Portable NES machine plays actual cartridges

by Doug Aamoth on May 13, 2009

Portable 8-bit gaming sort of hits the mainstream with ThinkGeek.com now selling the $50 Retro Mini Handheld NES System. Unlike those far more convenient, yet far less legal portable emulation machines that you have to purchase from far away lands, this handheld ships right from the U.S. of A. and plays actual NES cartridges.

The system takes 4 AA batteries and supposedly runs for over eight hours. There’s also a built-in 2.4-inch LCD screen, speakers, and composite video output to your TV for some true nostalgia. You’ll need to go up into the attic and find that box of NES games while this thing’s in transit to you but once everything’s in place, get ready for some good old cartridge-blowing, button-mashing fun.

Retro Mini Handheld NES System [ThinkGeek.com]

Rare Nintendo Test Cartridge on eBay

Auction is already over $1,000 for a completely useless NES cart.

By Bryn Williams | March 30, 2009

Collectors. I'll never understand 'em. TechEBlog pointed out an eBay auction a few days ago concerning an NES Joystick Test Cartridge. With a little over two days still to go on the auction, 14 people have bid on the item, pushing the current bid over $1,000. Obviously, the appeal is that this item was never released to the public or intended to be sold.

This is a Joystick Test Cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System. These carts were given to game stores to test their Nintendo Entertainment Systems and were suppose to be returned to the company that provided the carts. These are very hard to find since they were never sold on the market. Any NES Collector could appreciate the value of such an item. There is wear on the label as can be seen in the picture.

That's a large amount of money for something which is essentially useless, and more to the point, there's more likely a few of them hanging around in the back rooms of WallMarts all over the country.

Can I please refer you to the case of "people with too much money?"