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Clever eBayer showcases NES purse
Although the original NES has certainly cemented itself as an icon in the gaming universe, it's quickly climbing the ranks for the most frequently modified console ever. Aside from being hacked into its own controller, given a spin by Ben Heck, and used to house a Mac mini, the Nintendo Entertainment System is now going head to head with Prada, Chanel, and Marc Jacobs as a woman's handbag. A very clever entrepreneur has listed the NES purse on eBay for the world to marvel at, and aside from the handy controller strap that appears to be attached in a rather hasty manner, the innards sport a soft, grey fabric to hold makeup, cellphones, and Mario figurines, and there's even a hidden compartment on the bottom for cash, lighters, or 1-UP mushrooms. There's no word on if hitting Up, Right, Select, Start, B will hold the subway for you as you dash towards a departing train, but you can place a bid yourself and try 'er out when it arrives. Click on through for a few more shots.[Via DSFanboy]
Wii Warm Up: Old-school flavor
As much as we want to believe that the Wiimote is the end-all-be-all for video games, we have to concede that there are several genres in which a traditional controller is a more appropriate choice. Nintendo has already noted that Super Smash Bros. Brawl will use a standard controller, but ... which is it? Though Gamecube controller support has yet to be officially confirmed, we have to assume a player may choose between the GC standard and their own classic controller, offered for twenty dollars.What's the problem? Well, the classic controller sucks. If you want four-player Smash (and my God you do), you'll need to spend an additional eighty dollars on peripherals that you might never use again. Furthermore, as it plugs into the expansion port, you have to deal with the awkward Wiimote just sitting in your lap. On the flip side, how many retailers have been carrying copious quantities of Wavebirds? They're still out there, of course, but Nintendo may have to conduct a Wavebird relaunch campaign for those of us who don't already have the gear. What are you hoping for, and how do you think Nintendo can pull it off?
Macintosh Garden - Preserving Abandonware Games.
Abandonware is commercial software that is no longer sold, generally for obsolete platforms. Many of us have fond memories of hours whiled away years ago on classic (pre OS X) Macs playing games like Sim City 2000 or Indiana Jones that have since become abandonware. It's now possible get ahold of many of those old games thanks to Macintosh Garden. I suspect sites like this are of somewhat dubious legality, yet they're generally left alone since this software is not available for purchase. Just don't blame me for time you waste reliving your misspent youth.[Via Digg]
Akai MPC-1000 drum machine drops a beat, plays Pong
Cram any sort of retro game onto a machine clearly not designed to play it and you'll probably color us impressed, and just as the off the wall Doom installations, MIDI hacks, and Wolfenstein ports have gone down, Japan's own JJ has struck a cord with vintage folk everywhere with his latest tweak. Reportedly, the hacker / entertainer re-wrote the actual operating system for a $999 Akai MPC-1000 drum machine, added a few features from the more expensive MPC-2500, and got the MIDI all setup precisely like he wanted -- all to play a little musical Pong. Aside from the snazzy custom loading screen, the game itself looks to work fairly well, and also triggers samples of your choice to loop in the background while gaming. The good news is that the Pong upgrade will only set you back $30, but the bad news is that would require you to actually already own the Akai machine, and just in case your wallet can't handle anymore abuse whatsoever after this past Monday, just click on through for a (gratis) YouTube demonstration.[Via Joystiq]
Matinee at the Bijou to bring classic cartoons to PBS-HD
Those glorious Saturday mornings filled with cartoons and a complete lack of responsibility will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we're thrilled to hear that some faithful classics are about to get reborn on PBS-HD. According to Bijou Bob's official weblog, PBS has given "the green light" to producers to revive some of the greatest 'toons of the past, and just as soon as sufficient sponsors are found, you can expect to see the renditions in stunning HD, which will likely prove that Betty Boop actually is forever young. The 12-episode season is slated to air sometime in 2007, with "Betty Boop, Tom & Jerry, and the Fleischer Superman cartoons being named as potential candidates for the show." Additionally, you can expect to see see "a short subject, a serial chapter, and a feature film" to go along with the newly-rendered cartoons, all of which will be hosted by Debbie Reynolds. So if you're looking to relive a bit of your past, and don't mind the HD makeover, the Matinee at the Bijou should be right up your alley.[Via ToonZone]
Classic controller vs. SNES controller
Engadget got their hands on a Classic Controller for the Wii and, noticing it has a remarkable resemblance to the SNES controller, they decided to do some side-by-side comparison shots, as well as some of the remote itself next to the Wiimote from all angles, for the vast series of tubes we call the internet. We've stolen included their photos into our post, which are embedded past the jump.[Thanks Barb!]
Retro gamers' next-gen battle is between SNES and Genesis
The Washington Post takes a nostalgic trip into the homes of retro gamers. These players are satisfied with the NES and other classic systems; they don't need any next-gen battle.The article portrays those gamers as just growing up with those systems; there's not a crazy, technology-hating gamer in the bunch. We hang on to as many old systems and titles as we can and, once in a while, we revisit the classics. But there's a Zen simplicity in primarily gaming with a controller that has two -- or fewer -- buttons.
Modojo rounds-up retro PSP games
I can't remember a time in a system's life when it had more retro compilations than the PSP is seeing right now. And with games the likes of Sega Genesis Collection, Metal Slug Anthology and EA Replay releasing this week, it's a veritable wet dream for us old-school gamers out there.And Modojo has gone through each title and decided which are worthy of your purchase and which are worthy of the trashcan.We're Not Worthy!
