Warning: Retro-bit's Genesis controllers, and how an acknowledged problem is not fixed years later
I'll get right to it: Retro-bit's 6 button 2.4 Ghz wireless controller, the model they now refer to as "V1" at least, has problems with certain games, namely: in certain games, pressing the C button results in the controller sending both the "C" and "Start" button presses to the console. In others, the control pad inputs may not be recognized by the Genesis at all. Whatever the extent, the issues result in major problems and some games being unplayable. The latest available firmware, dated Jan. 2020, does not address this issue.
List of some games affected, lifted from /u/Vekked's post dated March 1, 2021, linked again below:
So far games that straight up don't work/can't get past the title screen:
-Tanzer
-Zombies Ate My Neighbours
Sega CD games that recognize C-button as both C and Start:
-JaguarXJ220
-NHL 94
-Son of Chuck Rock
-Wolfchild
This isn't a full list. There are more games reported by other users in the thread, and the severity of the issues reported with the games can vary.
More reported games with issues from /u/CakeashI666's comment:
Doesn't work properly on jungle book. C button pauses instead of jumping.
Seperation anxiety doesn't let you shoulder barge for some strange reason.
Streets of rage 3 seems to register every direction input as a double tap so always running.
Also these pads work with master system games using the power base convertor that don't usually work with megadrive pads e.g. alien syndrome
Could these controllers improperly present as master system controllers because Retro-Bit didn't build them properly?
Jungle Book and Zombies Ate My Neighbors issues even re-confirmed via video in /u/blehstor's comment
For my part, I experienced and reported this problem with examples to Retro-bit via email in Fall 2020. At that time, over 3 years ago, I emailed Retro-bit support via [email protected] and after following up without a human response, the team provided its first substantive reply to me in November of that year.
We are aware of the issues. At the time, we are unable to address the issues but are working on a future firmware solution. I cannot give you a precise timeline but I thank you for your feedback nonetheless. :)
Although it was somewhat disappointing that Retro-bit did not provide a timeline at that point, I was encouraged that they acknowledged the issues and claimed that they were "working" on a future update.
Then time went by without any further acknowledgement, communication, or update. Nine months after my original report, in June 2021, I decided to follow up on my original report and ask Retro-bit for an update.
Nothing. No reply. No new firmware updates.
2 years after the original report, September 2022. Asked Retro-bit for an update and reminded them that they never replied to my update request. This time I received a response:
I do apologize it's taken so long but unfortunately, I am not able to give out any details or information as I am only able to offer support and assistance on customer issues.
Anything relating to firmware updates and changes will be made by our development team via social media when they feel comfortable and have more information to share with all of our followers at the same time. This is because if I give any information and if something changes then it's on me not our team because everything has to be confirmed and approved.
All I can say is to stay tuned to our social media pages for any updates.
So that was it. No hope of an update, no timeline, and now, over a year later, still nothing from Retro-bit.
When I searched to see if others experienced this problem, I learned that more games are affected and that Retro-bit support has apparently told customers they were trying to work on the problem.
See this thread here, where several people ask for an update, report other games being problematic, and there is no substantive new information given, other than that 3 years later, the company is once again looking into it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SEGAGENESIS/comments/lvnlp6/retrobit_controller_not_working_with_certain/
Quote from one of Retro-bit's comments from July 2023 in that thread:
Our last investigation showed that the issue was very inconsistent to reproduce. We've also been tracking all the emails that have come through to see if we can get more information. We can't guarantee a cure-all but we want to see if a fix is possible.
So in three years they've regressed from "we are aware of the issues" and "working on a future firmware solution" to acting as though this is a new problem, and not even guaranteeing that there will be a fix, only that they want to see if it's possible.
At this point I am not writing this to try to get Retro-bit to take action, as they inspire no faith they will ever fix it. I write because I am disappointed and everyone should know how they are treating their customers. I don't expect perfection from a company or products - I do expect that if you tell customers you're aware there's a problem and you're working to fix it, that the issue should be fixed 3 years later. Especially after the company has released products since then.
Oh, and about one of their newer products, it's interesting that issues made it into a pad they subsequently released years after they'd acknowledged the above issues... So if you're thinking about buying one of them, check below:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SEGAGENESIS/comments/118aj6i/retrobit_big_6_not_working_in_some_games/
So when you see recommendations about this company, just know that a segment of their customers has asked for help with an acknowledged problem and the company has not delivered anything to fix it. Any call for patience would be absurd - this was acknowledged 3 years ago.
The controllers bear the Sega license, and it's reasonable to expect they should work accordingly.
One last thing: if you're happy with their products, good for you. I just think people should know about this.
TLDR: issue with wireless 6 button Genesis controllers acknowledged by company in 2020, still not fixed, no sign it ever will be.