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Best way you’ve found to play NES games?

Posted on 11/23/22 at 5:00 pm
Posted by Dale Murphy
God's Country
Member since Feb 2005
24473 posts
Posted on 11/23/22 at 5:00 pm
I’m old and the new systems are too advanced for me. Too many buttons.
I prefer to relive my childhood playing on some Tecmo Super Bowl, RBI Baseball, or Metroid while rocking out to some late 80s Van Halen and Warrant.
We have a Switch and Wii U but there’s just not enough games on there. I’ve downloaded many on a raspberry Pi but the modded controller that fits in the Pi is not smooth enough and makes it difficult for many of those games.
So unless I could find an original NES controller that can be modded to fit into a Pi, the only other option is to buy an original system and worry about the blinking screen between games.
Or have you found other ways to play?
This post was edited on 11/23/22 at 5:01 pm
Posted by slough
Louisiana
Member since Jul 2020
286 posts
Posted on 11/23/22 at 5:13 pm to
You have a lot of choices for USB controllers to use with the Raspberry Pi. You can probably find one you like. For example, this is a pretty good one that feels similar to an old SNES controller:

LINK

If you get an original NES, you can largely fix the blinking screen problem by taking out the NES's connector and boiling it in a pot of water (yes, really). And you can clean the connectors on the games themselves with q-tips and rubbing alcohol or Windex.
This post was edited on 11/23/22 at 5:15 pm
Posted by SonicAndBareKnuckles
Member since Jun 2018
1596 posts
Posted on 11/23/22 at 6:39 pm to
Other than original hardware, just emulate it on any PC.
Posted by Dale Murphy
God's Country
Member since Feb 2005
24473 posts
Posted on 11/23/22 at 6:53 pm to
I’d rather play it on a big screen on a couch than in a chair on a computer.
But the biggest issue I have is being able to use an original NES controller. The new ones that are made for USB ports just don’t work nearly as well. And for those old games timing is important. Can’t be delayed when Mike Tyson blinks at you.
Posted by Pechon
unperson
Member since Oct 2011
7748 posts
Posted on 11/23/22 at 7:35 pm to
quote:

You have a lot of choices for USB controllers to use with the Raspberry Pi.


I highly suggest 8BitDo's offerings for a close to authentic experience. I have one that looks like an SNES..well Super Famicom controller but with analog sticks and shoulder buttons.



They're Bluetooth too. Even better, 8BitDo sells a Bluetooth adapter for the NES and SNES classic if you want a simple plug and play experience.


What about actual consoles, hah, too easy. 8BitDo makes Bluetooth adapters for classic game consoles too.

No, they didn't give me any money I just like their stuff.
Posted by SonicAndBareKnuckles
Member since Jun 2018
1596 posts
Posted on 11/23/22 at 8:13 pm to
I have no idea whether or not your controllers are any good, but have you considered your TV?

Due to how today’s TVs work, there’s always going to be some degree of display latency that will affect your precision. You can minimize it by enabling your TV’s “Game Mode”, and that is usually good enough to get by, but the only way to avoid display latency is to play on a CRT TV like the old days.
Posted by Dale Murphy
God's Country
Member since Feb 2005
24473 posts
Posted on 11/23/22 at 8:33 pm to
No it’s not the TV. The 4 button D-pad on after market controllers are stiffer. Doesn’t allow for ease moving from direction to direction. Gets stuck. Unless I just got a bad controller.
Posted by NEMizzou
Columbia MO
Member since Nov 2013
1369 posts
Posted on 11/28/22 at 4:56 pm to
Outside of an original console on an old CRT, I think an FPGA system is your best bet. If you're just interested in NES games you can get a RetroUSB for $200 here, and it's as perfect as it's going to get. It has ports for original controllers and HDMI out. Pair it with an Everdrive and you'll have every NES game ever produced, with flawless accuracy. Without using a CRT there will still be some lag but this is a lot better than a Pi-based system.

If you're wanting to do more systems than the NES and are OK with a huge learning curve, look up the Mister FPGA. That's what I have and it's kind of amazing what it can do. But it's not anything close to plug and play.
Posted by ThuperThumpin
Member since Dec 2013
7328 posts
Posted on 11/29/22 at 7:54 am to
I play on a modded NES classic with around 1000 games. There are lots of those for sale on EBay.
Posted by Dale Murphy
God's Country
Member since Feb 2005
24473 posts
Posted on 12/9/22 at 5:15 pm to
quote:

I play on a modded NES classic with around 1000 games. There are lots of those for sale on EBay.


Is the controller an original one that’s just been modded?
Posted by ForeverEllisHugh
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2016
14835 posts
Posted on 12/9/22 at 7:07 pm to
I love original hardware but I’m sure I’ll be playing some 8Bit when I get my Deck
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