A Nintendo press release promotes the company's upcoming product, which may be available during the "holiday shopping season." Enclosed in a case that imitates the styling of the Nintendo Entertainment System, the future console is to have an HDMI video output and will include 30 built-in games which the company describes as "retro." It will also include a controller; a second controller (not supported by all of the games) is to be sold for $10. The console is intended to sell for about $60, and will come with an HDMI cable and AC adapter.
The possibility of playing other games instead of the pre-loaded ones was not mentioned.
[Continues with a complete list of the 30 pre-loaded games...]
Feast your eyes on the fantastic collection of NES classics included with each and every system:
- Balloon Fight ™
- BUBBLE BOBBLE
- Castlevania ™
- Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest ™
- Donkey Kong ™
- Donkey Kong Jr. ™
- DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE
- Dr. Mario ™
- Excitebike ™
- FINAL FANTASY ®
- Galaga ™
- GHOSTS’N GOBLINS ®
- GRADIUS ™
- Ice Climber ™
- Kid Icarus ™
- Kirby’s Adventure ™
- Mario Bros. ™
- MEGA MAN ® 2
- Metroid ™
- NINJA GAIDEN
- PAC-MAN ™
- Punch-Out!! ™ Featuring Mr. Dream
- StarTropics ™
- SUPER C ™
- Super Mario Bros. ™
- Super Mario Bros. ™ 2
- Super Mario Bros. ™ 3
- TECMO BOWL
- The Legend of Zelda ™
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link ™
Related Stories
Ars Technica reports that Nintendo, citing "high demand," has decided to cease production of its NES Classic Edition game console, also known as the NES Classic Mini. According to the story,
Nintendo has announced that it will cease production of the 30-game NES Classic Edition plug-and-play system by the end of the month, even though retailers have been unable to keep the system on store shelves for pretty much the entirety of its six-month run on the market so far. In a statement provided to IGN, a Nintendo representative said:
Throughout April, NOA territories will receive the last shipments of Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition systems for this year. We encourage anyone interested in obtaining this system to check with retail outlets regarding availability. We understand that it has been difficult for many consumers to find a system, and for that we apologize. We have paid close attention to consumer feedback, and we greatly appreciate the incredible level of consumer interest and support for this product.
[...] The fact that the miniature unit could be hacked to run any number of NES ROMs (or even to run Linux) may have had something to do with that surge of interest.
Also at The Verge.
Previously: Famicom Classic Mini Console Sold 263k Units in Japan
Nintendo to Bring $60 "Retro" Video Gaming Console to U.S. Market
Following the discontinuation of the NES Classic Edition, Nintendo has announced a September release of another miniature, retro game console with pre-loaded games. It will come in two versions: one for Europe, Australia, Japan and the UK; the other for America. They will differ in styling and in the included games. US Gamer lists the games that will be built into both versions. Star Fox 2, written circa 1995, is to be released for the first time as one of the built-in games.
The consoles will be powered by USB and will not include a mains adaptor; output will be over HDMI and
all games included in the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System are the original US 60 Hz releases.
Two controllers will be hard-wired.
As usual, the console is expected to be in short supply. Nintendo's share price fell after the announcement.
additional coverage:
- official announcement (in Japanese)
- Polygon (about short supply)
- Express (about short supply in UK)
- BBC News
- Engadget
- Wikipedia article
- The Verge (about Star Fox 2)
- Polygon (about Star Fox 2)
previous stories:
Nintendo to Bring $60 "Retro" Video Gaming Console to U.S. Market
Nintendo to Discontinue NES Classic Edition/NES Classic Mini
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @08:40AM
A retro console with HDMI and a bunch of preloaded games is a good idea. $60+$10 is also cheap for what would be a fun holiday gift. It's too bad they aren't giving it the ability to play N64 games, specifically Mario Kart 64 [wikipedia.org] with up to 4 players.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @12:56PM
That will be coming in the n64 reboot console.
(Score: 2) by jmorris on Friday July 15 2016, @09:10AM
Ok, you get HDMI and a real controller. Good. And that list of games is some choice titles. But $60? Assuming that since Nintendo itself is building this instead of just licensing the name to some Chinese junk, the recreation should be rock solid so there is that.
Compare to the other throwback devices that generally sold for less. The Commodore64 in a joystick for example. The Atari 2600 one. Intellivision. A couple of console games packed into a stick.
If it is hackable at all it will probably be the deciding factor for me.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @09:31AM
Is the controller connector standardized (It is the Wii/WiiU connector?) or proprietary (Originals were non-standard DB9, no?)
And is the HDMI output encrypted or clear?
Latter is important for those of us who might consider using one on our still active SDTVs.
(Score: 3, Informative) by butthurt on Friday July 15 2016, @10:07AM
The controller can be used with a Wii or Wii U, says https://www.nintendo.com/nes-classic [nintendo.com].
"Available Nov. 11, 2016," that page also says.
I forgot to mention, the device is called the NES Classic Edition.
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Friday July 15 2016, @01:10PM
Originals were non-standard DB9, no?
I think that was Atari 2600. NES was a weird 7 pin connector. [google.com].
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 2) by Pino P on Friday July 15 2016, @08:13PM
And the wire protocol over that connector [nesdev.com] was similar to SPI, except that MOSI and chip select outputs shared a line.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by scruffybeard on Friday July 15 2016, @11:47AM
the recreation should be rock solid so there is that.
I am sorry, but you cannot call it an NES unless you have to spend countless hours reseating the cartridge, and blowing the dust out of it. Kids today have it too easy!
(Score: 2, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday July 15 2016, @01:50PM
And having your best friend with Tourettes syndrome throw the controllers at the wall and scream, "GOD DAMN MOTHERFUCKER HORSE COCK FUCKER SUCKER BITCH PUNK NIGGER SHITANIMAL!" everytime he dies in a game.
Also, Ninja Gaiden II would have been a better choice rather than Ninja Gaiden. Punch Out should be the Mike Tyson edition.
Though, StarTropics and Tecmo Bowl are pretty awesome.
(Score: 2) by fliptop on Friday July 15 2016, @05:28PM
Yeah, when I read that game was included I was thinking the same. It's the only one of the list that I've played to the end. Does Dr. Mario even have an end?
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday July 15 2016, @06:27PM
Why was my comment modded troll? Is discussing friends coping with disabilities too controversial for this place? Tourettes syndrome is a medically-recognized disorder with well-documented symptoms.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @07:35PM
Could be the mod saw your username and reflexes kicked in.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @07:59PM
Or maybe the supposed quote came across as gratuitou?
(Score: 3, Informative) by Pino P on Friday July 15 2016, @08:17PM
Probably because it was reinforcing the Hollywood-driven misconception [allthetropes.org] that most people with Tourette syndrome have coprolalia (propensity to use taboo language) as a tic. Only about 10 percent do.
(Score: 2) by fleg on Saturday July 16 2016, @03:44AM
yeah confused me too. you wuz being positively congenial. modded you up.
(Score: 2) by linkdude64 on Sunday July 17 2016, @01:21AM
Rumours abound that the upcoming Nintendo NX will be cartridge-based.
(Score: 2) by cockroach on Friday July 15 2016, @11:29AM
No analog video output then? Would that be too retro?
(Score: 1) by DannyB on Friday July 15 2016, @02:45PM
Would an HDMI to VGA adapter on Amazon be retro enough?
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @03:24PM
Probably not. The original NTSC NES output 240p, essentially NTSC video except instead of alternating odd/even fields like normal (and in-spec) interlaced video, only odd fields are sent. Since the TV was only displaying every other line (even lines are never drawn), this resulted in characteristic "scanlines" on the old consoles. Depending on the quality of your display these scanlines could be quite distinct (clear black bands across the screen), or they could be rather soft -- the TVs most people had were rather blurry, so the odd lines would overlap the even lines somewhat, resulting in fainter scanlines.
240p mode doesn't actually work on modern TVs. If they support it at all, it is treated as interlaced video (alternating odd/even fields) and incorrectly deinterlaced (adding lag and image problems).
Dollars to donuts this console is going to look like your emulator on a PC (because that's probably what it is), won't have proper scanline emulation, and won't look like an original NES would.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday July 15 2016, @04:47PM
My problem with this is how no emulator renders on an LCD the same image that the PAL/SECAM TV used to.
I've tried a lot of times, but I just haven't a way to blur/filter the image to make it pleasant for hours-long gaming.
Granted, it might just be distorted memories, or that I used to have near-sightedness and a 12-inch bargain-basement CRT...
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @06:00PM
Try using Blargg's NTSC [8bitalley.com]. The screenshots on that page don't really do it justice. Most emulators for popular systems are shipping with Blargg's included these days. If you haven't used it yet, it's worth a try.
I'm betting this console doesn't include Blargg's NTSC.
(Score: 3, Funny) by JoeMerchant on Friday July 15 2016, @10:44PM
Would be environmentally irresponsible to sell billions of giant glass vacuum tubes, oh, wait...
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Geezer on Friday July 15 2016, @12:22PM
Perhaps I'll buy one. I miss Taloon.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by tibman on Friday July 15 2016, @05:01PM
I would also replay Dragon Warrior IV. I miss Alena crushing everything : ) Though, i'd also like to get the poster sized folded map, items list, and monsters list. Just checked ebay and the game alone is 80$. The map is 45$. The manual is 30$ !
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 3, Informative) by damnbunni on Saturday July 16 2016, @12:29AM
You can get rather good remakes of Dragon Quest IV, V, and VI for the DS, and VII and VIII are coming out for the 3DS this year.
The IV/V/VI versions use an engine very similar to Dragon Warrior VII for the Playstation.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @12:45PM
When they release a mini SNES.
(Score: 2) by Alfred on Friday July 15 2016, @01:23PM
Not that this is news: It has additional features too. Wireless controllers, wired controllers, SNES, N64 and PS1 (allegedly, I haven't actually tried it, yet) tons of older systems, way more than 60 games and Linux.
Total price depends on if you have/want wired/wireless controllers. Cheap NES lookalike USB controllers are like $8. My total price is over $60 but I have wireless controllers which is wonderful.
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Friday July 15 2016, @02:29PM
I do that with my computer and an xbox controller, but what makes me still consider this is that most emulators have nagging little things that aren't perfectly replicated from the original game. I've seen heavy graphical artifacts or even more commonly radically different audio output. I haven't tried playing it recently, but I think Startropics was an utter mess to emulate. At least it was back in the day.
I can't help but wonder if Nintendo just stuck a Pi or equivalent into a case with some nostalgic bezels, or if they have stuff closer to the original hardware that would allow for more authentic playback. I kinda want one just to open it up and find out.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @04:36PM
NES, and emulation in general, has made insane strides in accuracy. There are basically five steps in emulation: copy the speed in popular games, copy the ability to play more games, copy the way the hardware is laid out, and copy he way the hardware works, copy the way the electrons work. NES emulation is at the point where if your emulator isn't on step four or five, the community tends to ignore it. It is now to the point where you can take the input to your NES emulator and it will play back almost perfectly on real hardware, with a few games not quite there due to the cartridge chips as well as longer runs have minute errors build up until there is a "desync" in longer runs (read multiple-hour).
(Score: 3, Touché) by DannyB on Friday July 15 2016, @02:19PM
No good can come from this.
This will harm our children and our society.
These violent video games must be stopped before children are affected for life.
There should be a law to stop violent games such as Frogger, or Space Invaders.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @07:43PM
what is the difference between ® and ™
(Score: 2) by Tork on Friday July 15 2016, @08:09PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @08:48PM
So for every ™ I see there is a failed attempt on getting monopoly of that word or phrase?
And for Bubble bobble, Double dragon II: the revenge, Ninja gaiden, Tecmo bowl in the list they didn't try. Then of course pops up the question about WHY they think it is important to tell about that in a list like that, why it is important for them to tell that they don't have a registered trademark "balloon fight"?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 15 2016, @08:50PM
...unlike "final fantasy" where they in some country prevents (prevented?) use of it as a name of a "Games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes; decorations for Christmas trees" (probably) by other companies for their things.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Friday July 15 2016, @09:23PM
So for every ™ I see there is a failed attempt on getting monopoly of that word or phrase?
No, what you see is called 'branding'. The difference is you can make a soda called Ghosts 'n Goblins, just not a game with that title. You can use the word 'monopoly' and all its negative connotations if you like, but really it's about these companies keeping their products distinct.
If you're skeptical about why you'd actually prefer this approach over not having 'monopolies' on their branding, then I'd suggest you go to the JonTron channel on YouTube and watch the video on Disney Bootlegs. He reviews a few games that separated quite a few people from their money.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 16 2016, @03:31AM
but would the ™ they put there in their list "branding" in any way legally prevent me from making my own game (or eh... sporting article), called balloon fight ? more than if they had not sprinkle the list I mean.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday July 16 2016, @03:40AM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by butthurt on Friday July 15 2016, @08:28PM
The "®" is supposed to signify a trademark that has been registered somewhere; "™" tells us it's a trademark.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C2%AE [wikipedia.org]
I didn't check them all but of the ones I did, most of the games marked with "™" are mostly Nintendo's own (exception: Pac-Man) and the ones marked with "®" are owned by others.
The list wasn't in the original submission.