Famicom World

http://www.analogueinteractive.com/index.php/analogue-nt

Basically, the people responsible for the sleek (and expensive) wooden CMVS are now building a "new" system that, I'm guessing, will play both NES and Famicom cartridges, have support for the original FDS, have four controller ports built-in, and is built with contemporary displays and audio equipment in mind.

No price has yet been revealed, but the creators did say over on this thread on Neo-Geo.com (http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?249930-Analogue-Nt-an-RGB-NES-Famicom-No-Emulation-Hi-Fi) that it will be considerably cheaper than their CMVS systems which go for $649. Guess we'll hear more soon.

I wonder how it will handle four player games, since the Famicom and the NES handle that differently.

Can't wait to learn more.  Hopefully this will help cut down on Titler butchering and bad, bad, bad modding services.

TITLER butchering should be outlawed!


- Save the titlers committee

Site's now up and ready to take pre-orders: http://analogueinteractive.com/products/analogue-nt-information (http://analogueinteractive.com/products/analogue-nt-information)

$500 for the system, $50 more if you want it any color other than white. $50 for a HDMI adapter which is required for the system to output HD resolutions, which is kind of the whole point of the device.

My oh my. I think I'll be quite content with my RGB-modded AV Famicom.

A problem with Titler and arcade Famicom CPUs is that some games that uses a certain PPU technique (namely intensifying red, green and blue at the same time to create a fadeout effect) are unplayable with those. But I guess Analogue Nt is using the NESRGB approach.

Looks like they cannibalized real Famicoms for the CPUs and PPUs instead. "We were able to procure a large quantity of HVC-001 Famicom systems that were in cosmetically undesirable/unsellable condition," source: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/05/building-a-perfect-no-compromises-aftermarket-nes-for-500/

It sounds like they support both Famicom- and NES-style four player games from what I can tell from the official site.

No lockout chip? Wasn't there at least one game that requires the lockout chip and doesn't work on NES systems with the lockout chip is disabled and on Famicoms?

Also it seems there's no way to use the con II microphone. There are games that requires it to proceed in the game.

Finally it says "Famicom Disk System (via expansion port)". Surely it must be a mistake. Disk System connects via the 60pin cartridge port.

These are supposed luxury items - so the cost will never make sense, just like an expensive handbag is never really costs the money you have to pay for it.  I guess it's different for cars though.

It is certainly stylish, but way too pricey for me :o

I dont understand the logic of shelling out that kind of money for 30 year old hardware dressed up in a nice shell. It doesnt do much for famicom/nes in progressive terms. Bunny boys HDMI nes will blow it out of the water.  ;D

I am against this device, honestly it's possible to HDMI mod a NES-101 and a AV Famicom.
Why waste money on an expensive clone when you can just upgrade your official hardware.

They gutted Famicoms for the CPU and PPU chips.  It's not quite accurate to call it a clone.

That does look nice, but not $500 nice.

Christoph (the guy / aka Analogue Ltd.) is getting absolutely vilified in that thread over on Neo-Geo.com

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?249930-Analogue-Nt-an-RGB-NES-Famicom-No-Emulation-Hi-Fi/page11&s=312af4fd182b61f5fa2635651605d3b3

I can understand why.  It is a heck of a lot of money.  Famicoms are getting butchered.  HDMI cables costs even more money.  +Some other reasons.

I know Rose Colored Gaming's prices are 'boutique' but this guy takes it to a whole new level.

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Post Merge: May 07, 2014, 12:27:39 pm

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I'm actually going to just get a NES, gut it and make my own version of the AVS this way, outputting RGB and all that jazz.  Why the hell not.

Rose Color Gaming has decent enough prices. Remember, we need to factor in labor. Analogue Nt is just way out of my even wanting to look at it range. Cut it in half and we have a deal. $500, though? I could buy quite a few quality Turbo CD games with that money.

But don't you realise those fancy tumblr pics cost money?? :D. Yeah his prices are stupid but sadly some people will buy them, so it'll still work.  He has enough demand to satisfy the limited supply.  Hipster as a fixie, though, and not in a good way.

Quote from: L___E___T on May 11, 2014, 02:34:09 pm
But don't you realise those fancy tumblr pics cost money?? :D. Yeah his prices are stupid but sadly some people will buy them, so it'll still work.  He has enough demand to satisfy the limited supply.  Hipster as a fixie, though, and not in a good way.

I wish people weren't as stupid as they're going to be about this thing. Especially given the fact that nobody seems to be able to source an NESRGB right now because of this. I'm perfectly happy with my AV Famicom and my Twin Fami Turbo, though I think the video and audio leads on the second machine need to be re-seated on the board... it's a little bit loose and the picture isn't as nice as the AV Fami.

I'm one of the crazy ones that believe these should be played in Composite on a smaller CRT, not in RGB on a 40" OLED  :octorok:

There was a brilliant Rockman 2 graphics comparison that summed it up beautifully for me.

I can see the allure of RGB, but to me it just looks like emulation, and I can get that already, in HD, with zero sprite flicker in exactly that fashion without playing a bean extra.

Makes no sense to me, either. If I had an extra $500 to burn on my Nintendo collection, I'd rather buy a US Little Samson or loose Gimmick and Recca carts. Cost analysis I've seen elsewhere suggests you're paying about $200 of that cost on just the aluminum casing... meh.

Quote from: L___E___T on May 12, 2014, 10:11:56 am
I'm one of the crazy ones that believe these should be played in Composite on a smaller CRT, not in RGB on a 40" OLED  :octorok:

There was a brilliant Rockman 2 graphics comparison that summed it up beautifully for me.

I can see the allure of RGB, but to me it just looks like emulation, and I can get that already, in HD, with zero sprite flicker in exactly that fashion without playing a bean extra.

I'd like to see that comparison. I'm in the Composite/CRT party myself.

I guess this thing would be nice if you had a lot of extra cash and just wanted a very clean entertainment area. But I'd rather have a Famicom, NES, and Disk System and a nice old CRT, all of which I have and paid less for in total, and with plenty left over for games, than this "luxury item."

Here's one comparison.

Go to the Famicom section and you'll see Solstice, Megaman, and Batman all look truer in composite.  
Yes the RGB is clearer, but if you want clarity then emulation looks better still.  

The thing to consider here is that these games were DESIGNED on and for CRT TVs.  The comparison I really want to find is the opening of Rockman 2 - it's so much more descriptive in composite because the colours blend and paint a better picture.  Yes it's not as Crystal sharp as RGB, but did you ever talk to a DJ about why vinyl is better than CD?  It's a similar scenario with these.

If you look at MegaDrive / Genesis games, many used dithering that is dependent on composite, to make it look like there are more shades and grades of colour.  This is evident if you look at the title screen of Solstice, here:
http://www.chrismcovell.com/gotRGB/screenshots.html

I'm not denying that RGB is crisp and clean, but I am refuting that the games all look better played that way.

I agree with LET. I think many developers "cheated" when they drew the graphics because they knew it would still look good on a TV (or sometimes maybe they just ended up lucky). Especially that Solstice picture of the wizard looks better with composite (even though there are diagonal lines).

RGB is so clear that you can easily count the pixels the characters are made up of, but the blurriness of composite adds to the liveliness IMHO. It's like the impressionism of video games.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/371034640608?nav=SEARCH
Lol... $26.98, I can use my AV systems upscaled to HDMI.

Do you think it keeps the aspect ratio?  I'd still prefer the CRT over the flatscreen, but I think I will build a MAME cab at some point, which won't have sprite limits and supports custom palette editing and more - it is on paper superior to Analogue NT, but emulation has a built up zeitgeist aura of negativity.  RGB is not a 'videophile'  pursuit, it's a bastardisation of the original.  It is not the visual equivalent of a hi-fi enthusiast trying to squeeze out every inch of clarity from a recording.  Games' visuals are designed for the platform they are played on, with common tech from the around the time.  Sony PVMs are the pursuit, not RGB kits.

The reason I draw attention to that, is that modern, RGB obsession is a zeitgeist equivalent except with a positive air.  Both are false because both the demonisation of emulation and the worship of RGB are equally misplaced.

Emulation is not perfect but is not a great evil.  RGB is taken as perfection but is not a great force of good either.

Bottom line is, pixel art was designed for monitors, not modern televisions.  Pursuing crystal clear colours and sharp lines are not what retro pixel art is about.  It can look good at first, but it isn't superior.  This image illustrates somewhat:

(http://obscurevideogames.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dscn4570.jpg)

"This converter works great with either 720p or 1080p TVs, and the output mode is easily selectable with a switch on the device. This converter''s advanced processing IC allows you to get the clearest picture quality possible with optimal color and detail reproduction. Both video and audio are integrated into the HDMI output, providing an all-digital, one-cable solution to your HDTV or monitor."

I'll buy one and then give you a update when I see what it can do, if it turns out nicely then I'll buy like 4 of them for various AV based things I won.

It would be great to see how they run and do a little mini-review of sorts.

I went on a bit of a rant, it's just my opinion but I do feel like the RGB glorification is somewhat of a fad - what'll it be next, 4K layered 3D??