Nintendo announced a very odd product today, the NES Classic Edition is a tiny version of the original NES that is preloaded with 30 games and includes one controller but cannot accept cartridges. They’re also releasing extra controllers, which use the Wii controller accessory port and can connect to wii-motes, for $10 each.
This is a strange product due to a few unanswered questions. What hardware is inside of it? What software will it use to launch the games?
I’m guessing that it is a further cut-down version of the Wii, a product that Nintendo knows how to make cheaply. They could then use the pre-existing NES emulation software, and interface, of the Wii, which already supports the controller interface.
The good thing about the controllers is that, if they’re similar enough, they could be used to refurbish older NES controllers.
The NES Classic Edition will be $60 when the system is released on November the eleventh. Or you could just do what a friend suggested, and buy a Raspberry Pi for $36 today. Load up the pi with all kinds of emulators and use whatever controller you want.
Here’s the list of games included with the NES CE:
- Balloon Fight
- BUBBLE BOBBLE
- Castlevania
- Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE
- Dr. Mario
- Excitebike
- FINAL FANTASY®
- Galaga
- GHOSTS’N GOBLINS®
- GRADIUS
- Ice Climber
- Kid Icarus
- Kirby’s Adventure
- Mario Bros.
- MEGA MAN® 2
- Metroid
- NINJA GAIDEN
- PAC-MAN
- Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
- StarTropics
- SUPER C
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- TECMO BOWL
- The Legend of Zelda
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
