Ok folks, so let’s be clear. I wanted to do a video about this anyway, but then PiePacker
approached me, with their KickStarter campaign, a link for which is in the description, and
offered to give me sponsorship for it....so….
[MONEY MONEY MONEY MUSIC]
*click*
buy that *click*
buy *click*
buy OOOHHH COME ON!
Honestly, I might be rich if I didn’t spend all my money on Retro Tech.
But what's important here, is the contract explicitly states that I can give "my own
balanced opinion"
So, let’s take a look at this internet based retro gaming party fest, and work out whether
it’s actually worth investing in….
Starting with, what a bizarre name… PiePacker, I honestly thought this was a job vacancy
in my local bakery when I got the email. But no, it’s a Kickstarter campaign that at
it’s core, offers multiplayer retro gaming over the internet. Perfect during a pandemic,
and I guess still works pretty well outside of a pandemic,
Look, they’ve got a video which explains everything in a pleasing graphical manner.
You can play retro games. You can play them multiplayer. You can see your friends, which
you might not want to after a year of not seeing them, and so they can wear a filter
to make it easier for you. Here’s some of the games, and here’s the PieReader. Now
this is what really grabbed my attention, because it’s an actual piece of hardware
you can plug into your computer, that allows you to pass your own cartridges through. So
you can play against your friends, using just your cartridge, just like they’ve popped
round to play multiplayer. You don’t even need the PiePacker Premium membership in conjunction
with it, this thing will work with the standard PiePacker access, which is free after beta,
featuring 4 USB controller inputs and handling everything through cloud emulation.
There are three adaptors, NES, SNES and Mega Drive/Genesis, and then you can play your
game library through PiePacker AND with friends across T’internet.
I really wanted to get hold of a PieReader because they look interesting, but I was told
that they’re not ready yet, but they’ve sent me over a load of details and it looks
promising…. But the core functionality is in the cloud service itself, so let’s take
a closer look at that. Ultimately it means I can play games with friends, and I don’t
have to leave the house, which ticks my two life goal boxes.
I’ve got beta access to the platform, which is what you get for the $40 pledge, along
with some additional perks.
Now Throbbing-Cherry, that is the default user name I was given. I did not request that.
I didn’t type it in. That’s what I got. OK. At this point, I hadn’t worked out how
to change it so just work with me.
But look at all these titles. There’s a Recently Played Section, Featured, Multiplayer,
Platformer, Shooter, Sports, Fighting, Puzzle, Racing, Indie. Immediately titles like Street
Racer, Descent 2 and Zero Tolerance jump out at me.
I’m going to kick off with Descent 2 in single player mode. All you do is click on
the game you want to play, enable microphone and camera access in Chrome, and away you
go. By the way, this only works in Chrome or Edge at present, so no Netscape Navigator
for you I’m afraid, although there is a mobile, TV and desktop app on the way. Anyway,
you can access key bindings easy using the menu at the bottom, even get a bit of info
about the game. But this is Descent 2, it plays like Descent 2, it feels like Descent
2. Shame it’s not the PC version, but then that wouldn’t feel right in this console
setting.
If you don’t want to use the keyboard, you can apparently use pretty much any other controller
that works with Windows. Plug it in and you’re away.
So main question… Input lag? Well, yes, there is a slight input lag. But it’s within
tolerances. It certainly didn’t put my playing off. Handily, the perfect game to test input
lag is already on here. Worms Pinball, and trust me, this is down to my god awful playing
rather than any amount of serious lag.
If you don’t want to look at yourself you can turn your camera off at any time, or the
microphone, or just apply one of these filters. That’s nice. That’ll do nicely.
There’s a save state, so you can save whatever game your in, where-ever you are, and with
Premium membership, you should get unlimited save slots, rewind functionality and other
features like HD graphic upscaling, early access to new games and the ability to use
your own ROMs with friends in a private game room… Given as it’s in beta I don’t
have details on compatibility in that regard or on the PieReader, and I think it’s currently
only geared up for NES, SNES and Mega Drive, just like the Pie Reader… But Premium is
clocking in at $90 on early bird at the moment or $180 with a PieReader included… and this
is the only time they’re offering lifetime premium access I believe.
Because come on, the beauty here is multiplayer. You can play with up to 4 friends, simply
by sending them this link. They don’t even need to have PiePacker themselves. Just send
them the link. They click it. Lovely job. How they do this legally is, the ROM isn’t
sent to your friends or anything. Instead PiePacker just duplicates the video output
remotely to your friends, like a virtual desktop, and their controllers are linked in just like
you were playing local multiplayer. Nice.
So let’s do some playing and find out whether that arragenemnt causes any lag.
Look at that rat! LOOK at that rat!!
I scored a goal!
Oh god!... Oh yes! Ohhhh, so close!
Oh god! Oh god!
That's not fair, it's like a ski slalom. You have to go through gates!
It's blowing. "there's a goat" it's blowing bubbles!
"Peter, look out for the goat!"
I can see it!
"arrrrrrrrgh!"
oh god.
Look at the cat's....
"oh, look how sad my cat is"
hehehehehehe
At present, you can’t play games like Zero Tolerance or Descent 2 multiplayer. Because
in real life, that required two systems, and therefore two ROMs. I think Zero Tolerance
being in the multiplayer section is actually a mistake in this Beta release.
As for lag, well, that will depend on the distance between the friends your playing
with and PiePackers servers, but all indications are that it’s playable, and if any one player
has significant lag, it won’t affect the others. It certainly wasn’t a problem in
any of my tests. You can also play single player games, and just have your friends there
to watch. Just like when you only owned one control pad, but your mates were round. Or
if you just want to have a private mini streaming arena.
I’ve got to admit, there’s such novelty in playing some of these titles online. Street
Racer for the SNES. I’ve played that locally with two players, but across the internet,
that’s cool as heck. I’m a big fan of this technology already, and that’s me talking,
not the sponsorship.
There’s over 60 licenced games at present, from NES to PS1, including a load of indie
titles, and a lot more are in the works. Plus if you get a PieReader, well, then you’ve
got that as well. You can see the prototype designs here, and a render of their target
design. If you don’t get one in the KickStarter campaign, you should be able to purchase one
afterwards as an add-on as well. Obviously I cannot speak about that functionality whatsoever
at this stage, as I simply haven’t seen one. All I can say is that it sounds good
on paper.
Ultimately, I only agreed to do this video because PiePacker already has their membership
section up and running, and it’s decent, so that bodes well for the rest of the project…
and this is an incredible idea. It’s pulling the world of vintage gaming into 2021 and
I’m definitely all for that.
If you’re interested check out the Kickstarter campaign below; the digital pass will give
you early access, and then the base platform is free after that. Digital pass eternal will
give you premium membership even after early access. PieReader Starter will give you the
Piereader and early access. PieReader Bundle Infinite will give you the reader and premium
lifetime membership, and there’s a load of other pledges for your pledging pleasure.
Just be sure to check what you’re getting, as some pledges include PiePacker lifetime
membership, some just include the PieReader with early access to the membership site,
etc… They say the Kickstarter will be the only time they’re offering LifeTime Premium
Membership, and as it stands they’ve already smashed through their target, which has opened
up the “Bring your own GameBoy and Advance ROMS” and “Local Multiplayer Mode” stretch
goals. So that’s nice.
I’ve also included a link to their FAQ which contains some useful information.
Personally, I’ve had a lot of fun with PiePacker, and I think the features look promising too,
but anyway, take a look yourself, make up your own mind. The link is below.
I’ve been Nostalgia Nerd. Until next time, Toodleoo.