The closest you'll come to willingly paying for a Sega 32X.
The NES Classic Edition is cute and all, but why settle for a company curated selection of 30 NES games when you can invest in a console that bundles together a large chunk of video game history?
This is the promise and potential of the RetroEngine Sigma; a crowdfunded console that may very well prove to be the best of its kind.
Currently being developed by Santa Monica's Doyoda Team, the RetroEngine Sigma is a palm-sized custom console capable of emulating titles from 28 different systems. Along with heavy hitters such as the Super Nintendo, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Sega Game Gear, the Sigma can also emulate titles from slightly more obscure systems such as the NeoGeo Pocket Color and the Atari Lynx. This combination of consoles puts the total amount of compatible games somewhere in the high thousands.
While the Sigma isn't entirely unique in that respect (fan-made consoles have been emulating older systems for years now), it's rare to see such a system offered up for mass-market availability and even rarer to see one that is so accessible. Although the Sigma will come with a bundle of currently unannounced games pre-installed, it's biggest selling point is a built-in WiFi adapter that allows you to easily download compatible ROMs from several sources via your smartphone or tablet.
You can even control the games themselves with your mobile device if you're so inclined. For the rest of us who can't imagine playing Goldeneye on a phone, the Sigma's USB ports and Bluetooth capabilities make it compatible with a variety of third-party and official controllers.
Given that the console also serves as a 4K media hub and is keyboard/mouse compatible, it's actually a pretty tempting all-around bundle. Early backers will be able to get a 16GB edition of the console for $49 that comes with a MicroSD card, AC Adapter, and Dual Stick controller. Prices go up from there based on your bundle preferences.
Unfortunately, there is still a month left on the Sigma's funding campaign, and the console isn't expected to start shipping until April 2017 at the earliest. As with most crowdfunding campaigns, there is always some risk involved in regards to fulfillment. For what it's worth, the fact that the Sigma is improving upon existing technology rather than innovating it might actually bode well for its release chances.
