A hardware modder breathes new life into the retro console
The Super Nintendo, also known as the SNES, may not be one of Nintendo’s best-selling consoles with 49 million units, but it is certainly one of the most popular.
This fact is provenby the fact that modder Zach Henson (also known asVoultar) has created a chip that improves the graphics – 34 years after the release of the SNES. It reports, among other thingsThe Vergeabout it.
Why this is important:This example shows how active the modder community is for retro consoles even today. What’s more, the chip can be attached by yourself, so you can pimp your Super Nintendo yourself as soon as the mod kit is available.
What the chip does:First and foremost, it improves the video output of the console. This results in two main improvements:
- The graphics are significantly sharper.
- Colors are noticeably richer.
The colors on the right side are richer and the entire image appears sharper. (Image: Nacho Macho Productions)
Why blurring and pale colors were not a problem in the 1990s was due to the tube televisions of the time. With a standard resolution of720 x 576 pixels, everything was kind of muddy on the screen anyway, especiallyon the largest CRT TV in the world.
Originally, Nintendo used a two-chip model, which made what was shown even blurrier. Later iterations of the Super Nintendo then used a single, better chip, which made the picture less blurry
Can you buy the chip? Not yet. On Voultarswebsiteyou can find chipsets for Nintendo consoles (including the SNES), but not exactly this one. However, the modder plans to sell his hardware mod when the time comes
The installation is not for beginners
You have to take your Super Nintendo completely apart and solder the DYI chip to the main board. However, a tutorial with before and after pictures can already be found online on the YouTube channelMacho Nacho Productions
Did you know that an old German book uses the same effect as Mario games from the 80s and 90s?
If the DIY kit and chip find their way onto the market, we’ll let you know.
What do you think of a 34-year-old console getting an upgrade in 2024? Do you still have a Super Nintendo in your cellar, or rather in your living room? Let us know in the comments.
