Reincarnating the NES 91
IGN has a piece on a modern NES clone, the NEX. Well constructed and designed to recapture a gamer's enthusiasm for the 80's gaming juggernaut, they have a rundown on the deck's features and extras. From the article: "Though there have been some rather weak attempts to remake the NES/Famicom prior to the NEX, Messiah really put some work into the production to make the NEX feel deserving of the love its users no doubt feel for the original. The device itself is small, cute, and very reminiscent of its forefathers with a front-loading NES cartridge slot and a top loading Famicom slot. The controller jacks are the same as the original NES, meaning you are welcome to use your original controllers if you still have some. Even the packaging is attractive, and the Generation NEX kit includes a cartridge-shaped manual in a slip case, packed with instructions written and illustrated in action-comic-book style and a mini rarity guide developed by Digital Press."
Nothing like nostalgic gaming (Score:2)
Compatibility Chart (Score:1)
They weren't able to get Maniac Mansion working, but it looks like it may have been a problem with the cartridge.
I so want one of these.
Re:Compatibility Chart (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Compatibility Chart (Score:3, Informative)
Not necessarily. Here's one review that has almost nothing good to say: http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archive
Cool, but too late (Score:3, Insightful)
Thus, emulators. Instead of a dozen consoles, I have one Gamecube and one PC, the PC running every emulator you can imagine. I physically OWN the cartridges, yet I prefer playing the games themselves on the PC: improved graphics, better controllers, and best of all, no blowing furiously into carts trying to make them work.
Thus, my collection of physical games sits in myriad boxes for posterity's sake (excepting my gold Zelda cart, which rests lovingly on display) while I actually -play- the games on a PC.
Re:Cool, but too late (Score:3)
Re:Cool, but too late (Score:3)
Cool as a P* commercial (Score:1)
Max Headroom: And, and, remember folks: Don't say the P word.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q
Re:Cool as a P* commercial (Score:1)
If ++ is +1 and -- is -1, then why would you think ** is exponent? Surely a new operator is in order. I nominate ^.
Caret is bitwise-xor in many C-style languages.
Re:Cool, but too late (Score:1)
Re:Cool, but too late (Score:1)
Telling a classic gamer with a collector inclination that emulation is the final solution to all his problems is about as sensible as telling a
Re:Cool, but too late (Score:2)
I'd rather build my own NES out of a mini-itx/nano-itx/other sufficiently small device. Throw in a cheap 10 or 20 gig 2.5" hard drive for all the ROMs, and a few SmartJoy adapters (that allow the use of classic console controllers via USB), plug it into
Cheaper solution (Score:2)
What you are describing is exactly what has been done with emulation on the Xbox. Modded Xboxes use a menu interface such as Evolution X which makes it easy to select emulators, homebrew games or media center apps while sitting on the couch.
The emulator interfaces are easy to use menus. Most of the emulators are ports of ones you have used on Windows, just with a
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
The goal of my, errm, fantasy, was to create as small an emulation box as possible. With a nano-itx motherboard (Still difficult to obtain as they have only just now entered limited availability in Japan), you could create an emulation box that is fanless and actually much smaller than a Mac Mini (Mac Mini is 16.5cm wide/deep, nano-itx mobos are 12cm).
The xbox, while certainly more capable (and cheaper), is much larger and noisier.
O
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
Of course in a few years time I think nano size systems will reach a level of maturity especially since the mini has shown that there is a market for smaller computers inspite of the limitations you get from slower processors.
I think it would be a neat project to transplant an Xbox into something more
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
nano-ITX motherboards aren't uselessly slow, just not up to modern (Pentium-M) equivalents. But you're getting a 12 cm by 12 cm motherboard, so 1GHz and a 1GB SODIMM is pretty damned nice for something a lot smaller t
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
I guess the biggest advantage the Xbox has in terms of performance is no operating system overhead.
But yeah there really isn't any other option in the super small, cool and quiet space.
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
Fine, so the C3 isn't incredibly fast. I didn't claim it was (Only that I thought there was a chance that it was faster than the XBOX's CPU, and it isn't THAT far off).
My original point stands though, the C3 has way more than enough power to emulate any 16-bit platform.
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
Then again on a nano board system you would have a lot more memory, which should
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
You'd have to go this route with the xbox anyhow, since you'd need to install Linux on it anyhow. So you'd be tossing away all the benefits of the xbox and end up back where you started: either get the smaller size, additional memory, and much greater expandability
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
You don't need to install/run Linux on the Xbox in order to run emulators, Xbox media center or xbox home brew applications. Those are built and compiled with the MS Xbox dev kit. They just aren't signed by MS which is why you need a mod chip.
I paid $150 for my Xbox + $100 for 160GB hard drive + $50 for mod chip. So $300 total. And in truth you can get a much cheaper mod chip, I got the top of the line one which allows you to load and switch between different bios.
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:1)
I was going to use a Evalue Tech ECM-3611-a1 3.5" SBC
http://www.tri-m.com/products/evalue/ecm3611a1.htm l [tri-m.com]
US$280
Pretty good deal. Only downsides I see to my choice in board, it only does Stereo sound, and no TV output. But easily rectified with a scan converter, and say a pcimia sound card attatched to the PC104+ expansion (supports 3 PC104+ devices.
Nano-ITX doesn't excite me, much sm
Re:Cheaper solution (Score:2)
For one thing, it isn't really smaller. It is 14cm by 10cm, whereas the nano-ITX is 12cm by 12cm. Virtually the same surface area.
Furthermore, adding a VGA to TV converter adds $50 to $100 to the price, and may not have as high quality as a direct output from the motherboard's onboard video.
Re:Cool, but too late (Score:1)
The computer is always on as it doubles as my samba and music server so I don't have the problem of boot times
Just another inaccurate famiclone (Score:2)
Re:Just another inaccurate famiclone (Score:2)
Re:Just another inaccurate famiclone (Score:2)
Riiiiiiiight. A casual gamer is going to spend $50+ on an NES when they can get a GC for $60, a PS2 for $120, or a wide variety of controller-to-TV games for $10-$20. If Messiah and Nuby really think that, then their console is dead in the water. Judging by the compatibility list, this thing IS just like the other NES clones that have
Re:Just another inaccurate famiclone (Score:2)
Talk to me when.... (Score:2)
Your first mistake (Score:2)
Re:Your first mistake (Score:2)
1) I live in Florida, so no basements.
2) I've heard from reliable sources (read: my wife) that chicks don't like visitng you in your parents house, regardless of room.
Re:Talk to me when.... (Score:3, Interesting)
A more insurmountable problem for many games is battery death. We're reaching the outside of the lifespan of most NES cart batteries, at this point. We're well past the time period most were speced for, but some have survived 18 or 19 years inside their plastic shells anywa
Re:Talk to me when.... (Score:1)
Re:Talk to me when.... (Score:2)
A cheaper option. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:A cheaper option. (Score:2)
Reincarnating the *S*NES (Score:2)
What I would pay good money for is a revisit to the SNES, one of my all time favourite consoles. A Generation NEX-type SNES with wireless controllers would certainly suit the bill for me, I think this might be impossible though. IIRC the SNES had lots of custom chips which might not be possible to duplicate.
Re:Reincarnating the *S*NES (Score:1)
Re:Reincarnating the *S*NES (Score:1)
A Generation NEX-type SNES
Would likely be impossible until 2086 when the copyright on the program inside the Super NES lockout chip expires. Unlike on the NES, where you could get away with not putting a lockout chip into the console, the Super NES has games that require a working official lockout chip on both ends of the cart bus in order to enable access to most of the ROM.
Do what I do (Score:2)
Buy a cheap used XBOX and a good modchip.
I put a cheap 80gig hard drive on there and with a few easy to find emulators it currently has every NES, SNES, Atari, Sega Genesis, and Gameboy game ever made. Since both the Xbox and
Re:Do what I do (Score:2)
Too excited to even read past the first paragraph before you succumb to the compulsion to throw your opinion into the ring? Attention-defecit much?
Re:Do what I do (Score:2)
"Buy a cheap used XBOX and a good modchip."
Or, when the Revolution comes, get it.Hook me up (Score:2)
Famiclone (Score:1)
This thing is cheaper than a toploader, and it plays famicon games.
If you want to play famicom games, get a cheap famiclone. That's what the Generation NEX seems to be [parodius.com]. In many places, you can buy one at the mall and throw the included pirate multicart away.
Legal? (Score:2)
Re:Legal? (Score:4, Insightful)
It's not only *considered* legal, it is legal.
The NES was reverse-engineered years ago. And all of their important patents have expired as well. Anyone has free reign to build a famiclone these days, and in fact nearly all of the retro-consoles on the market right now (with some notable exceptions like the Flashback 2 and the C64 joystick thing) are famicoms-on-a-chip running emulated software.
Nintendo doesn't like it but there's not a thing they can do about it. What they do do every once in a while is find a manufacturer that's including game ROMs with their famiclones and bust them for that. Then they word their press release such that it looks like the real issue was "unauthorized consoles" and the headlines end up saying things like "Nintendo busts NES clone manufacturer!" But it's always the ROMs that are the real issue - obviously the copyright on actual content still applies.
If you just sell the hardware, though, anybody is free to do so.
Re:Legal? (Score:1)
I find it odd that it has taken so long to get an NES clone into large retail chains, especially one that sells used games for said system.
Re:Legal? (Score:2)
Re:Legal? (Score:2)
Worth the money? No. The chip it uses is a years-old cheap knock-off that has known picture and sound problems. You can get the Real Thing for less money on eBay.
Nice advert... (Score:2)
Re:Nice advert... (Score:2)
Read some thoughts from NES fans.. (Score:2)
Got mine! (Score:1)
Plus, the redesigned controller they shipped with the NEX is awesome. It doesn't leave marks like the old one did, and it has some new touches
Re:Got mine! (Score:2)
I have an experiment for you, then:
Re:Got mine! (Score:1)
Re:Got mine! (Score:2)
Re:Got mine! (Score:2)
Re:Got mine! (Score:1)
How to Clean an NES Game Pak (Score:1)
I get a flashing pink screen when I play it on my NES.
How to Clean an NES Game Pak
Adapted from a procedure in the official NES cleaning kit's manual
Nex? (Score:2)
Re:Nex? (Score:2, Informative)
Nex in latin is... (Score:2)
Re:Nex? (Score:1)
Why bother? (Score:2)
I have a well-maintained front-loader, a top-loader, and an A/V Famicom. Why would I be interested in this? I can stick in my Final Fantasy III cartridge, but will it let me play the game in English? No? Then I'll wait for the Kevtendo [google.com].
Heck, can this Famiclone even get all the sound right? They mentioned TMNT II, how was the percussion in that game? Did April's digitized scream come through?
Hell, I had a Tristar once, which did everything this thing does (played b
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
You can get a refurbished front-loader (complete with composit
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
As for your new NEX, try not to play a real NES and avoid certian later Konami/Ultra titles (like Castlevania II and TMNT II) and maybe you won't notice the difference.
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
Re:Why bother? (Score:1)
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
You had a Tristar once... and you got rid of it? You fool!
Mine works great, though I did have to solder a jumper wire to make SNES FX games work. It's one of the best things you can get... if you can find one. The main negatives are 1) no S-video, and
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
I got rid of it because I was tired of the graphical and sound glitches. It uses the same chip as this NEX and has the same problems. So I sold it on eBay and now have a SWC DX2 that sits on top of my SNES (which uses S-VHS output). I use my front-loading NES now with its composite outputs, but if I ever feel the need to safe shelf space again, I'll use the A/V Famicom and my 72-to-60 pin converter (looks silly but saves horizontal space).
I just ordered one (Score:2)
Sweet Wireless NES Goodness... (Score:2)
I have been following this device and its creators for some time now, and they had been stating a Christmas release and at least online they have hit their mark (more than can be said of a number of others). While the novelty and the retro gamers will love it I believe it is ill-fated for a couple major reasons.
1.) Poor timing with the upcoming Revolution release and the backwards compatability.
2.) The NES is one of the hardest consoles to program for EVER. It is a major pain in the ass, I've wor
Re:Sweet Wireless NES Goodness... (Score:1)
The NES is one of the hardest consoles to program for EVER.
Bullshit. NES is easy. Atari 2600 is hard.
Without an active community of developers
So what are we [parodius.com]? Chopped liver?
Re:Sweet Wireless NES Goodness... (Score:2)
Most people who are "developing" for the NES are just hacking existing ROMS, and while that is novel and has some good outcomes, it is not anywhere near a trulky active community.
With t
Re:Sweet Wireless NES Goodness... (Score:1)
My point was even the SNES is a hell of a lot easier.
Not especially. They use almost the same CPU, and for scrolling-background type code, the programming model is nearly the same. In fact, it's harder to get sound going on a Super NES because you have to learn two instruction sets and communicate between the two through a really narrow channel.
Most people who are "developing" for the NES are just hacking existing ROMS
Sure, the ROM hacking community overshadows the original development community,
Re:Sweet Wireless NES Goodness... (Score:2)
While I applaud your work, and don't want to demean it in any way, it is just a Tetris clone. I programmed that on a TI83 calculator with minimal trouble. If you take a look through the forums on that site you gave me in the dev section you will see a number of common troubles people are experiencing with things like scrolling and such.
All I was s
Re:Sweet Wireless NES Goodness... (Score:2)
Re:Sweet Wireless NES Goodness... (Score:2)
What, were you trying to do bitmap-style graphics on it or something?
You should try your hand at the Atari 7800 sometime. If the NES is a pain in the ass, the 7800 is a pain in the whole body. The difference between the 7800 and the Colecovision is like night and day. The NES shouldn't be too much different from the Colecovision (other than being 6502 code instea
HORRIBLE compatibility (Score:1)
While this device looks great, I fear that it's functionality will leave a lot to be desired.
Is it really that great? (Score:2)
Stay away from this... (Score:1)
This thing is crap. (Score:1)
You can find a less biased review here:
http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives
And these guys aren't the only ones saying the system is terrible.
Basically it's nothing more than one of those cheap, Chinese Nintendo clones with a NES-type shell. The creators of this system claim this thing has a custom IC
The IGN "review" is a farce (Score:2)
Do not judge a book by its cover. The NEX is nothing more than yet another Famicom/NES clone. There have been 100s before it, and they all pretty much suck. It uses the same NES-on-a-chip (NOAC) used in many other Famicom and NES clones. These NOACs have inaccurate audio, video, glitches, and are completely incompatible with roughly 40 NES games (Castlevania III, Gauntlet, etc) and even more
How much did Messiah pay IGN for this review? (Score:1)