For those who weren't alive during the era of Nintendo's iconic NES (or Famicom as it was known in Japan), the relatively recent release of the NES Classic Edition has provided perhaps the most authentic way to experience the console ever since.
The miniature system looks and feels just like the real thing - although the console itself is, of course, much smaller - and it was soon snapped up by intrigued NES newcomers and nostalgic fans of the original everywhere. It wasn't available for long, but its release showed that the decades-old console was still adored and desirable.
Perhaps it makes sense, then, that the console's creator Masayuki Uemura believes that fans would still happily go out and pick up the original system today. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with the man himself for a chat - look out for a full interview on Nintendo Life later today [update: it's now live here]- and asked for his thoughts on the new wave of Classic Edition consoles that Nintendo has been producing.
He said, "Why make it mini? I think they could still develop a regular Famicom and people would still buy it". While the 'Mini' systems are cute and practical, it's pretty hard to argue with Uemura-san - would you happily buy a new NES, SNES, or N64 if Nintendo still made them? We certainly would.
In the same interview, Uemura notes that the first thing he'd change about the original Famicom's design would be the controller cables - which were permanently connected to the machine. This design made its way over to the Famicom Mini, but imagine if Nintendo did re-launch the original model instead. Perhaps we'd end up with an official Famicom with wireless controllers?
We'll leave it there, before we end up dreaming of new official N64 consoles with VR built-in or something. Oh, now we've done it.
Comments 85
No i wkuldnt but it
If they still made and sold the regular NES I would happily buy it as long as they also made and sold the games for it
@jobvd same here
I've still got an 'as new in box' NES original, but I'd probably buy a new one if they started making them again.
Absolutely. One thing I never understood is why they stop producing controllers for older systems.
I still have several working NES systems, but if they made new ones I would absolutely go out and buy one. It would be awesome to see the NES scene revitalized and see new releases coming out from larger publishers.
The original systems are dying slow deaths as their components slowly die. The first NES that I got for christmas as a kid no longer boots probably due to bad capacitors.
I've no idea of the cost:benefit of maintaining a supply of original hardware, but seeing the prices that people pay for new, boxed retro hardware on eBay certainly suggests there's some level of market out there, though how much that market is supported by the 'rarity' factor of discontinued hardware is hard to guess - if I knew I could by a brand new retro item whenever I wanted, would I want to enough to make me pull the trigger? It kinda takes away the retro factor.
And manufacturers need us to spend money on their newest tech otherwise it might never get established.
For now I'm happy with my limited edition minis.
I still play classic games on my consoles and PC, and I love my Super NES Mini, yeah I would definitely buy older systems. I like being able to play classics for the first time, or even just have the option to buy or repair an old system.
Full sized NES preloaded with games and the ability to download more for a small fee? Yes.
An NES where I need to rebuy all my cartridges my parents gave away when I was 12? No.
I don't care that they are mini, I only care about being able to buy controllers for it again and to play (old) games again and slip a few roms in there and there. Bought even a spare one.
The SNES mini is great although I would like it if they had a shop of some sort to download extra games I know it’s possible but then you have to get into the dodgy world of roms it must be possible or go like the evercade route where you can buy a collection from a particular company
There is a market for consoles to play the old cartridges on (Look at the RetroN line for instance), i would seriously consider buying an updated version (Think HDMI exit, screen filters like the minis have, that sort of thing) of the NES or SNES.
Day one I would buy it. I have my OG still and it works fine but a new system would be great.
NES, no. But I would still buy an official, brand new SNES/N64/GB systems. Providing they updated them with HDMI etc.
I fell into the mini craze and about both the NES & SNES mini consoles with extra controllers. I played them a few times but with the NES & SNES apps on Switch, I pretty much stopped using them. I actually just sold my mini’s on eBay and I’m using the $ to buy my daughter a Switch Lite.
Nope. Mainly because I already have those consoles, plus, when given the choice between a NES and a Switch...
If they made the NES, SNES, Gamecube, and N64 (with built in HDMI output) that was 100% compatible with all original cartridges/CDs, I would ***HAPPILY*** buy one of each and be buying the games.
There's literally no reason for Nintendo to not be making money off of their existing products and game library.
The way to handle this is to update the systems for HDMI and replace parts with newer parts that "do the same thing" while being more efficient and less expensive. Sale them from the Nintendo online store rather than at retailers because it is going to be a niche audience and would fail most likely if they were to ship millions of units to retailers.
Then just have all of the games (ALL OF THEM!!!) purchasable from the Nintendo online store and create them on purchase. There's literally no reason to have a million copies of Mother sitting in a warehouse. Just create the cartridge when it is ordered online, and ship it out.
Nintendo is leaving tons of money on the table by not doing this right now.
It was a sad day when my NES died. I still have the games, controllers, and Zapper.
Update them and the answer is YES. I do have the minis (along with the PlayStation and Genesis minis; they’re all on the same table as my N64 and OG Xbox), some VC, and NSO.
Not for me but I know others would. I'd much rather a mini that could download the titles on to it, either for a small fee or via my Nintendo online subscription.
But I don't own any physical games for this system. Rerelease the GameCube or N64 compatible with new TVs and now we're talking! Although still, if they can reduce the size I'd probably prefer that. Limited space and all!
Have they considered making the consoles virtual? They could emulate them using their current gen hardware. They could call it the virtual... I dunno, never mind.
Too late, I already own an AVS.
Faulty hardware, crappy controller, cant connect to modern TVs, poorly aged library. No, I wouldn't buy one today. What type of joke is this? I can play most of these games on my switch or my wii which I have even more nes games on. Lol this is a funny joke
@Moistnado virtual console could be a good name. Maybe
@PharoneTheGnome you need to consider practicality. How many people would REALLY buy these. The number is less than you think
I'd pick up the original if it came with HDMI out, came with a modern size AC adaptor, and if the cartridge connectors were made from an alloy that didn't oxidate as quickly.
If pricing was right and production started again, I could imagine classic hardwate living on if the market was curated for it
Just release all the game to the switch, let people buy it. Already got PS4 and switch, don't need another console.
and really - you should be able to connect it to the internet
If boutique companies like Analogue and RetroUSB can make 8- and 16-bit FPGA consoles that sell for less than $200, then surely a company the size of Nintendo could, maybe for even less. But I think they're very wary of legacy systems cannibalizing their current products.
It's a strictly home console, so for all my fondness and respect for it... nowadays I wouldn't. That ship has sailed with my student years and might not come back to the harbour until my retirement years. But then again, that's exactly what leaves me out of the market for the Mini versions as well.
I'd certainly buy one. Mine is on the Fritz and need to get it repaired. Of course they would need to make more carts for it.
Great nostalgia, but..... no. In the end, I prefer to be practical and have everything on a single system
...... on the other hand, if I got it for free, I would gladly recieve it ^_^
Sure! Put in a HDMI port and sell games for a reasonable price! Yes please.
I wouldnt buy it....if my count is correct, i have 3 NES and a famicom too already.
Well, i guess i could use a 4th one.
Nothing would please me more to see brand new NES, SNES and N64 consoles and games being sold in stores. Many people (myself included) already still retro consoles and games, and having brand new ones (at a reasonable price of course, not the ridiculously high prices some games go for) would be amazing. I know it would never happen so the most nostalgic thing I can do is walk into a retro game store while they still exist.
I would definitely buy one!
I would love to have a chance to purchase retro games complete again, without spending a small fortune. Releasing classic consoles would be cool too, but I would be very surprised if Nintendo would do this. I would love to have Tmnt 4: Turtles in Time complete in box!
I'd 100% buy a Nintendo repro system that actually WORKED to play cartridges, and I'd do what x100 for a SNES. All they'd need to do is add an HDMI port and we'd be golden.
@cdog555
Which was also their thought process behind not putting Nintendo games on mobile, but we have all seen how wrong they were about that too
I probably would as there's a huge amount of nostalgia related to this console. (Then-16-year-old-me back in 1986 bought the Deluxe Set which included R.O.B. I bought Super Mario Bros. along with it.) I wouldn't go out of my way for it, though.
Naw, we have already have a platform for 2D games (Switch eShop). Stick with VC type solutions.
No - space is getting more important all the time. It's one of the reason's the PS4 or XBO isn't in my house either.
No i wouldnt buy it, id rather have full games on the switch list (NES, SNes etc)
Why would you make it big, would be silly and a waste of plastic. The environment has enough waste as it is.
Yes 1000000000000000000%, im always tinkering with my original systems to keep them going.
Nope. I already own one and haven't played it for 20 years. I don't like having all the boxes and carts around when there are easier ways to play. I'm not a YouTuber or a library so I don't need to have all the boxes in the background.
I think it would make more sense to either A) have the NES/SNES Minis (and their successors) connect to an online marketplace and be able to buy more games, or B) come with a cartridge slot to play games that for whatever reason can't be sold.
Or both.
A part of me never really liked the idea that technology HAD to keep advancing. Like, it should, sure, but there's no reason to leave the simpler stuff behind completely. I do think that if the entire NES library were available for sale in some way today, people would pay.
If they re-released all those classic consoles from NES and SNES to N64 and even GCN, I reckon the used games market will spike. And I’ll be buying back all the games I lost one way or another and the ones I missed out on too.
How about a mini N64? That's what people really want. Let's call it a day already with the NES/SNES.
I'd never buy a full NES or SNES, there's no real reason. Those games have been pretty much perfectly emulated and the Mini series fill that void completely for me.
Now for N64 I would certainly buy any device that's reasonably priced and allows me to play N64 games perfectly running in a modern TV, specially if it would let me play the actual cartridges I still own. To my knowledge, such a device does not exist, N64 emulation is still subpar to say the least on too many games, and hooking up an actual console in a way that looks good enough is expensive and still doesn't look that good.
Hell no I wouldn't. Why take up the extra space, my apartment space is valuable. If they can make it smaller they should!
I wouldn't, actually. Lack of space means I wouldn't have anywhere to store such a big console for the odd occasion I might want to play it, and then there's storing the physical games. And let's face it, aside from the likes of Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc much of the NES library is just quick pick up and put down high score chasers. The mini is perfect as it saves a lot of space and messing about for a quick 10 minute play. SNES would be one I might consider...but still the mini is just right.
....I have a SNES Classic, so I'm good.
Nintendo and Sega missed the boat - should have gone for additional download games to earn $$$
While I like playing the retro games in small doses, I can't see myself buying a brand new retro console.
I wouldn't buy PAL region, emulators have ruined 50hz for me.
Bring the N64 Classic!! Nintendo why are you doing this to me??? And a new F-Zero
I’ve actually been looking for a new in box nes classic because I do like the back to basics style of gaming but I refuse to pay the scalped prices. Buying an original system and the games I want would be too costly for me and the nes mini has those games
I already have an original NES and SNES, so unless they came with the same built-in libraries as the minis, probably not. If they came with all the built-in games and menus, HDMI connections, and full cartridge compatibility, I might strongly consider. I'm still not comfortable having my NES, SNES, and N64 modded to be HDMI-compatible by anyone other than Nintendo.
A SNES Classic with a working cartridge slot would be amazing, but unfortunately I think it would be priced like the SuperNT. Give us the ability to get SNES re-releases and breathe life back into the system and I would be all there.
I would buy it as I always wanted a deluxe set and last time I had chance to get one, well it was crazy prices
I'd buy it immediately of course. I never cared about the power wars and how they had to release a new system every 5 years or so. If Nintendo still made new NES games, and SNES, and so on, I'd be just as happy to get the games there than on something more modern. Nintendo knows how to make great games, and I'm sure that whatever system they're made for, I'd have a good time. I only ever stopped playing those old consoles because there weren't any new 1st party games being made.
Nah. Mine still works, but I'd rather just play those games on my SNES classic as it works better with modern tv's.
Still a big market for older tech, in my I ideal world Nintendo would still be making new games for SNES. I still believe the system was cut short of what it was capable of. Imagine new co processors added into the carts like SFX, DSP, Rendering techniques could of improved, new installments of certain games with more tech to improve performance even more. Hey I can dream.
I would buy several NES systems!
What I would like is the ability to buy retro games on current Nintendo consoles.
I probably wouldn't buy a NES, now a SNES on the other hand, most definitely.
Well, before these Mini systems even came out I was saying Nintendo should just re-release the original systems with the ability to plug them into modern TVs, along with re-releasing as many of the original cartridge games for them as possible too (and possibly with some compilation carts too). So I certainly think a new version of the original NES, SNES, N64, Master System, Mega Drive, etc., would do well even today.
Only a top loader!! With hdmi.
The size wasn't the issue at all. I don't want new classic systems, I want those games on my Switch. My TV only has so many input slots and HDMI switch boxes do not work. Every one I have tried, and I have tried several, runs into an issue where the connection fades in and out. Some kind of anti-piracy security feature or something.
@Sinton Probably because the demand for controllers for a system not in production would be pretty low and likely not worth the cost of producing them.
I would buy a modern day Famicom Disc System from Sharp right away.
When i first heard they were releasing the Nes classic i honeslty thought it would use the carts and be regular size. I totally would have bought it like that! The Nes mini is pretty spiffy though. Especially modded!😉
Nope. Already sold my SNES Mini and I'm giving away my NES mini. Why on earth would I want to buy one that plays carts if I don't even play the ones with full libraries modded onto them?
Only if it had analog-out so I could hook it up to a CRT TV (truly the best way to play classic games).
I've always wanted an NES.
Except for d*cks and t*ts, smaller is better.
well i still have my original one BUT if they released a new version that could play NES game cart but output via HDMI so it's better on modern TV's and with some of the other things like save states and the like i would buy one
but i wouldn't buy a carbon copy of the original
of course Nintendo missed a trick with the mini by not putting a digital store on it so we can buy more games
@cptspaulding
You sir have no love for classic gaming! I haven't stopped playing my Nes and Snes since they were new. True classics never go out of style!
@Zeldafan79 Some classics will never die, and thankfully some of my favs are on the NSO service. There's also great collections like the Genesis collection available to buy. There isn't much reason at all to have cart systems, at least not for me. I do appreciate some classics, but I find the new games with classic inspiration even better. Great time to be gamer no matter which way you play!
I wouldn't buy a classic Nintendo system if they still made them. A Mega Drive (& games) on the other hand would be purchased if they were still being produced and developers were actively producing them.
Any one of Nintendo's classic consoles with HDMI output would be an instant buy for me. The N64 in particular as I assume they would sell new controllers as well. It's hard to find 64 controllers that havent been ravaged by Mario Party haha.
@Illusion agreed
Would I buy one maybe as a collectable but without the games its market appeal is diminished. Like they would have to reprint carts and suddenly the cost of the system isn't as attractive.
Like best of both worlds would be a hdmi NES that has built in games and ability to play carts too.
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