Get your old school Nintendo on
March 6, 2008 – 11:28 pm
Remember when life was simpler, games came on a cartridge, the flush sense of accomplishment when you finished a game, the relentless blowing of cartridges to get them to work on the console? Relive those fond memories virtually or actually again.
First, brief background via wikipedia:
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit video game console released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Brazil. In Japan it is known as the Nintendo Family Computer, or Famicom. The most successful gaming console of its time in Asia and North America, the NES helped revitalize the video game industry following the video game crash of 1983, and set the standard for subsequent consoles in everything from game design (the first modern platform game, Super Mario Bros., was the system’s first “killer game”) to business practices. The NES was the first console for which the manufacturer openly courted third-party developers.- NES wikipedia
Lets check out the specifications:
The Nintendo’s 8 bit console
- Processor: 6508 8-bit (custom Motorola 6502 class)
- Processor speed: 1.79 Mhz
- Resolution: 256×224 (ntsc) or 256×239 (pal)
- Colors available: 52
- Max Colors on screen: 16, 24 or 25.
- Max sprites: 64
- Max sprites per line: 8
- Sprite size: 8×8 or 8×16
- RAM: 16 Kbit (2kb)
- Video RAM: 16 Kbit (2kb)
- Min/Max cart size: 192 Kbit – 4 Mbit
- Sound: 5 channels
Enough info?
Theres a plethora of methods of playing Nintendo on almost any device that has a screen.
The most simple and immediate way is to play within your browser with these Java-based browser emulators:
One of the most common ways is via emulator. Emulators allow you to play NES games on PCs to Mobile Phones to even your ipod. You will need to find ROMS that you own, or play some of these legal ROMS. Download, install and play! (RTFM)
PC Emulators (get this also: NES PC Adapter
) Nesticle http://bloodlust.zophar.net/NESticle/nes.html
Various Emulators:
http://www.emulator-zone.com/doc.php/nes/Mac Emulators
http://www.zophar.net/mac/nes.htmliNES on Mobile Phones
http://fms.komkon.org/iNES/Nester for PSP
http://rukapsp.hp.infoseek.co.jp/PSPSoftware/NesterJ.htmNES Port for Nintendo DS
http://www.telefragged.com/thefatal/index.php?content=inc_si_ds.htmINES for Ipod (Requires new firmware)
http://www.ipodlinux.org/INESNES.app (NES for the iphone)
http://www.zdziarski.com/projects/nesapp/FCEUltraX for modified XBOX
http://xport.xbox-scene.com/fceultra.php
Nintendo has made its classic Nintendo games available on its followup devices
NES on Wii Virtual Console (dont forget the NES Wii Adapter
You can also buy the consoles used. Garage sales or thrift shops are a great (cheap) source. Heres some resources online:
NES Consoles from Amazon Resellers
Ebay is a great source for NES Consoles
Questionable Knockoffs
Super Joy III Power Player
Onestation (Pretty cool LCD/Tv Plug and Play with 100-1 cart)
Too many games to pick from? check out these best-of lists (which, of course, is arguable)
Thats it! Get your 8 bit fun on!