NES Classic

[Michi]

Well, it looks like some people finally got their wish. I kept hearing complaints about "how come Nintendo doesn't release a 'best of' package" and, lo and behold, this emerges.

Granted, Nintendo did it in their own way and it's not on a disk like I'm sure many gamers would prefer/expect, but hey, it's essentially the same thing. It's just not in the shape many would have anticipated.

[marurun]

Granted, Nintendo did it in their own way and it's not on a disk like I'm sure many gamers would prefer/expect, but hey, it's essentially the same thing. It's just not in the shape many would have anticipated.

You could argue this way is better. You don't have to already own any piece of hardware except an HDMI-capable TV. No console or PC nonsense.

[Anapan]

I was just wondering what if it doesn't have scanlines... Well, I believe they will include forced 4x3 with scanlines in a 480p signal. If not, Aha! - Arcadeforge SLG3K/HD comes to the rescue! I have a boxfull of budget downscalers free-shipped from china and both ArcadeForge separate scanline generators sitting right in my closet. I'd be awesome if they could be used again - I'd totally make a guide to make the device look like I'd expect it to without buying the crazy expensive setup I got made for me back in the day so I could play 1080p scanlined NES (with that set of games at least...).
People who don't have a modern TV will not have to go without either. I've combined an HDMI to Composite adapter and a 1W TV Transmitter to make any HDMI signal display on every old TV I have. I've been procrastinating on that Wrist-watch (Sorry, Don't have the supplier that still has stock handy - PM and I'll try to track them down) SOTN playthrough I promised over a year ago, but I've been surprised with the quality retained from having such a clean originating signal being downgraded so low. Yet another guide I've procradtinated on making...

[fastbilly1]

In for one and atleast an extra controller. If the controller is a true NES controller, I am in for atleast four. A new true to original NES controller is worth so much to me I will likely buy more than that. Especially if I can find more of the stupid Nintendo Power stickers:

[Michi]

Granted, Nintendo did it in their own way and it's not on a disk like I'm sure many gamers would prefer/expect, but hey, it's essentially the same thing. It's just not in the shape many would have anticipated.

You could argue this way is better. You don't have to already own any piece of hardware except an HDMI-capable TV. No console or PC nonsense.

And I would not argue with that argument. If you have an HD TV and a spare HDMI cord (I assume the Classic doesn't come with one), than this is a pretty stellar deal.

[marurun]

I REALLY want to know how powerful the internal hardware is. I really really want to know. It would help me understand if it's even possible to see a version of this from Nintendo covering newer systems. I hope my assumption of stripped-down Wii hardware is correct. That would create so much potential. Even if it would likely never be realized.

[Tanooki]

A stripped down 3DS chipset would do it too as the New3DS with the faster CPU and added RAM can make SNES games run excellent too, but a stock 3DS stops with 8bit or mostly 8bit stuff. Either really would be acceptable and I think they'd go for whatever was cheapest for the better margin.

[CRTGAMER]

I REALLY want to know how powerful the internal hardware is. I really really want to know. It would help me understand if it's even possible to see a version of this from Nintendo covering newer systems. I hope my assumption of stripped-down Wii hardware is correct. That would create so much potential. Even if it would likely never be realized.

Since Nintendo already posted no plans on adding any games and there is no visible expansion slot, I doubt the PCB will be any more powerful then the NES games built in that it is design to run. Would not make sense having extra chip power or memory adding to the production cost of the NES Classic since there are no plans to add more games. Hackers still might find a way to adding other NES games later, would be sweet if it had an SD slot like the portable ATGames Genesis.

Maybe if the NES Classic has great sales, Nintendo might follow up with a SNES Classic console?

[Tanooki]

No it does make sense.

Why R&D out additional boards, when you can just make 1 that is a catch all, then just create a new shell, dump some different system game ROMS on it, create a proper controller and go. Far cheaper than R&D and producing a board meant for NES, another for SNES, etc. It's cost cutting.

[isiolia]

I REALLY want to know how powerful the internal hardware is. I really really want to know. It would help me understand if it's even possible to see a version of this from Nintendo covering newer systems.

At this point I would be really surprised to see anything but an ARM based SoC in there, and in turn, given the recent slew of articles, I think it's actually going to be an offshoot of the NX rather than recycling an old platform.

Nintendo did talk about making a unified platform for future consoles. If we assume that means they're making a generalized Android/iOS/etc type platform, akin to what others like Amazon have, then having an array of devices like those do would also make sense. Where the NX itself might be a flagship high-end product, like an iPad or Fire Tablet...the NES Classic might be more like an Apple TV or FireTV stick.

If that's actually the case (and it seems logical), then releasing additional closed systems for other Nintendo consoles would be pretty feasible, utilizing whatever level SoC suits the processing power and price point. Making one board that'd work for a few generations of the product would likely make sense too, but it might depend on release frequency.