SNES Online Bluetooth Pad with Analogue Super NT

If like me, you grew up with the Super Nintendo, then the official SNES Online pad was a must buy when it came out for the Nintendo Switch. An official Bluetooth SNES pad, why not?! Although It turns out, I never once used it on my Nintendo Switch or barely use the SNES online app truth be told. So, instead of gathering dust, I wanted to see if I could use it with my Analogue Super NT – which is my absolute favourite way of playing my SNES collection.

The Super NT is true to the original Super Nintendo console, with the same retro controller port. Which means the perfect tool for the job, would be a Bluetooth receiver that 3rd party accessories maker 8BitDo put together, to allow you to use Bluetooth controllers like the PlayStation DualShock 4s with an original SNES. It all worked pretty seamlessly, so check out this video showing set up and gameplay in action.

If you’ve found this page looking for info on the original SNES console. Then yes, this controller & receiver set up will work on the classic Super Nintendo & Super Famicom, no problems.

There has been a lot of questions on YouTube and social around how much latency is being introduced using Bluetooth instead of 2.4GHz set up. I’m no expert in this field and it’s actually very interesting seeing those with different opinions & stats arguing to and against this. What I will say on this topic, is that I have not experienced any when playing my fave SNES games which has even dampened the experience in anyway. If Bluetooth was that flawed to create Lag, I am pretty certain Nintendo wouldn’t have used it for its controllers for the Nintendo Switch. Besides, those using emulation will suffer potentially the same lag anyway, which is negligible.

Links below for reference.

Official Super Nintendo Online Controller – https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Nintendo-Switch-Family/Nintendo-Switch-Online/Exclusive-product-for-members-1437883.html

8BitDo SNES Bluetooth Receiver – https://www.8bitdo.com/retro-receiver-snes/

Analogue Super NT – https://www.analogue.co/super-nt

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To the casual gamer, the recent popularity of the mini classic consoles has been perfect. Cute little boxes with HDMI out to play childhood memories on their cinema sized living room flatscreen TV. Whilst some games are timeless and the likes of Super Mario World will always be a joy, there are some games that perhaps haven’t aged as well and playing on HD screens flags just how crude the technology was back then.

The biggest problem with our digital age, is that everything is defined in pixels. Video games before the 2000’s were primarily designed for those old school box TVs that used CRT technology. They didn’t have pixels as such and the low resolution images of the likes of the SNES and the PSOne, were smoothed off as well as being shown on screens no bigger than 20-24 inches inches. That’s why you are probably seeing those old fashioned box TVs going for a good price in local second hand shops and online marketplaces recently. They are the best way to play the original games consoles like the Mega Drive, NES or N64. Simply, because the old consoles were never designed to work with digital video signals and so look pretty rubbish on our modern high resolution screens – even with the best upscalers.

Analogue is a Seattle based startup, that have made a name for themselves making hardware specifically designed for solving the headaches found. The Super NT & Mega SG are two of those consoles, which are FPGA based versions of the classic Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive, that allow you to play the original cartridges in stunning pixel perfect HDMI video. I have both the fore-mentioned consoles as I am a huge 16-bit fanboy and the results are impressive. I think the most impressive feature, is the scaling to round off blocky pixels to make it look more cartoony. Perfect for things like Sonic the Hedgehog, Bomberman or Mario games.

But what, if you have a retro style TV or monitor but still want to keep the benefits of the modern FPGA system. Enter the DAC extension card.

This isn’t an HDMI to analogue converter box, although that’s what it appears to be at first, so it will not work as a standalone product with say a Raspberry Pi or a SNES Mini. It works in collaboration with the Analogue console hardware, hence I say extension card. The Analogue console you’re using it with, will even change its available settings in the menu when connected and show “DAC” as an option. Giving you options of how the component signal is synchronised and other customisations.

Analogue DAC menu settings to manage RGB component sync

As it only works with users of Analogue consoles that want to use a retro CRT or LCD screen, it’s a super Niche add-on for an already niche and fairly pricey way to play your retro game cartridges. Some would be happy just playing on a RetroPi or emulation device on their HD screen. But there is definitely a target market out there for such specific hardware. I am one of them for a start.

It is in my opinion, the ultimate way to play these classic games. Absolutely crisp and clean video – especially if you are nerdy enough to have in your hoard a professional monitor like the Sony PVM series. I’ve opted for one of the LCD based monitors due to available space in my set up, which are known as LMD series. Yes, I can play these games on my living room TV, or my 4K Ultrasharp monitor, or even my portable ZenScreen HDMI monitor I bang on about. But it just doesn’t compare, it’s not as accurate, it’s not displaying the sprites, pixels and backgrounds as the games were designed for. Is everyone I know who is passionate about retro games going to buy into this set up, no way. But, I am a hugely passionate 16-bit collector and gamer, looking for ways to optimise my set up.

I have tested now with both the Super NT (SNES) & MEGA SG (Mega Drive) + all the SEGA adapters like Master system and Game Gear.

If you’re still reading this and thinking “What the F are you talking about Tom?” Then stay tuned, as I am putting together a video to show what this is all about.

For more info on this, take a look at Analogue’s webste.

https://www.analogue.co/dac

Quick tip. If you’re using one of these and doesn’t appear to working correctly, make sure this tiny switch on the DAC is switched to either P for PAL or N for NTSC for the type of monitor you are using.
Official Nintendo SNES Bluetooth Controller working with Analogue Super NT using the 8BitDo receiver
Another quick tip: Yes, the official Nintendo SNES Bluetooth controller designed for the Switch, works with the 8BitDo Bluetooth receiver. Giving me an even closer experience to the original experience, wirelessly. No lag or delay with button presses too.

Last year I did an unboxing video and review on an expensive but brilliant portable monitor from ASUS. Since it went live an entire community of people have come together asking about set ups and technical queries, so decided to do a couple of follow up videos to answer some of the queries.

First video is up now and we take a look at the communities questions on how this product works with games consoles. Without a doubt the biggest questions have been around using USB-C & DisplayPort for video in, rather than HDMI and how to connect for charging.

Typically, far too much time was spent on creating vector graphics to illustrate the connections but I wanted to be as crystal clear on what is and isn’t possible.

If you have found this page because you are looking to buy this portable monitor or something similar, then make sure you watch the original review video below.

We are not affiliated with ASUS in anyway and none of the products shown have been provided in exchange for our opinions or money. We just love tech, buy tech and especially love talking about the tech we enjoy using.

This video is actually the first we have edited using a new M1 powered Mac Mini with Final Cut Pro. It’s been pretty exciting actually. I think we will be doing a video covering the new Mac Mini performance soon.

https://www.asus.com/uk/Displays-Desktops/Monitors/ZenScreen/ZenScreen-MB16AC/

FYI the non-touch version of this product will also have similar functionality as featured above.

https://www.asus.com/uk/Displays-Desktops/Monitors/ZenScreen/ZenScreen-Go-MB16AHP/

Those of you not familiar with Analogue yet and have any interest in classic Nintendo and Sega games consoles, then catch up fast. These lot are a start up company from Seattle, that specialises in making modern hardware dedicated to playing original video game cartridges on your modern screens, monitors or multiple media set up. Making splashes with the original Nintendo Entertainment System compatible NT and then what really grabbed my attention, the Super Nintendo compatible SUPER NT.

So some would say it was only a natural step for them to offer up a piece of SEGA MEGA DRIVE hardware and that’s exactly what we have here. The MEGA SG is a retro games console specifically designed for playing retro SEGA games with the cart slot and even the original controller ports but with that HDMI out connector for enjoying on your flatscreen TV. It is region unlocked so you’ll be able to use American Genesis carts and Japanese games without issues and micro USB 5V power connector so you can save a plug socket and just power the thing from the USB output of your TV or another device. So, if you are passionate about MEGA Drive games and want to play the original game cartridges, here’s the perfect solution.

Massive Wins:

You’ll notice that  in the title I didn’t specify just MEGA DRIVE games and said “Classic SEGA”. Well that’s simply because using the adapters, you can play also Master System, Game Gear and even the really old game card system that ws just out long enough to be on the original Master System 1 console. The Master system converter comes in the box with the MEGA SG which is a nice touch and then the others are available as a separate adapter pack for $50, which will be kind of cool to finally have a sudo Super Game Gear set up and enjoy GG exclusives once again.

This Limited Edition smokey black version was made in partnership with the London record Label Hyperdub.

I was lucky enough to snag one of the awesome limited edition Hyperdub versions, which not only comes in a dark Black translucent finish and matching 8-bit do wireless 6-button controller with the Hyperdub logo, but also a one off Mega Drive cartridge containing an album of exclusive music from the HyperDub label. Being an electro head and a huge passion for dub, beats and breaks, this was a winner for me. But putting that to one side for now, look at it! I’m gonna bring out my South London roots and go as far to say it looks SICKKKKKKK!

Yes, you have the Mega Drive Mini now and it’s a good piece of hardware for running some Mega Drive classics, so many people won’t see the need to pay so much for one of these. But, without being a tech snob, these little boxes are for the elite way to play games in HD using the original cartridges. I mean, if you don’t have the carts, what’s the point?! For me, like the SNES one, this is the perfect MEGA Drive experience and I can’t wait to replay through Sonic 3 or the bundled Hard Corps.

The MEGA SG is available from Analogue.co for $249.99 excluding international’s shipping and import duties. For us UK folk, this does end up being just shy of about £300 all in.

Link – https://www.analogue.co/store/