Items tagged with SNES
The 20-year span between 1985 and 2005 saw the release of literally hundreds of classic game titles that were -- and are still -- beloved by millions of people around the world. From Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda, to modern classics like Halo and Metal Gear Solid, most of gaming's biggest franchises spent their formative years on consoles plugged into standard-definition cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions, the warm glow and rounded geometry of which would provide countless hours of fun. If there's one problem with those consoles, however, it's that it can be difficult to get one running -- and more importantly looking good -- on modern HD television sets. Don't worry, though....
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Super Mario World is something of a cornerstone game that millions of players have enjoyed over the years. While it is an awesome game, it certainly had some limitations when released 30 years ago. One of these limitations was the amount of storage available, so some things like music had to be highly compressed to save space. However, some dedicated retro gaming fans and dataminers have recreated the music of Super Mario World from uncompressed audio samples. In the modern era, we have games like Call of Duty that take up hundreds of gigabytes of storage to play, but Super Mario World could not use that much when it was released. In fact, the maximum storage in an SNES cartridge was just...
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Whether it's a Nintendo Christmas ornament or an original Game Boy, we love seeing Raspberry Pi-based retro consoles stuffed into into nostalgic spaces. The ingenuity and effort required to make these contraptions that were not originally designed to do this sort of thing work is pretty astounding. The Game Boy in particular was pretty wild because it was a fully functional, playable machine. However, the mod we'll look at today takes the cake. Reddit user Josh0O0 showed off a retro console stuffed into the shell of Super Nintendo controller with not only a Raspberry Pi Zero running an SNES emulator, but also all the inner workings required for controlling games and displaying them on a...
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When people think ray tracing, typically they think of some pie in the sky idea with an incredibly powerful GPU inside an incredibly powerful computer. That does not have to be the case, however. Ben Carter, a freelance game developer and software engineer from Japan, made a device for the Super Nintendo (Famicom in Japan) to do ray tracing in what he calls the SuperRT expansion. Carter, who is part of Shironeko Labs, had a goal in mind when he started this project: “learn Verilog and FPGA design.” This idea eventually grew into building an expansion for the SNES to do raytracing. From there, he “wanted to try and do was something akin to the Super FX chip used in titles...
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Nintendo may have take a swing and a miss with the Wii U, which failed to recapture the magic of the Wii and ranks as the company's worst selling console of all time, but the same is not true of the Switch. It continues to sell like gangbusters—Nintendo sold an additional 10.81 million Switch systems during the last quarter, and 52.48 million since launching nearly three years ago. The Switch will need to double that figure in order to surpass the original Wii at 101.63 million lifetime sales, but the hybrid console is well on its way. Just as impressive, the Switch managed to scoot past the venerable Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in lifetime sales—Nintendo pegs SNES...
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Nintendo just reported its earnings for Q3 2019, and the company had some good news on the hardware sales front. If you recall, Nintendo introduced the cheaper and lighter Switch Lite during the quarter, which has resulted in a massive uptick in sales. According to the Japanese gaming giant it sold 4.8 million Switch consoles during the quarter, which represented a whopping 50 percent increase year-over-year. We can attribute that sales momentum due to the introduction of the Switch Lite, which is priced at $199 compared to $299 for the standard Switch. Nintendo sold 1.85 million Switch Lite consoles and 2.85 million Switch consoles during the quarter. As of September 30th, Nintendo...
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Nintendo Switch fans who have been waiting to play some of the old-school Super NES games on the Switch have to wait no more. Nintendo has made the first 20 SNES games live on the Switch console. As exciting as the first 20 games are, the launch of those titles also brings a bit of bad news. Nintendo has confirmed that while more SNES games will be coming to the Switch in the future, the new launches won't be on a regular schedule. No schedule is a change compared to how Nintendo operated when it added the NES games to the Switch with a few coming every month. Making things even worse for fans is that the NES monthly schedule is now out the door as well. Currently, there are about 50 NES games...
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There has been a rumor that Overwatch would be heading to the Switch, and during the recent Nintendo Direct broadcast, it was confirmed to be true. Overwatch Legendary Edition is in fact bound for the Switch, arriving on the hybrid game console on October 15 in North America. Eager fans can preorder the game now. "Become the vibrant, powerful heroes of Overwatch! Line up the perfect shot using Nintendo Switch’s built-in gyroscopic motion controls, or engage the opposing team with the analog control sticks," Nintendo says. Switch players will be able to hop in and have access to 31 heroes on 28 maps. But it is the motion controls that could potentially set the Overwatch experience on the...
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You never know what you might find when poking around the Internet. Case in point, a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing by Nintendo appears to suggest that old school SNES games could be headed to the Switch Online service, where several original NES already live. Wouldn't that be neat? Nintendo has found numerous business opportunities with its retro game consoles and titles from yesteryear. Its NES Classic edition console was a breakout hit, followed by the SNES Classic. Now with the Switch and the accompanying online service, emulating old games is way to draw more players into ponying up for a subscription. Source: Nintendo (via FCC) So, where does the SNES come into play?...
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The fun Is coming to an end, folks. Nintendo's NES Classic and SNES Classic aren't long for this world according to comments made this week by Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé. While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Fils-Aimé clearly indicated that production winding down on both the NES Classic and the SNES Classic. If you have been sitting on the sidelines, now is the time to get one as quickly as you can. "We’ve said that the current systems are the extent of our classic program," said Fils-Aimé. "We’ve also been clear that, at least from an Americas perspective, these products are going to be available through the...
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After initially only be made available in Europe, the Nintendo 3DS XL SNES Edition made its way to the United States by way of Amazon. That retailer is now showcasing the console for just $149.99, which represents a $50 savings over its regular price tag as part of the its Gold Box Deal of the Day promotion. We should mention that the “SNES Edition” is in reference only to the 3DS XL’s color scheme, which no doubt calls to mind the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System that was introduced in the United States way back in 1991. One added perk, however, is that the console comes with a free download code for Super Mario Kart, which was the original entry in the long-running...
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There was nothing worse in a 1980’s/1990’s gamer’s life then realizing their console controller could not quite reach the comfiest chair in the room. Now there is a solution for retro console fans. 8BitDo has just released DIY kits that upgrade NES, SNES, and Sega Mega Drive controllers to wireless. 8BitDo’s DIY kits include all the necessary tools and do not require any soldering. The original controller’s cables are connected to the interior circuit board. The 8BitDo’s kit includes a new circuit board with a Bluetooth chip and rechargeable battery. The hole that once fed the cable will be replaced with a charging port. The port will also glow and...
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With Christmas right around the corner, you might be sweating what to get the gamer in your life. If a SNES Classic Edition retro console might be the ticket to holiday happiness for someone on your list, Walmart will have more coming and could potentially deliver the goods. You will have a chance to order one starting at 11 am PST daily from November 15 through the 17th. It's not clear how many of the consoles will be available.What we do know is that you can hit the page here and see if they have stock. As of writing, there is no stock listed, but that can change so keep checking. Walmart is limiting people to one console per order, so scalpers can’t buy them all up and sell them at a markup.There...
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When you find a recipe for success, just keep cooking, baby. That is the philosophy Nintendo is following with the rabid demand for retro gaming, which it has been tapping into with miniaturized re-releases of old school consoles such as the NES Classic Edition and SNES Classic Edition. But why stop there? Adding another ingredient, Nintendo is getting ready to release an SNES-themed New 3DS XL handheld in the United States.This is something Nintendo has been toying with in other parts of the world. It started with a Super Famicom-themed 3DS XL in Japan that it released last year, followed by an SNES version in Europe this past summer. Now Nintendo is bringing the latter model to the US, with...
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There was no doubt that the Nintendo SNES Classic Edition was going to be a big hit with gamers when it was released this past Friday. We saw preorders sell out in rapid fashion online, and it appears that brick and mortar locations across the United States also witnessed quick sellouts when the console went on sale. "Customer demand for the SNES Classic was just like we expected," said GameStop SVP of Merchandising Bob Puzon. "We sold out of our SNES Classic inventory within minutes in both our GameStop and ThinkGeek retail channels. "But customers shouldn’t worry. We’re getting more very soon. Once we do, our customers will be the first to know!” We haven't heard from other brick and mortar...
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Star Fox 2 Immediately Ripped From Nintendo's Just Launched SNES Classic And Already For Sale Online
There are certainly lots of retro gamers out there who are interested in the SNES Classic Edition that launched this week. We've already outlined everywhere you can get an SNES Classic Edition, but they are almost certainly not in stock any where right about now. One of the greatest features of the little retro console is that it packs in 21 of the coolest retro games you can get your mitts on and one of those is a game that fans wanted for years, but never Nintendo launched - Star Fox 2. Star Fox 2 was developed to a complete game and then never launched. However, Nintendo saw fit to put the game into the SNES Classic Edition and we'd bet there are more than a few hopeful Star Fox fans...
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Nintendo's highly anticipated SNES Classic Edition is will finally be available starting tomorrow. For those that preordered the retro gaming console, we hope that you'll receive your package on your doorstep over the next week or so. For those that didn’t preorder, one of the best chances of getting one right away is by heading down to your local Best Buy store. Best Buy informed customers today that it will have "limited quantities" of the consoles available at ALL of its brick and mortar locations tomorrow morning. We don't know what exactly constitutes "limited", but we wouldn't expect that there would be more than a dozen to two dozen available to purchase at each store. The electronics...
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We're just a few days away from the big launch of the Nintendo SNES Classic Edition. As we have reported on several occasions, the SNES Classic Edition is a miniaturized version of the original SNES that comes preloaded with 21 games and is capable of connecting to modern televisions. In addition, it comes with two controllers (with a 5-foot-long cable) so that you can get your two-player action on with some of the best games that were available for the console during its lifecycle. With the official launch date set for Friday, September 29th, many gamers who preordered the SNES Classic Edition are wondering what to expect when they unbox their console. Well, the first reviews for the console...
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The lead-up to the September launch of the Nintendo SNES Classic Edition has been accompanied by excitement, nostalgia, and miscommunication. The drama came to a head last week when Walmart canceled all SNES Classic Edition pre-orders that were made by Nintendo fans due to an alleged website glitch. Thankfully, Nintendo is trying to calm the nerves of anxious gamers and has issued a statement regarding SNES Classic Edition pre-orders. Despite previous comments from Walmart support representatives, Nintendo says that pre-order will actually commence this month, although no exact date or time was given. “We appreciate the incredible anticipation that exists for the Super Nintendo Entertainment...
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If you pre-ordered an SNES Classic game console from Walmart last week, your order may have been cancelled. There have been a lot of rumors flying around out there about why exactly the orders were cancelled. According to comments over at Nowinstock, multiple pre-order buyers are confirming their orders were cancelled. Reports indicate that the cancellations weren't because Walmart oversold their SNES Classic allotment. That is good news in a way, because it means those of you with cancelled orders still have a chance.The reason your order was cancelled wasn't due to a payment issue either. Orders were cancelled because the person in charge of the "Go" button over at Walmart pressed...
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The wonderfully retro and incredibly rare Nintendo PlayStation has now been made fully functional. The Nintendo PlayStation did not initially include any games. Gaming and electronics freak enthusiast Ben Heck of the Youtube channel The Ben Heck Show, however, recently managed to get Super Boss Gaiden running on the console. How did Ben get the console to work? After experiencing a few initial roadblocks, Ben replaced a number of capacitors in order to get the CD ROM to work. The board contained a CD ROM controller chip, a digital signal processor, and a microprocessor. The microcontroller controlled the the CD ROM when the system is not in game mode. Ben also discovered that an SNES...
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Nintendo’s seemingly boneheaded move in killing off production of the NES Classic Edition is starting to make a little bit more sense. Earlier this month, Nintendo provided the following statement regarding the end of production: 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. According to a new report from Eurogamer, Nintendo likely pushed the NES Classic Edition aside to make way for a miniaturized version of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). This so-called “SNES Mini” will...
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