I know, not really “retro” per say, but maybe in spirit it is.
Id like to know if anyone here has one and what you’ve been using it for.
I use the built-in atari os when I want to play a game quickly and with no issues. I also installed mint on an external ssd for playing low power steam games and emulating ps1/ps2. I eventually wanted the VCS to be my media center pc and get rid of the horrible smart tv.
Biggest issue is wireless controllers in mint. In atari os they work great, so I wonder how atari made that work since its debian based.
I was speaking about what you would call a console, not what you would call the experence of enjoying old games. An original VCS is in no way “retro”, but a modern VCS clone is perfectly fine being called retro, but not vintage.
If you want to call gaming on a vintage console, “retro gaming”, then cool. That actually makes sense. You’re recreating an experience from the past. I was talking more about the devices themselves, which is why my other examples were also about products like cars and clothes.
OP said they weren’t sure if they should call a modern VCS clone “retro”, and I was reassuring them that their usage was actually the correct usage! And that most people use it wrong. The use of “vintage” and “retro” when talking about products is very clear and binary.
All that being said, I still prefer to say playing a VCS is “vintage gaming”, but I won’t say you’re wrong for calling it “retro gaming”.
Ah I see, I misunderstood how you were applying the terms. My bad. I suppose I don’t typically talk about consoles or games independently of the experience that they offer, so whether it’s a new product with a vintage inspiration, or something vintage all the way through, I’d think of both products as retro, because, to me, they are both offering an experience reminiscent of an earlier era. I understand that’s an incredibly subjective experience though, and your take is probably more factually correct.