Mario Boots

Being a lover of 80's/90's games, whenever I hear a "Mario" jump sound, I always turn my head. But when I hear it at at the mall? I just about get whiplash turning around so fast!

This weekend, it happened again. Could it be I wondered? Yes!

It was 3 years ago that I first saw them. Then not again til last Christmastime. But Saturday, there they were, the "50-in-One Controller Bootleg NES" system! The stuff of flea markets and shady Dealer's tables at SciFi/Comic Book Conventions was right there in the mall, at a kiosk, in front of the Disney Store! UPDATE: Found out the name - "The Power Player Super Joystick & Power Gun (Y2K)!"

Wow! Even though it is about as illegal as you can get, someone was selling these N64-ish controllers that had tons of NES games in them. I am sure it was more than 50, but many are duplicates of the same game (but with different names). Somehow, they have managed to get an emulator on a chip, plus the R0Ms, inside this controller you hold in your hands! All you need is batteries and something to jack the video signal into.

If you are thinking it might be like the X-in-One handheld TV Games that came out for Atari, Intellivision and Sponge Bob, then you'd be right. It was just like those, with two RCA jacks to plug into the A/V ports on your TV (or portable TV, or whatever).

Anyone planning a long roadtrip with kids? I think this might be the perfect way to pass some time. I couldn't tell you the games, as they aren't listed, but I did see Mario Brothers, Frogger and some that were familiar but didn't know the name of. I think you'd probably get a kick out of watching all the grown adults playing the demo models they had out in front of the bank of TVs.

They were selling for $50, which seems WAY high to me. But, considering they are bootleg, and usually vanish quick, it might be worth it. I am seriously considering getting one! Did I mention the controller had a port underneath where you can plug in your own NES cartridges?? HOW COOL IS THAT?

Want one? Let me know, maybe I can pick one up for ya if you can PayPal it. If a few folks make a nice donation with their payment, maybe I can get one too! (that is, if they haven't already closed up shop and scrurried away like little rats)

Anyway, I though it was so cool - I just HAD to tell someone!

Oooh, found a picture of it - Dig It!

*Digression

I have most of my old game systems. I did get rid of my Colecovision (it didn't work right) and my Atari 2600 years ago, with little regret. But I can't seem to part with my SuperNES, Genesis and Playstation (the old, bigger one).

I never play them, and probably never will (thanks to the Dreamcast's emulation abilities). I really need to overcome this feeling that I need to hang on to everything. I can be such a PackRat!

But one thing I probably won't give up is the Sega Nomad!

It is essentially a Sega Genesis you can hold in your hands. Ugly. Bulky. Poor battery life. But man, that thing can play ANY console Genesis game!

*End Digression

Hmm, yeah, I think I need one of these.....

file this under TechnoGadgets
Posted by on March 30, 2004 @ March 30, 2004 04:31 PM    
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