levels and move on to the next thing at the party.”

For collectors, tinkerers, or folks with way too much patience—this might be your weird little joy. For everyone else? Stick to the controller.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Crunchyroll Takedown Efforts Target Anime Torrent Client Hayase

https://torrentfreak.com/crunchyroll-takedown-efforts-target-anime-torrent-client-hayase/

Let’s be real: if you’ve ever binge-watched anime without paying for it, you’ve probably used something like Hayase. It’s not a pirate site—it doesn’t host or link to anything illegal. It’s just… really good at playing torrents like a slick, no-bs media player. Think Popcorn Time meets Kodi, but for anime nerds who hate waiting for downloads.

Crunchyroll? Not a fan. They’ve been on a takedown tear—targeting GitHub, Google Play, even Discord—claiming Hayase enables piracy. Problem is: they didn’t tell Hayase what exactly was infringing. No screenshots, no links—just a legal shotgun blast. So the devs did the polite thing: they removed the files, saving everyone the courtroom drama.

Funny twist? Crunchyroll’s planning to kill its free tier in 2025… right as millions of fans on X are saying, “Guess we’ll just use Hayase.”

The app still works. The GitHub links? Dead. But if you’ve already installed it? You’re golden. And honestly—why wouldn’t you want a clean, ad-free way to stream anime? Crunchyroll wants subscribers. Hayase just gives you the tools.

The real question: is this a battle over piracy… or over convenience?

(And why does every “anti-piracy” move feel like pushing a boulder uphill with a toothpick?)

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Blur Busters: TestUFO 3.0 Official Launch!

https://retrorgb.com/blur-busters-testufo-3-0-official-launch.html

Meet Mark from Blur Busters — the man who turned motion blur into a cult phenomenon with flying UFOs. Yep, those “UFO” tests you’ve seen in every high-end monitor review? He made them. And now, after years of beta testing, TestUFO 3.0 is officially live — and it’s basically the Avengers of display testing.

No more guessing why your screen looks “muddy” during fast motion. This site is a playground of nerd magic: BFI (Black Frame Insertion) tests that show you exactly how much blur disappears with flicker, a CRT simulator for retro-feel fans, and even an iPhone-friendly ghosting test where you wave your hand to see how well your monitor tracks motion. (Try it. You’ll feel like a spy.)

The new settings menu? Clean. The 10-bit PLUGE test? For color nerds who cry at “true black.” And the mouse poll rate tester? Because yes, your gaming mouse does need a pop quiz too.

But here’s the best part: you don’t need a lab. Just open it on your monitor, toggle between 60Hz and 144Hz, and watch the UFOs transform from smears to sharp streaks. Suddenly, you’ll get why premium displays cost more.

Go play. Your eyes will thank you — and so will your next monitor purchase. 🚀

(P.S. If you’ve ever squinted at a “motion blur” test and thought, “Wait… what am I seeing?” — this is your answer.)

📰 New article from RetroRGB

RetroTINK 4K Firmware v1.9.9.6 – Spatial Redistribution Masks

https://retrorgb.com/retrotink-4k-firmware-v1-9-9-6-spatial-redistribution-masks.html

You ever wish your modern TV could just feel like a vintage CRT? Mike Chi and Tim Lottes just made that dream way closer to reality.

The new RetroTINK 4K firmware (v1.9.9.6) drops a game-changing feature: Spatial Redistribution Masks. Think of it as a smarter, brighter way to simulate those gorgeous CRT phosphor patterns—no HDR needed. The old mask tech dimmed your image; this version keeps the glow and the grain, making your Genesis or SNES look like it’s still glowing through a PVM monitor. And yes—it works even on 1080p.

Want proof? Load up Kuro’s PVM profile, switch to “Spatial Redist,” and watch those scanlines come alive without washing out your colors. It’s magic for Trinitron fans too, especially with the new 3840×1080@120 mode on OLEDs. Bonus: if your screen’s too bright, just bump up the scanline strength to 50+ and tweak gain—boom, perfect analog vibes.

The tech nerds will geek out over the pixel rules (no same-color edges! max two in a row!), but you just need to know this: if you love CRT emulation, update now. It’s not just an upgrade—it’s a revelation.

Download it. Try it. Thank us later.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG477V Pre-Orders Begin on December 20, Starting at $199

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg477v-pre-orders-begin-on-december-20-starting-at-199/

Grab your wallets, retro fans—Anbernic’s shiny new RG477V is dropping sooner than your grandma remembers how to turn on a TV.

Pre-orders kick off December 20 at 5 AM EST, starting at just $199 for the 8GB/128GB model. That’s less than a fancy coffee subscription, and you get a full-blown handheld with a 120Hz screen, MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chip, and active cooling—yes, your games won’t melt mid-boss fight. The 12GB/256GB version? $239.99 for the first 72 hours, then $259 after. (Pro tip: Set an alarm. These will sell faster than SNES cartridges at a convention.)

It’s got Hall effect sticks with RGB glow, dual speakers, USB-C display out, and a 5,500mAh battery that’ll keep you playing for about eight hours—plenty of time to beat Metroid… or just stare at the loading screen while waiting for software updates. (Anbernic’s already dropped v1.35 to fix bugs, but don’t expect perfection on day one.)

GammaOS is already running on dev units, so the software will likely improve fast. And yes—rumor has it color variants (looking at you, see-through green) might be coming. But if you want the $199 deal? You gotta move fast.

Your next handheld obsession is waiting. Pre-order now, regret later.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Red Dead Redemption on Android is Weird, Here’s How to Fix It

https://retrohandhelds.gg/red-dead-redemption-on-android-is-weird-heres-how-to-fix-it/

Red Dead Redemption on Android? Yeah, it’s a cowboy wild west of bugs, glitches, and broken promises.

If you’ve got a Snapdragon 8 Elite phone like the Galaxy S25+, congrats—you’re living the dream. Smooth 60fps, decent battery life, and Netflix actually lets you install it. A true miracle.

But if you’re rocking a Dimensity-powered handheld—like an Anbernic RG477M? Good luck. Textures vanish, models melt, and your controller feels like it’s playing telepathic poker with the game. The devs clearly didn’t test on Mali GPUs. Oops.

And then there’s the AYN Thor Pro users—locked out entirely by Google Play Protect. Netflix says “nope,” and your device is too cool for school. The fix? Side-loading. Yes, really. Download a sketchy .apk bundle, use an app like SAI to splice it together, pray, reboot, and hope your phone doesn’t revolt. Result? 30fps, no fidelity toggle, and the emotional weight of a saloon piano playing “My Heart Will Go On” in a desert.

Bottom line: It works—kinda. But unless Rockstar wakes up and ports this properly, you’re better off emulating the Switch version… or just rewatching that damn sunset one more time.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Tweaks to IPTV Piracy Law That “Bans VPNs” Won’t Change Its Intent or Scope

https://torrentfreak.com/govt-denies-iptv-piracy-law-bans-vpns-because-it-never-did-didnt-need-to-251218/

Denmark’s new anti-piracy bill isn’t banning VPNs—technically. But if you’re using one to watch a football match you didn’t pay for… or even one you did pay for but can’t access because of geo-blocks? Congrats, you’re now breaking the law.

The Ministry of Culture insists they just want to stop illegal streaming. Fair. But their fix? A sweeping, tech-neutral rewrite that targets any tool—software, app, tweak, or yes, even a VPN—that circumvents paywalls. No more hiding behind “it’s just a privacy tool.” If it unlocks content you’re not supposed to access, it’s illegal. Period.

And here’s the twist: this applies even if you paid for the content—just not in your region. Want to binge Game of Thrones on HBO Max while traveling? Forget it. The law doesn’t care if you’re a subscriber; it cares if you bypassed a geo-block. And promoting tools that do this? Also illegal. (RIP Popcorn Time, we hardly knew ye.)

The minister claims he’s removing “VPN” from the draft to clear up confusion. But if the law bans any technical solution that bypasses access controls… then banning VPNs is exactly what it does. Words matter less than intent—and this law’s intent is crystal clear: no more sneaky streaming, no matter how you do it.

Welcome to the future. Your VPN just got a pink slip.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Gameboy Color Resident Evil Found & Released

https://retrorgb.com/gameboy-color-resident-evil-found-released.html

Christmas came early for horror fans—because someone dug up a fully playable Game Boy Color version of Resident Evil.

Yes, really. HotGen Studios back in the day tried to port the original PS1 horror classic to the tiny, monochrome screen. It got axed… until now. Games That Weren’t just dropped the “final” build—98% complete, bugs and all—and yes, you can actually finish it. No more half-baked ROMs from 2013; this one’s got full boss fights, inventory management, and even that iconic door-slamming tension… on a device smaller than your palm.

Imagine battling Mr. X while squinting at a 2-bit zombie, or solving puzzles with a D-pad the size of a pinhead. It’s absurd. It’s brilliant. And somehow, it works.

The original port was abandoned after Nintendo nixed the project (probably terrified of how much blood would stain their handhelds). This version? It’s not just a demo—it’s the real deal. Playable. Completable. Probably haunted by 2001-era development notes.

Grab it, poke at the glitches, and ask yourself: if this had shipped in 2001… would we still be arguing about the best horror games today? Or just wondering why we didn’t get more of these?

Play it here — before your eyes turn into Game Boy pixels.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Sony Says FUDGE Age Restrictions With New AI Censorship Patent

https://retrohandhelds.gg/sony-says-fudge-age-restrictions-with-new-ai-censorship-patent/

Sony’s got a bold (and slightly creepy) new idea: AI that turns God of War into Toy Story on the fly.

Imagine playing a violent game, and suddenly your blood-splattered assassin gets replaced with a cheerful cartoon version—because the AI decided “too much gore.” No manual edits. No developer input. Just a silent, algorithmic babysitter scrubbing your game clean in real time.

The patent? It’s wild. The system can blur violence, mute swearing, swap weapons for glitter bats, and even reanimate characters to be less “intense.” Parents could pick presets—or craft custom rules—so one copy of Red Dead Redemption becomes kid-safe for your 8-year-old, while you keep the full-blooded experience. Convenient? Maybe. Dangerous? Absolutely.

This isn’t just parental controls—it’s editing art without asking the artist. What happens when an AI decides a character’s backstory is “too mature”? Or removes political themes because they’re “controversial”? And if this rolls out on cloud platforms? Suddenly, every streamer and subscriber is subject to invisible censorship—no way to know what’s been cut.

Sony isn’t building a filter. They’re building an editor-in-chief for games we don’t own anymore.

The tech might be cool. But who gets to decide what’s “appropriate”? We should all be nervous.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Playtiles Begins Shipping To Backers

https://retrohandhelds.gg/playtiles-begins-shipping-to-backers/

Ever wish your phone could just be a Game Boy—without the bulk, the Bluetooth headaches, or the battery anxiety? Enter Playtiles: a credit-card-sized sticky pad of real D-pads and buttons that clings to your screen like a tactile sticker. No charging. No pairing. Just slap it on, tap your favorite emulator, and suddenly your iPhone feels like a 90s handheld made of magic (and plastic).

It’s genius because it doesn’t try to replace your phone—it enhances what’s already there. Drag the virtual controls in Delta or another emulator to match Playtiles’ layout, and boom: your thumbs are pressing real buttons, not ghostly UI blobs. No more “wait, which one was A again?” during a Mario Bros. run.

And here’s the kicker: it works with anything that lets you move on-screen controls—emulators, GB Studio games, even mobile ports. No proprietary ecosystem. Just your ROMs, your rules, and a $10 slab of joy that fits in your wallet. Perfect for coffee lines, commutes, or when you just miss the click of a real button.

If you’ve ever sighed at another “handheld phone case” that felt like carrying a brick… this is your upgrade. Order now. Your thumbs will thank you.