Portable 8-bit gaming sort of hits the mainstream with ThinkGeek.com now selling the $50 Retro Mini Handheld NES System. Unlike those far more convenient, yet far less legal portable emulation machines that you have to purchase from far away lands, this handheld ships right from the U.S. of A. and plays actual NES cartridges.
The system takes 4 AA batteries and supposedly runs for over eight hours. There’s also a built-in 2.4-inch LCD screen, speakers, and composite video output to your TV for some true nostalgia. You’ll need to go up into the attic and find that box of NES games while this thing’s in transit to you but once everything’s in place, get ready for some good old cartridge-blowing, button-mashing fun.
Retro Mini Handheld NES System [ThinkGeek.com]
I just ordered this pretty excited about it shweet!
Hands cover the speakers? what? Or is it just me with the big ham-hands?
OMGosh no way dude, MUST HAVE!
RT
http://www.privacy-resources.us.tc
that’s an awful placement for the reset button
I have a flashcard for my DS with an emulator and over 600 NES roms on it. There is still room for some MP3s and a super compressed movie. I think I’ll stick to my DS for now.
How do you play Duck Hunt?
A similar item called the FC Mobile debuted at CES and came out a few months ago:
http://vpgames.com/p-3656-fc-mobile-portable-nes-game-player-plays-original-8-bit-nintendo-cartridges.aspx
Pros: Fairly cheaper than the Retro Mini, long battery life, AV cable included:
Cons: Pretty bad placement of A and B buttons (switched around and a bad angle).
This is just a rebranded FC-Mobile. They look EXACTLY The same.
Do I still have to blow on the cartridge to make the game work?
A+B buttons switched? How dare they! Also my larger hands will block the speakers and undoubtedly hit the reset button by accident. Me loves my classic console gaming but DS still wins as long as it’s not the real deal. Plus, carrying around a huge cart is pretty unwieldy for today’s portable gamer, but it will SURE win geek points among every 80’s gamer you meet while waiting for the bus!
Cool product, but BenHeck’s versions are still much more cool…..
http://www.benheck.com
Button layout looks horrible, how do you play mario on that thing? you’d have to rest it on your lap/table.
Looks like it was designed by a retard. I think they should employ someone with common sense and start again. =/