Nintendo And LEGO Officially Unveil The LEGO NES

Nintendo and The LEGO Group have confirmed that the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System will be arriving on August 1st. Fans can assemble their own console complete with a special retro television set and then turn the in-built crank to make your 8-bit Mario figure move around the screen. You can read the full details and order your own set here.

“Today’s announcement will let adult fans take a trip down memory-lane by building a mechanically functional version of an all-time favorite console with LEGO bricks. The new NES Building Kit will include a controller with a connecting cable and plug and even an opening slot for the Game Pak with a locking feature. The console also comes with a buildable retro TV, featuring a flat 8-bit Mario figure on the scrolling screen. Fans can scan an included action brick with LEGO® Mario™ from the LEGO Super Mario Starter Course, so he reacts to on-screen enemies, obstacles and power-ups just as he would have in the iconic Super Mario Bros. game.

“Super Mario has been a cherished figure in the gaming world for over thirty years now,” said Maarten Simons, Creative Lead on LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System™, the LEGO Group. “Many adults still fondly remember that first time they saw Mario leap across the small screen, even if the graphics were a lot simpler than they are today. With the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System, we’re letting them truly indulge in that nostalgia, recreating one of the most-loved consoles of all time so they can see the Super Mario from their childhoods once again – and even to share the experience of gaming in the 1980s with their own children.”

The LEGO Group and Nintendo announced their partnership earlier this year, bringing a fun-packed LEGO Super Mario universe to life through a Super Mario Starter Course set that exclusively features a LEGO Mario figure who displays a wide variety of instant reactions to movement, color and various action bricks. This entry point set was followed up on in May with a series of Power-Up Packs and in June with the announcement of a range of Expansion Sets and collectible Character Packs. All have been designed to build out the world of LEGO Super Mario, letting players unleash their creativity by building exactly the levels and challenges they want to see LEGO Mario and friends compete in.

This highly collectible NES building set is part of a range of inspirational LEGO models designed for discerning hobbyists, as they look for their next immersive challenge. The LEGO NES will be available exclusively from LEGO Retail Stores and LEGO.com from August 1st 2020. From 2021 it will be available also at other leading retailers around the world.

The full LEGO Super Mario product line also launches August 1st and will be available directly from LEGO Stores and www.LEGO.com as well as at leading retailers around the world.”

Bring the pixels to life with the #LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System set! Assemble your own console and retro TV, then turn the crank to make 8-bit Mario move across the screen! Add your LEGO Mario figure for even more fun!

Available 8/1: https://t.co/51IHyLMEFj pic.twitter.com/io1xr1Jhz7

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 14, 2020

Nintendo Says Switch Online NES/SNES Games No Longer Releasing Monthly

Nintendo has announced that Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo games for Nintendo Switch Online members will no longer be released monthly and will instead be distributed at certain intervals. They didn’t specify exactly when we can expect them. So we’ll have to wait and see when and what games will be added to the service. 

The NES Classic Edition Will Be Back In Stores On June 29th

Nintendo has confirmed via Twitter that the NES Classic Edition will be returning on June 29th. They also said that this and the SNES Classic Edition are “expected to be available through the end of the year”. In Japan, Famicom Minis will return to stores on the 28th. 

#NESClassic Edition will return to stores on June 29! This system and the #SNESClassic Edition system are expected to be available through the end of the year. https://t.co/LclbG5m4ta pic.twitter.com/1PcXBI5qJC

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 14, 2018

Nintendo Addresses The NES Classic Edition Selling Out

The highly-anticipated NES Classic Edition released on November 11, and it looks like many Nintendo fans were unable to get their hands on one. Nintendo of America has issued the following statement on the seemingly rampant sellouts, assuring that more consoles will become available at participating retailers in the coming weeks: “As recently posted by Nintendo on the Wii U website in Japan, Wii U production will end in the near future for the Japanese domestic market. We have nothing to announce in terms of exact timing. We can confirm that as of today, all Wii U hardware that will be made available in the North American market for this fiscal year has already been shipped to our retail partners. We encourage anyone who wants Wii U to communicate with their preferred retail outlet to monitor availability.”

The NES Classic Edition Launched And Here’s All The Details

Take a step back into the past and relive past gaming glories, or discover a generation of classic titles anew, with the NES Classic Edition. Nintendo newcomers and NES veterans alike can enjoy the classics of yesteryear, complete with new features such as high-definition visual modes and multiple save points.

The NES Classic Edition system features 30 titles from Nintendo’s iconic NES console such as Donkey Kong, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario Bros. 3 Each title can be displayed at 60Hz via the included HDMI cable. Players can display the action in the 4:3 aspect ratio used by the original NES console, in the new Pixel Perfect mode where each pixel is a correct square on the TV, or like it was back in the day on a CRT TV with the Classic visual filter. Progress on each title can be saved at any time, meaning that the days of losing passwords and progress are a thing of the past. With up to four Suspend Points available per game, multiple players in a household can save their game progress, or solo players can enjoy the flexibility of saving at various points throughout their playthrough.

Whether it’s rediscovering an old favourite or experiencing the joy of NES for the first time, the collection of included NES titles should have something for all players, with legendary adventures, iconic platforming and beloved arcade classics. The included titles are:

• Balloon Fight
• BUBBLE BOBBLE
• Castlevania
• Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
• Donkey Kong
• Donkey Kong Jr.
• DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE
• Dr. Mario
• Excitebike
• FINAL FANTASY
• Galaga
• GHOSTS‘N GOBLINS
• GRADIUS
• Ice Climber
• Kid Icarus
• Kirby’s Adventure
• Mario Bros.
• MEGA MAN 2
• Metroid
• NINJA GAIDEN
• PAC-MAN
• Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
• StarTropics
• SUPER C
• Super Mario Bros.
• Super Mario Bros. 2
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Tecmo Bowl
• The Legend of Zelda
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Nintendo veterans and NES newbies alike will all have the opportunity to enjoy the games of yesteryear in a brand new way with the NES Classic Edition. 

The 80’s Are Back With The Launch Of The NES Classic Edition

The ’80s are totally back and Nintendo is totally embracing them with the November 11 launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition system, which includes 30 classic NES games such as Super Mario Bros., Metroid, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Kirby’s Adventure and PAC-MAN. But it’s not just the launch of this awesome console that’ll crimp your hair and tight roll your jeans:

• On the night of November 10, fans who visit the Nintendo NY store in Rockefeller Plaza will have a blast in the past with an ’80s-themed launch event.
• On launch weekend (November 11-13), Nintendo is also bringing back its righteously nostalgic Power Line for three days only.
• On November 10 and November 11, its social media channels will go completely retro to a time when “social media” involved trading passwords and game tips on the school bus.

Are you ready to go back in time? Grab your neon sunglasses and jelly bracelets. Things are about to get radical. To kick off the launch, Nintendo will host a “Remembering #NESterday” social media takeover starting on November 10. By using the #NESterday hashtag, Nintendo fans will be encouraged to share fond Nintendo gaming memories and even present-day photos with their old NES consoles. Some of these photos will be shared on Nintendo’s social media channels, and people will also be able to participate in a Twitter sweepstakes that will be just as tubular as you might expect.

On the night before the launch (November 10) starting at 9PM ET, Nintendo invites you (and anyone who wants to party like it’s 1985) to the Nintendo NY store for an ’80s-themed NES Classic Edition event. The first 250 visitors can play classic NES games, participate in a costume contest dressed as their favorite Nintendo characters or ’80s icons, and show off their NES knowledge in the ultimate retro Nintendo game show. When the clock ticks over to midnight on November 11, the one-handed gloves come off and the NES Classic Edition will be available to purchase, while supplies last.

While playing one of the 30 great NES games included on the NES Classic Edition during the weekend following the Friday launch, you might find yourself puzzled by some of the more challenging games. (“How do I find the first Warp Whistle in Super Mario Bros. 3?” you might ask yourself.) If your memories of the original games fail you, no need to fret. You can just call the Power Line, which will return and run from November 11 to November 13, between the hours of 6AM to 7PM PT each day. The original Power Line was a beloved service in the ’80s that connected fans to Nintendo Game Play Counselors who offered helpful tips and tricks. In this fully automated version, you can use your real-life phone (bonus points if it has a cord!) to dial (425) 885-7529 to hear recorded tips for several games, plus behind-the-scenes stories from original Nintendo Game Play Counselors. You never know what you might learn!

With 30 great NES games, a replica of the original NES controller, three display modes (including one that makes your fancy hi-def display look like a retro tube TV) and Suspend Points for easy on-the-spot saving, the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition is a great value at a suggested retail price of only $59.99. The stocking-sized console launches on November 11.

GameStop Won’t Be Accepting Pre-Orders For The NES Classic

GameStop revealed via its official Twitter that it “will not be taking pre-orders on the NES Classic." No reason was given on why. The NES Classic will be released on November 11.

Here’s More Info On The Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System

Relive past gaming glories and enjoy a historic era of gaming when the Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System launches across in North America and Europe on November 11th. Nintendo fans can enjoy the classics of yesteryear with all-new features, such as multiple save points and new high-definition visual modes.

There are even more ways to enjoy beloved classics such as Donkey Kong, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario Bros. 3 with the Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System. Thanks to the inclusion of four Suspend Points for each title, the fear of losing passwords and game progress is now a thing of the past. Suspend Points also allow multiple players to save their game progress, or provide solo players with the luxury of saving at various points of their playthrough, be it part way through a level or right before a tricky boss battle.

Each title for the Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System is displayed at a smooth 60Hz via the included HDMI cable and can be enjoyed in one of three visual modes. Players can display the action in the 4:3 aspect ratio used by the original NES console, emulate the retro look of a CRT TV with scanlines in the CRT filter visual mode, or use Pixel Perfect mode where every pixel is a correct square on the television.

Whether it’s rediscovering an old favourite or experiencing the joy of NES for the first time, the collection of included NES titles should have something for all players, with grand adventures, intricate platforming and cherished arcade classics. The included titles are:

• Balloon Fight
• BUBBLE BOBBLE
• Castlevania
• Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
• Donkey Kong
• Donkey Kong Jr.
• DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE
• Dr. Mario
• Excitebike
• FINAL FANTASY
• Galaga
• GHOSTS‘N GOBLINS
• GRADIUS
• Ice Climber
• Kid Icarus
• Kirby’s Adventure
• Mario Bros.
• MEGA MAN™ 2
• Metroid
• NINJA GAIDEN
• PAC-MAN
• Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
• StarTropics
• SUPER C
• Super Mario Bros.
• Super Mario Bros. 2
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Tecmo Bowl™
• The Legend of Zelda
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Play games from yesteryear like never before, with multiple save points  and new visual modes for each title, when the Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment system launches in North America and Europe on November 11th.

This NES Book Is A Must Have For Any Nintendo Fan

If you a fan of the NES or retro gaming in general, then you will no doubt want to get your hands on this special Nintendo NES Classics book from Prima. It’s coming on November 18th and here’s what it includes: 

• Exclusive embossed slipcase holds this hardcover tome in a clever package that resembles a classic NES Game Pak!
• A fascinating retrospective on 17 NES classics—including Super Mario Bros. 3, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda!
• Interviews and commentary from Nintendo visionaries who pioneered this era of gaming.
• A showcase of vintage advertising and priceless excerpts from Nintendo Power magazine back issues!
• Plus hand-drawn maps, character and game environment art, and much more!

We should note that this is NOT AN AD, we’re just really excited about the book.

The NES Mini Will ONLY Be Supporting The 30 Games It Comes With

Nintendo has clarified that the NES Classic Edition is not compatible with your old game cartridges, it won’t support external storage or connect to the internet. According to Polygon there is a USB port on the system, but it is "only used to power the system with the included AC adapter." No one should really be surprised by this. It was obvious that when Nintendo announced this earlier in the day that this system was made to: 

A. Have a younger audience experience what the NES was like and give them some essential games to play

B. Capitalize on nostalgia

C. Celebrate and preserve the NES

Now when I say preserve I mean keeping as it was, not giving it an upgrade to have WIFI so you can download more NES games from an online store. Think about it, it’s called CLASSIC EDITION for a reason. If it was called NES Online or something of that nature then that would totally make sense. What do you think about the NES Mini only having the 30 games it comes with on it ?

The NES Mini Is Available To Pre Order On Amazon UK

The recently announced Nintendo Classic Mini aka the Nintendo Entertainment System Mini is currently available to pre-order on Amazon UK. The mini NES will only cost you £49.99 and comes with 30 games. You can learn more about the system here. 

Nintendo Is Releasing A Mini NES With 30 Games Built-In

If you see a Nintendo Entertainment System on store shelves this holiday shopping season, you haven’t entered a time machine. (Unless everyone around you is wearing acid-washed jeans and neon leg warmers. If that’s the case, you may have unknowingly walked through a rift in the space-time continuum.) The most likely scenario is you are setting eyes on the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition, launching in stores on November 11 at a suggested retail price of $59.99. That’s right: The NES is back! But this isn’t the same NES that you fondly remember. This new nostalgia-fueled system is a near-identical, mini replica of Nintendo’s original home console and plugs directly into your high-definition TV using an included HDMI cable. The console comes complete with 30 NES games built in, including beloved classics like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, PAC-MAN, and Kirby’s Adventure. The system comes packaged with an HDMI cable, an AC adapter and one NES Classic Controller, which is patterned after the iconic design of the original NES controller. But you really just want to know the full list of 30 games, right? Feast your eyes on the fantastic collection of NES classics included with each and every system:

• Balloon Fight™
• BUBBLE BOBBLE
• Castlevania™
• Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest™
• Donkey Kong™
• Donkey Kong Jr. ™
• DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE
• Dr. Mario™
• Excitebike™
• FINAL FANTASY®
• Galaga™
• GHOSTS’N GOBLINS®
• GRADIUS™
• Ice Climber™
• Kid Icarus™
• Kirby’s Adventure™
• Mario Bros. ™
• MEGA MAN® 2
• Metroid™
• NINJA GAIDEN
• PAC-MAN™
• Punch-Out!! ™ Featuring Mr. Dream
• StarTropics™
• SUPER C™
• Super Mario Bros.™
• Super Mario Bros. ™ 2
• Super Mario Bros. ™ 3
• TECMO BOWL
• The Legend of Zelda™
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link™

There’s a little something for everyone: a nice mix of timeless favorites, cult classics and maybe even some games that you never got around to playing. Each is sure to bring back memories and produce plenty of new ones. You can even enjoy playing several of these games with two players by attaching a second NES Classic Controller, which will be sold separately at a suggested retail price of $9.99. A Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro can also be used (each sold separately).

When connected to a Wii Remote controller, the NES Classic Controller can also be used to play Virtual Console NES games on a Wii U or Wii system. Playing these retro games using a retro controller makes the experience that much more authentic. And if you ever need to step away from the NES Classic Edition in the middle of a tough level (or take a break to call one of Nintendo’s helpful Game Counselors*), don’t worry about losing any hard-earned progress. Each game has multiple suspend points, so you can start where you left off at a later time, no passwords needed.

What’s old is new again with the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition. Relive past glories. Finish off that boss you never beat. Save the galaxy and rescue the princess!

Source: PR