Retro-bit finally broke their silence. First wave of Saturn and Megadrive controllers coming this November. They'll also be at Gamescom. Source: http://retro-bit.com/blog/post/retrobit-unveils-first-wave-of-officially-licensed-sega-products/
Depends what you want the controller for dude. If you want an Android controller specifically for phones then keep the pre-order (the controller you linked is official from Sega, designed for that specific purpose and releases early September so two months earlier). If you're after a high-quality Sega Saturn pad for say Steam games or whatever then I'd wait for the real thing come November. Honestly depends on the intended use of the pad I think. Personally I'm going to wait for Retro-bit since I think these pads are going to be excellent. Hope this helps.
I want a Sega Saturn Bluetooth Controller. The Android one will work with PC natively. This Retro-Bit seems to include dongles. I need to stop lying to myself, I am going to buy them all anyway
Lets hope they can live up to what they're promising. I really want to want one of these Saturn pads.
I really hope so too. I missed out on the USB saturn pads almost a decade ago, and I still regret that to this day.
I think he means the SLS Saturn pads that were fucking superb - but vanished from the market at light speed (a very limited run as I recall?) meaning so many people missed out. Obviously this Retro-bit thing is giving everyone a second chance to get one and that's why this is so awesome. Hoping their promises on build quality are kept too and these pads are as good as they're indicating.
Yeah, I was talking about the SLS ones. I almost picked up two at the time, but decided against doing so as I was a poor teenager at the time. I've been kicking myself ever since.
Looks like Retro-Bit have been beaten to the punch.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1-0S5dRh1M & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1THq8N7Njus 8Bitdo have now put out their DIY kits, which means you can get yourself a bluetooth sega controller for about $24 shipped, or about £18 in GBP. These work with Windows, Mac, android and Nintendo Switch etc. Unfortunately no Sega Mega Drive Bluetooth dongle from 8Bitdo at the moment... but perhaps they will make one somewhere down the line. The only other offering that is similar, is Krikkz Joyzz which does work with the MD.... and comes in at a hefty $65.00 + Shipping.
Interesting. Wonder why they aren't selling them in their own shells outright. Probably for the best considering how crummy their own D-Pads are.
But why destroy working old hardware when there's the possibility of making new controllers that feel the same?
I don't think what 8Bitdo is doing takes the shine or allure from Retro-bit's initiative. This "produce your own modded pad" thing has been around for years. Sega/Retro-bit are releasing the real thing.
Despite being a huge Sonic fan for over 2 decades... I've never owned any Sega controllers or consoles. I really hope Retro-Bit's Saturn controllers are super high quality. I've become more obsessed with retro styled controllers in recent years because of my hand pain issues, so I'm looking forward to when these finally launch. Ideally, I hope there's compatibility with the Switch in the future. I would get a lot of extra use out of their iteration of the Saturn controller if I can use it on more than just PC. Alternatively, maybe 8BitDo will eventually release a DIY kit for the Saturn controller?
http://www.sega-mag.com/GC+2018+++date+et+prix+pour+les+Gamepads+SEGA+Retro+Bit-news-10984.htm Prices: Images of the controllers: Receiver: Please be good.
I'm confused about the "8-button" Gen/MD controllers. Are they just Saturn controllers with Mega Drive branding? Wow, those analog sticks. They make the whole thing look cramped. Are these UK-only at the moment? I've got an original 6-button Genesis controller with a USB adapter so I'm not in any rush, but with the way these look right now, I'm holding out hope of a stateside release at some point down the road.
I had hopes that the Saturn Bluetooth controller was keeping the previously-shown style that looked identical to the original infrared controllers. I guess compatibility with modern games took precedent over authenticity in the Bluetooth controllers. At least the USB version looks right, a "This is Cool" color variant is a neat touch. We'll see how it feels. Why is the Mode button in the middle of the Mega Drive controller? Is that how it was across the pond, instead of a shoulder button?
I'm curious as to why the Mode button is in the middle myself. I once had an official controller that had the Mode button alongside the Start button, but it was in the same shape as the Start button, using a Blue colour instead of a Red one. Regardless, Mode feels more natural as a shoulder button.
There were 3-button and 6-button pads available for the Megadrive/Genesis, Retro-Bit have opted to produce models based on the 6-button pad. Personally I find the 3-button pad to be far too limiting for most PC games. I've always wished I still had a 6-button controller.
