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The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe) proved to be a festive hit for Nintendo, with demand for the retro system surprising the big N. Though the tiny little console is emulating a fixed list of 30 games, it's doing so in a typically charming and irresistible 'Nintendo' way.

Compared to the company's consoles and portables, though, the budget system is pretty easy to hack, with those keen to use the tiny box for more games finding a way within weeks, rather than the months or years similar efforts can take on other Nintendo consoles. Rather quickly there were people finding ways to add their own games, to the point that the whole NES library came into play. Of course, hacking the system is legally questionable - due to the use of unofficial ROMS etc - and has the potential to disrupt it further.

In any case, we seem to have gone down the rabbit hole now, as some have found a way to run a well-known bit of emulation software. It's not pretty in terms of user interface, but as the video below shows the NES Mini is capable of running Game Boy, Mega Drive and SNES games, albeit there are occasional choppy moments with the 16-bit titles; this may improve as the hackers work on the exploit further.

Considering the nature of the NES Mini, itself a well-polished and official machine used for emulation, these mods and hacks are no surprise. Beyond the legal sketchiness of this it's also a reminder that, should Nintendo desire, it shouldn't be hugely difficult to produce more 'Mini' systems of its retro hardware. The big N's quality control naturally requires more effort than hacks to run emulators, but in theory iterations and improvements on the core of the tiny NES can be a firm foundation.

What 'Mini' system would you like to see next from Nintendo?