• Tag Archives Super Nintendo

  • Nintendo Power (December 1993)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Nintendo Power – Issue Number 55 – December 1993



    I was never a huge fan of Nintendo Power but there’s no doubt it was a great way to see what games were coming around for Nintendo systems. In 1993 it was primarily the Super Nintendo being covered but there was also Game Boy and NES coverage as well. The December 1993 issue includes:

    Super NES

    • Disney’s Aladdin
    • NHL Stanley Cup
    • Clay Fighter
    • Daffy Duck: The Marvin Missions
    • Battle Cars
    • Super Scope Roundup

    Game Boy

    • Tom & Jerry: Frantic Antics
    • Mega Man IV

    NES

    • Mega Man VI
    • Tetris 2

    Tips From The Pros

    • Nester’s Adventures
    • Classified Information
    • Counselors’ Corner

    The Info Zone

    • Raya Systems
    • Next Issue

    Video Updates

    • Now Playing
    • Pak Watch

    Comics

    • Star Fox

    Player’s Forum

    • Player’s Pulse
    • Power Player’s Challenge
    • Player’s Poll Contest
    • Top 20

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Nintendo (NES) Retro Games Super Nintendo (SNES) 📎and tagged

  • The Nintendo Play Station

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    https://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/648201417459482624/caterpie-in-the-early-90s-nintendo-decided


    No, that’s not a typo. Ultimately, it was really Nintendo that was responsible for the Sony PlayStation being created. Back in the 16-bit era, when the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis were the dominant systems, Sega created a CD add-on peripheral pretty early in the life of the Genesis. Nintendo threatened their own CD add-on but it never saw the light of day. Nintendo partnered with Sony and Phillips at different times (starting with Sony in 1988) to develop this CD add-on but I guess they were never happy the results because the idea was ultimately shelved. Sony, a little upset at having put significant work into a system that wasn’t going to get released (dubbed the Nintendo Play Station), decided to go it alone and release their own standalone system. That would be the Sony PlayStation.

    Sony had legitimate reasons to be upset. They announced the PlayStation (Super Nintendo/CD-ROM combo device) at the June 1991 CES. The following day, Nintendo announced its partnership with Phillips. On the other hand, Nintendo was upset by Sony’s attempt at wrangling software licensing away from Nintendo by using a special CD-ROM format that was exclusively owned by Sony. Prototypes continued to be developed and Nintendo and Sony tried to work out their differences through 1992 when Nintendo and Sony reached a deal in which Sony could release SNES compatible hardware. However, the following year, Sony dropped development of the Super Nintendo CD-ROM and devoted its efforts to its own standalone PlayStation.

    At the time, I regularly bought issues of Electronic Gaming Monthly and it seemed like every couple of months they had some new news item or preview of the latest iteration of this supposed CD-ROM add-on. One issue went so far as to publish the “final” specs. I had a Super Nintendo and was very interested in this magical super gaming device that was supposed to cost less than $200 and add additional superpowers to the Super Nintendo. I really wanted one.

    In June 1992, EGM offered a “First Look” at the new Super Nintendo CD-ROM with schematic. In included impressive features such as a 21 MHz “SCCP” co-processor (lightning fast for a game system at the time…the SNES CPU clocked in at 3.58 MHz) and a total of 8 Megabits of additional RAM (the SNES had 1 MBit). That’s an addition 1 Megabyte which was pretty impressive for the time. Best of all, this wonder machine was supposed to clock in at under $200.

    In the November 1992 issue of EGM, there was a news blurb about how Nintendo was abandoning their current design in favor of a new CD-ROM add-on that would have a 32-bit co-processor and that it could be in production as early as August 1993. This was a little confusing in that later specs quoted the same speed for the co-processor.

    Finally, in the March 1993 issue of EGM, what were supposedly the “production” specs of the CD-ROM add-on were published. Specs included the following:

    • Main Memory
      • D-RAM: 8 Mbits
      • PS-RAM: 1 Mbit
    • Supplemental Memory
      • D-RAM: 4 Mbits
    • System ROM: 2 Mbits
    • Co-Processor (SCCP)
      • Type: 32-Bit RISC
      • Clock Speed: 21.477 MHz
      • Cache: 8 Kbit
    • CD-ROM Decoder (HANDS)
      • Type: 65C02
      • Clock Speed: 4.295 MHz
    • CD-ROM Drive
      • Standard Access Time: 0.7 Sec.
      • Max. Access Time: 1.4 Sec.
      • Data Output Speed (Norm): 150 KBytes/sec
      • Data Output Speed (2x): 300 KBytes/sec

    It would also feature a caddy system where the CD-ROMs would be encased in a caddy to help prevent damage. These specs look quite similar to what had been published months before but with some more detail. But as we all know, this never saw the light of day.

    Finally, in the March 1993 issue of EGM, what were supposedly the “production” specs of the CD-ROM add-on were published. Specs included the following:

    • Main Memory
      • D-RAM: 8 Mbits
      • PS-RAM: 1 Mbit
    • Supplemental Memory
      • D-RAM: 4 Mbits
    • System ROM: 2 Mbits
    • Co-Processor (SCCP)
      • Type: 32-Bit RISC
      • Clock Speed: 21.477 MHz
      • Cache: 8 Kbit
    • CD-ROM Decoder (HANDS)
      • Type: 65C02
      • Clock Speed: 4.295 MHz
    • CD-ROM Drive
      • Standard Access Time: 0.7 Sec.
      • Max. Access Time: 1.4 Sec.
      • Data Output Speed (Norm): 150 KBytes/sec
      • Data Output Speed (2x): 300 KBytes/sec

    It would also feature a caddy system where the CD-ROMs would be encased in a caddy to help prevent damage. These specs look quite similar to what had been published months before but with some more detail. But as we all know, this never saw the light of day.


    📂This entry was posted in PlayStation Super Nintendo (SNES) 📎and tagged

  • Super Play (April 1994)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Super Play – Issue Number 18 – April 1994



    Super Play is a magazine dedicated to the Super Nintendo (Super Famicom) that was published in the U.K. between 1992 and 1996. Issue Number 18 from April 1994 includes:

    Regulars

    • Super Express – Satisfy your primal hunger for raw SNES info by dipping into the stacked buffet of Super Express. Fill your plate with tasty morsels and crunch the nutty bits.
    • Gamefreak – Unscarred by the scumhordes of Morgoth, unbloodies by the Tree-men of Pineworld, Gamefreak answers your queries.
    • Mode 7 – Despite having two ‘l’s in his first name, Allan uncovers gaming secrets so deep even his enemies are concerned for him.
    • Superstore – Consume quality merchandise. Spend, spend, spend. You’ll not regret a penny of it. After all, what else is money for?
    • Play Back – Tell us what you think by writing it down and sending it to us. If you make us laugh to excess, you’ll win a Shetland pony.
    • Hotline – The men from Nintendo attack common gaming problems like Domestos attacks germs. And doesn’t Shaun look like Ken out of Street Fighter II?
    • What Cart? – Surprisingly, people don’t expect this to be filled with Vauxhalls and Mondeos. It sounds a little bit like What Car?, you see.
    • Back Issues – Perfect for pretending you’re living in the past! Wear gaiters and have your hair cut like Zy’s for the full effect!
    • Supermarket – Not a real supermarket. You can’t buy eggs and Boursin there. But you can find bargains here not even your grandfather would believe possible.
    • Next Month – This page is impregnated with a gentle antiseptic baby-wipe. If you’re troubled by nappy-rash, simply rub Next Month over the affected parts.

    Features

    • Super Player’s Guide: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters – A surprise hit, was this game. And it’s completely great. So find out from Allan Brett exactly how you do those weird, and sometimes highly effective, moves.
    • Anime Competition – Find out all about Catgirl: Nuku-Nuku and win a load of anime goodies, including an original animation cel from the film!
    • UK & Import Game Reviews

      • Alcahest
      • Choplifter 3
      • Humans
      • Inspector Gadget
      • Lester The Unlikely
      • Lufia and the Fortress of Doom – RPGs are the very lifeblood of Japanese SNES gaming. So what happens when we get a transfusion in this country? is it rhesus-negative? And do we get a cup of tea and a biccy after?
      • Metal Marines
      • NHL Stanley Cup ’94
      • Pinball Dreams
      • Rainbow Bell Adventures
      • Soccer Kid
      • Soldiers of Fortune – We have seen the future and it is Steampunk. That’s a lie, actually. We haven’t seen the future. Otherwise we’d have made millions on the gee-gees and we’d be living in Antigua.
      • Super Puyo Puyo – Addictive? That’s a word that we in the Super Play tower use sparingly. But does it apply to this game?
      • Tetris Battle Gaiden – Tetris is great, right? So imagine it with magic and stuff too. Wouldn’t that impress you? Well it impressed us. More than we’d care to admit in a public forum such as this, in fact.
    • In-Depth at the CES – Lots of new games and tons of news. The CES really was the place to be. Read all about what you’ll be playing in the coming months. It’s all here!
    • Slots of Fun – It’s always nice to have a peep at the latest in state-of-the-art arcade hardware. So that’s exactly what we’ve done. In great detail.
    • Virgin and Bullfrog Interview – Cannon Fodder and Syndicate are coming to the SNES. Both are violent games, so how will their creators deal with Nintendo’s tough anti-gore policy?

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Retro Games Super Nintendo (SNES) 📎and tagged