Play SNES, Genesis Carts via USB
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: USB, Genesis, Nintendo, Console, ROM | Themes: Software, Digital Entertainment
Who needs console when you can pay for a $90 USB device that plays both Genesis and Super Nintendo cartridges?
Here's a good question: if you can rip songs off CDs you purchased from the store, why can't you do the same with old game cartridges? While pirates have ripped game ROMs from their plastic houses for years, the Snega2usb takes "ripping" to a new level by making Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis cartridges appear as mass storage devices in Windows. Currently the Snega2usb isn't available for retail until December, however interested consumers can pre-order the device here for $90.
Using USB 2.0, there are no drivers needed, and gamers can either drag and drop the ROMs into a folder stored on the PC's hard drive, or play the games straight off the cartridges using a SNES or Genesis emulator. According to Gadgetoid, the device can read and write battery-based SRAM on SNES cartridges, and also features optional support for up to four gamepads (appearing as USB Keyboard devices).
This video on YouTube shows the device in action, playing Street Fighter 2 SE for the Sega Genesis (using the Gens emulator) and The Legend of Zelda for the Super Nintendo (using an unspecified emulator). As the developer points out, the Snega2usb device not only allows the end-user to load games directly from the cartridge, but it can also load and save game states directly to the SNES cartridge.
But as the developer points out, the games will only play if the emulator can handle the rom; not all emulators are compatible with some Genesis or Super Nintendo games. He also said that there are no regional boundaries: end-users can play Japanese, PAL, and NTSC versions.
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Wonder how long before this ends in a lawsuit :S
Unfortunatly like many things, I don't see it taking too long...
Awesome, now I can pay $90 to play games I already own?! Serious wtf on this product.
Awesome, now I can pay $90 to play games I already own?! Serious wtf on this product.
agreed. why would we have tons of the cartridges but not the system laying around?
This could be used to make roms.
Who needs to pay a whopping $90 for something illegal, when you can download an ilegal emulator and the complete snes/sega roster for free online. No cartridges needed.
The "unspecified emulator" is snes9x.
Who needs to pay a whopping $90 for something illegal, when you can download an ilegal emulator and the complete snes/sega roster for free online. No cartridges needed.
and i'm sure you could get a cheap usb flash drive that can hold the whole library of SNES or Genesis roms too
Response to bustapr, a poem by WheelsOfConfusion
Who needs to pay a whopping $90 for something illegal, when you can download an ilegal emulator and the complete snes/sega roster for free online. No cartridges needed.
It's actually probably not illegal to use the Snega2USB
Especially if you skip the ROM-ripping part
But it's almost definitely illegal to download the ROMs from the P2P
Even if you own the original cart
~fin
I've been watching this project grow for a few months now. It's definitely been something I'm interested in, but not necessarily for $90.
WHat's the difference between this and a rom???
WHat's the difference between this and a rom???
This costs money. A rom doesn't.
This isn't nearly as cool as the NES USB controller (especially if you make the controller yourself, but even if you buy one already made), and it seems significantly less useful too.
This isn't nearly as cool as the NES USB controller (especially if you make the controller yourself, but even if you buy one already made), and it seems significantly less useful too.
Yeah, those USB NES and SNES controllers are sweet.
Its a neat device but when you can buy snes or genisis consoles for $20 a piece at pawn shops & use the original controllers why would anyone consider payng that price. I might buy one at $20.
A rather useless, All SNES and Genesis games are online already!
I haven't check, but I'm sure they have a EULA down there that prevent said cartridges to be used on hardware other than the one specified by Nintendo of America® or Sega Entertainment USA®, bla bla bla...
$90 will get you used (if lucky, new) PS2, much more value.
$90 will get you used (if lucky, new) PS2, much more value.
True that $90 isn't worth it but this is about snes, and snes roms.
Everyone likes snes!!!
$90 to play games on the computer...
OR free if you've ever heard of SNES9X
I don't see to many people buying this thing.
If I wanted to pay money for old games I would just download them on the Wii.
Saw this ages ago on Hackaday. That said it is expensive i aggree, and $90 will probably buy you both a Megadrive and a SNES. However as far as emulation goes this is awesome! 100% awesome.
This not only promotes the legal emulation of the old games, but its a proof of concept first and foremost, I dont expect it to be a huge commercial success, seeing as anyone with an internet connection can download every SNES and Megadrive game ever released, versions of it, and even the Japanese version, why would you activly buy this?!
Still a neat device.
i love emulators, but having the original controller makes digging the mega-drive out more than worth it.
plus, emulators just don't play every game, and they're dead buggy. cool, but buggy.
so i guess this is aimed at us geeks? but don't we already have two ways of playing these games?
If it were cheaper I might go for it, my SNES died several years ago and I still have all the carts and controllers. Or just buy one of those hack boxes that plays NES and SNES carts for $30.
The only reason this will be useful is for someone to make a WORKING Super Smash TV ROM where the music doesn't bug out in Level 2.