It took us the best part of a year, but we've just released a HUGE update.
Basically, Pandory500 transforms your A500 Mini into an emulation beast, with some nice enhancements. Such as an updated version of Amiberry and Online capabilities.
The changelog is pretty substantial, and we hope you enjoy this release!
Download: https://github.com/TeamPandory/pandory500
v3.1 2024.04.19
Updates in this release:
Fix a bug for some users on the 1.2.1 firmware that showed a barcode when exiting Pandory500.
Removed two Scumm VM games from the game list that were not installed
Prevented mediaplayer crash on exit
Switch default Spectrum control to Joystick with Game specific overrides for preinstalled games
v3 2024.04.18
Updates in this release:
Optimised for speed and size
Rebuilt everything from the ground up with A500 hardware-specific speed fixes
Pandory is around 200MB smaller than before and the thumbnail pack about 1GB smaller.
Updated Retroarch to 1.18
updated almost all cores to latest versions
fixes for some controller issues
more stable hotplug functionality
many extra optional retroarch cores to try if you have compatibility problems with a game
CHD support for almost every cd-based core
NEW CORES
pico-8 core
Updated Amiberry to 5.6
fixed lots of bugs. new features
run AGS and Aminimiga in Amiberry 5.6
automatic kickstart setup for amiberry and retrorach -> no configuration needed.
Compatible with firmware 1.2.1 and 1.1.1
Update ScummVM to 2.8.1
Support for the GRIME engine - play games like Grim Fandango
Play lots of games that use Adventure Game Studio
Asylum engine: now you can play Sanitarium
Includes new games
Flight of the Amazon Queen
ToonStruck Demo
Update: OpenBOR fixes
rebuilt with speed optimisations for the A500
Update: Open Cubic Player to 2.0.109
support for more chiptune formats
NEW: Vice 3.7.1 Commodore Emulator
emulates:
C64
C128
CBM II B and P
PET
PLUS4
VIC-20
can auto-install the correct bios files from USB if they are missing
NEW: Vice SID Player
with a freeware collection of 60000 sid files to get you started
NEW: Doom-Core replaced with Crispy Doom
Now you can play Doom in HD Widescreen
..and Hexen
..and Heretic
Full mouse support
With General Midi Soundfont!
Deathmatch Doom... da da da da da!
NEW: INTERNET SUPPORT VIA USB LAN
Access the internet via your mini
Browse the web
Visit BBS Servers
Visit FTP servers
Chat with your friends
Play Doom online with your friends (via teampandory.com)
HD Quake (Darkplaces)
play Quake in 720p hardware accelerated mode
with multiplayer Deathmatch support
weekly deathmatch sessions Saturdays GMT 21:00 GMT / 4:00PM EST
version available for windows and for the steamdeck.
Update DOSBox Staging to 0.80
fluidsynth soundfont support (pre-configured)
mt32 support possible if you add the mt32 bios files
ipx/tcp networking support
UPDATE: PPSSPP to 1.16.2
new controller mappings with combo keys
menu + home = PPSSPP MENU
menu + left-shoulder = SAVE STATE
menu + right-shoulder = LOAD STATE
menu + green/x/square = HOME
menu + yellow/y/triangle = AXIS SWAP
online ppsspp homebrew store -> download homebrew directly to your mini
UPDATE: Flycast 2.2
Fixed graphic distortion on some games
Online Boxart Scraping
Now shares BIOS files with retorarch, no need to install the bios files twice
NVRAM Unlocks:
dreamcast unlocks:
marvel vs capcom 2
capcom vs snk 2
street fighter 3rd strike
ikaruga
super street fighter 2
puzzle fighter 2
naomi unlocks:
cannon spike
capcom vs snk
capcom vs snk 2
marvel vs capcom 2 (japan)
NEW: Native Atari ST Emulator (Hatari)
Moved from retroarch to a standalone emulator
old retroarch core is still there if you want it
emulates Atari ST/STE/TT/Falcon
Includes the free EmuTOS bios to get you started
inbuilt virtual midi synth, specially made for Pandory
NEW: Zesarux Emulator
emulates:
ZX Spectrum
MK14
ZX80
ZX81
QL
Z88
Microdigital TK80, TK82, TK82C, TK83, TK85, TK90X, TK95
Timex Sinclair 1000, 1500, 2068
Timex Computer 2048, 2068
Inves Spectrum +
Sam Coupe
Pentagon
Chloe 140 SE, 280 SE
Chrome
Prism
ZX-Uno
ZX-Evolution BaseConf (beta)
ZX-Evolution TS-Conf
ZX Spectrum Next
Jupiter Ace
Amstrad CPC 464, CPC 4128, CPC 664, CPC 6128
Amstrad PCW 8256, PCW 8512
MSX1
Spectravideo 318/328
Colecovision
Sega SG1000
Sega Master System
can auto-install the correct bios files from USB if they are missing
NEW: DOSBox Command and Conquer replaced with Vanilla Conquer
Play Command and Conquer Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert Full Versions
available to download on our github
let you play in HD 720p
LAN multiplayer and skirmish support
NEW: MagiTerm Telnet BBS Client
connect to modern BBS systems
preconfigured with 1000s of BBS addresses
NEW: EDuke32
Play Duke Nukem 3D at blazing speeds
With upscaling and widescreen mode
NEW: Remote access
Access the files on your mini via SFTP
Shell terminal access via SSH
Start the terminal and type "sshserver" to start
NEW: Self recovery mode
If the menu corrupts a Pandory startup file, they will
be restored if you start one of the others.
NEW: Mystery Emulator!
Connect your A500 to the internet and a secret additional emulator gets activated.
NEW: More background music
we've added a few tracks from our friend XxDUSTYxX for you to listen to in the menu.
Developer things
Pandory now contains standalone modern C and C++ libraries instead of the older ones on the mini
We've moved and recompiled everything using the modern GCC12 compiler to take advantage of many speed optimisations.
We've open sourced our toolchain so you can program your own things for the A500: https://code.teampandory.com/pandory/pandory500/toolchain
NEW: HD MilkyTracker
Featuring: BodgeMouse!
Other stuff
-> moved all launchers from the applications menu to THEA500 menu
All the best,
Team Pandory
2024-05-01 22:19:21 +0000 UTC
View Post
It's time for an explanation for what's happening behind the scenes.
My current full-time job is to teach English in this town.
In April 2023, I was told that this year would be the last time we'd be hired, as the city hall will be putting all of the English teaching budget into AI...
You may have noticed a bit of an uptick with the YouTube channel from mid-2023. Well, this was the reaction from the realization that I'll soon likely be laid off from my regular work come March 2024.
Balancing both work and family, whilst attempting to create a doorway in order to become self-reliant is extremely demanding.
Whereas the focus has always been emulation, x86 always had it's edge when it comes to MAME games, and can run Teknoparrot.
With the lowering prices of Mini PCs, we found that it makes sense to go in that direction. When the Raspberry Pi, Android Boxes, and even Pandora Boxes seem to stagnate, Mini PCs have continually improved.
We have been fortunate enough to receive products for review, and now that increasingly more companies are asking us to test their products, I'm seeing a path ahead can allow me to make the switch to create both video, and also Pandory content, full-time.
Come April 2024, my leash will finally be removed and you can expect a LOT more content.
Tutorials
Video Reviews
Written Reviews
PANDORY!
PandoryMax is now at version 1.0.4, and recently we've fixed graphics in COIN MODE. We have BIG plans for this!
Pandory500v3 is almost ready, and having worked on it since last year, there's a changelog as long as John Luke's...
Neck.
It's been years since we started the Pandory project. Initially being another small creative outlet.
With your help, it has grown into something never thought possible.
Dear Patreons,
Thank you for your continued support.
You're helping us out FAR more than you know
To the future!
Tim & Dave
EmuChicken & dajoho
2024-01-25 02:01:12 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey y'all,
Update to PandoryMax, we fixed the video overlay so now we can see the menus properly. Also fixed the controls layout to Project Justice for Naomi.
The file is attached, or you can find it in our github:
https://github.com/TeamPandory/PandoryMax/releases/tag/1.0.4
2024-01-16 06:29:49 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey everyone, time for another update report.
November has been a pretty slow month. You may have notice with the amount of videos being released, but work, family, and other things (cough, CRT... cough cough cough!) takes priority... And it's getting dark waaayy too early!
I don't really open up too much, I went with the family to Osaka for three days. Two of those were spent at Universal Studio Japan.
Strategically, we chose a Tuesday and Wednesday, taking time off work and school to hopefully have a more peaceful time... Well.. It was good, but PACKED. Long story short, if you intend to go, DEFINITELY get an express-pass.
For the last day, the wife and kids went to Kidzania, and I had a look around some arcades...
I saw the strangest thing ever... Pong.
Was going to keep it quiet, but before we went on the trip, I managed to bag the last 29" Wei-ya CRT from their factory / shop.
Hoping to make a full video about it, but getting it running isn't straight forward. There's also the question of going the extra mile to do everything, or being happy with how things are.
Adjusting the pots to balance the colours then setting up super resolution could end up taking days to sort out... And this is in addition to the week or two in getting an image up and running.
You might hate me for saying this, but CRT arcade monitors = Time sink!
Pulling back to progress, we updated PandoryMax. Fixing around 30-40 control schemes for games already on the arcade box, which includes King of Fighters, Marvel games, and a few Street Fighter games. We'll be updating this again soon to include a better way of adding your own control schemes, and a little extra :-)
More info here: https://github.com/TeamPandory/PandoryMax/releases/tag/1.0.1
On the YouTube front, we made a video that covers DXVK.
https://youtu.be/8YmRTsWWVT0
We've heard "Use DXVK, you'll get loads more FPS!", over and over again in the comments. But how true is this?
Well if you're thinking it's a magic bullet that can sort all your problems linked to having a computer with a low spec, sorry, it's not exactly that simple.
DXVK is pretty much a way of translating Direct X 9/10/11 to Vulkan. Gains are mostly seen on DX9 games, but some graphical issues can be fixed for DX11.
Either way, quite interesting tech and it's definitely something to be aware of, especially if you use Linux.
We also checked out a few more systems for game performance:
10 MORE Games on the Ryzen 7735HS: https://youtu.be/2xsEacw-TjM
10 Games on the Ryzen 6800H https://youtu.be/4PDnlIY2dSA
10 Games tested on J4125: https://youtu.be/MI3-ExLKgsc
ANOTHER 10 Games on N100: https://youtu.be/-kXTwvkfWc0
Emulation Showcase on the N100: https://youtu.be/0mwgH9xY6WE
Anyways, hope you're all keeping warm... It's almost Christmas!
All the best,
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2023-12-04 01:25:07 +0000 UTC
View Post
We've updated PandoryMax!
This release mostly looks at and fixes various game control that were a bit off.
Remaps / Button Fixes
Fixed controls for wrong CPS games (Red Earth, MvC, Dark Stalker series) so it's correct with 6 button Pandora Box
Fixed controls for NeoGeo games (Breakers, Fatal Fury, Garou, Last Blade, SVC vs Capcom, Waku Waku 7, KoF series) so it copies the MVS layout on the 6 button Pandora Box (B C D on the top row, then A button on the bottom left)
https://github.com/TeamPandory/PandoryMax
2023-11-26 05:23:17 +0000 UTC
View Post
It's that time again... UPDATE! :-)
As the Alpha 3D Max came, we felt that this had to be reviewed ASAP. Pandory500v3 mini has been rolled out to both Aminimiga and AGS2, and the standalone is still in production. There are a few loose ends to sort out, bug testing, and some spring cleaning before the standalone Pandory500v3 is released to the public.
Outside that, video production has been in full swing.
Alpha 3D Max Review
https://youtu.be/jJtGCS4S4hs
Definitely a breath of fresh air. This Pandora Box is totally different from the competition as we have full access to the underlying system on the microSD. Adding games is a bit of a hassle, but this machine has trackball support. Good stuff.
We followed up with a GunMAX review, which is the same machine but rather than a 64 GB MicroSD, it includes a 128 GB card with lightgun support out of the box.
https://youtu.be/UUs2QZeMlL4
PANDORY MAX RELEASED
To help others fix their Alpha 3D Max / GunMax, we also developed PandoryMax - which adds a 4:3 - 16:9 aspect switch, controller fixes, and the core clock boost allowing us to speed up those games with slowdown. There are a few other things we've added, please check the video for more info.
https://youtu.be/E3z-nwEqYj0
We also received a few mini PCs from GMKTEC.
GMKtec M3 Review
https://youtu.be/4fm6TXzWblc
The GMKTEC M3 was a bit different from the usual budget Mini PC.
The onboard Intel GPU was pretty lackluster, but this one had two PCIe slots. Their spec sheet states "one nvme and one ssd", but as both are rated for PCIe 4, we hooked up an external GPU for some extra fun.
GMKtec K1 Review
https://youtu.be/9nzJsJMC-3c
The GMKTEC K1 Mini PC had the Ryzen 6800H CPU, which is on the same level as the Ryzen 7735HS, which we reviewed a few months ago.
EXCEPTIONAL CPU performance, combined with the ability to emulate up to PS3!
We also covered using "Super Resolution", which is an AMD technology allowing us to upscale 720p content to 4K with a very little performance impact.
GMKtec G3 Review
https://youtu.be/G3ZVYB2VmAM
Finally, we checked out the GMKTEC G3, yet another Intel N100, but they tried their best to make this one ULTRA cheap. It hit viral internet news status a few weeks ago, as it sold for $83 in Mainland China.
While it does feel a bit cheaper than the other N100 computers (mostly due to weight), it can hold its own.
Anyways, it's time to sign out, and we wish you all a Happy Halloween. :-)
All the best,
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2023-10-30 03:19:20 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey guys,
So as we've already mentioned, Pandory500 is under way, and the creator, Jimmy Johannson has kindly agreed to share an Early Access version of the new AMiNIMiga with Team Pandory Patreon.
As mentioned earlier, Pandory500 is a separate entity, but we've created Pandory500 mini, which helps AMiNIMiga (and other projects) use the new version of Amiberry, Internet access, and be able to use other controllers that were incompatible earlier.
This is early access, not for public release. So we must ask you not to distribute it as per Jimmy's wishes. Once any bugs are cleaned up, it will be released soon publicly for free on the main AMiNIMiga website.
Here's the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CZUPMyC2YG9as1fGuuaZPnl4cyyPtm5F/view?usp=drive_link
Main URL: https://www.aminimiga.com/
FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/990859614912802
Anyways, have fun y'all,
Team Pandory
EmuChicken & dajoho
2023-10-05 15:25:40 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey y'all, just wanted to give some background information on what's happening with Pandory500 on the A500 Mini.
We WILL have a full version running on RetroArch with extra emulators and many fixes from last year's release.
The big change is that this time we'll be adding the ability to add NETWORK SUPPORT. With this, we'll be able to streamline copying over games to the system, alongside other possibilities.
The video we uploaded to YouTube mentions "Pandory500 Mini". This is a very cut-down version of Pandory500, that will only include the newest AMIGA Amiberry version, as well as network support. Other Amiga solutions, such as Aminimiga, AGS2, and Amiga Inside will be able to use our software with very little hassle.
With any luck, the update will be released in the upcoming couple of weeks.
All the best guys,
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2023-09-21 06:22:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
We've just dropped the news in video form to YouTube, and yes... This is a thing.
While the Pandory500 mini version is essentially completed (just ironing out some bugs with the devs from AGS2 and Aminimiga), the Pandory500 standalone will be back stronger than ever.
One of the big problems we had was with the underlying 1.1.1 update. The version of Linux that drives the A500 Mini is a bit of a hacked up mess, and we (well, dajoho tbh) did a LOT of bugfixing in regards to sorting out the controllers. Thankfully, this HAS been sorted, and you can look forward to a few more things that should never be played on the A500 Mini :-)
All the best guys,
Team Pandory
2023-09-10 13:24:46 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey y'all!
Sorry for the delayed post, it's been quite a hectic summer.
In the next couple of weeks, we'll be releasing the long-awaited Pandory500 update. We've been actively working on it, and we're positive that it'll be turning some heads. Keep your eyes on our YouTube channel, we'll be putting up some teasers in the next few days.
As for our other content, it's the usual with more focus on the mini pc units. It's incredible how far these things have come in the last couple of years. Back then we got "better than Raspberry Pi" levels, and now we've got them running Video Editing tools, recent games, and Wii U.
The channel has always been about emulation, it's what connects everything.
Pandora Box, A500 Mini, Mini Consoles/ Arcades, and Mini PC
Here's some background info on our released videos:
PXN P50 Review:
https://youtu.be/HM9VTVp5sew
In the past, we reviewed one of their steering wheels, and it was "wheely" fun, this controller actually started as a bit of a headache. When we first tested, Switch usage was great, but we had a LOT of issues when it came to connecting to a Windows Computer.
After uploading the initial video, we were asked to update the firmware which really did save the controller.
How to get UNLIMITED Money on Steam:
https://youtu.be/drk2-manTnk
I've done this for years now, works but takes a while for the cases to gain their value. With this, maybe combined with Humble Bundle, you can get a nicely stacked Steam Library.
GMKtec NucBox K2 Review (Ryzen 7 7735HS)
https://youtu.be/2kobqKas9qA
Our first contact from GMKtec. They offered their N100 Mini PC first, but having reviewed two N100 computers I already knew what it could do and didn't really excite. So they sent a bit of a monster.
We actually received it a month earlier, but had some issues which were sorted with a different configuration of memory (dual core rather than single).
Pandora 10th Light Guns!
https://youtu.be/cbbA0Nxhr28
As we're still "region locked" from buying a set of 10th lightguns, wilptx in our Discord got a hold of these and offered to donate some video footage.
STEAM DECK NVME Upgrade Review (1tb kingspec nvme)
https://youtu.be/8VxHj90chOA
In a previous video, we already demonstrated how to install and set up a new nvme into a Steam Deck. After seeing one on aliexpress for 58$, we had to give one a try! - And was pleasantly surprised.
We used a KingSpec nvme stick around a year or two ago and knew they were fairly decent... And this worked PERFECTLY on the Steam Deck!
Anbernic RGNANO Review
https://youtu.be/czm8gVGt03Q
I initially wasn't very excited for a tiny handheld, but litnxt felt like we should review it, so we did.
Pretty sturdy, but uncomfortable. I think this belongs in the genre of "meme handheld" with that Tetris Nugget... Aww I'd love one of those!
Blackview Tab 16 Review
https://youtu.be/caUZdi0t-C8
In our household, we have two Fire Tablets. We grabbed them a year or two ago for the kids, and they're great for what they do. This one is pretty much like the Retroid 3 in HUGE form. Might be better to be used as a portable monitor with controllers rather than a handheld... With a better telescopic controller things would change.
JSAUX Steam Deck RGB Case and Dock Review
https://youtu.be/W6cYnu5Kw4M
Some people LOOOVE RGB. I liked seeing one of them tubes in my PC when I was at coolege (see what I did there?), but not really at this point of my life.
The backplate did perform quite well, but the dock we weren't too impressed with. Felt a bit cheap.
GMtec NucBox M2 Review:
https://youtu.be/OwLeYKRCM4k
The Mid-range MiniPC.
Not a bad little PC for the price (under 300$). Did everything we needed to on PC, and ran all our Batocera emulation up to Wii-U!
We tested it only yesterday for PS3 (in Windows RPS3), and in Vulkan it runs Shadows of the Colossus at around 90%-100% speed, not bad, but there was graphical glitching. Flicking it onto OpenCL slows it to around 40fps, so this is not one for PS3 unfortunately.
GMKtec K4 (Ryzen 9 7940HS) Review:
https://youtu.be/cFnIS4Oxl_s
Sent from the GODS? Well, it's certainly powerful! Another PC that beats out my main- and testing this I'm SERIOUSLY considering switching out my main PC for this! Dota 2, CSGO, AND video editing!?
The only things that are holding back that decision are the amount of Hard Drives in my main, and the dedicated GPU... And maybe the thermals in the NVME / DDR5 bay! :o
Astro City Mini BATOCERA Install Guide
https://youtu.be/xLglGuwLd7k
This video was WAYYY overdue. But I hope it proves useful for anyone with one of these Mini Cabs.
The whole thing took around 4 days to complete. Mainly due to the amount of faffing and the non-straightforwardness-of-it-all. Woop woop!
And those Benchmark Videos!
https://youtu.be/wlup85AxRd0
https://youtu.be/V4stit4Lsrg
https://youtu.be/ZhfvfeaDs3Y
https://youtu.be/ICce-CWxzbQ
Why? Why not... Basically to make the most of the mini pc units that we have.
... And those SHORTS?
https://youtube.com/shorts/beef_Wivauk?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/twKFRZwO8Zk?feature=share
I'm terrible at making shorts, I know... Maybe in the future someone will tell me the secret sauce.
Thanks for your continued support.
All the best,
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2023-08-30 07:13:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey y'all, quick update, I'm melting. Flippin' 'eck, love!
I live in the middle part of Japan, and the words "mushi atsuii" really do get thrown around a LOT. Translated, "hot and humid", and when we have 35 degrees celcius or more, it is difficult to do anything without air conditioning.
Pandory has had an update to 1.14. There are no improvements to the DX / PG3D jailbreak, so no need to rejailbreak those systems. It adds fixes for adding games on the PG3D.
If you have a Key 7 (red board), this removes the paint filter to an additional 455 games. I got through maybe 80% of the key7 games list before my key 7 board finally decided to fail for good.
If you're wondering if the Pandory jailbreak itself harmed it? Well, the answer is a definitive "No". When the Key 7 arrived new, it was extremely unstable and only booted up 25% of the time. I suspect it was a failing NAND chip.
After trying to restore the board for the 15th time, it decided to longer function at all. Zip. Nothing, it's brown bread.
So I'm afraid no updates for the key7 will be done until either
- 1. I manage to get hold of another key 7 (they don't sell them new anymore, difficult to get hold of- I've tried)
- 2. Someone else carries on this task (add game to fba list, rejailbreak, see if it works, if not remove- repeat)
As for video production, we've been busy but not everything is shown to the public.
In this past month, we were sent not one, but TWO mini-PC units.
One was a Chuwi N100, and the other, was a GMKtec RYZEN 7735HS (IKR!) - The Chuwi was as expected (very nice budget system), but when running tests on the Ryzen, we were getting some form of throttling after around 1 minute of gameplay. KOF XV would be at 60fps then it'd shoot down to around 30-40fps. We looked into it and rather than it be a GPU / CPU heat issue, it may have been an NVME / RAM heat issue.
Fortunately, the correspondent at GMKtec was very kind, investigated our findings, and sent us a new updated unit. This one arrived yesterday, and AFAIK it the memory configuration is now dual-channel.
We'll be testing and working on that review video soon, but testing and setting up these systems units can take a long time, especially when installing VERY LARGE games from Steam.
We've also been contacted by PXN to review their PX50 controller.
Before sending us the unit, they agreed to hold a giveaway with our channel.
They said they'll be willing to send out two controllers if it had an Instagram "mandatory sign in and subscribe".
After investigation, we found that gleam-like giveaways do not have Instagram subscribe methods (and we don't really do Instagram), which is a bit of a pain.
But even though it looks nice and feels great in the hands, the analog-stick has issues. Maybe it can be fixed in the firmware, but I'm currently unsure of this (it does have a firmware update feature).
I don't feel it'd work if we celebrated a release of a poorly reviewed controller with a giveaway. PXN would be shooting themselves in the foot.
I've recorded most of the video for this review, but have emailed them to see if they can actually fix the issues with the sticks, before finalizing the video.
So how about the videos that actually got published? Let's-a-go!
Batocera on the RG35XX Video Guide:
https://youtu.be/2EQCdcbJXBg
It's been available for a while and we thought a quick guide couldn't do any harm.
Still similar performance to GarlicOS, but has additional systems, such as the N64, PSP, and Dreamcast... They don't perform amazingly well though- expect 2D games for those systems... Or Amiga (yet?)
JSAUX Steam Deck Magnetic Fan Review:
https://youtu.be/96s4agpEwIw
They asked if we can review it, and we did.
Bit of an unusual one. It can only really be used when it's docked.
Does it cool? Sure thing! But with the additional noise, why not just raise the internal fan inside the Steam Deck?
It's one for the overclockers... Maybe? :/
Chuwi N100 Review:
https://youtu.be/-OduKHUq5Us
Believe it or not, Chuwi finally decided to send us a message regarding sending us a product to review. In the past, we reviewed two of their budget laptops very favorably, and this mini pc was no different.
It won't run AAA games, but it's perfect as a home PC and great for emulation.
The video was also slammed on Reddit because we're apparently "Shills"... They obviously haven't seen our other reviews before :-) (see our Pandora Box Ex Review... The Pros Cons list is epic)
If you wanted more budget Mini PC benchmarks:
https://youtu.be/HavlJkbNmpk
We enjoy seeing the best bang for buck, and hopefully these videos can help some people out when shopping around for a system. Currently, the N5105, N95, or N100 are really good value units.
Anbernic RG353PS Review:
https://youtu.be/nMji3XhhUKs
https://youtube.com/shorts/tIzpU9Bi8-Q (short)
We've had other RG353 handhelds on the channel before, and we knew EXACTLY what we getting here. Essentially an RG353P with half the memory, no touchscreen, and no Android. - Perfect for retro games!
2023-07-01 01:48:42 +0000 UTC
View Post
We've just released an update to the original Pandory Tool for Pandora Box systems.
Pandory7 (Key 7)
- 455 ADDITIONAL games changed to pixels
Pandory3D (PG3D, 3D Games Saga, 18S, EX2)
2023-07-01 01:03:24 +0000 UTC
View Post
As we march toward summer, the heat is ON!
Summer in Japan can be anywhere from heavy showers to a hot, sticky, and terribly humid experience, vastly different to the North of England. Pushing aside the negatives, with a cool breeze hitting your face, it's a great country to ride a motorbike. Just be sure not to do it after playing Road Rash. :-o
dajoho is now in the UK for a short holiday to see family, if you see him about, please say hi! Fingers crossed family members will be whooping him into action and we may see something released in the next few weeks.
Here's a quick rundown of all the videos we've smashed out this last month.
Chuwi Gemibook XPRO
https://youtu.be/UH1GWybinl0
The Chuwi laptop we grabbed last year was a solid workhorse. It ran on all cylinders for the whole year, and then my brother-in-law mentioned he needed a laptop. As Chuwi's new XPRO model features the Intel N100, it gave me a nice excuse to pass him the old model and give this new one a spin.
It's a shame that the screen was 16:9 and the resolution at 1080p, but the performance was surprising for a $299 laptop. Just wish Chuwi hadn't cut corners with its I/O and upgrade paths. When you're stuck at work without a way to use a MicroSD, it can be a drag. We also published a few gameplay/performance videos showcasing what the N100 and N95 processors are capable of:
https://youtu.be/C7suVM2VMwA
https://youtu.be/RqmfZz04Se8
https://youtu.be/-FY4dat1jPw
Antlion Kimura IEM Headset Review
https://youtu.be/Gp_8aSrloZY
So Antlion Audio in the US was friendly enough to allow us to review their Kimura headset. I'm a sucker for audio-related things, so gladly accepted. But checking their launch video... Holy cow. Antlion really knows how to market their product.
The audio from the headset was pretty good, but it wasn't exactly comfortable, on my ears at least... Perhaps I have an odd set of ears? At secondary school, my Geography teacher had me stand up and continued to demonstrate to the other students that everyone has an ugly side, then pointed at my ear. Seriously? Thanks for the memories. What a douche.
Pandora Box 10th Anniversary Family Edition
https://youtu.be/V6gtIb6DCWE
We covered the JAMMA version last month, now it was time to give the FAMILY version a look. Honestly? No real surprises. Pretty much the same product as the JAMMA 10th but this time built for the Pandora bartops or to be used as a console. Two follow-up videos to this were also uploaded:
41 games on the Pandora Box 10th
https://youtu.be/OQ1C5iv8fB4
Looking for common issues that we've had on the earlier boxes from 3A. From "poor performances", to emulation bugs and missing samples on MAME titles.
Pandora Box: Latency testing
https://youtu.be/OQ1C5iv8fB4
Which box has the lowest latency? And can any Pandora Box challenge the Raspberry Pi? (The answer is yes... At stock)
Retroid Pocket Flip Review
https://youtu.be/3_H4lOBVHUk
No real surprises from Retroid with this handheld. If you like clamshells, it may be for you! It was the 3rd, no 4th time going through setting up the Retroid system and it really drags. 3 hours later it does become a great system to play.
If you're wanting one, don't grab the Sports Red version. We expected a bright Ferrari F50 red, but got something that looks like a cheap Fisher-Price toy.
Retroid Pocket 3+ vs Flip? We'd say RP3+ for looks and price, but the Flip is more comfortable to play.
Benq Trevolu U Review
https://youtu.be/_J4zWRin984
What did we expect from Benq? A monitor! We got... A SPEAKER!
It has a built-in microphone, which is great for video conference calls... Without the need to use headphones! Good? Yes. Worth $200? Only if you're using it for business.
Miyoo Mini Plus Review
https://youtu.be/evVRsqDOtOo
The first time these went on sale, we had to get one. We had one in the cart for 15 seconds, and they were SOLD OUT.
Lucky for us, by the time OnionOS could be used, they were back on sale again in multiple stores.
There's something about the Miyoo Mini. Is it because of the cutesy looks? Or because I can sneak it into work and play Tetris on the toilet? Who knows? But the Miyoo Mini Plus is a slightly larger version of that... With WiFi.
Pandory Thrifts Pt.1
https://youtu.be/8bsSFGdhrsQ
We've held back from doing these in the past as we've had a few encounters with shop staff. Shop staff would deny us from taking photos and videos, even when it was only done so we could remember the product or pricing.
From now on, if we go to a used store... A camera will be pulled out!
JSAUX Steam Deck Backplate
https://youtu.be/H6SwstVsMWg
Seems that we're really late to the party. Might be because it's true ;-)
The earliest we could get the Steam Deck here in Japan was the start of January 2023. I'm pretty sure you don't really hear us say this too often on the channel, but JSAUX made a really good product here.
Good quality, easier to hit back buttons, cheap, and it makes our Steam Deck cooler and quieter... Nice!
Miyoo Mini+ Netplay Tutorial on Stock Firmware
https://youtu.be/13J6nebmbJQ
Most Miyoo Mini+ users will probably want to update to OnionOS... If you're in that audience, please check RGC's Netplay guide.
For the crazy people that like things STOCK, then this is for you, although there is much that crosses over.
It requires a wifi network to be present. If you're mobile, you can always use a wireless hotspot on your Smart Phone.
May was a very active month on the channel. Hopefully, June will have more action from Pandora boxes, Mini PCs, and A500 Mini!
Thanks for the continued support, please stay safe, and let's enjoy the upcoming summer (... Or Winter? If in the Southern Hemisphere)
All the Best,
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2023-06-04 13:41:27 +0000 UTC
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Hey y'all,
Sorry for the delay, if you've not checked in a while, we've been trying to push out videos daily with all the time I've had over the spring break.
dajoho is under the stairs trying to get into the Pandora Box 10th, who knows what is possible if we can crack that thing open? - Maybe a decent core on the Megadrive? Yeah, that'd be nice
Anyways, here's what we got up to:
Upgrade Your GBA SP:
https://youtu.be/K4dxWn7u5CM
So I've had these two GBA SP systems lying around. One of them was actually given to me from my brother in law. He hasn't really needed it since I gave him a modded PSP YEARS ago- and now a Miyoo Mini.
The GBA system has had a place in my heart for a while, so yeah- I modded one with an IPS screen from AliExpress. The mod went as expected, but I still need to grab a decent battery. Those that are sold on Amazon and Ali are absolute dog crap.
XBOX360 Games in Japan Pt. 1:
https://youtu.be/ua4AKzRY9i0
For this video I actually grabbed a good-sized xbox360 bundle that went for $2 or so, but the thing is- all the games are Japanese releases. Which games have English? Which are playable? Which are scratched beyond belief? Adrian from the Arcade-Attack podcast joined me, and the video turned out to be a pretty fun watch. Pt 2 if there's enough interest, I guess.
New Pandora Box 10th Anniversary Speculation
https://youtu.be/dTLbk1ADAVg
This video was made in response to getting mixed messages from 3A. I had a chat with Wicked Gamer on the Wicked Pandory Chat about what to expect, and I knew that 3A have to screw it up in some way or other.
The BEST Monitor for Pandora Box? Dell 2007PFb Review
https://youtu.be/-NWYyMLgmik
Mad Little Pixel is a Youtube personality that seems to be quite chaotic when it comes to what he covers. When he started showing this 4:3 Dell with VGA and an S-Video input? I only saw my SNES clone, and Pandora Boxes- and MAN, Pandora Boxes on this monitor work really well.... Or it could be IPS in 4:3 that weakens my knees?
Beelink S12 Review (Mini PC)
https://youtu.be/vkX22usz78A
We loved the J4125 Mini PC a couple of years ago, and I've been using the N5100 Chuwi notebook for the past year... Looks like the next chip is the N95 and the N100, which we managed to find on aliexpress for around $150. Totally nuts.
It's a good chip btw! Definitely recommended!
PS2 Emulation Guides
https://youtu.be/PJP0BgNYMcI
https://youtu.be/dM5V2iVZYmY
It's all too common to find people recommend underclocking when emulating the PS2, but at this point it's become an automatic response. Q. "xxx runs too slow, how can I speed it up?" - A. "Underclock" Q. "How can I make the best cup of tea?" A. "Underclock" Q. "What is the tallest tower in the world?" A. "Underclock".... Uh, no. It's on a per-game basis. Hopefully this can steer some people to a better place. Mr. Donuts. I'd love a donut right now. Mrrrnnggh!
Pandora Box 10th Anniversary Review (JAMMA)
https://youtu.be/kbGpgHqizrE
It's been a while since the Pandora Box EX was released, have 3A learnt anything? Maybe...But certainly not enough.
The thing with the whole Pandora Box situation, is that the system has aged so badly compared to the emulation world as a whole. Looking around we now have PS2 and PS3 on a HANDHELD device. Even when we started on the Pandory software 3 years back, we had 2 Player PSP (PG3D) when the world just got the Pi 4, and that SUCKED.
And now from the "Official Pandoras Box" we get the SAME 2 player leg jiggle, plus aspect ratio mode correction... But at least we have Naomi and Atomiswave ;-)
We hope they follow through this time with some good firmware updates
Raspberry Pi Alternatives for Gaming Emulation
https://youtu.be/EW4zf4q7zsQ
This video was created to show some decent alternatives to "retropie". I'm sure most of you reading this will already know that Pandora Box is one, however can I interest you in thinking about an Android box or minipc? They're excellent choices, and right now, the price is RIGHT to choose a mini pc versus most other options for retro gaming.
Pandora Box 10th - Add Game Guide / Controller Compatibility
https://youtu.be/ozuWOrjwEec
https://youtu.be/XIcMUsj_Wms
As 3A didn't mention anything about adding games in their manual, but they insisted it was possible. Seems they didn't test it fully (typical 3A), as it currently doesn't add games to the menu in CGA mode.
We made a guide for this, and also tested a ton of controllers to see what works- and doesn't work, while finding more bugs on the way.
GBA EASY Fix
https://youtu.be/3aQ_9gI75Lk
Who knew that using only contact cleaner, you could fix a GBA that doesn't turn on? ... Well, I did actually. I did the same process with my childhood GBA, which just stopped working. It was tragic, so I wanted to make this video on the process how I got it working again... By purchasing a JUNK GBA.
It worked :-)
Steam Deck "Upgrade" : The AliExpress Huaying fan
https://youtu.be/WB1TsFa3uvA
One thing I need to say, is that buying fans from AliExpress is a TERRIBLE idea. Only do this if you don't care at all about the item. There's a VERY good chance it'll be a noisy, unreliable piece of garbage.
Will definitely let you guys know if dajoho breaks into the 10th, fingers crossed.
Anyways, time to go eat a donut, or drink a coffee...
All the best,
EmuChicken
2023-04-26 14:39:50 +0000 UTC
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Hey y'all!
Hope you're all doing much better than we are. Hay fever really took its toll on us this year (apparently 10x worse than last year in Japan), you can really hear it in some videos this month.
Gun4IR Review
https://youtu.be/bhFFRCk0dQM
After seeing Retro Ralph's video last year, I knew I needed to try this modified Guncon.
A few months back I started chatting with JayBee (Gun4IR creator), and he's a really nice guy. He knows how to treat his customers and really looks after his community.
The Gun4IR is a neat controller, and we can certainly recommend it if you want a reliable (Frank) zapper.
Here are a couple of questions that are usually asked:
Q. Is it better than Sinden?
A. I honestly wouldn't know, I don't have any hands-on experience with the Sinden, but I DO know of the main differences.
- Gun4IR uses 4 lights you add on the side of the screen, Sinden uses a bright white border around the screen. To get that working on Batocera, you'd need to either add a video overlay.
- Gun4IR uses the Guncon or Guncon2 and modifies upon Namco's original design. Sinden has an original shell.
Q. How is the lag?
A. This is EXTREMELY difficult to test. You aren't only comparing the original Guncon to the modified version, but also CRT vs IPS, then add the latency per emulator and OS that is being run.
JayBee has uploaded a couple of videos to show the latency levels, and honestly, I never had an issue with this zapper. (https://youtu.be/sE9FgECUapY)
It seems there may be a Sinden VS Gun4IR divide, much like the Nintendo vs Sega console arguments in the schoolyard.
Best Wireless Controllers for A500 mini
https://youtu.be/ysdF-72wHPU
This question keeps popping up on Facebook, but much like Whack-a-mole, you answer one, and a day later the very same question appears.
Hopefully, this will help anyone who needs it.
Make your SNES Games run faster IPS Patch Guide
https://youtu.be/XDTBxQfFdeg
I've been wanting to make a video regarding Kandowonto's StarFox Ex hack since the early versions were released, and finally, that itch was scratched.
Since StarFox EX has been covered by Matt Matei, he's recently been busy converting several Super Nintendo games to use FastROM.
What is FastROM?
Game developer studios had the option to choose either SlowROM or FastROM in their Super Nintendo cartridges. SlowROM is essentially a slower memory chip, meaning it COULD bottleneck some games when shifting graphics, but is cheaper to produce. Speed differences are 2.68mhz vs 3.58mhz.
You can download his IPS patches for free on his Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/Kandowontu/
Here is a list of all of his converted titles (as of March 14th, 2023):
Super R-Type, Space Invaders, Faceball 2000, Super Mario World, Super Punch-Out, Mario Paint, Super Mario All-Stars + Mario World, Super Mario All-Stars, Steel Talons, Flying Hero, Yoshi's Island, Stunt Race FX, Choplifter III, Ashita No Joe, Kido Soukou Dion, Super Adventure Island, SimAnt, Shin Nekketsu Kouha, Super Buster Bros, Ranma 1/2, Phalanx, The Ninja Warriors, Return of Double Dragon, Skyblazer, Magical Pop'n, The Ninja Warriors Again, TMNT: Turtles in Time, Thunder Spirits, Magic Sword, Pocky & Rocky, Super Turrican, Final Fight Guy, Final Fight, Rendering Ranger R2, Aladdin, Deae Tonosama Appare, Ichiban, Rushing Beat, Hook, Wild Guns, Actraiser, Super EDF, Joe & Mac, Super Smash TV, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Darius Twin, Megaman X3, Top Gear, Bio Metal, Rock N' Roll Racing, SimCity, Megaman X2
Easily Fix your PS3 Move Controller
https://youtu.be/xO_4n9YPY6s
If you grab a PS3 Move controller- it will more than likely be posted as "untested", as the battery is dead. This is a quick video showing how easy it is to revitalize that controller that looks like an ice-cream... To be used for Just Dance.
Speed up Metal Slug 2 / FBNeo
https://youtu.be/QG0L4P3XxvQ
If you ever wanted to speed up Metal Slug 2, or jump into dip settings- this video shows you how... On Batocera, EmuELEC, basically any frontend that uses RetroArch and the FBNeo (or FBAlpha) core.
This is how we got the Pandora box to run Metal Slug 2 so well.
Super Famicom Mini Review
https://youtu.be/G1vnAJn9zFM
This has been on the bucket list of reviews to do since last year... I like it quite a lot tbh.
Is there much point in getting this over the US or EU version? No ... not really, unless you are a collector. There are a few exclusive games, but many are unplayable unless you know Japanese.
You can use Hakchi on the Japanese version, we can actually change the language, add games, and even add other system choices via RetroArch, but personally, I'd rather leave this as a Super Nintendo.
Outside that, we hope you're all doing well. It's the end of the school year for me, so I'll have a few weeks holiday. This means looking after my daughter, and maybe embarking on some crazy project. Last year we built a racing rig. That was fun :-)
All the best,
Team Pandory
2023-03-14 01:16:47 +0000 UTC
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Hey everyone, it's already February... Eep!
Unsure if you've noticed, but the video output has been a bit slow this month... Personally I've been a little burnt out with everything that happened recently, and we've also been quietly working in the background- hope to announce an update in the coming month.
To the video commentary:
Karaoke Mic Review
https://youtu.be/iHlmYGitroI
Living in Japan, Karaoke is a fun past-time. Go with friends, make a fool out of yourself- it's great! And now we can do it at home with this REALLY cheap $10 mic.
A ridiculous toy that the whole family can enjoy ;-)
Painting the Anbernic RG35XX
https://youtu.be/kcNAhDh7S1w
We thought it would have been an easy video to make... It wasn't. It was painful. Won't be painting a handheld anytime soon.
Learn yourself by watching us fail hard.
Komodo Steam Deck Review
https://youtu.be/GW7ZqKO_5Fg
The handheld to end all handhelds? No... But it changes the scene entirely.
There seems to be near to no difference with the USA / European release- and even in 2023, it's still very impressive for the price.
Is it cheap? That depends. Obviously, if you want a fully portable handheld to play legacy systems like N64 or PSP on, this isn't really a great buy... Wanting a compact PC to play PC games and everything else on? Hell yeah!
... It's currently under my TV for Katamari Damacy Reroll
Anyways, time to get back to work!
All the best,
Team Pandory
EmuChicken & dajoho
2023-02-19 02:21:01 +0000 UTC
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An interesting start to the new year, but again... Missed the fireworks.
In Japan they usually build a huge fire on New Years Eve. Before the year is out, local residents come and burn things to make space for the new, drink sweet sake and eat soba... Or was it Udon? Not been for maybe three years, but I can assure you it's a nice experience, that is... If you can stay awake until midnight! ... And if you're not down with a cold. Dang!
In the background under the stairs, dajoho is working on Pandory things.
Announcements will be made when the time is right.
The Wicked Gamer & Collector and I started a Podchat style video channel on the YouTube. Please check it out if you have time. We'll discuss many things from Pandora Boxes, arcades, emulation, handhelds and other things non-gaming related. It's basically our AA meeting to get things off our chests.
Please come and give us a sub if that interests you: https://www.youtube.com/@wickedpandorychat
Anyways, here's what went down with the vids on our channel.
POWKIDDY v90
https://youtu.be/h2e8JL7qAkE
This one's a GBA SP version of the Q90 that we reviewed over a year back. It still manages to do its stuff, provided you don't push it with SNES and GBA games that require special chips or hacks. For RPG games, this is quite amazing at a price of only $35 or so.
MAYFLASH Nintendo SNES/N64/Gamecube adapter
https://youtu.be/5km2IVc3vl8
They were nice enough to send us this little adapter. It wasn't pixel perfect regarding the video output, but we can't really expect that when it uses the RCA output. Still, very cheap and it does what its meant to do.
A500 Mini: Light Gun Games
https://youtu.be/VQJGmuwsWCM
We re-purpose the MAYFLASH Dolphin Bar, yet again... And get it working with the A500 Mini! A500, Arcade, SNES, Megadrive and PS1 games included.
RP3 NEW PPSSPP Settings
https://youtu.be/QeMw5YHZ38U
It's crazy to think that PPSSPP releases multiple updates daily. Recently an update drasticly changed the settings screen of the emulator making it more difficult to get some good speeds from OutRun 2006.
It's safe to say the version included with the RP3 will get faster FPS, but if you DID update, this video should clear some things up.
Retroid Pocket 3 PCB Upgrade
https://youtu.be/zMwsbbzFspA
We grabbed the PCB upgrade kit for our Retroid Pocket 3 to upgrade the innards to a 3+. Surprisingly, the process was quite easy and straightforward.
If we look at it as a way to only upgrade the board, then it can be seen as extremely expensive. It would be wiser to grab the rp3+ handheld ready built.
Looking at it from another angle, they give us a mount-kit making it possible to build a console out of the parts left over. Value then shifts drastically into their favor if we put that into account.
Anbernic RG35XX Review
https://youtu.be/xGmOtkhAQW4
This was a handheld we were actually reluctant to review. Not because it didn't look appealing, but just from sheer amount of Anbernic handhelds that have been released.
To the surprise of no-one, it was clearly a Miyoo Mini clone and they danced the same Anbernic dance. The software was sub-par, and the cheap MicroSD card data corrupted just after we published the video.
Once GarlicOS has GPU hardware acceleration working, this will be awesome. For the time being, say no to drugs, kids.
Setting up 4 Player PES/ Winning Eleven 2002
https://youtu.be/aog8J1IZGsw
It was nice to come back to make a video tutorial. A request was made for this guide, so we followed through, being a nice continuation of the EmuELEC Masterclass.
Steam Deck EMMC to NVME Guide
https://youtu.be/sSWb6jFlDk4
We've ONLY just got hold of the Steam Deck in Japan. It's been over a year since releasing in the US and Europe, but heck- it's new to us, and it's very impressive.
The guide shows how to buy the new drive, using a MicroSD for games, transfer games, install SteamOS- enough to really expand your Steam Library.
So yeah, here's for a glorious 2023!
..."Let's ago!"
Team Pandory
EmuChicken & dajoho
2023-01-16 02:26:53 +0000 UTC
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We hope everyone is well this winter. As the days are getting colder and shorter, we're seeing more people getting sick. That comes with the season, I guess. I'm in the school office and there's maybe 7 teachers off sick. Eep!
Anyways, let's break down what we did this month!
First off, Pandory 1.12 has been released. It's mostly to fix issues with the 3D boxes, please check out the changelog to see what's been done.
On the YouTube side of everything, we started with a review for the RETROID Pocket 3+. For the price, this can't be beaten and is now the handheld to beat for upscaled PSP emulation.
https://youtu.be/1I8Adsi2ljQ
Then we tried "Return to Monkey Island: PIXEL Edition", and while it didn't fix an underlying problem of cheap wobble-head animation it opens up a few more doors for other games. Honestly I'd be very interested to see how using this technique would change how emulated games can look.
https://youtu.be/KsgfYHX3yh0
Not much is as iconic as the Sega Gamegear handheld, so we tried this recreation that can house a Raspberry Pi. Unfortunately it is a lot more expensive than other handheld devices on the market, and loses many features we can currently take for granted. Sleep mode, and things like that. Oh, and the D-Pad sucks.
https://youtu.be/NAGLypZVTNE
Now that emulation handhelds that support PSP are getting more popular, it was time to explore the multiplayer component of PPSSPP. If that feature excites you, then the guide may interest you.
https://youtu.be/XcXwftrVhZA
We were contacted by BINBOK, and they asked us to review their joypad. Personally I wanted to try the joycons they have on sale, but they insisted on this XBOX360 inspired controller.
Luckily it was pretty good, and it even worked on PC... And a couple of Pandora Boxes... But the D-Pad sucks.
https://youtu.be/mgr1AQHfeE4
As we sign off, please stay warm and we wish you all have a great start to the holiday season.
We may have a pub session over the holidays, please keep an eye out on our discord for more information.
All the best,
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2022-12-19 02:21:50 +0000 UTC
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We've just released an update to the original Pandory Tool for Pandora Box systems. This mainly fixes a few things, and we've also started to add NVRAM files to the dx models to fix the sound volume for some Midway titles, like Mortal Kombat etc.
PandoryDX:
- Generic support for all Saga DX models
- NVRAM files added to fix Mortal Kombat sound etc
Pandory3D (PG3D, 3D Games Saga, 18S, EX2)
- Fixes for Scraper
- Fixes for Flycast APK
- Fixes for PPSSPP
2022-12-10 11:34:30 +0000 UTC
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We've just released an update to the original Pandory Tool for Pandora Box systems. This mainly fixes a few things, and we've also started to add NVRAM files to the dx models to fix the sound volume for some Midway titles, like Mortal Kombat etc.
PandoryDX:
- Generic support for all Saga DX models
- NVRAM files added to fix Mortal Kombat sound etc
Pandory3D (PG3D, 3D Games Saga, 18S, EX2)
- Fixes for Scraper
- Fixes for Flycast APK
- Fixes for PPSSPP
2022-12-10 11:33:11 +0000 UTC
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Hey everyone, thought I'd give you a quick update as to what we've been up to, and also a rundown of what we've done this past month.
dajoho has been writing code, first for a cleaning robot. Yes, he'd rather have this thing shout "PANDOREEEEEEEEEEHH" than have it clean the floors.
He's also working on bits with Pandory, we'll let you know once things are ready.
https://youtube.com/shorts/TeLCTNwdk-4?feature=share
We've also started to create write-ups for the video reviews, which are available on the teampandory.com website. Unsure if they'll drive traffic, but they *might*... Either way, if you're wanting a bit extra from the video review, there may now be more over that way. (points to an area in the sky)
As the year is coming to a close, we've also started a (free) 30-day exercise routine, which basically means checking a video daily, and copying whatever the instructor tells us to do. It seems to be quite accessible from the most beginner, so with much luck we'll both be thin by Christmas, all ready to get stuffed with mash potato and curry wurst... That's what people eat at Christmas, right?
If you want to give it a try, here's the link:
https://hasfit.com/30-day-fitness-challenge-exercise-program-workout-plan-to-get-in-Shape/
We're roughly around Day 8 at the moment, but Dave has decided to restart from Day 1... Reason? You can ask him that... If you're wondering, we still enjoy beer and cake. We've not turned into fitness fanatics or anything like that.
Before we go with the usual video-run-down, I just want to note that kandowonto's StarFox Ex has been released, and we're so glad that it's been greeted by open arms. Please check it out if you haven't yet, as he actually first began testing his hack on a Pandora Games 3D I think maybe a year ago. Incredible how far he has got since then.
https://youtu.be/2incXPOOItA
So anyways, I'll give a run-down as to what happened with each video we uploaded... Here goes (deep breath!)
Anbernic RG552 Review
https://youtu.be/JYdsJ9cF9kQ
At first glance, this thing looked awesome. In reality, a nice display, stuck onto a brick. It is heavy and sluggish, especially on the stock firmware. Battery life was below average and to be honest, it wasn't a very enjoyable experience- a total slug to review. If you ever get one, custom FW is KEY
Odroid Go Ultra Review
https://youtu.be/55Kop4onJ48
After having missed a few iterations of ODROID's handhelds (I waited for the clones due to reports of poor controls), we thought it was a good idea to grab their newest device.
Foolishly thinking it having an Amlogic S922X meant that emuelec was ready out of the box? Total overstatement. Another terrible handheld.
We did follow this up with a HUGE PPSSPP video where we tested 100 PSP games on this handheld, and another showing how to improve the dpad and buttons- but in all honesty... Wait for the clones.
100 Games Tested on the Odroid Go Ultra:
https://youtu.be/cd5LWtVEfdk
Anbernic RG353VS Review
https://youtu.be/xgQS0LD96v0
This was a nice breath of fresh air, even if it meant "more of the same Anbernic". If there's something they can get right, it's the Linux OS, and at a price of under 100 Abe Lincolns, it's a contender for best under $100 handheld available.
Antlion Modmic Review
https://youtu.be/1I8Adsi2ljQ
Antlion reached out to us and asked us to review their Modmic Wireless. This is a microphone that you can attach to ANY set of headphones... Apparently (it didn't actually work for ALL of our headphones, but it did well enough)
The product did its job for online gaming or and Skype, but it didn't do very when it came to voiceover work.
So outside keeping busy, we wish you all the best for Thanksgiving and this build-up towards the new year.
Laters!
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team PANDOREEEEEEEEEEHH!
2022-11-16 04:29:40 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Here's an update to what's happened this last month.
https://youtu.be/tnJg4H-O2AA
We started out with reviewing the RetroScaler2X sent to us by BitFunx.
This little unit can be a one stop shop to playing all of your legacy systems (those that use yellow, white and red cables) on your new HDMI TV / monitor / Capture card.
It is a pretty cool solution, but we wished it had an aspect ratio switch.
https://youtu.be/Jq8c6MZadT8
We walked around the city on the search for some crazy vending machines. I had no idea that any existed but in the end we found a few.
There was also a trip to the largest arcade center in Nagoya, and a trip to the Book-Off Bazaar.
Becoming more comfortable filming outside is a skill that I'd like to improve on- and certainly in this case, it really did open my eyes into the need of 1. Having a camera stand at hand, 2. Recording at a high framerate for smoother shots and 3. Making sure that the arcade are aware that you intend on recording video.
Seriously, they actually demanded I deleted all my videos until I agreed on signing paper explaining that I'd blur out and not disclose anyone's identity of those in the store.
Either way, it was a fun trip and spent far too long editing it.
https://youtu.be/piuj6Nu46uA
A video collaboration with some of my favourite YouTube personalities was also released. Our guests and myself spoke of our memories of growing up in the boom of the arcades in the 80s and 90s.
It's interesting how each country is different when it comes to this. In Germany, there was so little arcade coverage it was laughable. Only the slot machines- but in the UK we had some amazing arcades.
Guests included Wicked Gamer and Collector, Retro Game Corps, Joe the Editor and Video Game Esoterica.
https://youtu.be/ryBgDbTuEQU
Taito got some bonus points when it came to their Egret II Mini.
Who would know that they came out and announced a firmware update for it? Many of the fixes were actually for the trackball and spinner games, but we welcomed with open arms the corrected aspect ratio and full-screen for games such as New Zealand Story and Bubble Bobble.
https://youtu.be/eOvP3BS57Kk
We made a few videos regarding the MIYOO Mini.
The first was a look at the later 2022 versions of the device. Another "Review", but this time of the transparent black. Seems like the later batches have better shoulder buttons, but hosts a duller screen compared to the MIYOO minis bought a couple of months prior.
https://youtu.be/LFhRxruOCzw
We changed out the speaker for this cheapie. Upgrading for under a dollar isn't bad at all for a fuller sound.
https://youtu.be/iXsJrQZniuA
And some stickers were sent to us from the US, providing some throwbacks to some legendary consoles.
So yeah, we have been pretty busy, and still need to get Pandory 1.12 ready to a point when it can be released to the public.
Thanks for the continued support,
You guys are the best.
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2022-10-17 03:34:38 +0000 UTC
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Hey y'all,
The scraping server was blocking users from pulling video / game information, this is pretty much an urgently needed fix.
We'll be releasing version 1.12 with a few extras in the next week or so.
Thanks,
Team Pandory
2022-09-29 06:23:00 +0000 UTC
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Hey y'all!
Hope everyone has been well this summer, here we've kept ourselves busy.
It's time to catch up with what we've been doing for the past month. What can we say? The kids are off school, and as parents, we need to look after them. dajoho has been working from home, and as school is out, I've been at home for over a month looking after my kids. I teach at junior high schools now, so even though I have time off work, family has priority. We went to karaoke, ate sushi, and went to the "Monkey Park" outdoor pool and theme park in Inyuama (translated: Dog Mountain)
https://youtu.be/tx8HyMEk8CM
The first time we released Pandory for the A500 mini, celebrations were cut short only after a few days when RGL decided to release a firmware update blocking our software. Many YouTube channels were super quick to advertise the firmware update as the best thing since sliced bread, so many potential users of Pandory were left in the dark.
With some help, a hole in the A500 firmware was found, and we now have a version that works on the newest 1.1.1 firmware.
We discovered that 1.0.0 has several buggy linux libraries, badly configured SDL2 controllers and graphical issues with some applications. A500 consoles are now being delivered with 1.1.1 preinstalled, so we need to embrace this new firmware, rather than dismiss it.
https://youtu.be/vhKhki2GWlk
We then reviewed the Retroid Pocket 3.
Now this handheld has a LOT of drama surrounding it. We ignored the whole thing and just focused on the handheld itself.
It performs really well for the price, the size is near enough perfect, streaming from PC is near perfect AND it plays PSP well enough for me to be pretty happy with it. So where does it slip up? With it not being exactly playable out the box- set up is a bit of a chore. It may take a day or two to get everything to a decent useable state. And secondly, there is a slight bit of latency associated with using the Android system.
https://youtu.be/VzNfYv8vBFY
Then came ANOTHER handheld. The Anbernic RG353P.
Wicked Gamer & Collector hooked me up with the company "GoGameGeek", and they sent us one in exchange for a video review.
I gotta say, this is nice jump up in performance from the 351 series. It feels nice in the hands, and really does it's job when it comes to oldschool gaming. The unit is set up to play as soon as it arrives at your door, and for the most part works great with little fiddling. Whatever doesn't work as well, we can change options in the retroarch quick menu. Even though PSP is technically possible with this unit, it's not really recommended. A little more grunt is needed, and at the correct aspect ratio we'd be playing PSP games at the size of a postage stamp.
For a 4:3 screen, this is probably the best handheld currently available, but we would like to see a bit more of a jump - possibly to the level that the Retroid Pocket 3, for it to become the ultimate 4:3 handheld.
https://youtu.be/TNp863PP9LA
We finished the month with a Retroid Pocket 3 PPSSPP guide
It was incredible to see that every review on the unit outside our own hated PSP performance on this. We saw otherwise.
For the most part, one option that is set as default really did slow down the performance on the Pocket 3. It is probably due to the odd resolution (at 750pixels in height), so we assumed this gave the handheld unneeded work that slowed it to a crawl. The Vulkan renderer also performs WORSE in this case, so OpenGL should be chosen. Other settings like Buffered / Unbuffered are standard PPSSPP issue.
Rather than try arguing against the masses of Taki worshippers and RP3 naysayers, we decided to clear the water and show everyone that it is indeed possible on this unit.
Anyways, we hope to catch you on the Discord,
Catch you soon
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2022-09-16 01:55:43 +0000 UTC
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Hey y'all, time for an update.
First thing, dajoho's wife is still not in a healthy condition. The time he can put into programming Pandory currently is very limited, so I (EmuChicken) am trying to push the videos as well as I can.
There have been a few that were sitting on the side for months, possibly years that have been finally made. Let's take a look through:
https://youtu.be/EmICqZb6TYw
We went into a Japanese Karaoke box, and explain the ins and outs of what you need to do. I went with my kids, and they ate pizza- a very cheap way to eat and have some fun.
https://youtu.be/Ki6eTTZxySg
Every time I see a PS1 system for cheap, I buy one. It ended up in having a cupboard full of untested units.
In this video we try em out, and see what we can do to make them run - and look- much better.
It should really have been called something like "first things to do if you buy a used PlayStation console".
https://youtu.be/IM1WzuVJuJY
Humble Bundle is an addiction, leaving me with thousands of unplayed games in my Steam Library. I'm sure some of you guys are also affected :-)
So in this "We Played 10 Games for Kids" video, we give them a try and give our opinions on them.
https://youtu.be/beDmwfQbCUQ
This was a device recommended by our friend Russ @ Retro Game Corps.
While it is a good, and cheap machine, the lack of "Emulation Station" front end kinda ruins it for me. It does, however- have a nice screen in 4:3 that we all love in the retro-gaming community.
https://youtu.be/jwGtW86wjPQ
The last handheld video was quite well received, so we went for another. Our review on the Miyoo Mini.
Honestly, this thing is so full of charm- I love the crap outta this thing. dajoho recommends it to play Commander Keen, but I'd rather smash out some Super Nintendo.
Review: https://youtu.be/T8VrGvAhDSk
Latency Test: https://youtu.be/AFCfXwAYuuk
So if you want to make a review of something, this is how not to do it. Get it in early as you can, and slam out a review, and return the item ASAP.
The pure amount of backlash that this video caused was a first for this channel, and we are certainly looking forward to other reviews that are posted by other channels.
In case you can guess... We didn't like this unit.
https://youtu.be/lZ7xZYoTvsY
It's INCREDIBLE at the amount of add-ons the A500 mini is getting.
This is the 3 piece set you can get on eBay. USB Stick, USB HUB, and Fake floppy.
I'm honestly using the USB Hub (external floppy drive) way more in my main PC. It's actually pretty damn decent.
https://youtu.be/QJTtycatM3w
This video was requested over a year, maybe two years back- when I helped out Wicked Gamer & Collector on his "Wicked Brain Fart" channel.
I'd be making videos of a racing game in emuelec without any explanation of how it was done- and now making this how to, I know why I didn't want to do it until this point. There are far too many variables. Some wheels don't work on emuelec, whereas they'd be OK in batocera- and then we have the amount of systems. It's not an easy task to put in a short video.
But yeah, hopefully this will help anyone wanting to play older arcade games, or just have a wheel ready for PS1 games (or PSP... or N64 ... or...) on your rig.
https://youtu.be/YbZZQLH1ut0
5 whole days of making and testing. The end result? Pretty damn awesome!
This was another video we had on the back burner. Reason? It needs a lot of free time to get done!
Having my kids play OutRun 2, and have a place to actually RACE rather than set up the wheel every time makes this worth doing. And it even fits nicely in the corner of my room!
... And all that was done in a month... Unbelievable.
We hope you guys are doing great, and that you'll enjoy what we have in store for the next month.
Much love y'all,
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2022-08-16 05:53:39 +0000 UTC
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Hey y'all!
Time for another update and look back at the last month.
They come and go so quickly. I'm doing well in Japan. My job has changed- and I've been teaching junior high school for a few months now. It's pretty great tbh. Today is the last day before school is out for the summer holidays. Yipee!
All is not gravy though...
dajoho's family still 100% regarding health. Dave is taking care of both his wife and child when he's not at his day job. Takes a lot out of him, and he's waiting for the next pub meet. Please be kind.
We've actually been quite active with making the videos this month.
Tested some USB Adapters for Amiga controllers / joysticks. They are compared, and we also show how to make one yourself! Who knows if anyone cares for the input latency... But all of this is covered in the video.
Video: https://youtu.be/PFcV_SzzosU
The age-old question of "will USB-C controllers work with a USB adapter" has been answered. Tested on Windows, Batocera, EmuELEC, Pandora Box DX, PG3D AND Key7!
Video: https://youtu.be/EXXPU-2wz9g
An extremely affordable ($299!) 3:2 aspect ratio Chuwi laptop was tested.
It's pretty cool- and it still is being used for work.
I guess a follow up should be made regarding Linux distros- but sadly- none of them worked very well. Usually issues regarding sound (Ubuntu), or it just simply doesn't load at all, or crashes (Batocera).
So... It's decent if you want to use Windows.
Video: https://youtu.be/0Tu5Bymiyiw
A top 10 SCUMMVM games list was put together!
This has been a staple of mine for many years. Retro system? ScummVM games are a requirement!
Many of the entries to this list may be surprising for some, as we have now the experience of being parents and realizing the benefits of some awesome titles.
Video: https://youtu.be/RpBnEJYMHLk
Remember the Bitfunx CD32 adapter in the above Amiga adapter video? Well... We converted it to work with both inputs. And with Sega Megadrive pads.
We thought they'd have hated us destroying their boards, but they seem to not be too fussed. :o
Video: https://youtu.be/GW2fzOMgzcI
To follow up from the Game Gear Micro review- where we showed how to install the CFW... Well... We were asked to show how to pull it back to stock.
Handy if you want to sell it on eBay or something.
Video: https://youtu.be/0QeE2M9NX_g
We explore the A500 Mini beauty mod!
Make it look like there's a floppy in it... With some bits from Retro32!
We also showed how to make your own labels- and added a fully stocked A4 sheet to print yourself! - Coverdisks and some classics were added.
Video: https://youtu.be/3t_rNotu7YI
Bitfunx Playstation 1 / 2 HDMI Adapters
They enjoyed us faffing around with their boards so much- that they got in touch and asked us to review some of their products.
We'd be happy to! - But they'll be put through the same scrutiny as always.
Video: https://youtu.be/73LKdmiHIK0
All in all a very busy month on the video front.
We hope you're enjoying the content.
Quick note:
I managed to brick my A500 Mini!
And then we unbricked it! Thanks to the PCUUAE tool turning on autoboot. - That allows us to load up an alternative firmware on boot- if present on the USB stick.
You don't need to actively use PCUUAE, but install it once- then keep that PCUUAE usb stick safe- that provides a backup to if ever you need to restore the unit.
Thanks as always,
EmuChicken & dajoho
Team Pandory
2022-07-15 03:34:47 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys!
An update to what's going on back here this past month
Regarding both A500 mini, AND the Pandora Box systems.. Well, dajoho has been keeping himself very busy.
There's currently not much to show for this at the moment. But let's say it is one of them times that a LOT of work and time has been put into it. When, (not if... Let's keep it positive) things get released, heads will surely turn :-)
If you wanted to give the latest RGL firmware a try, you can now use PCUAAE. Flip between firmwares very easily with this fine little package.
https://youtu.be/0vIu6DXyKhA
We've also been working on an icon set for your microsd / storage icon needs.
Seeing icons of pandora dx special, pg3d, and butter should help with organization for those who use their cards often in their computers.
https://youtu.be/mBTHrHYMn4Q
Download: https://github.com/emuchicken/USB-Sticky-Icons-Pack
A review of a mini PC with the Intel N5015 on board- could this be the next budget chip for the cheaper computers?
https://youtu.be/w1jhyiqQUgE
And a solution for the Amiga 600 that allows you to output HDMI from this 20 odd year old computer. Nice!
https://youtu.be/MSV7NJN1CJg
Finally, I'd like to mention that we have started some tasks this month, that have been stalled half way. Be it because we don't have the required information, or item to continue. It can be extremely frustrating when things grind to a half like this.
...Maybe we should drink some more Pepsi?
...... What do you guys do when you hit walls like these?
Anyways, thanks for the support
Will catch you on the next one,
Team Pandory
2022-06-14 06:16:03 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
We had to get this fix out!
Here's the changelog, albeit a bit short:
# Pandory v1.1.1b - 01-JUN-2022
- Fixed scraper. New stuff coming soon!
Much love y'all!
Team Pandory
EmuChicken & dajoho
2022-06-01 14:40:25 +0000 UTC
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So... We went and made this.
RetroGames decided to release their new firmware within 24 hours of our release, and blocked Pandory from working on "updated" The500Mini systems. They obviously didn't like us fiddling.
Please let your friends know not to update their firmware!
Anyways, we've basically enabled a few more emulators, and added ADF ADZ IPF, all the good stuff, without being bound- with RetroArch!
Here's the main post that dajoho popped up on the facebook:
After weeks of work, reverse-engineering, patching of 3rd-party-libraries, experimentation and swearing, Team Pandory is happy to announce the Pandory Soft-mod for the A500 Mini. The Pandory Mod enables:
- A new native RetroArch menu, with OpenGL video-driver support, allowing many new emulators alongside Amiga, including:
- **Megadrive**
- **SNES**
- **Playstation 1**
- **32X**
- **Amiga PUAE**
- *RetroArch has been configured with ADF and IPF support.*
- **Commodore 64**
- **Atari ST**
- **PC-Engine / TurboGrafx**
- **MS-DOS**
- **Game Boy**
- **Game Boy Color**
- **Game Boy Advance**
- **Game Gear**
- **MasterSystem**
- **Quake/DOOM ports**
- **ScummVM (RetroArch version)**
- *.. and many more ..*
- Full root access to your device via Linux Terminal
- ScummVM (Native version)
- Allows switching between the normal A500 menu / Pandory Menu
- Thousands of thumbnails for many different games
- Allows configuration and mapping of controllers not usually supported by the A500 mini -> pandory bypasses SDL2-input and uses Linux-UDEV directly
- Menu background music (Lotus 2), with permission by Barry Leitch
- A selection of free homebrew-games to test before you add your own games
- Flexible aspect ratio configuration options
Free to download now!
Video of everything in action & brief tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpL2f1RfqBQ
GitHub/Downloadlinks: https://github.com/emuchicken/pandory-a500/
*IMPORTANT:* One user reported sound stutter. If you have problems, set your console to 60HZ and try again.
2022-05-14 03:56:14 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Just thought we'd have a look back on April, and also what's been happening behind the scenes... Let's say... This month has been extremely interesting.
Coming out of March, we were checking out the mini-arcade cabs with a comparison between them all. Still there's been no talk of the Egret 2 mini hack as the guy started on hacking Tamagochi... Well... Priorities are like opinions, right? :/
https://youtu.be/GxVj2Lp0f_o
We then got hold of PXN's wheel controller. It works for Batocera- but not EmuELEC. We mentioned as to why it doesn't work with EmuELEC- and the reply was something along the lines of "we're using older, more compatible code" ... Sometimes the logic astounds me- that a more compatible code, makes this device less compatible. Looks like Batocera is the way to go if you want to use this device with your oldschool arcade racers.
https://youtu.be/ownXbt1ZUr0
A few game lists were explored, including the one from the "AstroCity Mini-V". Seriously. It seems that Truxton has it's fans... But damn... I'm not one of them. Seems that opinions can't be shared no more. But don't worry... We'll keep pushing our own til the sun goes down. Damn. Every day? Uh... (Didn't quite think this through)- Either way, Truxton ain't fun (for me)
https://youtu.be/nm8uydwfpls
Which led to a trail of A500 videos.
Now don't get me wrong. This mini is at most ALRIGHT at stock. But that's only if you use a third party controller. The controller that it comes with ... Is crap. Seriously. Just use a spoon, you'd have a more responsive piece of hardware.
https://youtu.be/KaQaa65sYqY
But what this did, was pretty much wake us up to a TON of new possibilities, not only on the modding of the A500 mini... But also what can be done after this. dajoho worked out a ton of decent stuff that will be worked into the regular Pandory release- including even Linux machines.
https://youtu.be/yBfnM5eTNAM
Things are looking up for the next few months. Should be fun in a bun!
Hope you're all having a blast, and please enjoy the latest version of Pandory!
https://youtu.be/VmOV1aACbQY
All the best fellers,
Team Pandory
EmuChicken & dajoho
2022-04-30 16:15:30 +0000 UTC
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