iPhone 3GS emulates N64, blows minds in the process (Update: is it a fake?)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted December 7th 2009 2:23PM
posted December 7th 2009 2:23PM
Look what we have here -- a preview of 3G4, a N64 emulator developed by NWorksDev. Compatible with the iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch 3G, this bad boy appears to be rendering down the graphics (as one would expect) but all in all it seems to be running pretty smoothly. Of course, this is a work in progress: the developer (who claims to be 14 years old) says that he has to overcome duplicate button registers, delayed presses, and some crashing -- and he has yet to implement the L, R, and Z keys. That said, this thing is pretty sweet! Hit up the YouTube links for info on becoming a beta tester -- but not before you see the thing in action after the break.
Update: Engadget reader and fellow Twitterati @kankuroukun brought a third video to our attention, this one purportedly showing the so-called "beta test" to be a fake. Or, as they say in Latin class, a phonus balonus. Well, it sure seems like this guy is just playing a video on his iPhone and moving his hands in time with Mario. Get a closer look for yourself after the break.
Update: Engadget reader and fellow Twitterati @kankuroukun brought a third video to our attention, this one purportedly showing the so-called "beta test" to be a fake. Or, as they say in Latin class, a phonus balonus. Well, it sure seems like this guy is just playing a video on his iPhone and moving his hands in time with Mario. Get a closer look for yourself after the break.
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Kids these days...
Are fucking awesome.
SUPER SMASH BROS!!!!
Crap, the Pandora's WIP port of Mupen64plus isn't running games this well yet. But then again, they weren't emulating dumb down graphics either.
@Nightwheel Seeing as (IIRC) the source for Ari64's dynarec is available, there's not much stopping whoever this is from just taking that and disabling sound and using lower graphics settings. It would make it that much smoother (sound makes a big difference, the graphics don't really). I highly doubt a 14-year-old spent the months required to make a fully-functioning dynamic recompiler and the rest.
Engadget reports on obviously fake N64 emulator for iPhone 3GS, loses credibility in the process.
Guess this is as good a time as any. What N64 Emulator for PC is best?
Also, I really don't think the touch controls on this would be all that bad. Although, they certainly aren't very pretty at all.
Wow. The console is as old as he is. Now I feel ancient...
HAI GAIZ I MADE N64 EMULATOR I SWEAR I AM NOT FUCKING AROUND AND BTW I'M 14 AND 14 YR OLDS CAN DO SHIT LIKE THIS JUST SO YOU KNOW DONT MAKE FUN OF US!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111
It is a fake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIwfpss9av0
Awww, Engadget and its FUD... :)
Please people just read the comments in youtube.
EPIC fail, Engadget... EPIC!
I don't get why this has to be a fake. The way I saw the video sometimes the control stick just didn't respond properly which is always an issue with iphone-games.
There are pretty decent-working emulators for NES, SNES, Master System and PSX for the iPhone...all downloadable via Cydia on your jailbroken device. If its possible to port the PSX it is definitely possible to port the N64.
The problem is that you can't really play any fast-paced games (even the ones from the App-Store) as it is really hard to play on the touchscreen where you don't get the feedback of real buttons. The emulators are great for some old turn-based RPGs like FF7 though. So the only thing thats actually missing in order to play the games properly is the possibility to connect a bluetooth controller.
Slingbox for games anyone?
http://gizmodo.com/5359261/spawn-hd+720-is-like-a-slingbox-for-your-console-games
Writing a spawn controller for the iphone probably wouldn't be too difficult.
If that kid want's to retain an inkling of credibility I'd recommend he codes one fast. ;)
There is no need for the question mark - it is a fake, it was obvious from the minute one for anyone that knows how hard is it to develop an emulator, even for far simpler consoles, not to mention N64, that it's a first grade baloney... Further, the poor attention seeking kid after being boooed on all his videos, even the one where he's claiming that it's not a fake while displaying a serious lack of communication skills and a bad need for a haircut, deleted the videos...
Considering how cheap Tegra is... and how it will most likely power Nintendo's next console... I wouldn't be surprised to see downloadable N64 games on the next Nintendo handheld. I've avoided all Nintendo system but the original Game Boy, but I'd totally buy one if I could play Mario 64 on a handheld.
That video may not be fake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITiHKrz2pCY
Who knows...
Zod just put up a video of a REAL N64 emulator for the iPhone.