Tag: Hardware
Feature These Incredible Game Boy Mods Are All By The Same Guy
He is the 'Game Boy' Boy
Some people are blessed with all the talent, and one of those people is Andy Sexton, who's not only content with being the Creative Director at Hi-Rez Studios (Smite, Paladins) — he's also a very good Game Boy modder in his free time. We can't be too mad, though, because he also takes wonderful photos of those mods and...
News Can't Get An Analogue Pocket? This Cheap And Dinky Handheld Might Plug The Gap
...if you're willing to put up with some issues, that is
Everyone seems to be talking about retro gaming handhelds these days, thanks in no small part to the long-awaited release of the gorgeous Analogue Pocket. Boasting FPGA power, a sleek design and fantastic screen, it's little wonder that this portable gem is in high demand – and some people...
Hands On Could This $1,300 Switch 'Rival' Hold The Answer To Joy-Con Drift?
Aya Neo Next uses 'Hall Effect' sensors for its analogue inputs
Remember the Aya Neo 2021 Pro, the super-powered and super-expensive portable PC we covered a short while ago? Well, the company behind it is releasing a new handheld this year which boasts a feature that should be very interesting to long-suffering Switch owners. The Aya Neo Next is a...
Feature Masayuki Uemura, The Nintendo Engineer Who Helped Define The Modern Games Console
A look back over the career of the NES and SNES' lead architect
The sad news broke today that Masayuki Uemura, the lead architect on the NES and Super NES consoles, died on 6th December at the age of 78. Uemura was an instrumental figure in the formation of Nintendo as the video game company we know and love today — his hardware design credits...
News The 'Panda' GameCube Controller Kickstarter Has Been Cancelled
"An important and unfortunate update"
Well, here's some news you might not have been expecting. The Kickstarter for the 'Panda' GameCube controller, which instantly smashed the required goals earlier this month has been cancelled. Although it set records in terms of the funds raised, the creator feels it would be irresponsible to continue on with...
News This "Lost" Game Boy Add-On Could Have Pre-Dated The Smartphone
Say hello to the Page Boy
Last year, esteemed video game historian and occasional Nintendo Life contributor Liam Robertson uncovered the story of the Work Boy, an unreleased accessory that had the potential to turn the humble Game Boy into a powerful productivity tool. Now, a year later, Robertson is back with another investigation – this time...
News The Taito Egret II Mini Is Getting A Western Release
Thanks to United Games Entertainment
United Games Entertainment, the umbrella company for Strictly Limited Games/ININ Games, has revealed that it will be distributing the Taito Egret II Mini in the West. This arcade-focused micro system features a rotating 5-inch screen and is set for release in the New Year. Its Japanese release is scheduled for...
Hardware Up-Switch Orion Review - Turn Your Switch Into A Switch XXXL (And Make It Worse)
Bait-and-Switch
Not so long ago, we reported on the Up-Switch Orion, a crowdfunded accessory that promised to make up for the "underwhelming" and "minuscule" Nintendo Switch screen (Up-Switch's words, not ours). "By increasing your actual gaming screen size by 188% and upgrading your audio experience with the integrated stereo speakers, your...
News Sega's Astro City Mini Is Getting A 'TATE' Version Packed With Shmup Goodness
Batsugun! Battle Bakraid! Armed Police Batrider!
Sega's Astro City Mini is getting a new version that features a vertically-oriented screen, it has been revealed. The Astro City Mini V looks much like the original, but its screen is tilted 90 degrees to accommodate 'TATE' games. Taito is taking a similar route with its similar Egret II Mini, which...
Reminder The Analogue Pocket Will Be Available To Pre-Order Again Today
Update: Don't miss out...
Update: Remember, Analogue is opening up pre-orders for its Pocket again today, but you'll need to be quick if you want to get your hands on one. Our Analogue Pocket review went live yesterday, and we had this to say about the system: With its solid design, excellent display and wide range of accessories, the Analogue...
News Modernised 'Panda' GameCube Controller Hits Kickstarter, Instantly Smashes Goal
Update: More than $1.2 million raised in five days
Update: After just five days on Kickstarter, the Panda Controller has now amassed more than $1.2 million in funding from more than 9,000 backers. Wow. Thanks to the incredible response, several stretch goals such as extended product warranties, a special documentary and limited edition shells for...
Talking Point What Can The $1200 Aya Neo Tell Us About The 'Switch Pro'?
We go hands-on with the Aya Neo 2021 Pro
Next year, the Switch will be five years old – a fact which makes the continued demand for the console all the more remarkable. Despite being powered by technology that, even back in 2017, could hardly be described as cutting-edge, the hybrid system has shifted over 90 million units worldwide and shows no...
Are we in the best timeline, or the worst?
If you could hop into a time machine and fly back to the early '90s and tell a young gamer that one day, Nintendo would make a piece of Sega hardware, they'd probably spit out their sugary Sunny D and laugh in your face. "Sega and Nintendo are mortal enemies," they would retort; "what planet on you from,...
News Analogue Confirms Pocket Pre-Orders Will Begin Shipping Mid-December
Update: Confirmation emails are being deployed
Update: Good news! Analogue Pocket pre-orders will begin shipping on December 13th: Original Story [Sat 11th Sep, 2021 16:55 BST]: The Analogue Pocket - a portable FPGA-based device compatible with the entire Game Boy library and other systems via adapters - has been delayed yet again. Following...
News The Elusive McDonald's Nintendo DS Has Made Another Appearance Online
Full eSmart 2.0 manual shared for our viewing pleasure
There have been plenty of rare and elusive Nintendo consoles over the past few decades, either released as one-offs or under limited circumstances, and the 'McDonald's DS' is right up there as one of the more quirky system variants. You might know about it already – McDonald's-branded...
Hardware Skull & Co. NeoGrip For Switch OLED Review
My name is Neo(Grip)
For gamers that tend to play their Switch more in handheld mode than docked, Switch OLED is an impressive upgrade that expands the size of the console's screen by reducing the size of the bezel. The console itself is almost the same size as the original — we say almost because the OLED unit is a teeny 0.1 of an inch longer...
News The New Zelda Game & Watch Hides A Cool Little Secret
Have you noticed this yet?
Today sees the launch of Nintendo's latest Game & Watch system – yeah, we still can't believe we're saying this in 2021 either – as the new Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda arrives on store shelves. It's a cool little device with plenty of features, but there's one little secret that Nintendo kept from us...
Hardware Game & Watch Review: The Legend Of Zelda - A Link To Link's Past
Mark Zelda's 35th with this neat collectable
Last year, Nintendo provided its fans with the perfect stocking-filler via its Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. handheld, a neat tribute to the classic Game & Watch range of LCD games that were so popular in the pre-Game Boy landscape o
News The Gorgeous Animal Crossing Switch Is Being Restocked, In Australia At Least
With other regions to follow?
Missed out on the glorious Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch? Well, it looks like you might be in luck. Nintendo Australia has announced that a new shipment of the special console is coming later this month, arriving at "selected retailers" on 26th November. Stock has only been confirmed for Australia/New Zealand so far,...
News Nintendo Talks About Its Future And Reconfirms Next Gaming System Is Coming In "20XX"
An update from Nintendo's president
There's always talk about what's next for major gaming companies like Nintendo, but what is actually next for Nintendo? Well, in its latest Corporate Management Policy Briefing led by president Shuntaro Furukawa - the company has shared another incredibly vague update about future hardware plans - essentially...
Hardware Evercade VS Review - A Low-Cost Gateway To Past Nintendo Classics And Much More Besides
Hands-on with Blaze's latest retro hardware
Blaze's Evercade handheld was one of 2020's more pleasant surprises; a new piece of hardware that offered an alternative for retro enthusiasts and offered a wide range of physical cartridges packed with classic titles (many of which were originally found on Nintendo consoles) – all for a very reasonable...
"It's all for the love of video games"
The creators of the Analogue Pocket - a portable FPGA-based device compatible with the entire Game library and other systems via adapters - have announced Analogue OS. It's designed to be the "definitive scholarly operating system" for playing and experiencing the entire video game medium. With Analogue OS...
Poll So, Which Switch OLED Did You Buy?
Red, White and Blue
It seems that Switch OLED has got off to a strong start sales-wise, so many of you reading this must have picked up Nintendo's new console SKU over the last week or so. We're fans of the lovely new screen and the various refinements to the basic design that gives the consoles a marginally more premium feel over the trusty...
News Blaze's Evercade VS Console Has Been Delayed Until December
New system UI gets shown off to make up for it
Blaze Entertainment has today announced that its Evercade VS retro console has been delayed slightly. The NES-style system – which runs physical carts and is the home version of the popular Evercade handheld – was supposed to arrive in November, but will now l
News Wish Your Switch Pro Controller Was A Little Bit Smaller? Check Out The T4 Mini
Launching today!
Gaming peripheral maker GameSir has today launched its latest controller for Switch, offering up a brand new pad for those looking for something on the smaller end of the scale. The T4 Mini has been designed for players who find traditional modern controllers like the Switch's official Pro Controller a little too bulky for...
Hardware Nintendo Switch OLED Review - The Screen's The Star
But is it worth the upgrade?
Nintendo has a long and proud history of relentlessly iterating and upgrading its portable systems on a regular basis, but, outside of the smaller, cheaper Switch Lite, the original model has been the company's workhorse for the past four-and-a-bit years, contributing massively to the
Hardware GB Operator Lets You Switch Between Game Boy And PC With Ease
Back up and play your Game Boy carts on PC
Casual readers would be forgiven for seeing the maker's name on the box of the GB Operator — a neat little device that lets you play your Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance carts on your PC — and confusing the company with Analogue, the producer of such quality retro-playing consoles as the...
Hardware Can You Really "Make Your Own Switch Pro" With This $100 Dongle?
We go hands-on with the Marseille mClassic
The debate about the existence of a 'Switch Pro' rages on, with reports suggesting it would be announced this year seemingly being disproven by the arrival of the more modest Switch OLED Model. However, the promise of 4K gaming has clearly struck a chord with the general public, and in an effort to fill the
Gallery Is The Panasonic Q The Most Goshdarn Beautiful Nintendo Console Of All Time?
Shine get
This week, the Nintendo GameCube turns 20. This eye-catching system may have struggled against the incredible might of the PlayStation 2, but few would argue that Sony's machine was more attractive on a purely physical level. The boxy GameCube, complete with its unusual travel handle, is a true design icon and its appealing aesthetics are...
News This Reimagined GameCube Controller Offers Wireless Play, Pre-Orders Open Now
Compatible with GameCube, Switch and PC
Thanks to its 20th anniversary yesterday, there's an awful lot of love going around for the GameCube at the moment. The console might not have performed spectacularly sales-wise, but it's often remembered very fondly indeed by those who did go ahead and pick one up two decades ago. If you just so happen to be...
News Polymega Units Are Finally Arriving In The Hands Of Customers
Support for another console also to be announced
Polymega – the all-in-one retro console capable of playing a wide range of cartridge and CD-based classic systems – has certainly taken its time coming to market. It was originally announced way back in 2017, and pre-orders opened in September 2018. However, a series of
News Nintendo Switch Base Model Price Officially Reduced To £259/€269 Across Europe
Grab yours now
As had been previously rumoured, Nintendo has now officially reduced the RRP of the base model Switch in Europe. You'll now start to find consoles available for just £259.99 instead of the previous £279.99 asking price in the UK, and for €269.99 instead of €329.99 in other territories. The console is ready to pick up at its new...
Hardware Polymega Review - The Ultimate All-In-One Retro Machine
Now updated with impressions of the final retail firmware
This review was originally published on August 11th 2020 and has been updated to factor in our impressions of the SNES, Mega Drive and TG-16 Element Modules, as well as their respective controllers. This review now also takes into account the final retail firmware for the Polymega system...
Hands On Anbernic's RG300X Is A Beefed-Up Game Boy Micro That Runs Emulators
And it's slightly less punishing on your hands
We've covered the exploits of Chinese firm Anbernic on Nintendo Life before, thanks to our coverage of its generally excellent RG351 handheld. The company has become popular in recent years due to the fact that it combines great design with solid ergonomics – and its systems are pretty decent when it...
News A Special Pokémon Dialga & Palkia Edition Nintendo Switch Lite Launches This November
Update: Pre-orders live at My Nintendo UK!
Update: And just like that, pre-orders are already up for the special Dialga & Palkia Edition Nintendo Switch Lite at My Nintendo Store UK. You can grab it below: <products id="15592"> Original Article (Wed 18th Aug, 2021 14:45 BST): During today's Pokémon Presents video, The Pokémon Company...
Random Aya Neo's Switch-Style Handheld Is Getting A Game Boy Makeover
Plus a massive spec boost
Ever since the Switch arrived on the market and reinvigorated interest in portable gaming, we've seen a fair few imitators and rivals appear, mostly from companies in the Far East. GPD has already shown off more than one Switch-inspired handheld and Chinese giant
News GPD Has Plans For Its Own Switch-Style Handheld Device Powered By Android
A new challenger approaches
Since the success of Nintendo's hybrid device, the gaming tablet market has been flooded with Switch-style products. Most recently, we've seen the announcement of Valve's Steam Deck - a product that admittedly looks quite promising. It seems the Chinese tech company GPD will soon be getting (back) in on the action - with...
Hands On One Man's Vision Shaped The GBA-Style GameForce CHI
...but is it any good?
If you're familiar with the raft of emulation-focused handhelds that have been emerging from China over the past few years, then the work of Anbernic and Bitt Boy will no doubt be on your radar already. While these are clearly small-fry when compared to the likes of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, they're still firms with a fair...
News The Micro-Console Revolution Isn't Over Quite Yet, It Would Seem
Say hello to the A500 Mini
Nintendo might not have been the first company to dream up the notion of the 'mini' console, but it has arguably been the most successful, thanks to its massively popular NES and SNES Classic Editions. Since then, we've seen the likes of
News Intellivision's Wii-Like Amico Console Gets Delayed For A Third Time
Now coming at the end of 2021
Those who pre-ordered the much-delayed Intellivision Amico console have been told via email that they're going to have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the machine. The system – which features Wii-style motion controls and a unique Wii U-like controller – was supposed to launch in October of 2020, but...
Random Here's What The Nintendo Switch Looks Like Next To Valve's Steam Deck
And a number of other portable systems...
Last month, after some rumours, Valve officially unveiled the Steam Deck - a new Switch-style handheld gaming system. IGN got exclusive access to the tech originally, but now Valve has opened up "hands-on" play sessions to many other media outlets. It's resulted in the usual comparisons you would expect...
News After Months Of Silence, Polymega Insists Pre-Orders Are Shipping Soon
September 12th is the new launch date
The Polymega is a remarkable system capable of running original software for consoles such as the SNES, Mega Drive, PC Engine and even Sega Saturn – but while the unit itself lives up to its potential, creator Playmaji has had something of a nightmare when it comes to actually getting it into the hands of...
News Gabe Newell: Pricing Valve's Switch-Like Steam Deck Was "Painful"
Cheapest model will be $50 more than the OLED Switch
In case you missed it, Valve's rumoured "Switch-like" handheld device has now been officially revealed as the Steam Deck. While the American company best-known for its digital games platform on PC hasn't drawn any comparisons to Nintendo's hybrid system itself, it's sort of hard to ignore certain...
News Valve's Steam Deck Might Be The Closest We'll Get To A Switch Pro In 2021
Starting at $399 / £349
Valve has just announced the Steam Deck, a Switch-style handheld system that offers portable access to the company's massive Steam digital marketplace. Boasting a 7-inch, 1280x800 touchscreen and dedicated gaming controls (including two trackpads and eight triggers on the rear), the SteamOS-based handheld will connect to...
Feature Nintendo Hardware Refreshes Through The Ages
Nintendo's lineage of console updates and revisions
Update: Now with 100% more Nintendo Switch OLED Model and a new poll at the end. Enjoy! Mid-cycle hardware refreshes may sometimes feel like a relatively recent development, but console manufacturers have been releasing revised versions of their consoles since video gaming first entered the home...
Hands On Retro Handheld Face-Off - Anbernic R351 Vs Retroid Pocket 2
Which should you pack in your pocket?
As portable technology has progressed over the past decade, we've seen a host of gaming handhelds that don't run physical games but are instead focused on emulation, replicating the performance of consoles like the Game Boy, SNES, Mega Drive and even Nintendo 64. We've covered quite a few of these on the site...
News This Adapter Lets You Play Game Boy Cartridges On Your PC, And It Even Detects Fakes
The GB Operator
Now, here's a handy-sounding device for any Game Boy fans out there. The GB Operator, a cute little adapter from Epilogue, lets owners play and manage their collection of Game Boy cartridges on PC. Original Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance carts are all supported, and the application used to play the games can run on...
News Intellivision's Amico Is Shaping Up To Be The Most 'Nintendo' Non-Nintendo System Ever
But will it find an audience?
You'd be forgiven for missing it amid all of the other E3 presentations, but Intellivision's Amico-focused video event was pretty interesting, because it gave us a look at what it shaping up to be a surprisingly Nintendo-like games console (something which should perhaps come as no surprise, given that a trio of...
Random Even If We Don't See Switch Pro Today, At Least We've Got The Atari VCS, Right?
"Inspired by the past. Built for the future"
While the world waits with bated breath to see if Nintendo will actually announce the Switch Pro today, it's worth remembering that if the worse happens and we don't get a reveal during the E3 Nintendo Direct, we can console ourselves (no pun intended) with another new piece of hardware:
