Mouse Support Comes to Evercade Alpha, VS, and VS-R: A New Chapter in Retro Gaming

As a passionate retro gaming enthusiast, I’ve always cherished the tactile feel of classic controllers. However, the recent announcement that mouse support comes to Evercade Alpha, VS, and VS-R has genuinely piqued my interest. This development signifies a notable shift in how we can interact with our favorite vintage titles, blending the old with the new in an exciting way.

Embracing Modern Controls on Classic Systems

The integration of mouse support into the Evercade Alpha, VS, and VS-R consoles is a significant milestone. This feature, currently in beta, allows players to use both wired and wireless USB mice, provided they have the necessary dongle for wireless connectivity. To utilize the mouse, it should be connected to the second controller port on the Evercade Alpha or VS/VS-R consoles. On the VS and VS-R, ports three and four are also compatible. A standard controller remains essential in the first port for menu navigation and game selection. Mouse sensitivity settings can be adjusted within the “Game” section of the console’s settings menu. To revert to traditional controls, players need to exit the game using the controller, unplug the mouse, and restart the game without the mouse connected .

A Selection of Games Enhanced by Mouse Support

Currently, a curated list of games benefits from this new mouse functionality:

• Z (The Bitmap Brothers Collection 2)
• Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars (Broken Sword Collection)
• Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror (Broken Sword Collection)
• Future Wars (Delphine Software Collection 1)
• Operation Stealth (Delphine Software Collection 1)
• Arcade Pool (Team17 Collection 1)Time Extension

Additionally, an experimental feature allows the mouse to mimic paddle controls for select Atari 2600 games, such as Night Driver, Steeplechase, Demons to Diamonds, and Street Racer. This innovation provides a fresh way to experience these classics, simulating the original paddle controller experience through mouse movements .

Community Reception and Future Prospects

The retro gaming community has responded enthusiastically to this update. Discussions on platforms like Reddit highlight the excitement and potential for enhanced gameplay experiences. Blaze Entertainment has indicated that this feature will continue to evolve, with plans to expand mouse support to additional games in future firmware updates. It’s important to note that this feature is not available for the Evercade EXP or EXP-R consoles, as they lack external controller support .

Personal Reflections on the Update

From my perspective, the introduction of mouse support to the Evercade Alpha, VS, and VS-R consoles is a commendable step forward. It demonstrates a commitment to enhancing user experience while respecting the legacy of classic games. The ability to interact with games in new ways breathes fresh life into familiar titles, offering both nostalgia and innovation.

Conclusion

In summary, the fact that mouse support comes to Evercade Alpha, VS, and VS-R is a testament to the evolving nature of retro gaming. This update not only enriches the gaming experience for current titles but also sets the stage for future enhancements. As Blaze Entertainment continues to refine this feature, I eagerly anticipate the expanded possibilities it will bring to the Evercade ecosystem.