Some Thoughts on Nintendo, Retroid, & AYANEO

UPDATE: I received an email from AYANEO, citing a lack of review sample units and marketing staff changes as the reason for their radio silence, and that I will be receiving review units in the future. Ironically, they sent the email a couple hours before my video posted, but I was asleep at that point and didn't see it until after the fact.

Also, I misspoke about the RP Mini: its resolution is 1280×960, vice 1280×720.

Streisand effect

The Streisand effect is an unintended consequence of attempts to hide, remove, or censor information, where the effort instead increases public awareness of the information. The effect is named for American singer and actress Barbra Streisand, whose attorney attempted in 2003 to suppress the publication of a photograph showing her clifftop residence in Malibu, taken to document coastal erosion in California, inadvertently drawing far greater attention to the previously obscure photograph. The effect exemplifies psychological reactance, a kind of 'reverse psychology' effect, in which the attempt to hide information instead makes it more interesting to seek out and propagate.

Mechanism

Attempts to suppress information are often made through cease-and-desist letters, but instead of being suppressed, the information sometimes receives extensive publicity, as well as the creation of media such as videos and spoof songs, which can be mirrored on the Internet or distributed on file-sharing networks. In addition, seeking or obtaining an injunction to prohibit something from being published or to remove something that is already published can lead to increased publicity of the published work.

The Streisand effect is an example of psychological reactance, wherein once people are aware that some information is being kept from them, they are significantly more motivated to acquire and spread it.

History and etymology

In 2003, American singer and actress Barbra Streisand sued photographer Kenneth Adelman and Pictopia.com for US$50 million for violation of privacy. The lawsuit sought to remove "Image 3850", an aerial photograph in which Streisand's mansion was visible, from the publicly available California Coastal Records Project of 12,000 California coastline photographs, documenting coastal erosion and intended to influence government policymakers, of which the photograph of her residence was an overlooked and inconsequential tidbit of information. The lawsuit was dismissed and Streisand was ordered to pay Adelman's $177,000 legal attorney fees.

"Image 3850" had been downloaded only six times prior to Streisand's lawsuit, two of those being by Streisand's attorneys. Public awareness of the case led to more than 420,000 people visiting the site over the following month.

Two years later, Mike Masnick of Techdirt named the effect after the Streisand incident when writing about Marco Beach Ocean Resort's takedown notice to urinal.net (a site dedicated to photographs of urinals) over its use of the resort's name.

How long is it going to take before lawyers realize that the simple act of trying to repress something they don't like online is likely to make it so that something that most people would never, ever see (like a photo of a urinal in some random beach resort) is now seen by many more people? Let's call it the Streisand Effect.

— Mike Masnick, "Since When Is It Illegal To Just Mention A Trademark Online?", Techdirt (January 5, 2005)

Streisand's perspective

In her 2023 autobiography My Name Is Barbra, Streisand, citing security problems with intruders, wrote, "My issue was never with the photo … it was only about the use of my name attached to the photo. I felt I was standing up for a principle, but in retrospect, it was a mistake. I also assumed that my lawyer had done exactly as I wished and simply asked to take my name off the photo."

personally, I'll just leave nintendo alone if I were you. It's not worth getting your channel erased.

Regarding the dumper, it just occurred to me that, for anyone who dumped the files and sold the cartridge, it's for their own interest to not use it in their switch with the MiG switch right? Because it not only could ban the player who bought the cartridge, but also themselves. So essentially the only valid use case of the dumper is to dump your own game so you don't have to lug all your cartridge when you are mobile, right? It would be pretty dumb if you dumped and sold the cartridge, then went ahead use the MiG switch on your own switch.

Fair comments Russ.
As per usual a very balanced, diplomatic and pragmatic outlook.
Chapeau!

Jim Sterling doesn't cover Nintendo for exactly reasons like this. Maybe… use Mega Man X3 for your SNES emulator footage? Avoid all Nintendo games for the rest of time forever so that this never happens again.

another GREAT video, and another great MWY shirt 👍

Ayaneo Pocket Micro, will you be buying it yourself and do reviews for them anyways, just like the old days?

That suck so many people show Mario bros sorry that happen..

Remember when Retroid was budget friendly 😂😂😂

I'm new to the handheld scene and I honestly only have a SteamDeck. I wish I would've gotten the Odin 2 instead since I mainly play retro games. Anyways, you're by far the most reliable and trustworthy person I've seen in the handheld space since joining 1.5 months ago. I'm pretty sure Ayaneo knows the part you play in the scene so of course they'd like to stay on good terms. Love the professionalism and cleanliness of the videos and the reviews are 2nd to none.

maybe you should privately review the devices, as long as they get the feedback necessary to make a better device in the future

Nintendo just sucks tbh

Haven't seen this video yet but I'm liking and subscribing in advance because of Nintendo's "copyright" takedown

Nintendo is really REALLY evil….

I have a Samsung S20 FE with a SD 865 and it’s a little beast for emulation. I bought it specifically for handheld with the GameSir.

Nintendo has been making the exact same game for the last 20 years.

I love Nintendo, always have, but Nintendo, tread carefully. You are effin with the wrong content creator. 🍻💪🏼🔥✊🏼

The Retroid Pocket Mini is interesting with its OLED 4:3 1280×960 screen. I wish the battery would be larger though as 4000mAh is a bit on the low end when you think of the Odin 2 and its 8000mAh. The Odin 2 SoC is supposedly more efficient too. Add a bigger battery, a MD/Saturn style D-Pad and 6 button layout and it would be perfect.

Maybe YT should send Nintendo an invitation to a copyright and fair use class.
Gameplay or even just the title should not be protected. Even if it's a story driven game, gameplay should still be the focal point of a "game" and watching someone play is not the same as playing it yourself.

Nintendo – doing shady things since the 80's. Remember them blocking companies from releasing games on their systems, if they dare to release games for systems of other companies? Sega should have sued them to the ground back then, not that modern Sega is much better, taking down videos like people playing Shining Force, because they want only their now "Shining" game (that has nothing to do with the original series besides the name "Shining") to pop up in search results.

Nintendo always punishes there customers a don't get it we with you Russ

What if Ayaneo just focused on making 2 devices: a good Windows device and a good Android device, as opposed to releasing 10 devices in the span of a year?

Doesn't fair use allow an allotted amount of time to show a copy righted product?

The mini is only really a replacement for the 2s as far as the size, they aren't going to be trying to replace a $100 device in their range with one that costs double that.

Weird design choices on the mini and rp5, they correctly offset the sticks on the mini, but don't do that on the rp5, despite recognising that they need to improve the ergo over the rp4p and offsetting the sticks can make a bigger difference to comfort than bumps on the back that may not suit the size of your hands.

Your detailed analyses (and guides also) are greatly appreciated. Thanks for being on the front line for us.

Nintendo's mob practices are well known, and why I boycott them personally. But I'm seeing this Ayaneo issue as a strong consumer warning as well; If someone with a platform of over half a million enthusiasts is getting flatout ignored, how can I possibly trust them to have any kind of customer service for the little guy?

EDIT: Just saw the pinned update post. I remain skeptical, but at least they're off the black list. For now. 😏

He’s really genuine. I like his content ❤️

I truly never expected Nintendo to reach the same levels of big brother that Apple lives at. Truly disappointing. Really wish Nintendo would crumble as a company. They are far passed their point of usefulness.

Here b4 this video gets nuked too

Retroid does not ship to Mexico anymore.

I won't ever buy a Nintendo console or game. They are just a company that I don't want to even give a single penny to. I'm going to Get all their games for free on the internet

Aya Neo pumps out these devices nobody asked for and charges 2x the closest competition to it.

I have a feeling that this was not a happy video for you to make. Sorry you had a string of bad or frustrating things. I appreciate what you do though. I'll still be watching even if you never do another Ayaneo or Nintendo review.

Copyright is a joke

I don't see how it was within their right to strike you. You used minimal footage, and it was well within the boundaries of fair use. This is horse shit.

So much for innocent until proven guilty, I guess youtube is above that rule. They automatically judge and sentence creators just from a bloated accusation meant to cicumnaviagte what they were really after, knowing YT would take their side without question. I hate nintendo for their mafia culture and will never blink twice about what I may or may not do.

Russ I wanna see you talk about music one day. I've seen you wear Rites of Spring, Joyce Manor, and now a mewithoutYou shirt. All fucking awesome bands. I'd bet money you're a Cursive fan too.

Have you ever thought about uploading on YouTube as well as rumble? I'm not pushing for it, but I'm genuinely curious if you have thought about it

Taking your video down is the reason I will not be buying the OLED Switch I was in the market to get. Steam Deck it is

DONT BUY AYANEO they are using shady practices to create positive reviews

Evil Nintendo, that's why I'll alway be a pirate to them!

Please re-upload but block the nintendo part. @nintendo you're trash

Russ, random question, what's your favorite non-phone device for media consumption?