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ArsTechnica: Hackers unlock NES Classic, upload new games via USB cable
- Thread starter Pathfinder
- Start date
ElMexiMerican
Member
There's an 8bitdo NES style controller on Amazon that has the SNES button layout and comes with a wii controller wireless dongle. There are also Club Nintendo SFC style wii classic controllers that you can find on eBay
Yup.
I bought 8bitdo's SNES controller which also connects to the wii controller wireless dongle. I'm ready for those SNES games.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Thank you!!!
If you just have to get the classic for the look, then do it. If the "nes" look isn't the main reason, get a Pi3. No comparison really.
runnin_blue
Banned
No worries.
EDIT:
It was only a matter of time. I knew arcade would come next. This is fast becoming the ultimate cheap emulator machine (for non-sticklers and pixel-counters).
Yep. You can even have multiple copies of the exact same rom if you like.
How many roms can the menu hold? I have an NES rom pack of 2961 roms.
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
2961 why
DonMigs85
Member
Because I'm crazy.
I have 98 on mine including the default 30. You should really only put games you think you'll play, IMO.
I'm pretty new to emulation, as you've probably been able to tell from some of my questions.
I'm not sure what they're known as but I've noticed that there are quite a few "hacked" games where people have changed existing games or created their own games. I've had a look at a couple of the Zelda games but I'm not the biggest fan of the Zelda on the NES so I was wondering if people have any other custom games that work on the NES mini that they'd recommend?
Because I am new to this stuff, I've also become really in some of the Famicom Disk System games that I'm seeing which I wouldn't have even known about when I owned a NES.
I'm absolutely loving this stuff now although many of the games have clearly been updated and are far harder than they were when I was young. Seriously, it's nothing to do with my abilities!! 😐
I'm not sure what they're known as but I've noticed that there are quite a few "hacked" games where people have changed existing games or created their own games. I've had a look at a couple of the Zelda games but I'm not the biggest fan of the Zelda on the NES so I was wondering if people have any other custom games that work on the NES mini that they'd recommend?
Because I am new to this stuff, I've also become really in some of the Famicom Disk System games that I'm seeing which I wouldn't have even known about when I owned a NES.
I'm absolutely loving this stuff now although many of the games have clearly been updated and are far harder than they were when I was young. Seriously, it's nothing to do with my abilities!! 😐
runnin_blue
Banned
Awesome !
Sad that the default controller don't have all the buttons for true arcade emulation
I wonder how far would the compatibility go
http://www.romhacking.net
NES: http://www.romhacking.net/?page=hacks&platform=1&perpage=20&dir=1&order=Date&startpage=1
I could and do spend hours browsing. It's fascinating what people have come up with.
Thank for that, it makes sense.
Wow, there's loads of them. Just searched for Super Mario NES games and there seems to be hundreds. I'll have to see what I can find about some recommended romhacks.
Naked Snake
Member
I managed to snag one from Amazon.fr and it arrived today, but now I'm thinking of selling it... Not to make a profit, but the lag, video signal noise, and other technical anamolies that were shown in the Digital Foundry and My Gaming Life videos kind of soured me on it.
I still think it's a neat little system and I totally get the appeal, but just not sure it's for me (I tend to be a perfectionist/purist).
But I would like to know if you guys think the hacking scene will add some unique value to the NES Mini (beyond its physical appearance and being an offical product, the latter which kinda falls apart once you start hacking it).
Is there something about its innards (like the SoC, or the controller interface) that will give it some inherent advantage over other similarly priced options that can do similar things?
I don't want to sell it then regret it as I watch the hacking community continue do to awesome things on it... But then again couldn't all those things be done, and arguably better, on a Pi? I know bringing this sentiment is frowned upon here (and early on in this thread I was among the defence force against the RetroPi naysayers), so I apologise.
I still think it's a neat little system and I totally get the appeal, but just not sure it's for me (I tend to be a perfectionist/purist).
But I would like to know if you guys think the hacking scene will add some unique value to the NES Mini (beyond its physical appearance and being an offical product, the latter which kinda falls apart once you start hacking it).
Is there something about its innards (like the SoC, or the controller interface) that will give it some inherent advantage over other similarly priced options that can do similar things?
I don't want to sell it then regret it as I watch the hacking community continue do to awesome things on it... But then again couldn't all those things be done, and arguably better, on a Pi? I know bringing this sentiment is frowned upon here (and early on in this thread I was among the defence force against the RetroPi naysayers), so I apologise.
I still don't have one, but I do want one of the controllers. Your experience are my concerns, especially with the lag. How bad was it for you? What did you try?
I currently use a Classic Controller Pro with something like this from Mayflash on my PC, but has 4 ports https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089O4EB0/?tag=neogaf0e-20 and want a *good* NES controller (not a 3rd party knockoff and not 30 years old and hard to find and expensive). I don't really notice any lag so far.
Naked Snake
Member
I haven't tried it, didn't even unbox the thing. Don't want to do so if I'm gonna sell it... didn't get a chance anyway, had a crazy day. But now you tempted me to try it... Haven't used a real NES controller in soooo long, this could be a treat
What program are you using when extracting the Retroarch contents into the Hackchi? I was having the c6 error as well. Downloaded/used 7zip for extraction and this fixed my c6 error code. For whatever reason my other extraction method was not replacing the init file in Hackchi.
It has been wonderful to run some SNES games on the Classic. I still need to perfect the customized controls for my SNES controller but I've gotten it pretty close to what I want.
Next I'll add some Genesis games and perhaps NeoGeo if I can manage it.
In my experience so far I have not experienced any lag and I've used two wireness 8bitdo controllers along with the standard Nes controller the Classic comes with. Even played some two player games with my brother and no lag as of yet. Same for the SNES games I've been emulating.
Yaska
Member
Did you put in the fixed init file? The stock file has errors so you need to replace the init file to get it working.
Naked Snake
Member
Can you use the same display options (CRT filter, pixel perfect, etc) for SNES and other games? Do save states work the same way?
superdeluxe
Member
For those having issues I'd honestly wait till cluster includes into hakchi
I was hoping Cluster would get the rest of the mappers working but instead he is placing his focus on Retroarch now. I preferred using the NES menu with a complete list of NES titles but I guess that isn't going to happen now. Will wait and see how Retroarch NES Classic development goes.
D.Lo
Member
Hmm that sucks.
CrashPrime
Member
So is there a project in the works to get the NES library up and running on the Classic GUI with a one button launch?
Basically just swapping out the not great emulator from Nintendo to nestopia?
I feel like dealing with the RetroArch GUI really is no better than the raspberry pi solutions. I was over the whole "pi is good" argument but if we have to deal with RetroArch's gui what really is the point?
Basically just swapping out the not great emulator from Nintendo to nestopia?
I feel like dealing with the RetroArch GUI really is no better than the raspberry pi solutions. I was over the whole "pi is good" argument but if we have to deal with RetroArch's gui what really is the point?
runnin_blue
Banned
I assume they'll make it an option, not the default.
Ok so I just got one and have a few questions.
1. Does the firmware flash or whatever it is people are doing to get other games still work current models? Or is it an early-batch exploit?
2. Can I load SNES games like Super Mario and Chrono Trigger? I don't need support for the full library but I'd love to show my little brother the main classics.
3. I read on a Nintendo support page that the Wii Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro are compatible, but only as "player 2" on multiplayer games. Any way to use one of these as the main input? Also, Japanese versions of these controllers are 50% cheaper than American versions - is there a region lock or something which would stop me from using that?
Thanks in advance if somebody takes the time to answer these! I'll get to reading Reddit and this thread with patience but a clear answer to these would get me started more quickly.
1. Does the firmware flash or whatever it is people are doing to get other games still work current models? Or is it an early-batch exploit?
2. Can I load SNES games like Super Mario and Chrono Trigger? I don't need support for the full library but I'd love to show my little brother the main classics.
3. I read on a Nintendo support page that the Wii Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro are compatible, but only as "player 2" on multiplayer games. Any way to use one of these as the main input? Also, Japanese versions of these controllers are 50% cheaper than American versions - is there a region lock or something which would stop me from using that?
Thanks in advance if somebody takes the time to answer these! I'll get to reading Reddit and this thread with patience but a clear answer to these would get me started more quickly.
This is where I'm at. I was bleeding edge with all of it until this part.
1. It should work, there hasn't been any indication that any of the new(er) NES models are any different.
2. Yes, sort of. It's very early but they work.
3. It's only listed for player 2 because the connector has a plastic piece that blocks player 2 if you use it in player 1. Solution: Take a screwdriver to it and remove the clear plastic.
Thanks a lot man.
I ordered a Wii Classic Controller Pro, an extension cable, and some Twi-Wing screwdrivers to remove the plastic.
As for the current "hack" scene - are SNES games already up and running or is it more of a "this will probably work eventually" thing?
Ruud_Luiten
Member
They're up and running!
Lucent
Member
Game changer. Need to figure out how to do this.
Naked Snake
Member
That's what I asked a few posts up. Still waiting for an answer. Thanks for putting it succinctly
Besides the design and controller, I'd say the UI is unique and appealing too. I haven't seen an open source one that is as polished.
Although I only have NES/Famicom games on it, the simple difference for me is that I already own one of these and I don't own any of the others that you mention or anything that would be a suitable substitute. There's no point in me buying something else to do what I can already do perfectly and very easily on this.
That's what I asked a few posts up. Still waiting for an answer. Thanks for putting it succinctly
Besides the design and controller, I'd say the UI is unique and appealing too. I haven't seen an open source one that is as polished.
I think, at least to my mind, the initial appeal is the ease of use and all in one-ness of it, plus the standard nostalgia/nintendo appeal.
But once you get into heavily modifying it and adding more emulation and features to it, there really isn't a good reason not to go with the multitude of other options.
Either way though I really enjoy the absurdity of a company releasing a product in limited supply, with limited games and then consumers taking it and upgrading it, "fixed that for you" style. We've reached a point in techno-consumer society that consumers are quickly surpassing what companies can provide, seemingly faster and easier than ever before.
Just the design / controller / UI.
I asked before and did a bit more research as well; something like a Raspberry Pi 3 is a lot more powerful. They are a bit more expensive in the end though and you generally have to put them together (fairly simple.)
That's a little hyperbolic; Nintendo held this device back for financial reasons and they aren't exactly the kings of anti-hacking technology and the software already existed that was hacked into the NES Classic. This isn't about what Nintendo "can" provide it's about what they chose to provide.
The cost of a Pi3 in relation to the NES Classic, is relative I guess to where you are. Over here in the US, $60 would get you the classic, and a controller. The Pi3 route would get you a lot more storage, a lot more power, a controller (if you don't already have a USB peripheral controller).
I'd go with the Pi 3 any day.
I think the Pi3 is only slightly more expensive overall for the whole package (Pi3 + case + power supply + SD card + controller.)
Like by $10 or so. But yeah that would get you a much more powerful device with a lot more storage; sort of pointless to get anything less than a 32GB SD card these days since the prices are only a few dollars more than anything less.
tornjaw
Member
I'm having some issues with getting Retroarch to start. I keep getting a C6 error. I've poked around a little and some said that it was a matter of ensuring that you didn't have any folders on the main GUI so I got rid of every game but Retroarch and I'm still getting the same error. Any advice?
SNES, arcade, Genesis, Gameboy etc. are already up and running.
I replied to someone else already in this thread but are you making sure that when you extract the Retroarch contents into Hackchi that you are replacing the init file?
I'm not sure if the different video settings apply while in Retroarch, I have not fiddled with that yet. Save states work through Retroarch but it's relatively simple to save/load states in the program. The most difficult part I've had so far is getting my button configurations down.
It's the same difference. When you are providing a product, you have to be able to compete. When your consumers one up you, if they want to release say a 2nd version more games! More features!
Well eh... we already tricked out the original.
It limits them in the future. And their products are always going to seem lackluster.
Its one thing in the 80s where hey the vast majority of people weren't savvy enough to easily do all this stuff.
But emulation and roms has been the playground for teenages for 20 years now. These companies need to stop screwing around.
Their biggest advantage is currently a lot of us are suckers.
The NES classic was incredibly lackluster from a technology standpoint at it's release; it would have been lackluster a decade ago really.
I'm just saying your "we live in an era" comment is hyperbolic; people aren't out-doing modern technology, they are out-doing out-dated technology designed for "suckers" as you put. I wouldn't call people suckers personally; it's a cute little device and has that Nintendo charm and there's far worse ways to spend $60. I kind of want one despite having other emulation set-ups (and a collection of retro consoles.) I'd never expect Nintendo to de-value their ROM cash-cow they've been making millions off of on their Virtual Console.
I'm still a little confused at some of the excitement over it being hacked however; at least SOME here seem kind of unaware of how many ways you can have a more powerful emulation setup (that also does video streaming, web browsing, whatever you want.) Hell most people here probably have a way to do far more for free just using what's in their house (a tablet, a laptop, their existing video game controllers, etc.)