This isn't made for people like us, the nerd collectors who cream out over minutae. It's a 30-game (not too much filler really) emulation console. I was concerned about the possibility that it would be an inaccurate famiclone, but since it's Nintendo, I at least trust that it will get the emulation right. No cart port because Nintendo isn't trying to resurrect carts it won't make money from. Smaller form-factor = more units to keep in store inventory, more sales etc. I would have LOVED to see a cart port, but alas.. I reaaaally hope it has composite too so we can get that nice scanline CRT setup. Then again, if you're going for the "old times," then you might as well get the original console. This console isn't made for you, the collector, but maybe it is. This could possibly introduce a new generation to the classics and I'm down for that. --- EDIT NoA has clarified: - The cartridge slot doesn't work. - It does not connect to the internet - The 30 games announced are the only one that will be included.
It would be really cool if someone opens it up and devises a way to load other NES roms into it, like via a Micro SD card reader or something.
@Yakumo It's a plug-and-play (albeit limited) solution in a nostalgic packaging for a perceived low price. The reasonable man would certainly prefer the myriad of emulators that may even surpass this device's emulation capabilities (low level emulation) but the consumer inside me just yearns to grab a couple of them.
Lifehacker already made a post about it ;-) http://lifehacker.com/build-your-own-mini-nes-with-a-raspberry-pi-and-this-3d-1783674650
The problem with this device is it will make their lawyers come down hard on emulators. Legally they had no device to defend before, now they are obligated to crush any and all similar devices that are illegal, because if they don't it has legal implications.
Heh? If that were true they'd have cracked down on emulation in the Wii days. That they didn't have a device before is just plain inaccurate. They can't because emulation in itself isn't illegal. It's the using it to play copies that technically is. Take a look at NOA's official article on it. It's interesting more because of what it doesn't say than what it does.
I cringe when people take the "guilty until proven innocent" route of assuming too much that collections and devices they know nothing about will use emulation. It's like looking at a picture of a forest without exploring it. There might just be a different breed inside.
I reckon this thing will be ARM based and as Assembler said, probably a hacked up nintendo DS.. Why use Wii remote connectors? Because Nintendo made shit loads of them and need to flog them off some how.. I hop this sparks the next generation of plug and play's, ones with real power! PS: I can whip this out at the bar and pick up some milfs, so good investment...
I hope the next Nintendo console uses the same connections, sick of having to buy new controllers every time a new console comes out.
I must say this took me by surprise, saw it on Facebook as well, at first thought "oh.. this is kind of lame..." (thinking of the Atari flashback and the Sega ones), then thought "well, it ain't that bad". But now again, I don't see novelty really, people were going crazy thinking of the possibilities of hacking it and making it run more stuff... why? Just go with a Pi.
A friend posted about this on her FB and all I wanted to tell her was, "There's an emulator out there waiting for you! Go find it!"
I think people forget that saying "go get an emulator, then download some illegal roms from somewhere on the internet (try not to download any malware by accident!). Then download an SD card image for the raspberry pi, get the roms onto the card too and then boot it up. You also need to find some USB controllers and then setup retroarch for best setup. Oh and it doesnt come with a case" vs "go buy this, it looks just like a mini nes and has some great games on it!" Is a no brainer to 99% of the population.
Funny However, if they don't mess it up, they will be the Microsoft of gaming very very soon. I'm talking about Pokemon GO.
