By Jimmy Thang on Aug 24, 2017 10:07 pm
How To Build Your Own SNES Classic Emulator
Nintendo's SNES Classic is all the rage right now. Unfortunately, it isn't set to launch until September 29, 2017, and it's almost impossible to pre-order right now. Fortunately, we can show you how to build your own little SNES Classic emulator using a Raspberry Pi mini-computer right now. What You'll Need Note: We want to strongly state that we do not condone piracy in any way. This means we will not provide ROM download links in this story. It is vital to ensure that you've purchased legitimate copies of any ROMs you intend to download.
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
Developed in the UK, the Raspberry Pi is designed to be a small single-board computer geared towards tinkerers. We're going with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, which is the latest version of the computing device. With its 64-bit quad-core 1.2GHz Broadcom CPU and 1GB of RAM, it has more than enough firepower to run any 16-bit game you throw at it. It also supports four USB ports, a full-size HDMI connection, and has a Micro SD card slot. The fact that this much computing costs just $40 is icing on the cake. Price: $39.99
Super Tinytendo Case
This is the Super Tinytendo Case. It's designed by Collector Craft, and as the name implies, it's a super tiny homage to the SNES chassis. It measures 4.7x1.5x3.9 inches and has cut-outs designed to work specifically with the Raspberry Pi 3. It also comes with an internal fan, which helps keep the Pi cool. Price: $29.99
iBuffalo Classic USB Gamepad
While you can use almost any USB controller with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, it won't feel like an authentic SNES experience without the proper controller. That's why we went with the iBuffalo Classic USB Gamepad, which is modeled after Nintendo's variant. Price: $15
Canakit 5V 2.5A Raspberry Pi 3 power supply
While the Raspberry Pi 3 is almost a steal for its price, it unfortunately does not come with a power supply. To power it, you'll need a 5V 2.5A adapter. We recommend Canakit's solution. Price: $9.99
Micro SD Card
Super Nintendo ROMs are often very small, so you don't need a high-capacity Micro SD card. We went with SanDisk's Ultra 16GB module, which offers plenty of storage. Price: $9.95
USB stick
The easiest way to transfer ROMs from your computer to the Pi is with a USB stick. You can use any USB stick as long as it's formatted as FAT32 or NTFS. You can use Windows Disk Management to reformat it in the event that it isn't formatted appropriately.
The Building Process: Open Up The Case
The first thing you'll need to do to build the SNES Classic emulator is to flip the Super Tinytendo Case upside down and remove the four Phillips screws. This will allow you to open up the chassis.
The Building Process: Prep The Pi
Once you have it open, you'll see an additional four screws inside. Unscrew these so you can seat the Raspberry Pi into the chassis.
The Building Process: Seat The Pi
With the screws removed, lay the Raspberry Pi down. Make sure that the ports on the Pi align with their respective cut-outs on the case. From here, tighten the four Phillips screws back into place to secure the system.
The Building Process: Plug In The Case Fan
From here, plug the case fan cable into the Pi. You'll need to plug it towards the top left array of pins, but make sure you skip one pin and ensure that the red cable faces outwards to the left.
The Building Process: Close The Case
From here, flip the case upside down and screw the chassis' four screws back in. Then you can plug in the HDMI cable from your TV/monitor and controller's USB cord into the system.
Download RetroPie
After you've assembled the hardware, the first thing you'll want to do is download the latest version of RetroPie, which is our SNES emulator. You'll want to download the Raspberry Pi 3 variant for our model. Once you've downloaded it, you'll need to use an extracting program like 7-zip to extract the .gz file so you can get access to the .img file within. Now insert your Micro SD card into your computer. From here, you'll need to download image mounting software so that you can mount the .img file to your Micro SD card. Windows users should download Win32DiskImager (Mac users can download the equivalent Apple Pi Baker software). From here, open up the mounting program and locate the .img file and let the software write to the card. This will begin the mounting process. Once that's complete, insert the Micro SD card into your Pi (with the label-side facing down) and power it on by plugging in the AC adapter.
Configure The Controller
Your Raspberry Pi will take a few seconds before it boots up to RetroPie's Emulationstation interface. With your USB controller plugged in, it will detect your gamepad and ask that you configure it. This amounts to a straightforward process where you map your buttons.
Loading ROMs onto your USB stick
Drag your legal ROMs into this folder.
The easiest way to load ROMs from your computer onto the Raspberry Pi is with a USB stick. We want to reiterate to you that we do not condone piracy in any way and would like to remind you that you should purchase legitimate copies of any games you intend to download ROMs for. With that out of the way, insert the USB stick into your computer and create a folder called "retropie". Now take it out of your computer and plug it into the Rasberry Pi and give it a few seconds for the system to create directories within the folder you just created. Once this process is complete, unplug the USB stick from the Pi and plug it back into your computer. From here, you'll notice that it has created a ROMs folder and an SNES directory within that folder. You can drag any unzipped, legal SNES ROMs you may have downloaded into this folder.
From here, unplug the USB stick and re-insert it back into the Pi. Give it a few seconds for the RetroPie emulation software to copy the game/s over. Another way you can tell if the copying is complete is if the lights on the Pi stop blinking rapidly. Once this process is finished, restart the Emulationstation software on the Pi and your SNES Classic Emulator will be good to go. One of the great things about our Raspberry Pi system is that it isn't relegated to just SNES games. In general, you should be able to run games from the 8-bit and 16-bit era. This includes Sega Genesis or NES ROMs, too. Just make sure that you are using legal ROMs.
By Array on Aug 24, 2017 08:51 pm
Overwatch has a strong presence at Gamescom 2017. The Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany is packed full of stores selling all kinds of merchandise for the much-loved shooter. However, the coolest stuff is at Blizzard's official store. Naturally, as huge Overwatch fans, we had to check it out for ourselves and snap some pictures of the goodies that caught our eyes. You can see these in the gallery above. Gamescom has brought news on a number of other fronts for Overwatch. The latest animated short, Rise and Shine, made its debut and provided some backstory for Mei and Snowball. A separate video featuring Junkrat and Roadhog revealed the next map, Junkertown. Changes to Competitive Play were also announced, while Blizzard highlighted some major adjustments to D.Va.
An overview of a few of the things that were available at the store. The prices range from affordable to I'll-have-to-eat-ramen-for-a-month.
This is a variant of the pink D.Va Funko, which is undoubtedly the best Funko around. Look at her in all her black and gold mecha glory.
The edge lord has never looked cooler.
This hat design is a bit busy, but look how adorable they all look!
Bastion is joined by Arthas, the Lich King, for a chilling cameo.
Pachimari brings joy to the hearts of all that purchase it.
A closer look at that Bastion figure. Now with more Ganymede.
Even with a tiny body, Soldier 76 looks badass.
Want. Them. All.
An easy way to make your morning coffee a little more heroic.
Don't ask how much this costs. Trust us, you're better off not knowing.
Show off your love of Overwatch while looking good.
"Cute but deadly."
You have no idea how hard it was to resist this. We've never wanted to pick Genji this much in our lives.
I heard you like Overwatch, so why not Overwatch while you Overwatch?
By Gamespot Staff on Aug 24, 2017 07:30 pm
Game of Thrones has finally reached the finale of its penultimate season, and the lives of all the characters we love hang in the balance. Who will live? Who will die? Who deserves it most, and who will we mourn on Twitter for hours--maybe even days--afterward? Click through the gallery to find out what GameSpot's staffers think is in store for the characters in Game of Thrones' Season 7 finale.
Arya Stark
Does anyone actually think Arya is going to die this season? - Mike Rougeau Chances of her face hanging on a wall somewhere: 1/10
Sansa Stark
Sansa Stark has come too far and learned too much for her death to make much sense in Game of Thrones' overall arc. That's not to say the cretins won't do it; Arya's been acting mighty threatening lately. Call this wishful thinking. - Mike Rougeau Odds that Sansa will wish she'd spent less time knitting and more learning how to knife fight her sister: 2/10
Jon Snow
Jon Snow has been stabbed, frozen, slashed, and shot so many times on Game of Thrones, you'd think there would be some chinks in his plot armor by now. But he hasn't even found out about his parents, so I doubt he'll go down just yet. - Mike Rougeau Chances he's run out of deus ex machinas: 1/10
Daenerys Targaryen
Dany might seem to be safe, but if a dragon can die, so can a Dragon Queen. - Mike Rougeau The series has a knack for killing off fan favorite characters, and wouldn't it be heartbreaking if Dany's zombie dragon killed her off? Personally, I wouldn't be too heartbroken, considering they've made her a tad unlikable this season. - Mat Elfring Chances of zombie Viserion biting the hand that used to feed it: 3/10
Brienne of Tarth
Brienne is headed toward King's Landing in Game of Thrones Season 7, Episode 7. Historically, that journey hasn't ended well for beloved characters. - Mike Rougeau Brienne is almost too pure, too innocent to survive in the world of Westeros. Her unwavering support for what's right has, somehow, kept her alive this long. But if she ends up making it to King's Landing on her own, she has little chance of surviving a meeting with Cersei. - Justin Haywald If Brienne dies in front of Tormund he will go into a barbarian rage, which will be cool. - Buddy Hutton Odds Brienne is too good for Westeros: 5/10
Bronn of the Blackwater
Bronn should never have lasted this long. Sure, allying with the Lannisters has, counter-intuitively, proved the right choice at this point, but this up-jumped sellsword was in over his head from the moment he first stood up for Tyrion. - Mike Rougeau Bronn seems to escape death a bit too easily during the course of the series, so I'm predicting he gets caught in the crossfire at King's Landing. - Mat Elfring If Cersei ever wants to hurt Jamie, Bronn will be first on her list. His death line is going to be hilarious though. - Buddy Hutton Chances Bronn will never get that castle and lordship he wants so badly: 5/10
Gendry
It's accepted canon that Gendry spent the majority of his time off-screen prior to Game of Thrones Season 7 rowing. But all the upper body strength in the world won't save him if Cersei ever finds out the Baratheon bastard exists. - Mike Rougeau If Gendry travels to King's Landing with the rest of the crew, then he's toast. One of the last people that Cersei will want to see is the bastard child of King Robert. No matter what the circumstances, if Gendry is in eyesight of the Queen, she'll have The Mountain step on his head. - Greg Thomas Odds that Gendry will find out what the soles of the Mountain's shoes taste like: 5/10
Davos Seaworth
If Cersei finds out one of Robert's bastards has been living under her nose this entire time, she'll want to kill him and everyone responsible for keeping him alive. - Tony Wilson Chances Davos will soon be short more than four finger bones: 5/10
Sandor "The Hound" Clegane
The Mountain is already a zombie, and the Hound just got a lot of experience putting the hurt down on the undead. There's going to be a battle, and Sandor is finally going to deliver the justice on his brother that he's rightfully earned over the last few seasons. - Justin Haywald Clegane Bowl is basically confirmed at this point (I am a true believer, always). I could see them both dying--or if they want to just twist the knife, Sandor effing loses. What a nightmare. - Mike Rougeau Chances Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane finishes the fight he started as a boy: 6/10
Jorah Mormont
Jorah the Andal unlocked a new skill tree this season as he fought off the undead hordes using double dragonglass daggers. You don't just throw away that kind of badass if you're writing this thing. On the other hand, Mormont was exiled from Westeros and told never to return--which would give Cersei a very good excuse to lop his head off. - Mike Rougeau Likelihood Dr. Samwell shouldn't have bothered with that operation: 4/10
Jaime Lannister
Jaime cheated death already this season. He's failed to fulfill his arc from the books so far, so the show might just give him a heroic end and call it a day. He could go out saving Brienne somehow; maybe Cersei orders Brienne's death, and he's forced to intervene. That would do it. - Mike Rougeau Jaime is in danger of either dying to Cersei, or killing her because she is becoming the Mad Queen. He may die in the attempt, and be known as the King- and Queen-slayer. - Buddy Hutton
Chances that he'll never meet his newest gross incest baby: 7/10
Grey Worm and Missandei
Two star-crossed lovers who have both gotten short shrift in life. But they won't survive because they're just too good, too wholesome. This season has had so many people die who deserved it; we're also going to see some people die who you really, really wanted to survive. - Justin Haywald Can't anyone be happy? - Mike Rougeau Chances Romeo and Juliet over here will be glad they finally consummated it, at least once: 3/10
Qyburn
Qyburn, you evil necromancer, you. Cersei has a better chance of surviving the upcoming battle than the true mastermind behind so much death and destruction from King's Landing. - Justin Haywald Who wants to bet Cersei will throw Qyburn to the wolves (and dragons) the first chance she gets? - Mike Rougeau Odds Qyburn will have to re-animate himself next: 5/10
Cersei Lannister
There's a small chance she'll be killed by Jaime. That also might be final season stuff. They've set her up too well to go out now, I think. - Mike Rougeau Cersei has gotten in the way of the show's true conflict, the coming good vs. evil battle between the North's shambling zombie horde and the South's dragon-riding warm-bloods. And she's just gotten a little too evil this season. Cersei's over-reaching and lack of humanity will be her undoing in the season finale. - Justin Haywald Also this season they are dressing her like the evil queen in Snow White. - Buddy Hutton Likelihood the evil queen will bite the apple: 5/10
Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish
After spending too much time reading Reddit theories, I think Sansa and Arya are going to kill Littlefinger with his own dagger, thanks to intel Bran has been low key collecting at Winterfell. Arya will then wear his face. I consider this pretty likely; otherwise what purpose has that entire storyline served? - Mike Rougeau I really want Littlefinger to die, and if I want it enough, it will happen, just like it happened to Joffrey. Bran sees a future with Littlefinger, and it's awful, so he informs Arya, and she destroys him, and I cheer. - Mat Elfring Chances Littlefinger rues the day he stabbed Ned Stark in the back: 9/10
Theon Greyjoy
Over the course of all of Game of Thrones, Theon Greyjoy has transitioned from a spoiled, overconfident brat to a tortured shell of a person. Earlier in Season 7, he literally jumped ship when he had the chance to redeem himself and attempt to save his sister. He hasn't had much to do since then, but if his arc is going to have any closure, he'll have to go out in a blaze of schadenfreude by the end. - Mike Rougeau Odds Theon will not rise again harder and stronger: 8/10
Yara Greyjoy
Yara Greyjoy, who I refuse to call anything but Asha because that's her name in the books damn it, has been neither seen nor heard since being captured by her uncle and delivered to Cersei earlier this season. That makes me think if they were going to kill her, they'd have done it then. Maybe Theon will get another chance to save her, and actually come through this time. - Mike Rougeau Odds that YaraAsha will soon be making out with sexy Dornish women in the Drowned God's watery halls: 2/10
Tormund Giantsbane
If Tormund is headed to King's Landing with the crew, I could see him challenging Jaime or doing something stupid to try and save Brienne. Why else are all these characters converging there? Tormund's been way too cute for his own good this season, which makes me think he's not much longer for Westeros. - Mike Rougeau Chances Tormund won't get to make awesome giant babies with Brienne: 7/10
Tyrion Lannister
Could there be a more unexpected, or more unwelcome, death than that of Tyrion Lannister? Compassionate and loyal, Tyrion has endured so much, not throughout just the events of the series, but his entire life. And that's why they show might just throw in a Ned Stark-level, gut-wrenching death scene for one of the few characters who doesn't deserve to die. - Justin Haywald As gut-wrenching as this would be, it's not likely. Then again, I definitely would have said that about Robb Stark before I read book 3. - Mike Rougeau Chances Tyrion's gallows humor will finally become appropriate: 3/10
Varys
I think killing Varys would be something a vindictive Cersei might get up to, but other than that no one wants this dude dead. Possibly a Littlefinger/Varys battle of the spies, but it's a bit too late for that. - Buddy Hutton Does Varys even do anything anymore? Melisandre hinted at his death in an earlier episode this season, and he's pretty much outlived his purpose as a character. I, for one, consider it likely. - Mike Rougeau Odds the Spider becomes food for flies: 6/10
Beric Dondarrion
His means of revival is gone, so the next death is for real. Considering he was already dismissed forever ago, Cersei could so casually just have him executed for "rebelling." - Tony Wilson He carelessly let his healer die and has taken a lot of dps this season already. He also seems to weirdly want it. - Mike Rougeau Odds Beric is out of continues: 9/10
Bran Stark
Bran's return to Winterfell wasn't the happy Stark reunion fans had hoped for, mainly because he's weird now. Apparently the overload of information from becoming the Three-Eyed Raven is responsible, and that's also made it unlikely he's going to die now, since all that build-up has to serve some greater purpose. - Mike Rougeau Chances Bran will tell Jon who his parents are then die in some contrived way: Actually, when you put it that way, like 7/10
Lyanna Mormont
Lyanna Mormont is a one-off joke from the books that the show writers took too far. People for some reason adore her, even though she's a cartoon character who makes no sense in the context of the rest of Game of Thrones. She's unlikely to die this season, as much as I'd prefer it to her continued goofy existence. - Mike Rougeau Chances I'll get my wish even though literally everyone else who watches Game of Thrones adores her: 0/10
Recent Articles:
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment