The micro console revolution isn’t over yet, it seems

[ad_1]

Nintendo may not be the first company to dream up the concept of a “mini” console, but it’s arguably the most successful, thanks to the hugely popular NES and SNES Classic versions.

Since then, we’ve seen the likes of Sega, SNK, Konami, and Taito join the micro-console club, but there have also been some home PC-based mini systems, like the ZX Spectrum and C64. The latter, made by UK-based Retro Games, is on the cusp of a successor, proving that there are still some miles left in the microcontroller market.

The A500 Mini is set to launch early next year and will bring with it 25 classic Commodore Amiga titles (the copyright minefield surrounding both Commodore and Amiga means neither of those names can officially be used in a device title). Distribution is handled by Koch Media.

12 of the games listed have been confirmed so far. Alien Breed 3D, Another World, ATR: All Terrain Racing, Battle Chess, Cadaver, Kick Off 2, Pinball Dreams, Simon The Sorcerer, Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, The Chaos Engine, Worms: The Director’s Cut and Zool: Ninja Of The The ‘Nth’ Dimension will be fully shipped on the A500 Mini, remaining games to be confirmed at a later time. Interestingly, you will be able to sideload more titles with a USB drive.

Photo: retro games

All the usual features are included, like save states and screen filters, and the device even ships with a mouse and control panel (the latter is based on the absolutely horrible CD32 console, so let’s hope they’ve made some improvements). The unit outputs in 720p resolution via HDMI.

The original Commodore Amiga was launched in 1985 and was one of the first home platforms to feature a 16-bit CPU. Competing with the Atari ST of similar specs, the Amiga became one of the most popular home computers of its era and was widely supported by Western studios; Many of the most popular games – such as Lemmings, Sensible Soccer, and Cannon Fodder – made their way to consoles such as the SNES and Game Boy. However, discrete systems such as CDTV and CD32 failed badly, and the rise of consoles such as Mega Drive and SNES – as well as the rise of the PC – reduced Amiga’s market share to the point where Commodore was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1994.

While other companies still see value in mini consoles, Nintendo hasn’t produced any new products in this market segment since the SNES classic — although rumors of Game Boy and N64 releases have been making fans dream for a while.

The A500 Mini is expected to retail for £119.99 / €129.99 / $139.99 / AU$199.99 when launched in early 2022.

Please note that some of the external links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and make a purchase, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read the Federal Trade Commission disclosure for more information.

.

[ad_2]