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Thinkgeek offers up the Retro Mini, a portable NES photo

If you had suggested the idea of a portable NES to me back when I was deep in the throes of my romance with it back in 1986, I would have probably passed out at the idea, despite the fact there's nothing portable about the size of the game cartridges. Now I have all my NES favorites emulated through my not-R4 for my Nintendo DS, but for those of you that don't, perhaps you'd like a real NES handheld?

Thinkgeek now sells the Retro Mini, a handheld specifically designed to play NES games on the go. It retails for $49.99, runs on 4 AA batteries, and has a hi-res LCD screen. It really makes to smile to see it, but I think having the big cartridge sticking out of th eback would bother me. Either way, it's cool to look at. Now if only someone would make a portable with all the NES games already built in ... I'd pay a pretty penny to get my hands on that thing!


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28 comments | showing # 1 to 28

The Prodigal Son's Avatar
The Prodigal Son at 05/14/2009 10:26
Nintendo would undoubtedly cry if the NES games were built in. We can thank VC for that not being a (legitimate) possibility. They sell NES games for like $5 bucks. Perhaps in the year 202X Nintendo will build one of those crazy contraptions you can get at Walmart that plug into your T.V. and have a collection of games on them (like the Namco and Sega ones). Until then, your not-R4 will have to suffice.
Kraid's Avatar
Kraid at 05/14/2009 10:29
Look at this abomination! The Galaga carthridge may please my eyes but it's not working Thinkgeek ; I see what you did thar!

I honestly think my not-custom firmwared PSP is not the right tool to not emulated my not NES roms.
fetusmilk's Avatar
fetusmilk at 05/14/2009 10:29
a friend posted this on facebook yesterday. i think its stupid. why not make it so the screen is the size of the cart?
also isnt this like ,REAL old? i remember seeing this years ago.

and do you realize how cumbersome it is to carry even 5 NES games around? unless youre one who travels with a backpack everywhere.
and if you do ,im sure you have laptops and ipods and vibrators and such in there already.

yes its "cool cause its retro" but just hack a psp.
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 05/14/2009 10:29
You have an R4 huh? You son of a bitch.

While the idea behind a portable NES is spiffy, the design is just awful. Not to mention that cart sticking out like that.
JamnOnTheOne's Avatar
JamnOnTheOne at 05/14/2009 10:33
2.4" screen = worthless

If I wanted eye strain I'd carry my Turbo Express everywhere.
Bulkmailer's Avatar
Bulkmailer at 05/14/2009 10:33
50% want/50% don't want
Diverse's Avatar
Diverse at 05/14/2009 10:36
My PSP is my portable NES.
killias2's Avatar
killias2 at 05/14/2009 10:36
"I honestly think my not-custom firmwared PSP is not the right tool to not emulated my not NES roms."

What he said.
Subenu's Avatar
Subenu at 05/14/2009 10:42
Good idea, but seriously, the cartridges are way to big for it...
LK4O4's Avatar
LK4O4 at 05/14/2009 10:50
I'm pretty sure I've actually seen them selling these at a game shop in my town! It was definitely awesome to mess with, if just for the novelty of it.
whatisdelicious's Avatar
whatisdelicious at 05/14/2009 10:52
Destructoid already posted a story awhile back about the Dingoo A320. Just get that. I got one after the Dtoid story and it's awesome. NES, SNES, GBA, Genesis, etc all in my pocket, all the time.
VampireChrist's Avatar
VampireChrist at 05/14/2009 10:54
i have one of those packed up somewhere...
it also has an output to use it on a tv
but... the thing is kinda worthless :(
J03yyz's Avatar
J03yyz at 05/14/2009 11:09
get a dingoo digital - ive made it so every NES game is "built in" too
HiddenAHB's Avatar
HiddenAHB at 05/14/2009 11:24
I don't think you can call sometinhg that big handheld.
Noah's Avatar
Noah at 05/14/2009 11:48
Almost TOO practical
atastysammich's Avatar
atastysammich at 05/14/2009 12:00
That does look pretty sexy, but so do a lot of modern NES redos in still images. I'd like to see some video and/or reviews of the thing.

Also, it genuinely bugs me that the cartridge faces forward. Have the designers never played a Game Boy?!
Artemus's Avatar
Artemus at 05/14/2009 12:48
Novel idea...
I'll stay with my not-R4 emulated NES games...
CommanderPoopypants's Avatar
CommanderPoopypants at 05/14/2009 13:03
This would be perfect for checking to see if carts work on the go. I hate buying games in questionable flea mkts that don't work after you get home.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 05/14/2009 13:50
Look at the size of that monster, one drop and it's all over, forget it. I'll just stick with my emulator.
ion ray's Avatar
ion ray at 05/14/2009 14:07
CommanderPoopypants makes a good point, but I still can't get over it looking a lot like a Game.Com.

Shadowiii's Avatar
Shadowiii at 05/14/2009 14:24
@atastysammich

Clearly they have that design in case you forget what you are playing. Like how the first Xbox controller had that enormous "X" in the middle in case you forgot and thought you were playing Playstation or something.
Naim Master's Avatar
Naim Master at 05/14/2009 14:52
Someone must NOT do a NOT SNES emulator for the R4 , I'd love to NOT play SNES games on the go ...
killias2's Avatar
killias2 at 05/14/2009 15:15
"Someone must NOT do a NOT SNES emulator for the R4 , I'd love to NOT play SNES games on the go ..."

For the love of not God get a not hacked not PSP.
mr showtime's Avatar
mr showtime at 05/14/2009 15:25
fit's right in your pocket!





what would it look like with the Game Genie attched?
Eifel's Avatar
Eifel at 05/14/2009 16:22
I believe the FC Mobile came out before the Retro Mini. Same thing though.

http://kotaku.com/385032/this-portable-nes-is-legit-works
DaedHead8's Avatar
DaedHead8 at 05/14/2009 17:37
I don't mind the cartridge sticking out but that button layout looks awful.
welkstar's Avatar
welkstar at 05/14/2009 21:21
I still think it's cool. It would be awesome to have all the games loaded on the device, but it's neat to have another use for the real cartridges. If nothing else, it's a proof of concept.
Infinitys End's Avatar
Infinitys End at 05/24/2009 16:53
yeah I agree with DaedHead, the angle layout of the A and B buttons is awful. You're almost going directly up with that thing.

Also -- 4 AA's?! Come ON what is this, 1992? That's worthless. When the hell is someone going to make a portable NES emulator that has all the games in one? Not a hacked PSP but seriously -- a true, designated system that has all the NES games on it. And runs on 2 AA's.

No one can do it, can they?
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