Tag: Hardware - Page 10
Video Let's Discuss 5 Ways Nintendo Could Improve the Switch Online App
Yeah, we know it's not the final version yet
The Nintendo Switch Online app for Android and iOS is far from perfect. In fact we've made it abundantly clear how we feel about the execution, even for the fact for that this writer actually likes the concept of voice chat handled separately. As such, we've decided to take the helm and navigate the good...
Video Get the Best of Both Worlds with this Transforming Joy-Con Grip Mod
When two become one
A while ago we posted a video on how to make a super-portable Joy-Con grip from a cheap Chinese product that costs only a few of your hard-earned dollars. However we weren't content with just that so we decided to take it all a step further. Inspired by various ideas from all over the internet we've cracked open the very same...
Video Is this $40 8Bitdo Controller Really a Switch Pro Controller Alternative?
Look at the shiny shiny
The Switch's Pro Controller is a thing of beauty, but what isn't so beautiful is the price tag. It may be filled to the brim with gizmos and gadgets but it's still a tough pill to swallow. At a lower cost, however, you can invest in a more compact alternative from 8Bitdo, the first manufacturer to stick out a third-party...
News We Can Now Relive the GameCube Era Thanks to this Joy-Con Compatible Keyboard
Twelve yards long, two lanes wide
Arguably one of the more fantastical and hilarious accessories for the GameCube was the ASCII Keyboard Controller, which quite simply sandwiched a keyboard between two halves of the console's standard gamepad. Now Cyber Gadget is bringing this questionable but wonderful design to the Nintendo Switch with its USB...
News Fresh Wave Of Super-Portable Switch Docks Are Actually Designed For Samsung Smartphones
They retail for around $30 in China
Yesterday, we reviewed the SFANS Adapter, a super-portable dongle-like device which connects to your Switch and allows it to run in docked mode. In our review, we considered the SFANS to be an excellent bit of kit which is ideal for those who like to take their Switch on the road, or don't have room in their...
Video This Year's AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback Console Looks Much Improved
720p, Filters, save states and much more besides
It's fair to say that AtGames doesn't have the best reputation in the realm of clone consoles - which is somewhat ironic when you consider the company has been doing this for years now. Its systems are typically marred by poor emulation, terrible AV output options and ropey audio, but it's trying to...
News Nintendo Apologizes for Switch Shortages, Promises an Increase in Production
Miyamoto's plucking more Pikmin out back as we speak
It’s a well-trodden discussion at this point that Nintendo Switch hardware is exceedingly difficult to come by; unless you happen to visit a store early in the morning when a new shipment comes in, it’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll be hard pressed to find one on shelves. This is something...
Hardware Analogue NT Mini Review - Not Just The Best NES Clone, It's Much More Besides
FPGA or GTHO
It's fair to say that the gaming public's interest in clones of vintage consoles hasn't diminished over the past few years; in fact, interest in such hardware is arguably on the rise. We've seen a raft of systems which aim to replicate the performance of retro hardware, including the Hyperkin Retron 5, the Cyber Gadget Retro Freak and...
Random Atari Is Working On Its First Home Console Since The Ill-Fated Jaguar
Say hello to the "Ataribox"
As one of the founding companies of the video game industry, Atari can be credited with popularising home consoles with its insanely successful VCS / 2600 platform. However, the company should also take the blame for flushing that same industry down the toilet in the early '80s, triggering the infamous "Video Game Crash"...
Gallery Let's Have a Good Look at the New Yellow Joy-Con
And everything that you do
The new neon yellow Joy-Con controller from Nintendo are certainly nothing new on a practical level, but who honestly cares when they're this bright and colourful? Nintendo released these as a tie-in with ARMS, their new fighting franchise, which, by the way, we loved. It should be noted that although we did our absolute...
News Nintendo of America Confirms Splatoon 2 Pro Controller for the Region
Finally
There was plenty of excitement going around when Splatoon 2 got a brief look at the end of the recent ARMS Nintendo Direct, where new footage and a snazzy Splatoon 2 Pro Controller were shown off. Except the latter was puzzlingly only shown off in Europe, while NoA said it had “nothing to announce” on that front. Many feared that perhaps...
News Hori's Nintendo Switch Voice Chat Headset Looks Like A Wired Nightmare
Try not to strangle yourself
Not including some form of wireless audio support in the Switch was one of Nintendo's main failings with the console; not only does it mean that you can't use Bluetooth cans when gaming on the telly, it has forced peripheral makers to cook up crazy solutions for in-game voice chat. The official Japanese Splatoon...
Guide How to Get Third Party 8Bitdo Controllers Running on Your Switch
Putting the 'firm' back in 'firmware'
In case you missed it, 8Bitdo's line of third party controllers are now compatible with the Nintendo Switch thanks to a firmware update, meaning you can take out your opponents as intended on Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers, grab a perfect score on Puyo Puyo
Video Let's Discover the Very Best in Sideways Joy-Con Grips
What makes sideways the best way?
It's no secret that one of the biggest joys of Nintendo's latest console is the ability to slide off each side of it to turn one controller into two, but it's also no secret that it's not the most comfortable way to game. As such, many companies including Nintendo themselves have attempted to create little plastic...
News Hyperkin's RetroN HD Runs NES Games In 720p, Arrives Later This Month
"This is the best time to be an NES enthusiast"
Hyperkin has announced that it is releasing a new RetroN system which runs NES games in 720p HD. The RetroN HD is compatible with NTSC and PAL NES games and comes with its own bespoke controller, but also supports original NES pads. It launches on May 25th and will cost $39.99 - you can...
News Check Out the HORI Real Arcade Pro V Fight Stick for Switch
Perfect for Street Fighter
Now that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is out in the wild, the next big release we have to look forward to is Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers. Though it’s another enhanced port, this promises to be the definitive version of the game which essentially kicked off the fighting genre as we know it today. The game will...
Video Nintendo Switch Controllers All Have a Power Button Hiding in Plain Sight
Useful, but not that useful
Hidden features are a staple of Nintendo consoles; where other manufacturers may drag you through a twenty minute tutorial after ever major update, Nintendo often prefers to give you the basics and then let you discover all the little twiddly bits in your own way. And as it happens, the Joy-Con controllers and the Pro...
News Reggie Explains the Reasoning Behind the New 2DS XL
"Boy, I wish there was something in between."
We'll have to admit, when the announcement for the New 2DS XL came through, we had to double check our calendars to make sure it wasn't April 1st. After the massively successful launch of the Nintendo Switch, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the 3DS would slowly but surely be put out to pasture,...
Gallery Here's What The New Nintendo 2DS XL Looks Like From Almost Every Angle
Plus: Bonus lifestyle photography with child actors!
Nintendo surprised everyone this morning with the announcement that it is about to release a new model of the popular 2DS system. Dubbed the New Nintendo 2DS XL, the console features a classic clamshell design, amiibo support and a MicroSD card slot, and is sure to keep the 3DS line alive...
News New Electronics Ban on Certain UK and US Flights Includes the Nintendo Switch
Can't let you do that, Star Fox!
When the Nintendo Switch was first revealed back in the fall, part of the announcement video showed a Switch owner taking his Switch onto a plane to pass the time on his journey. This was obviously meant to showcase how versatile the device would be in a variety of scenarios, though a recent ruling passed by the UK...
News Nintendo Fixes the Left Joy-Con Problem with a Small Piece of Foam
So, it is a hardware issue
One of the issues echoed by many Switch owners at launch was that the left Joy-Con was prone to connectivity issues when detached from the Switch. Naturally, this seemed to be a relatively small percentage of the userbase, but it was nonetheless prevalent enough that it seemed to highlight a widespread issue. Later...
News GameStop Executive Believes Switch Sales Could Outpace the Wii
Wouldn't that be something?
At least in the short term, it appears that the Nintendo Switch is doing exceedingly well. Naturally, there are teething issues that come with any console launch, but the console is on pace to clear two million units sold in the first month, owing no small part of that to the incredible critical success of The Legend of...
News Nintendo Is Doubling Production of Switch Units
Finally catching up to demand
Suffice to say that for those that didn't happen to snatch up a Nintendo Switch on launch day (or even a little before) it's exceedingly difficult, if not outright impossible to secure one now. As it stands, it'll probably be like this for the foreseeable near future, but it seems like the early response has spurred...
Random Check Out This Travel Nintendo Switch DIY Dock
Now 75% smaller!
The Nintendo Switch is marketed as a home console first, even though the guts of the system are in the portable tablet. The dock which connects to the TV honestly not that great, though. Not only are there widespread complaints of poorly manufactured docks scratching the displays of Switch units, but they're also rather bulky...
News USB Keyboards Work with the Nintendo Switch
But only in docked mode
One of the more striking features of the Nintendo Switch is the speed at which the whole operating system can move; it's fast, simple, and clean. Of course, the other side of this, then, is that there are many features missing which would be considered as relatively basic inclusions in a typical tablet OS, such as a web...
News Nintendo Switch With Dead Pixels? It's Not A Defect, Claims Nintendo
"These are normal and should not be considered a defect"
Whenever a new piece of tech arrives it's customary for consumers to treat it in the same way they would a newborn baby; the smallest defect or issue can end up keeping you awake at night. With portable tech the biggest bugbear has to be dead (or "stuck") pixels on the LCD screen. As screens...
News This Epic Nintendo Switch Teardown Isn't For The Faint Of Heart
Nintendo's new system gets pulled apart
If you were lucky enough to pick up a shiny new Nintendo Switch last week then chances are the last thing you'll want to do is pull your new system apart, but thankfully we don't have to resort to extreme surgery to see what it looks like on the inside - we have the kind folks over at fictiv to do that for us...
News The Nintendo Switch's Sleep Mode Is Extremely Power Efficient
No worries there, then
One of the rather divisive points that was raised at the Switch event in January was that the battery life would be technically the lowest in Nintendo's portable history, clocking in at about two and a half to six hours, depending upon the power settings and what games are being played. Now that Switch units are out in the...
News GameStop Director on Demand and Timing for the Switch
"We have a ways to go before we satisfy all the demand that's out there"
Excitement is at an all-time high right now for the Nintendo Switch, as fans all over the world count down the days left until the console hits store shelves. Following on from the flat performance of the Wii U, the Switch's impending launch has understandably gotten retailers...
Video Check Out This Official Nintendo Switch Hardware Overview
Less than a month to go
It's hard to believe, but the Nintendo Switch is already less than a month away from releasing worldwide, and excitement is at an all-time high. The high-tech hybrid will be packing lots of interesting hardware features and is obviously quite versatile in the various settings it can be played in, so Nintendo has opted to put...
News Tatsumi Kimishima Talks About a Potential 3DS Successor
Switch Mini? 4DS? Neo Game Boy?
With the Switch releasing next month, the 3DS will certainly occupy a different space in the Nintendo ecosystem. Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima has already indicated that the 3DS isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but it's obvious that the console won't stick around forever. This raises the question: will a...
Feature The Quest for the Ultimate NES Classic Edition Wireless Controller
8Bitdo NES30 Vs Nyko Miniboss
The NES Classic Edition is a wonderful micro-sized retro-gaming machine; availability issues aside its hard to find much fault with, it apart from the rather short controller cable which comes with the otherwise excellent replica of the original NES controller. At just 30 inches the cable that joins the pad to the...
News Say Hello To The Super Retro Boy, An All-In-One Game Boy Solution
UPDATE: Scoops CES 2017 award, gets shown off in video
UPDATE: Retro-Bit has published video of the Super Retro Boy in action via its Twitter account, and has reported that it has scooped a gaming award at CES 2017: ORIGINAL STORY: Retro-Bit has lifted the lid on its previously-announced Game Boy clone, the Super Retro Boy.
News The Retro-Bit Generations Portable is Expected in July
Can it do better than its predecessor?
Retro-Bit has been highlighting a number of products at CES 2017 that we've been covering throughout the day. The final part to cover is the Retro-Bit Generations Portable, which is expected in July for $69.99. If the name sounds familiar, that's because this is a handheld iteration of the Retro-Bit...
News Retro-Bit Pitches in With Retro8 Wired and Wireless Controllers Supporting the NES Mini
A ten foot cable on the cheaper option
If the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe) has a big flaw, aside from being out of stock in many places, it's those darn controller cables. Some put forward theories for why the cables are so short, but in reality it's possibly just...
Weirdness The Retro-Bit Mega Table is an Enormous $500 USB Controller
"A unique piece of furniture"
You'll have seen 'Retro-Bit' in quite a few of our headlines today, and we're not done yet. That's because the nostalgia-driven company has had a big blow-out at CES 2017, with some products that are rather tempting and others that are, well, less so. We're not sure where this one stands. The Retro-Bit Mega Table is...
News Super Retro Trio Getting A HD Upgrade This Year, NES Top Loader Clone Also Incoming
HDMI or bust
Retro-Bit is updating its Super Retro Trio console with HDMI output, it has been confirmed. Like the original Super Retro Trio, the new system will play NES, SNES and Mega Drive / Genesis carts and boasts support for original controllers, but with HDMI included the picture quality should be much improved. S-Video output is also...
Retro Check Out These Early Prototype Pictures of the Nintendo DS
The start of a new era
The Nintendo DS represented a bold new direction for Nintendo, kicking off an extremely lucrative period for the company's handheld line; this "third pillar" to Nintendo's strategy wasn't originally supposed to replace the Game Boy line, but it ended up doing so anyway. The original "Phat" model was rather hideous in...
It's not as bad as it sounds
Earlier this week, reports emerged suggesting the kind of architecture that would be utilized with Nintendo Switch, while also mentioning that there would be a sizable difference between its performance in its docked and undocked modes. Many were no doubt concerned to hear this, and while these reports certainly haven't...
News Pachter Says Switch is the Easiest of the Big Three to Develop For
We can only hope
About a week ago, rumours emerged that the upcoming Nintendo Switch will be utilizing the Tegra X1 chipset, and this raised a lot of debate over whether or not the console would be competitive with the PS4 and Xbox One. Naturally, it's only he said, she said at this point, and all will be revealed when the system receives its full...
News EMiO 'The Edge' Joystick is Incompatible with the NES Mini
Despite the fact it was made for the device
The NES Advantage was easily one of the most memorable peripherals for the NES, bringing arcade like controls and some convenient features, like turbo buttons. Now that the NES Mini is out, it was only a matter of time before third party companies (or maybe even Nintendo itself) got around to releasing a...
Rumour Nintendo Switch To Start At £199.99 In United Kingdom, $329.99 In Canada
£249.99 bundle will also be available in UK, according to report
Nintendo's latest console launches in March next year and while there are still a great many unanswered questions, one of the most pressing has to be the cost of the system - something which, if this latest rumour is to be believed, will be quite reasonable. LetsPlayVideoGames - a...
News Nintendo Confirms Wii U Production Is Coming To A Close
UPDATE: Nintendo of America issues statement
Update: Nintendo of America has issued the following statement: 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...
Video Watch Us Go Hands-On with the NES Mini
It's not about the size, it's what you do with it
Now that the Mini NES is safely out of its packaging, we decided to go absolutely mad and actually play the console to see how it handles. After a few minor technical frustrations we finally got our mess of technology required to capture what this sucker spits out to behave. Make sure you check out...
Video See What Lurks Inside the Packaging of the NES Mini
Released from its cardboard prison
As far as miniaturised consoles go, the NES Classic Edition (or Nintendo Classic Mini as it's known in Europe) has to be one of the most adorable. We managed to get our hands on one of these bad boys early and put its packaging through its paces, albeit gently. Check out the video above where we take this sucker...
News NES Classic Edition Teardown Peeks Inside the Tiny System
Might not be easy for modders to add new games
Various media outlets are beginning to get their hands on the upcoming Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition, and it was only matter of time before someone dismantled this miniature work of art to see what's going on inside the shell. GameSpot senior reviews editor Peter Brown tweeted a...
News Nintendo Insists That Wii U Production Will Continue Beyond This Week
"There is no change to our continuing [Wii U] production"
Yesterday we - like a great many other gaming sites - reported on a rumour which claimed that Wii U production was stopping this Friday. However, Japanese site IT Media has been in touch with a spokesperson from Nintendo who has said the reports are "not true" and that the console will...
Rumour Last Wii U Consoles Roll Off The Production Line This Week
The end of an era?
Nintendo launches its new Switch console in March next year, and while the advent of new hardware is always a time of excitement, it invariably means that existing machines are put out to pasture. With popular platforms there's quite a bit of overlap between the generations, but in other cases the changeover is quite abrupt - it...
Rumour Nintendo Switch Game Cards To Boast 16GB "Standard" Capacity
"At launch"
EDIT: The title of this story has been amended to reflect that 16GB is the "standard" game card size. Apologies for any confusion caused by the original title. Nintendo's decision to eskew optical media in favour of game cards on its forthcoming Switch console is hardly a surprising one when you consider the portable nature of the...
Random We Explore What the NES Classic Edition Will Fit Inside, in the Name of Science
It's better than an NX rumour
As you're probably aware, we at Nintendo Life are committed to bringing you the biggest, best, and most important news stories every day of the week. This is not one of those times, and so instead we're sticking the NES Classic Edition in as many household objects as we can find. You can see it all unfold in the video...