Analogue Nt Mini

Analogue Nt Mini
ManufacturerAnalogue
TypeHome video game console
Release dateJanuary 23, 2017
Introductory price$449.99[1]
Discontinued2020
MediaGame cartridges, SD card
CPUAltera Cyclone V
DisplayHDMI (1080p, 720p, 480p), Analog (RGB, Component, S-video & composite)
Sound48kHz, 16-bit, digital and analog
ConnectivityNES-style controller ports (4), USB, Famicom expansion port, Famicom microphone input, HDMI output, Analog video output, Analog audio output (RCA)
Current firmware2.3 as of December 12, 2021; 2 years ago (2021-12-12)[2]
PredecessorAnalogue Nt
Websitewww.analogue.co/nt-mini

The Analogue Nt Mini is a video game console designed and manufactured by Analogue. It was designed to play games for the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Famicom, like the original Analogue Nt.[3] Unlike the former, the Nt Mini uses an FPGA for processing.[4]

History

The Analogue Nt Mini was announced in August 2016.[5]

The system cost $449.99 at launch,[1] with the first consoles being shipped on January 23, 2017.[6] Further units were shipped in September, 2017.[7]

The final production run of the Analogue Nt Mini, restyled the Analogue Nt Mini Noir Edition occurred in 2020.[8] Delays in shipping this edition lead this console to notably experience a significant increase in price in the European Union due to a larger trade dispute later in 2020.[9] The 2020 Nt Mini Noir uses more advanced FPGA hardware than the 2017 Nt Mini and the Nt Mini Noir's firmware is not backwards compatible with the Nt Mini.[10]

Hardware

The Nt Mini uses an Altera Cyclone V FPGA processor.[11][12] Kevin Horton was the lead developer in programming the FPGA.[11][13]

The Nt Mini features a 1080p HDMI, analog video (RGB, Component, S-Video, & Composite), analog audio (48 kHz 16-bit),[14] four original NES-style controller ports, a Famicom expansion port, and a Famicom microphone input.[15] It has two cartridge slots, one for NES cartridges and another for Famicom cartridges. The Nt Mini is compatible with most NES expansion peripherals like the NES Zapper Light Gun, R.O.B. and the Power Pad. It is also compatible with Famicom expansion devices like the Famicom Disk System and Datach Joint ROM System. Like its predecessor, the Nt Mini's enclosure is made of an aluminum alloy[16] uni-body enclosure manufactured from 6061 aluminum.[17]

Game selection occurs via cartridge or, through "jailbreak" firmware by an SD card slot.[11] New firmware can also be loaded using the SD card slot.[18] "Jailbreak" firmware allows for loading games through ROMs and also allows the Nt Mini to simulate other systems such as Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Master System, Game Gear, ColecoVision, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Fairchild Channel F, Magnavox Odyssey 2, Watara Supervision, Gamate, GameKing, Entex Adventure Vision, Arcadia 2001, Mega Duck, RCA Studio II, VTech CreatiVision and VideoBrain Family Computer. The Nt Mini Noir's jailbreak firmware additionally supports the Famicom Disk System, Nintendo VS. System, Intellivision, Genesis and adds an SPC player and a Mandelbrot set viewer.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b Carter, Chris (6 February 2017). "Review: Analogue Nt mini". Destructoid. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Nt Mini Support". www.analogue.co. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  3. ^ "The powerful and expensive Analogue Nt mini is the NES Classic's arch-rival". 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  4. ^ Buckley, S. (February 11, 2017). "The Analogue Nt Mini wants to be the last NES you'll ever buy". Engadget. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  5. ^ McWhertor, Michael (22 August 2016). "Aluminum NES maker announces smaller, cheaper Analogue Nt mini". Polygon. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Nt mini: Now shipping". www.analogue.co. January 23, 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  7. ^ Damien McFerran (2017-07-23). "Analogue NT Mini review". TechRadar. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  8. ^ "Analogue's metal NES returns as a $499 special edition". Engadget. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  9. ^ Scullion, Chris (26 November 2020). "Watch Out, Europe - Importing Consoles From The U.S. Just Got A Lot More Expensive". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  10. ^ https://x.com/analogue/status/1279068063569076224. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ a b c Peter, Brown (March 16, 2017). "Analogue Nt Mini Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  12. ^ Reeves, Ben; Bertz, Matt; Gwaltney, Javy (May 2017). "Analog NT Mini NES Console". Game Informer. No. 289. p. 46.
  13. ^ McFerran, Damien (20 June 2017). "Hardware: Analogue NT Mini Review - Not Just The Best NES Clone, It's Much More Besides". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  14. ^ "This Is the Best Way to Relive Nintendo's Glory Days". Time. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  15. ^ Webster, Andrew (26 January 2017). "The Analogue Nt mini NES supports Game Genie cheat codes, controller hotkeys, and more". The Verge. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  16. ^ Hollister, Sean (April 1, 2017). "It's a Nintendo Entertainment System for the modern era". CNET. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  17. ^ McFerran, Damien (23 July 2017). "Analogue NT Mini review". TechRadar. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  18. ^ "DF Retro Hardware: Analogue Nt Mini review". Eurogamer.net. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  19. ^ SmokeMonster (2024-07-17), SmokeMonsterPacks/Nt-Mini-Noir-Jailbreak, retrieved 2024-08-17