The NES is back

[Gantry]

I forgot all about this bad boy...  If my NES breaks I would definitely buy it, but it's not enough of an upgrade to justify buying outright.  The fkn wireless controllers cost as much as the console, that sucks balls... 

Looking at the game compatibility list, both versions of RBI were tested and working...

[nightwulf]

I'm glad you bumped this, 'cause I'd forgotten that I'd posted about it here. The Nex has shipped, and the reviews aren't all that favorable. Then again, I'm coming from the point of view of an NES nerd, so maybe I'm overly harsh.

The system is not 100% compatible with all software. You ever see the little vendors at the mall selling devices that look like a controller (often an N64 controller) and plug into your TV, and have like 100 NES games? Those use a chipset referred to as NOAC (NES on a chip). It's (obviously) not licensed by Nintendo, and it's basically just another NES emulator. The pre-launch hype from Messiah led us to believe that the Nex had a brand new chip designed from scratch to emulate the NES, but it turns out that it's basically just another generic NOAC. So, there's a few software problems (the backlash from which caused Messiah to release a compatibility list after the system launched).

Notably, Castlevania III does not work (and despite the fact that the compatibility list leads you to believe that they may have a bad copy and it might work for you, it won't). Several other games don't work simply because of a very small hardware problem, which could've and should've been identified and corrected before shipping.

There are many good threads about the Nex on various gaming sites. Here is a thread from nesdev (an NES development community), and here is another good one from Digital Press (a classic game system community).

So I'm a little upset over the system. Internally it's very similar to the cheap knock-off NESes in the malls, and compatibility suffers. However, it does have built-in wireless support, and cartridge slots for both NES and Famicom titles. Famicom compatibility hasn't been thoroughly tested (since this is an American product, and no one has a mountain of Famicom carts to test, or hasn't spoke up about it anyway), but there are likely to be problems there as well.

But again, this is coming from a self-described NES nerd. If all the games you'd like to play are marked as "compatible" on their list, then this might be a good buy. Frankly I'd just as soon pick up a refurbished toaster (front-loading NES).

[Gantry]

Nice writeup nightwulf...  Are there any clock speed or timing issues from using the NOAC over the real deal?  Meaning would an RBI guru know that the pitching/batting movement was a little off?

It's still a nice product at a nice price, but I'm really disgruntled at the price of the wireless controllers.  At the price of the system, it pretty much makes it a no go, and that removes half the appeal of the system (the other being Famicom compatibility since I've yet to play my FS 87 cart). 

[ultimate7]

Well in addition, I'd be worried about our "homemade" games working since I already have an Arcade cartridge and was thinking about getting another cartridge for another ROM.

[nightwulf]

There should be no noticable issues at all in any version of RBI, whether the original or the specially-built cartridges. To the best of my knowledge anyway.

[TempoGL]

bumpst...gantry and i saw a bunch of these at that montrose/harlem video game store yesterday.  i am enticed by it now for 3 reasons:

1) i want to have an NES in my bedroom as well as in the living room
2) i want to be able to play famicom games (i own 5, including the original family stadium, but haven't played them since my NES/famicom adapter disappeared like 10 years ago)
3) the wireless arcade stick that came out took me straight to bonertown.  it costs an extra 50 bucks, but it seems to be a very high quality build, it feels like an actual arcade joystick.

i started a thread about it on digital press, let's see if i get some good reviews

[Slims]

If your looking onto buying a NES clone, check out something called an "FC twin". it is a toploader that has a slot for both the NES and the SNES. Its only 50 bucks or so on amazon. It doesnt look as cool, but it is two consoles in one.

I dont know about the quality of it, but Im sure you could read some reviews.

[ultimate7]

Does it play Famicom?

[TempoGL]

the fc twin does not play famicom, based off an exhaustive internet search, also the guy at the store confirmed my findings. 

[Slims]

the fc twin does not play famicom, based off an exhaustive internet search, also the guy at the store confirmed my findings. 

yeah, it plays NES and SNES american games. If you want to play famicom games on it you have to get a converter. 72 pin to 60 pin converter, they sell them on ebay.

[nightwulf]

yeah, it plays NES and SNES american games. If you want to play famicom games on it you have to get a converter. 72 pin to 60 pin converter, they sell them on ebay.

Or you could get any SNES and a Super 8, so you'd at least have one actual console and not those stupid fucking clone chipsets ...

[nomaaa]

or you could not suck and take care of your old consoles...

[TempoGL]

Hey, i own an NES and a SNES.  I bought the nex so i could have a NES in my room and so i could play famicom games.  I've had a famicom converter before and it never worked very well for me.  Suck it trebek

[Slims]

yeah, it plays NES and SNES american games. If you want to play famicom games on it you have to get a converter. 72 pin to 60 pin converter, they sell them on ebay.

Or you could get any SNES and a Super 8, so you'd at least have one actual console and not those stupid fucking clone chipsets ...

Rad, but a super 8 for 100+ bucks if you can find it anywhere to begin with, and use the same stupid fucking clone chipset that you seem to hate anyway, since that is what is in a super 8. But hey, at least the stupid fucking clone chipset is sitting on a genuine SNES right?

[nightwulf]

Or you could get any SNES and a Super 8, so you'd at least have one actual console and not those stupid fucking clone chipsets ...

Rad, but a super 8 for 100+ bucks if you can find it anywhere to begin with, and use the same stupid fucking clone chipset that you seem to hate anyway, since that is what is in a super 8. But hey, at least the stupid fucking clone chipset is sitting on a genuine SNES right?

The phrase "at least one actual console" would be referring to the actual SNES. Congrats.

[Slims]

Or you could get any SNES and a Super 8, so you'd at least have one actual console and not those stupid fucking clone chipsets ...

Rad, but a super 8 for 100+ bucks if you can find it anywhere to begin with, and use the same stupid fucking clone chipset that you seem to hate anyway, since that is what is in a super 8. But hey, at least the stupid fucking clone chipset is sitting on a genuine SNES right?

The phrase "at least one actual console" would be referring to the actual SNES. Congrats.

Thanks. And congrats to you on your awesome economics proficiency.

[TβG]

i sense a storm rising...

[fknmclane]

My buddy bought one of those things and loves it.  His mom chucked his NES years ago when he moved out and he wanted to start playing again.  I have yet to play it myself but it sounds like a good alternative.