The NES is back

[nightwulf]

Kinda ...

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3143042
http://www.playmessiah.com/onlinestore/index.htm





$59.99 for an NES clone that plays NES and Famicom carts and includes a wireless controller. Adds new features (e.g. 16 colors per tile/sprite instead of 4, stereo sound, rumble) that new software can take advantage of. Ships in September.

Sexy.

Edit: I lied; it doesn't include a wireless controller. It has built-in wireless support though, so I assume you can order wireless controllers from them without some bulky adapter plugging in to your controller ports.

Nightwulf

[ultimate7]

Looks like you will be able to use the original controller with it, correct?

[ultimate7]

Well screw getting a backup NES on Ebay, I'll just wait and get one of these.  It would be nice if they could get some Tengen rights to make updated version of RBI.

[rdub]

thats sweet. in the past couple years used nintendos have gone through the roof at our used game shop. i keep wanting to pick one up but i was sure the thing would just go to shit if it hadn't already.

are they planning on rereleasing any of the titles?

[Gantry]

It really is a great idea, simply for the design and wireless.  The rumble, stereo and increased colors don't seem that important to me since old games won't take advantage.  Are people really going to write new games for it?

The ability to play ROMs off a CF or SD memory card would have been huge, but I might consider getting one.  Shit, you gotta pay almost $50 for a NES on Ebay now if you buy one with two controllers and a new 72-pin connector...

[Gerlost]

Back in February, I got my NES rehabbed for $30, otherwise I might consider getting this new one.

[ultimate7]

Are people really going to write new games for it?

From the article, it sounds like they are considering it, he mentions trying getting rights to make an updated Contra.

[Gantry]

Even if they do, are you going to shell out cash to buy a new contra cart?  Obviously I can see RBI, but if we really wanted to we could do it now.  And by me, I mean nightwulf doing 95% of the work and spending 20hrs a week on it...

I personally just don't see new carts catching on.  I still like the products, but again a memory slot for ROMs would have been 100 times more valuable than a rumble pack or stereo sound...

[nightwulf]

There's no way they'll be releasing "legitimate" old NES titles. The licensing costs alone would be ridiculous. There's a huge NES homebrew scene though. People are still writing NES software today, eleven years after the console went out of production (in America anyway). I'm sure you won't see any major game developers releasing new NES software, but you'd be surprised how many homebrew projects might turn up.

The upgrades are definitely interesting. I'm dying to see the technical docs. Maybe we can give RBI an overhaul.

The ability to read software from anything but a cartridge would send Nintendo screaming down their throats, and I imagine they're halfway there already. As much as I love them, Nintendo will beat the shit out of anyone who gets remotely close to encouraging piracy. They're not always right, but it doesn't matter when it's Joe Shmoe vs. Nintendo's legal budget. Especially with their new console playing old titles, I bet they're itching to jump on piracy groups again since they have a legitimate claim that their 8-bit software is making money again.

Nightwulf

[nightwulf]

From the article, it sounds like they are considering it, he mentions trying getting rights to make an updated Contra.

Yeah, he can mention that all he wants, but I'll probably be a ballerina dancer before Konami licenses Contra out at a price these people can afford, particularly since Nintendo will be needing the same thing to provide it for Revolution. At least that's my best assumption; details are still sketchy on Revolution's older titles.

Nightwulf

[Gantry]

I didn't know this homebrew scene was that popular, got any links?  Do they release titles in cart form or ROM form? 

You are right about Nintendo's legal department, I'm sure they is why they didn't include a memory slot or ethernet...

Regarding RBI, I just don't see the new features being terribly useful to extend the cart.   The biggest obstacle to me are adding more teams, which I don't think the new console will help with.  That is more trudging through old code and finding a spot to inster new instructions and teams.  And even if you do take the time to add new music (which is sorely needed) and the like, so few people on here would be able to play it...

Obviously I still think any sort of upgrade to RBI would be cool, hope I'm not sounding like a party pooper here.  What do you think you can do with the beefed up colors per sprite? 

[TbT]

the only upgrade in rbi im all in favor of seeing is morgana the kissing bandit making and apperance. 

[nightwulf]

The "biggest" homebrew title I've heard of recently is NeSnake 2. The author's homepage is here, and the thread discussing the release on the NES development boards is here. Memblers, who runs the NES dev site and is quite active in the community, recently sold carts containing three homebrewn games to finance other projects.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head, but NesDev is always a good place to look.

More colors per sprite can make "prettier" graphics. There really isn't a more exciting way to describe it. Specific to RBI, nothing earthshaking is coming to mind. The real question is whether we'll still be restricted to 16 (well, really 13) color palettes. If palettes are reworked, you could start getting into more detailed uniforms, much better graphics all around, black/hispanic players finally appearing black/hispanic, all kinds of things. The new sound capabilities are nifty too, as you could sample just about any music and/or sound effects you want, instead of trying to figure out how to "make" music via coding it.

Nightwulf

[ericdavisfan]

If you guys are going to buy one of those, then you should bid on this:



Click me
shortened link -nightwulf

[Wilfong]

would there be anything better than the same style rbi game, but with all the teams? different stadiums would have been cool too.

i disagree with gantry, i think the music is fine the way it is. although, remixes might be ok. perhaps a death metal version could be recorded for TBT and myself?

[Gantry]

The stereo handles all my music needs quite well... 

[TempoGL]

the only reason that i don't want to buy this is because it doesn't look exactly like the old NES.  if mine died and i couldn't get a "new" one affordably, i might buy it.  until then...nope.  it just wouldn't feel right.

[ericdavisfan]

the only reason that i don't want to buy this is because it doesn't look exactly like the old NES.  if mine died and i couldn't get a "new" one affordably, i might buy it.  until then...nope.  it just wouldn't feel right.

"Change?  We fear change!"

-Garth Algar

[ultimate7]

So is anyone planning to order one of these, I think being able to play Famicom games my be the biggest benefit, but I probably want to wait to make sure it's working well before I shell out $60.

[ultimate7]

I assume no one here knows anyone that bought one of these?