Nintendo is bringing back the NES — NES Classic Edition

[Howard_Casto]

I've got to think that using the switch's joy cons in split mode are similar. 

Honestly man just get yourself some gamepads and a proper 6-pin connector to splice them into.  You'll be kicking yourself 10 years from now for mutilating what will then be a collectable. 

[pbj]

So here's what the inside of a Famicom Mini controller looks like. (not my pic, I haven't opened up mine yet)



That is a 1.5MM JST 6 pin connector running to the PCB.  Both the Famicom and NES have the same connector on their motherboards, but the NES controller uses a 5 pin connector on the controller PCB.  (and the Famicom uses both pins 1 and 6, so you can't just shove a 5 pin inside it and have it work)

My plan is to unplug the factory cables and throw them in the box.  Then I'll cut off about two feet of the female end of an extension cable and wire it to the motherboard.  The male end will be connected to the controller.

Here's the best deal I've found on the needed connectors:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2017-Mini-Micro-ZH-1-5mm-6-Pin-JST-Connector-with-Wire-x-10-sets-New/32810179522.html

And here's the best deal without resorting to China that I've found on 10 foot extension cables:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072NYPZQN/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[JDFan]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2017-Mini-Micro-ZH-1-5mm-6-Pin-JST-Connector-with-Wire-x-10-sets-New/32810179522.html

And here's the best deal without resorting to China that I've found on 10 foot extension cables:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072NYPZQN/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If waiting on the 6 pin connectors from china might as well save a couple bucks and get the extension cables there also - these are $4.75 for 2 !
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-3m-10FT-Extension-Cable-Cord-For-Nintendo-NES-Classic-Edition-Wii-Controller-/132156730256?hash=item1ec527ab90:g:paAAAOSwmgJY1gQq

[pbj]

So the cable inside the controller can't be unplugged.  I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it's very similar to this...

http://www.jst-mfg.com/product/detail_e.php?series=236

I already desoldered it, took a look at it, soldered it back on.  Contemplating mounting a female socket there and splicing a male connector to the controller wire.  Nobody would ever know besides Howard.

Other option is disconnect from the Famicom pcb, and plug that end into a socket mounted to the extension cable.  I guess I'd wrap it in electrical tape or something.

[JDFan]

So the cable inside the controller can't be unplugged.  I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it's very similar to this...

http://www.jst-mfg.com/product/detail_e.php?series=236

I already desoldered it, took a look at it, soldered it back on.  Contemplating mounting a female socket there and splicing a male connector to the controller wire.  Nobody would ever know besides Howard.

Other option is disconnect from the Famicom pcb, and plug that end into a socket mounted to the extension cable.  I guess I'd wrap it in electrical tape or something.

Is there room for a couple inline connector boxes inside the unit ?

[pbj]

That looks like exactly what I would need. I will investigate those further.

 

[JDFan]

That looks like exactly what I would need. I will investigate those further.

 

Came across this thread on reddit that might prov useful to you -- https://www.reddit.com/r/nesclassicmods/comments/5ouuve/adding_external_controller_ports_to_your_famicom/  -- Shows a reversible method of doing what you are wanting.

[pbj]

Yes, that guide is fine if you're planning on only using other controllers besides the ones that came with it.  The connector on the actual controller PCB is a JST SJN, and the only way to remove that is desoldering. 

I plan on putting a standard female JST socket on the PCB and JST male connector on the actual controller connector.  Which is the arrangement that cable has inside the actual console.  Frankly, that's probably how it should have come from the factory, but Nintendo shaved a couple cents off the manufacturing.

Other option is a splice at the console end of that controller cable, but then you have an unsightly splice in the middle of the cord.

[Howard_Casto]

You are thinking of the problem wrong man.  Buy a nes classic extension cable along with the 6 pin male connectors you linked to.  The male end of the extension cable is removed and set aside... the female end is wired to the 6 pin male and gets plugged into the unit.  Now pickup that male end to the extension cable you just discarded.  Take the female 6 pin socket that came with your order of male 6 pin sockets and wire that to the male end.  Now you have a 6 pin to nes classic adapter so you can still use the included controllers and nothing is damaged.  It's like one extra step and you've fixed the problem in a reversible way. 

[pbj]

The cable is hard soldered to the controller PCB.  The cable is detachable from the console, but not from the controller.



Once that connector has the pins inserted, they cannot be removed.

[JDFan]

The cable is hard soldered to the controller PCB.  The cable is detachable from the console, but not from the controller.



Once that connector has the pins inserted, they cannot be removed.

What Howard is saying is you remove the controllers from the console (leaving the cable attached to the controller) and use the extension cables/ Nes controller (end cut off and new connector added to plug into console ) to install into the console -- and put the original controllers in storage - then if you want to reverse the process you unplug the extension/Nes controller from the console and plug back in the original.

[pbj]

But I like the Famicom controllers.  They make me feel even huger.

 

[JDFan]

But I like the Famicom controllers.  They make me feel even huger.

 

Ahh - so you just want longer cables for the original controllers !

[pbj]

YES

[lilshawn]

FINALLY!

[Howard_Casto]

So hyperkin is releasing their own hdmi enabled system.  We'll have to see what the picture quality is, but 720p hdmi, 4:3/16:9 selectable, pal/ntsc selectable.... all hardware, no emulation... uses standard nes controller sockets, $39.99  It doesn't look like complete crap to boot!

https://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-RetroN-Gaming-Console-NES-Gray/dp/B072PC59FQ/ref=sr_1_1/142-7926072-4770631?ie=UTF8&qid=1494628619&sr=8-1&keywords=retron+hd

[opt2not]

LOL @ the beveled corners of the classic controller. The 20 year old hipster casuals will be pleased.

[pbj]

Consolation prize for those unwilling to suck it up and buy a Famicom Mini....

[Howard_Casto]

So the hakchi guys released some info on the file structure and mods.....

https://github.com/ClusterM/hakchi2/wiki/Modifications-and-modules-guide

Assuming the gui isn't real picky about file sizes, it should be possible to make custom skins.  I don't just mean changing the png file for the theme, I mean re-arranging/re-sizing elements and potentially making a 720p skin.  Is that something you guys would be interested in?

[Grasshopper]

Assuming the gui isn't real picky about file sizes, it should be possible to make custom skins.  I don't just mean changing the png file for the theme, I mean re-arranging/re-sizing elements and potentially making a 720p skin.  Is that something you guys would be interested in?

Given how few people actually own one of these things, I think it would be more interesting to find out whether the executable could be trasferred to another ARM based SOC running a generic version of Linux.

[Grasshopper]

So hyperkin is releasing their own hdmi enabled system.  We'll have to see what the picture quality is, but 720p hdmi, 4:3/16:9 selectable, pal/ntsc selectable.... all hardware, no emulation... uses standard nes controller sockets, $39.99  It doesn't look like complete crap to boot!

https://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-RetroN-Gaming-Console-NES-Gray/dp/B072PC59FQ/ref=sr_1_1/142-7926072-4770631?ie=UTF8&qid=1494628619&sr=8-1&keywords=retron+hd

Similar items are beginning to appear on aliexpress:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Video-Game-Console-To-TV-With-Wireless-Gamepad-Controller-HD-HDMI-TV-Out-For-8bit/32796675488.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.24.El3OtC&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10152_10065_10151_10130_10068_436_10136_10137_10157_10060_10138_10155_10062_10156_10154_10056_10055_10054_10059_100032_100033_100031_10099_10103_10102_10096_10147_10052_10053_10050_10107_10142_10051_10084_10083_10080_10082_10081_10110_10111_10112_10113_10114_10179_10181_10183_10182_10185_10184_10078_10079_10073_10123,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_5&btsid=4243853c-1c0e-4d5f-8057-2e2b1d792c0c&algo_expid=ba313c09-b6ca-4973-a032-e5ccd133d503-3&algo_pvid=ba313c09-b6ca-4973-a032-e5ccd133d503

[Howard_Casto]

Assuming the gui isn't real picky about file sizes, it should be possible to make custom skins.  I don't just mean changing the png file for the theme, I mean re-arranging/re-sizing elements and potentially making a 720p skin.  Is that something you guys would be interested in?

Given how few people actually own one of these things, I think it would be more interesting to find out whether the executable could be trasferred to another ARM based SOC running a generic version of Linux.

Well it's like pbj says, suck it up and get a famicom mini.  They are still in production afaik and the price for an import is extremely reasonable.  That being said, version 2.17 of hakchi has ftp functionality, so I'm sure the contents of the flash disc have been dumped by now. 

[pbj]

One sitting on Amazon for 99 right now.  Mine ended up being $68 after Amazon kicked me back 15% when it wasn't factory sealed as advertised.

I'd love to see the OS ported to other hardware... But it ain't happened yet.

Chop chop on the high resolution front end, howard.

[ChadTower]

So hyperkin is releasing their own hdmi enabled system.  We'll have to see what the picture quality is, but 720p hdmi, 4:3/16:9 selectable, pal/ntsc selectable.... all hardware, no emulation... uses standard nes controller sockets, $39.99  It doesn't look like complete crap to boot!

https://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-RetroN-Gaming-Console-NES-Gray/dp/B072PC59FQ/ref=sr_1_1/142-7926072-4770631?ie=UTF8&qid=1494628619&sr=8-1&keywords=retron+hd

Thanks for the pointer.  I just preordered.  I like the cartridge slot a lot better as I still have 300+ NES games. 

[wp34]

So hyperkin is releasing their own hdmi enabled system.  We'll have to see what the picture quality is, but 720p hdmi, 4:3/16:9 selectable, pal/ntsc selectable.... all hardware, no emulation... uses standard nes controller sockets, $39.99  It doesn't look like complete crap to boot!

https://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-RetroN-Gaming-Console-NES-Gray/dp/B072PC59FQ/ref=sr_1_1/142-7926072-4770631?ie=UTF8&qid=1494628619&sr=8-1&keywords=retron+hd

I still have the cartridges for the games I want to play so that is really a better deal than the NES Mini for me.  Thanks for posting.   

[ChadTower]

Yep, that's pretty much what stopped me from chasing the NES Mini.  I have a toploader and cartridges.  Even the toploaders are flaky now, though, so replacing the system itself with something comparable is a good move.

[Howard_Casto]

Well unfortunately, the demo units at least, are kind of crap.



Colors are a bit muddy and the sound is terrible.  It might actually be worse than those at@games systems. 

[ChadTower]

That would not surprise me.  I had the Retron 3 and it lasted about two months.


Sigh.  Cancelling the order.

[pbj]

Yeah, I've got a Top Loader, too, and still bought a Famicom Mini.  No regrets.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01M1VMFUA/ref=olp_f_primeEligible?ie=UTF8&f_primeEligible=true


 

[Howard_Casto]

We are in agreement on this one.  Still have my nes, still have tons of carts... I prefer the NES Classic at this point... it's just so much easier. 

[ChadTower]

FWIW, I played through about 5 games on Tecmo Bowl the other day.  Bo Jackson has been 'fixed'.  NFLPA license is gone, no player names, and the Raiders are not substantially better on offense than other teams.  That's the packin ROM, though.  I wonder how many other packin games were altered in some way.

[JDFan]

  I wonder how many other packin games were altered in some way.

Pretty much any that had licensed material that they had not licensed with the right to re-release at a future date without compensation !

[pbj]

I guess some of them were patched for epilepsy?

[ChadTower]

Pretty much any that had licensed material that they had not licensed with the right to re-release at a future date without compensation !

That doesn't account for changing the gameplay, though.  It's one thing to remove names.  It's another to change the players' abilities.  Hard to say yet whether or not they're all the same or if just some were changed.

[Howard_Casto]

I guess some of them were patched for epilepsy?

Actually that is a feature of the emulator that can be turned off via hakchi

[pbj]

This mod is not for the faint of heart.  The wires in the cables weren't  color matched to Nintendo standard (red = power, white = ground, et al) and the cables didn't match each other.  So, everything has to get buzzed out and labelled. 

The JST connectors inside the controllers are impossible to remove cleanly.  Should have just cut off a one inch pig tail and spliced to that.

Anyway, all said and done, everything works and it's easy to tuck the cables inside the case and seal it all back up.  Couple odd notes - the system takes about five seconds to recognize when you've hot swapped a controller.  If you plug the controller with start and select into player 2, they're functional.  Player 2 cannot control the system menus.



I did three feet of length on the female ends connected to the console.

 

[Howard_Casto]

I actually prefer the fact that 2p can't control the menus.  It reminds me of back in the day when p2 was a second class citizen and couldn't do ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- in the options menus. 

[pbj]

Another nice perk of the Famicom controllers with Hakchi is that player 2 cannot exit the game - no select button.   

[pbj]

So Amazon started blowing these out.... the price has jumped around all over the place, but it's $6-7 for new or "like new."

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M4QC226

Wish this deal had been around when I was buying 10 foot extensions, but eh.

[Howard_Casto]

Looks like a carpal tunnel nightmare tbh.