Evercade is a UK based company that produces cartridges (a couple of different ones every month or so) containing licensed retro games. Their latest machine is a small bartop arcade with an 8" screen. Because it is Evercade, the Alpha can use 2 cartridges at the same like just like their table top console that you hook up to a TV.
I did have a bit of fun however, and I am not exactly happy with Evercade on this one. My unit came in today, and from the outset, everything looked good.
20250111_130808 by
Chako, on Flickr
When I opened the big outside box, there was another inside. This one looked like it got mauled by an angry T-Rex. I instantly got worried that this wasn't going to end well. I also got angry because I noticed that the T-Rex had the temerity to patch it up with tape, and still sent it to me.
20250111_130902 by
Chako, on Flickr
The damage was so bad, that it also got the Alpha's box which was inside the other 2 boxes.
20250111_131123 by
Chako, on Flickr
Opening that box, I was greeted with instructions, several power cable bits, and a blue envelop that contained 2 more marquis for the light up panel up top of the Alpha.
20250111_131247 by
Chako, on Flickr
20250111_133855 by
Chako, on Flickr
I took a real close look at the Alpha once removed from its box and couldn't discern any external damages. However, whenever I turned on the unit, it would boot up to the language selection menu and that was it,
20250111_140244 by
Chako, on Flickr
The problem being that the joystick and buttons did nothing. I rebooted it several times with no advancement. I went back to Amazon and initiated a return back for a refund as I figured the Alpha got taken out by whatever took out the 2 boxes.
I then decided to see if there was a way to fix the unit as I hate having to jump through hoops to return the arcade machine, etc. I found something very promising in the form of another video showing the same issues. That end user fixed his problem by attaching an external controller to one of the front USB ports, which enabled him to get to the control icon. Once in, a simple factory reset gave him full control of his control deck. I tried the same but my wired PC gamepad did nothing. I had to go upstairs to fetch one of the Evercade VS control pads. It worked.
20250111_173304 by
Chako, on Flickr
Now I have a fully functioning Alpha that can now play all my cartridges. I thought it might be funny to put on the same game on the Alpha and the much larger Iconic Arcade. The funny part is that the larger Iconic was 50 dollars cheaper than the Evercade Alpha.
20250111_173951 by
Chako, on Flickr
I quickly canceled my return with Amazon.
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