Tech Focus: Nintendo Launches $60 Classic Mini NES

Tech Focus: Nintendo Launches $60 Classic Mini NES

by Rob Guiffre

Does your Christmas gift buying list include any late 20-somethings or early 30-somethings?  Nintendo Entertainment has the perfect gift-giving option for the late Millennial or young Generation Xer in your life.

Set to release on November 11th, Nintendo’s $60 “NES Classic Edition” (aka NES Classic Mini) hits store shelves – in theory, at least.  Pre-sales of the system have already sold out – and for good reason.

For the $60 price, gamers get their hands on the mini console (about one quarter the size of the original), one classic Nintendo game controller (USB), 30 preloaded games, an HDMI display cable and the device’s power cable.

The mini console looks like a scaled down model of the original Nintendo Entertainment System; small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but large enough to be proudly displayed in your living room.  The controller is exactly the same as the original – the only difference being the USB connection, which allows it to be used on PC and other platforms.  The device also utilizes USB technology to power the system.  This is really convenient for users because a free USB port on the television can be used rather than fishing for a free electrical outlet.

Two of the big selling points are: three display mode options and the ability to save games on the fly.  The system allows for users to choose three display options: CRT mode (with horizontal lines and all), 4:3 option (which is also called “original NES look”), and pixel perfect (which frames the view and makes games look more modern). The save setting allows for four save blocks for each of the 30 preloaded games; gamers can now hit pause and easily save their progress at any point.

A couple of minor downside do exist: the unit comes with only one controller and cannot add more games.  The controller issue is a pretty minor downside because the price for an extra controller is a very reasonable $11.  A more serious downside is that the system is locked; meaning, additional games cannot be bought and added to the system.  It’s the 30 games and no more.

Overall, for the $60 price tag, this is an easy choice to give as a gift to a sibling, friend, son or daughter or really anyone who used to love Nintendo back in he 1980’s and early 1990’s.