MiSTeR Multisystem2 is a New FPGA Multi-System Console Solution
Video game technology is developing, even in the field of retro video gaming there is enough interest to justify more research to improve the gaming experience. Not too mention just the drive of the hobby itself is enough for progress to be gradually made. We have now gotten to the point where there is a more accurate alternative than software emulation when talking about running retro consoles on modern televisions and monitors. That alternative is FPGA where…
Multisystem2 can run MiSTer FPGA cores that electronically recreate hardware systems for wide range of retro gaming consoles, classic computers and vintage arcade machines to a very high standard of both accuracy and low latency. – shop.heber.co.uk
Which means FPGA can ultimately result it much more accurate reproduction of running the original hardware. The light gun function is possible to use as the FPGA creates a 3D model of the original hardware inside the device together with low latency input that is not possible with software emulation. However the MiSTeR Multisystem2 has an input for lightgun connection, or at least provision for one with the PlayStation cartridge. Probably the most important thing to note is the fact that there are two versions availabe – the digital only version and the analogue version. The digital output version is cheaper, the analogue one has quite a few extra analogue output ports including: 9 pin mini-din for RGB output audio & C-Sync for SCART in Sega Mega Drive 2, 15 Way ‘VGA’ Style port for various Analogue signals to CRT, LCD and Arcade Monitors, Ethernet port for direct internet connection. If you aren’t very worried with different connection and resolutions and just want a basic plug and play experience without having to worry about anything else then the digital version is the one that you would go with. For gamers who want more control over their display options and configurations and other functionality then the analogue version would be worth paying the bit extra for. The digital version has HDMI output only apart from 7 USB connectors.
So basically the MiSTeR Multisystem2 is currently the only all in one FPGA solution. The price for the digital version containing HDMI output costs £204.00 or $420 AUD and the analogue version which has LAN connection, SCART 9 pin mini-din, 15way video VGA and 3.5mm digital audio output for £252.00 or $515 AUD. And what you get a the ability to play all games with an SD Card reader at the very front and center of the Multisystem2. Added functionality and expandability can be added simply by purchasing specific cartridges, including joystick ports and video / audio output ports! So you won’t be able to play your cartridges and games directly of the media you bought them on, instead you would use a backup ROM file from your PC which you copied to a SD Card that you use to load your games with.
Images taken from "The Retro Collective" (The Retro Cave Ltd.)
Pre-Ordering the MiSTeR Multisystem2 FPGA Analogue and Digital Systems
You can pre-order the MultiSystem2 directly from the Heber Shop for Retro Collective (an English Retro Video Game Museum Company). Looking at this from the perspective of a seasoned retro gamer and long-time video game collector I’m able to see the advantages and disadvantages of this offering for gamers. First of all it’s a cheap solution to effectively own (virtually own) every main console system and be able to play the entire game library very easily using controller’s from different consoles. That, in itself is a huge advantage although I haven’t seen the list of cores for the Multisystem2 I’m sure it’s a lot of different systems. I mean we can definitely expect the main ones which means all Nintendo’s, Sega’s and Sony’s at least. Adding up the fact you have the entire library of all those consoles potentially from the very start you buy the console instantly makes it a valuable asset. Not to mention you can easily connect it to your surround sound system and it works for all consoles is a wonderful bonus. A good buying strategy for a collector with lots of nostalgia from many different systems (like me) would be to buy one of these for gaming then spend the budget that would have been used for hardware to invest in all the games you used to have / play. You wouldn’t even need to buy Everdrive cartridges because it has a card reader built in. That would save a lot of $ for example the 64 Everdrive on it’s own is very expensive. Regardless a lot of money would be saved if each game collector would be happy gaming on the MS2 while using the remaining funds to get what they truly want for their collection. One important detail that I’ve left out is when the actual launch is.. and according to the website expect units to be shipped around August 2025.
Pre-Order the MiSTeR Multisystem2 FPGA Digital Console System for £204.00
Pre-Order the MiSTeR Multisystem2 FPGA Analogue Console System for £252.00
