📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #520

https://retrorgb.com/week520.html

Grab your controller and queue up the playlist, because RetroRGB’s Weekly Roundup #520 is here to satisfy your retro-gaming itch. This isn’t just a list; it’s a curated dive into the weird, wonderful, and weirdly specific corners of gaming history and hardware modification.

First up, the nostalgia train isn’t slowing down. We’re looking at Aleste III GG getting a new life on the Sega Master System via a patch, and Sonic 1 & 2 getting another re-release. Are we tired of Sonic re-releases yet? Probably, but they’re still selling. Meanwhile, the GameTank, a new 8-bit console, is making waves for those who appreciate the aesthetic of chunky plastic and simple circuits.

But it’s not all about playing old games; it’s about tinkering. If you’ve got a dying iPod Classic gathering dust, there’s now a plug-and-play upgrade kit to give it new life. For the modern retro enthusiast, the Zaparoo frontend has been upgraded to work smoothly with the MiSTer, making your FPGA setup feel less like a science experiment and more like a console. Plus, if you’ve ever wanted to read Game Informer archives without digging through physical copies, there’s now a digital solution.

It’s a solid mix of preservation, modification, and pure nostalgia. If you enjoy the deep dives, consider supporting Bob’s work—it keeps the retro flame alive.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Kim Dotcom Loses Court of Appeal Bid to Block Extradition to the U.S.

https://torrentfreak.com/kim-dotcom-loses-court-of-appeal-bid-to-block-extradition-to-the-u-s/

It’s been a wild fourteen-year ride for Kim Dotcom, but New Zealand’s Court of Appeal just dealt another heavy blow to his bid to stay out of U.S. hands. The court dismissed his latest appeal against extradition, closing the door on his arguments that he should have been charged locally instead.

Dotcom tried to draw a comparison to his former co-defendants, who pleaded guilty and served shorter sentences in New Zealand. The judges weren’t having it. They ruled that the Police Commissioner’s decision to focus on Dotcom as the alleged ringleader was justified, especially since those other defendants had actually cooperated. Without a plea deal from Dotcom, the U.S. wasn’t about to back off its extradition request.

Then there’s the matter of the potential prison time. Facing 30 to 150 years in the U.S., Dotcom argued this severity should “shock the conscience” of New Zealanders. It didn’t. The court noted that while the sentence is steep, it doesn’t violate human rights laws because mechanisms like compassionate release still exist.

So, where does that leave him? With the appeal rejected and costs ordered, Dotcom now faces the prospect of a final, desperate leap to the Supreme Court. If that fails, the U.S. federal prison system is likely next.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Interview With Dennis aka Pointer Function

https://retrorgb.com/interview-with-dennis-aka-pointer-function.html

Let’s be honest: keeping old game discs playable shouldn’t feel like a high-stakes financial gamble. For years, retro gamers have been stuck between buying overpriced commercial polishers that charge you per disc or investing in machines that cost a fortune to repair. It’s a frustrating loop, but Dennis van den Broek—aka Pointer Function—might just be the hero we didn’t know we needed.

In a recent RetroRGB podcast interview, Dennis opened up about his latest open-source project: the RGR EZBuff. Think of it as a DIY solution to a very specific, very expensive problem. While commercial units often lock you into costly maintenance or per-disc fees, the EZBuff is designed to be accessible and repairable, putting the power back in the hands of the community.

If you’re tired of watching your collection degrade or emptying your wallet for minor fixes, this is worth a listen. Dennis breaks down the logic behind the build and why open-source hardware is the future of retro preservation.

Why you should care:

• Open Source: No hidden fees or proprietary lock-ins.
• Cost-Effective: A smarter alternative to the $1,500+ commercial units.
• Community Driven: Join the growing movement of retro tech tinkerers.

Check out the full chat on your favorite podcast app by searching “RetroRGB Dennis.” And if you appreciate the effort, Dennis has a Ko-fi page ready for support. Here’s to cleaner discs and clearer skies for retro gaming.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

RGR EZBuff: Open Source Disc Buffer/Resurfacer

https://retrorgb.com/rgr-ezbuff-open-source-disc-buffer-resurfacer.html

Tired of watching your retro game collection turn into expensive plastic coasters? There’s finally a solution that doesn’t require selling a kidney. Dennis van den Broek has just released the RGR EZBuff, a fully open-source disc buffer and resurfacer that’s as easy on the wallet as it is effective.

The beauty of this project lies in its accessibility. You don’t need a factory to build one; just grab some affordable, off-the-shelf parts and print the enclosure using a standard home 3D printer and a single kilogram of filament. It’s a win for DIY enthusiasts who want professional-grade results without the professional-grade price tag.

Safety first, though. As with any disc repair, start slow. Dennis advises practicing on cheap, disposable CDs before touching anything sentimental. Let the unit cool between sessions, and remember that some discs are simply beyond saving. You can swap felt pads for high-grit sandpaper if you need heavy-duty resurfacing, but keep those processes separate to avoid contamination.

Why does this matter? Because the current market is bleak. Professional kits often cost $2,000 and charge per-disc fees, while cheaper alternatives require constant, costly part replacements. The EZBuff breaks this cycle, offering a sustainable, affordable path for retro game stores and collectors alike to keep their libraries spinning.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO Pocket Vert Review: Premium Meets Portable, With a Dash of Disappointment

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneo-pocket-vert-review/

If you thought the AYANEO Pocket DMG was the undisputed king of vertical handhelds, grab your pitchforks—or maybe just your wallet. The Pocket Vert has arrived, promising to dethrone the incumbent with a design that screams “premium” and a screen so sharp it’ll make your eyes hurt.

AYANEO went all-in on aesthetics here. We’re talking a CNC-milled metal body, an all-glass front, and unmarked crystal buttons. It feels substantial (325 grams of pure heft) and looks absolutely stunning. The 3.5-inch LCD boasts a mind-bending 615 PPI, meaning Game Boy games look impossibly crisp. If you’re chasing that retro pixel-perfect glow, this thing delivers.

But here’s the rub: the Vert is tiny. At 3.5 inches, it’s a pocket-sized marvel that leaves little room for error. Worse yet, it ditches the analog sticks entirely. Instead, you get “MagicTouch” sensors that are overly sensitive and frustratingly imprecise. Sure, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 can handle PS2 emulation, but trying to navigate 3D worlds without actual sticks? That’s a recipe for rage-quitting.

The Verdict: The Pocket Vert is a beautiful, expensive toy. It’s perfect for 2D classics and showing off at parties, but for serious gaming, the lack of analog controls and the cramped screen keep it from truly surpassing the Pocket DMG. It’s premium, alright—but is it worth the upgrade? Maybe not.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Game Informer Magazine Archive

https://retrorgb.com/game-informer-magazine-archive.html

Remember when getting the latest game scoop meant actually waiting for a physical magazine to arrive in the mail? Well, nostalgia just got a major upgrade. Game Informer has officially digitized its entire archive, making every single issue from that glorious Fall 1991 debut available for free online.

Yes, you read that right. No paywalls, no subscription fees. You just need to create a free account, which takes about as long as it does to press “start” on a cartridge. Once you’re in, you’re looking at high-quality scans of decades of gaming history, right at your fingertips.

Why does this matter? Beyond the obvious joy of reliving the excitement of those early days, this archive serves as a crucial time capsule. It preserves the original critical consensus of games from the 90s and 00s, offering researchers and fans alike a genuine look at how titles were received upon release.

But let’s be honest, most of us will probably spend our time hunting down the Funkoland trade-in lists. Remember those? Staring at that mini-newspaper, calculating exactly how much profit we’d lose to trade in our old favorites for something shiny and new? It’s a weirdly specific fondness, but it’s there. Whether you’re digging for historical context or just want a blast from the past, the archive is open and ready for you to browse.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Fix is In? New Class Action Lawsuit Claims RAM Supply Was Intentionally Restricted to Raise Prices

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-fix-is-in-new-class-action-lawsuit-claims-ram-supply-was-intentionally-restricted-to-raise-prices/

Remember that sinking feeling when you see your favorite tech product jump in price? You’re not imagining things, and you might have a lawsuit to thank for it. A new class action suit filed in California alleges that the “Big Three” of RAM manufacturing—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—colluded to artificially restrict supply. The result? A staggering 700% price hike over the last four years.

The plaintiffs claim these companies intentionally cut production of standard DRAM while pivoting resources toward high-bandwidth memory. By locking up conventional supply, they forced the entire industry to raise prices just to stay afloat. It’s not just about your next PC upgrade; this “RAMageddon” is the hidden tax behind everything from console price hikes at Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to the astronomical costs of new handhelds like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+.

Even Apple isn’t immune, with recent price bumps across its lineup, including the MacBook Neo and the humble HomePod Mini. While the AI boom certainly drove demand, this lawsuit suggests a darker narrative: a coordinated “long game” designed to target consumers in the 2025–2026 window. Whether this legal challenge can break the oligopoly remains to be seen, but for now, we’re all stuck paying the premium.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

An Inside Look at the GameTank

https://retrorgb.com/an-inside-look-at-the-gametank.html

Remember when building a computer meant soldering through-hole components and praying to the silicon gods? Well, the GameTank is here to remind us that nostalgia is a powerful drug. I recently spent a few months diving into this unique project, and let’s just say my soldering iron has never been hotter.

At its heart, the GameTank runs on the classic WDC 65C02 processor, the modern CMOS successor to the legendary MOS 6502. But don’t let the vintage architecture fool you. While it sports a modest 128×128 pixel display, the graphics are surprisingly sharp. It achieves this by using an 8-bit indexed color palette that supports up to 200 unique colors per frame. The real magic? It pulls off all this visual trickery using nothing but old-school 74-series logic chips—no FPGAs or modern microcontrollers required.

Audio gets its own dedicated 14MHz 65C02 co-processor, acting as a 4-voice FM synthesizer. Think of it as a slimmed-down version of the chips found in classic arcade cabinets, allowing you to compose music in MIDI and feed it straight into your games.

If you’ve ever wanted to code for hardware that feels like a time capsule but plays like a dream, this is your ticket. It’s not just a console; it’s a masterclass in retro engineering.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYN Thor, Odin 3, and Odin 2 Portal Are All Getting a Price Bump This Week

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayn-thor-odin-3-and-odin-2-portal-are-all-getting-a-price-bump-this-week/

Another week, another price hike. If you’ve been eyeing an AYN handheld, brace yourself: the brand is raising prices on the Thor, Odin 3, and Odin 2 Portal starting July 3.

This isn’t just a small tweak. Most models are seeing a $10 bump, but if you’re hunting for the high-end Thor Max with 1TB of storage, expect to pay $30 more. It’s a frustrating trend, but probably not surprising. With global memory and storage shortages predicted to last until 2028, these costs are likely here to stay. We’re just hoping these devices don’t become luxury items we can no longer afford.

The good news? You have a tiny window to beat the increase. AliExpress’s Choice Day sale kicks off on July 1. If you can snag a deal then, you might save enough to offset the coming price jump. Just don’t wait until Friday, or your wallet will definitely feel the pinch.

For now, the best strategy is simple: if you’re on the fence, buy before the weekend. If you can wait, hold out for the sale. Either way, don’t expect prices to drop anytime soon.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

European ISPs Want Rightsholders Held Accountable for Overblocking Damage

https://torrentfreak.com/european-isps-want-rightsholders-held-accountable-for-overblocking-damage/

Ever feel like turning off the Wi-Fi is the only way to escape the internet’s growing pains? You’re not alone. European ISPs are officially sounding the alarm, arguing that the current war on piracy is causing more collateral damage than it prevents.

In a fresh filing to the European Commission, the industry group EuroISPA pointed out a glaring irony: the Commission’s own review showed that blocking measures have had “limited positive effects” on reducing piracy. Yet, governments keep doubling down. The real issue isn’t a lack of laws; it’s how poorly they’re enforced.

The result? A chaotic landscape of overblocking that hurts everyday users. In Italy, aggressive IP-level blocking accidentally locked out thousands of legitimate domains and disrupted email services. In Spain, LaLiga’s blocking orders hit shared IP addresses, leaving millions unable to access banking apps and payment platforms. Even DNS providers like Cisco are pulling out of markets like France and Belgium rather than comply with these broad orders.

EuroISPA’s solution is simple but bold: hold rightsholders accountable. They argue that copyright owners should face financial penalties for the collateral damage caused by their overly broad blocking requests. With some countries requiring blocks to be implemented in under 30 minutes, the burden falls hardest on smaller providers. It’s a clear call for proportionality before the EU expands these powers further.