Tag: Hardware - Page 2
News The Aya Neo Air Is An OLED-Packing Handheld That Can Run Cyberpunk 2077 And GTA V
And it's "just" $650
Chinese firm Aya Neo has already made something of a splash in the handheld gaming arena thanks to its Windows-based portables, but they've always been held back by the fact that they're so expensive, often costing over $1000. However, the firm is expanding its lineup to include the Aya Neo Air, which will cost just CNY 4,399...
News After The Game Boy-Like GameShell, Clockwork Pi's Next Trick Is A Computer You Build Yourself
1983 called, and it wants its consumer tech back
Remember the Clockwork Pi GameShell? We covered this open source DIY handheld in 2018, mainly because it resembled a Game Boy and could run MAME, Game Boy Advance and NES titles. It raised $290,429 on Kickstarter and we really enjoyed tinkering around with it – so the news that
News Kickstarter DIY Kit Transforms GBA Into Console-Like HDMI System
No soldering required
A new Kickstarter campaign by IntecGaming aims to convert the Game Boy Advance into a console-like experience. Its 'GBA HDMI Kit' has so far raised just over $10,000 USD (with a goal of $49,697) and promises to be highly portable, easy to operate and a fun DIY device. It also comes with built-in Bluetooth receiver, allowing it...
News British Gas Advises Consumers To Turn Off Games Consoles To Save Money
"Vampire devices" strike again
British Gas has ruffled a few feathers today. In a report published by the BBC, the UK's biggest energy company has recommended that households should switch off what the company has dubbed "vampire devices". That's not a switched-on TV showing one of the many Dracula films on repeat, or even your Switch running the...
News The SNES Classic Is The UK's King Of The Micro-Consoles
N64 Mini when, Nintendo?
Prior to the arrival of the Switch, one of the most exciting developments in the world of Nintendo hardware was the NES Classic, a micro-console filled with 8-bit titles that made the company a tidy sum of cash. It was quickly followed by the SNES Classic Edition – not to mention similar products from the likes of
Random This Tool Lets You Play 'Just Dance' With Your Joy-Con On Any Console
But you'll need some tech know-how
We're the lucky ones on the Switch. Just Dance allows us to get straight into the groove of things by letting us use our Joy-Con. To play the 2022 version on either Xbox Series X, Series S, or PlayStation 5, however, you need to download an app on your phone. Alright, that's not really a lot of extra hassle, is...
News The Genki: Covert Dock Mini Is An Even Tinier Portable Dock For Your Switch
20x smaller than the original
The Genki: Covert Dock was already a stunning piece of portable kit that let you dock your Switch at a friend's house without having to lug around your bulky bit of plastic and your chunky AC adaptor around with you. We even said in our review back in 2020 that "The Genki Covert Dock is a top of the line product that...
Hands On 4K Gamer Pro - A 4K 'Silver Bullet' For Your Nintendo Switch?
Keeping up with the upscalers
The arrival of the PS5 and Xbox Series X has made 4K gaming a reality for millions of players, so it's understandable that many Switch owners are feeling a little left out and are seeking to make the resolution jump as well – despite the fact that Nintendo's console is now five years old. Rumours of a Switch Pro (and...
Random You Can Play SNES Games On A Toaster With This DIY Kit
ToastBound
When we think of custom consoles, the first thing that comes to mind is custom plates, portable versions of home consoles - like this portable GameCube, which, in the absence of GameCube games on the Switch, we need. Yes, need. We're going a bit beyond these examples today, though! Japanese manufacturer Columbus Circle, who creates parts...
News Who Needs Switch Pro? New Dongle Promises To "Instantly Upgrade Switch To 4K"
"Automatically upscaling to 4K resolution without any lag"
A new dongle promises to automatically upscale the Switch to 4K with zero lag, and it's coming to Kickstarter this April. The 4K Gamer Pro is the follow-up to the 4K Gamer+, which was launched in Asia in 2021. It's a plug-and-play device that takes the 1080p output of the Switch (and other...
Random Want To Turn Your Game Boy Into A Megazord? Just Attach Every Accessory
Go go, Game Boy rangerrrrrs
Want to know how to acquire the ultimate Game Boy or Game Boy Color? Well, you just need some spare cash and all of the accessories! In ye olden days, handheld consoles came with a plethora of add-ons and peripherals that would help enhance your gaming experience. Remember, the backlight didn't always exist. - you had to...
News Nintendo Sneakily Filed A New Controller Patent Last Year
One day it'll be for a new Power Glove
Nintendo is definitely one of the more secretive companies in the video game industry, but it's also one of the biggest innovators when it comes to technology, too. So leave it to a small discovery to get people's tongues wagging. One Twitter user has discovered a patent that Nintendo made made in July last...
Random Discover How Mode 7 Works On Super NES, In Just 10 Minutes
Who needs blast processing?
Mode 7 is definitely one of the coolest features of many SNES games. Remember hopping into your first go-kart in Super Mario Kart and seeing your favourite characters drive around "fully-3D" courses? Or playing Secret of Mana and getting on Flammie's back for the first time, and looking down at the world map? Don't forget...
Random Build Your Own Nintendo DS With Joy-Cons And A Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
That's flippin' amazing!
We all remember the Nintendo DS fondly, right? The chunky grey thing that had two screens and let you play Super Mario 64 in the palm of your hands from day one? The handheld that brought us hundreds of classics such as Pokémon Black and White, Ghost Trick, Radiant Historia, and
Random Man Who Just Wanted To Play Duck Hunt With His Kids Built His Own Light Gun
"I thought Duck Hunt on a 50-inch TV would be amazing"
For many of us, the light gun was a part of our childhood. Whether it was grabbing your NES Zapper only to be mocked by a dog in Duck Hunt, or heading to the arcade and spending those few pennies of pocket money you saved up every week for a quick blast of Time Crisis, it captured the...
Random The NES-SY37 Is A Custom-Built Synthesiser That Pays Tribute To The NES
You wait for one NES synthesiser to show up...
Just yesterday, we reported on an app that you can download to turn your NES into a synthesiser (if you have the right tools, of course). But Swedish craftsman Love Hultén, known for creating bespoke technology fused with traditional woodcraft, has paid tribute to the classic console by building a...
Random Turn Your NES Into A Synthesiser With This App
We built this city on bleeps and bloops
If, when you first played Super Mario Bros. 3 or the original Metroid, you wanted to make music that rivalled Koji Kondo or Hirokazu Tanaka but also sounded just like it, well in 2022 you're finally in luck. Available on itch.io and developed by user Avicr, SynthNes is a ROM that runs on an Everdrive N8 Pro...
News Retro-Bit's GameCube Component Cable Will Save You Some Pennies
No need to sell a kidney!
Remember the GameCube's official component cable? Once upon a time, it was the best way to get a picture out of Nintendo's boxy-but-good home console, and its price reflected that – it cost around £60/$70 at launch but can fetch upwards of £200 these days. Thankfully, there are other options in 2022. We've got HDMI...
Hardware With One Change, These Hori Pokémon Controllers Would Be Perfect For Arceus
Feeling the (e)motion
We're no strangers to Hori's Split Pad Pro, having sampled both the original version and some of its more recent re-skins, but the Japanese accessory maker has given the product a fresh push in 2022 to coincide with the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Nin
Random This Disc Will Wipe Your Nintendo Wii Clean
Such power
As you'll no doubt know if you've used a games console in the past decade, the process of packing it up for resale or donation to another person is a lengthy one. It's no longer a case of simply unplugging said console and boxing it up for a new lease of life; most modern machines will have game installs, WiFi connection data and perhaps...
Random Hyperkin And Kraft Heinz Team Up For "Monumental" Collaboration
"Dedicated solely to gamer-friendly foods"
Hyperkin, the company behind a wide range of gaming hardware and accessories, has announced that it is teaming up with food giant Kraft Heinz to produce "snack-related gaming accessories" that make use of "the most popular snack brands that have been nourishing dedicated couch warriors for decades." Kraft...
Random Here's The Nintendo Switch-Like Steam Deck Compared To Some Other Stuff
It LORGE
The Steam Deck is very big. It is so big, in fact, that we're pretty sure it could beat up your dad and also eclipse the sun without breaking a sweat. People have been having a lot of fun comparing the Large Lad to a bunch of much smaller things, and even some average size things. The Steam Deck is bigger than a Nintendo Switch. We already...
Hardware This Wireless Portable 4K Screen Offers Cable, Lag And Dock-Free Switch Gaming
Wireless connectivity up to 20 meters
The Nintendo Switch has proven to be a hit with gamers thanks to the fact that it can be played both on your TV and in portable mode, but despite this unique selling point, there's still a market for super-slim mobile monitors that allow you to experience the big-screen effect while you're on the move. One of...
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...
Feature Aya Neo Next Review: 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...
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...
"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 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 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...
