Real console parts become virtual Virtual Console parts

by JC Fletcher { May 12th 2008 at 4:00PM }

This seems like an excellent use of a vintage PC: building a dedicated NES emulator. It's basically the same idea as the homemade MAME cabinet, but cheaper. dosman built a custom adapter (using a destroyed NES Four Score) that allowed him to attach NES controllers to vintage 486 PC, then connected a NES Satellite to the system. Now he can play archived NES games using a wireless controller! How novel!

We don't want to argue about the legality of emulation (we're not going to look into whether or not he owns the original cartridges, etc.) because we prefer to focus on how cool the whole project is. The 486 is just powerful enough to run Nesticle (itself a vintage program), and somebody finally figured out a reason for both the Four Score and the Satellite to exist.

[Via MAKE]

Tags: emulation, four-score, nes, nes-satellite

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SWAT Kats are back! @ May 12th 2008 5:04PM

Really, somebody should do this with the virtual console, period

Building it yourself would be much cheaper than buying an AVS Neo Geo system, that's for sure

sn1per @ May 13th 2008 8:49AM

lol, the nes satellite. I remember buying one from gamestop a long time ago for like $7. I used it twice, before I realized what a terrible product it was (needed 4 D batteries and line of sight to the console for it to work).

dosman @ May 13th 2008 9:14AM

I have to defend my NES Satellite, when used properly it's a great device. It takes C-cells and IR isn't a problem if you can leave it on a table or other solid object that has direct line of sight to the receiver. Also transmit speed has never been a problem for me, I used to do a lot of Punch Out with it and never had any of the delay issues that I've read about. Overall, the configuration I used when I built that emulator system worked very well when I still had time to play. If you liked that you may like this as well:
http://www.packetsniffers.org/projects/geeks_unleashed/

We set this up in a full size arcade cabinet using some parts of this emulator system.