NES Mini - Specs are OUT

After visiting their site again and viewing my account, I see that Dell has something of a rewards program.

Today, I went on their site and noticed that my Dell account has $99.00 rewards certificate (evidently, from purchasing a Dell laptop) to be used towards a future purchase. The laptop was $1649 (before taxes). So buying this Nintendo package from them at $500 would probably net you a mere $15 to $30 (just a rough guess) rewards certificate, to be used on your next purchase. Also, I see that the rewards certificate has 90 days expiration, so it's a use it or lose it kind of deal.

For discounts strictly regarding games (not consoles or other hardware), the Best Buy gamer's club is still the better deal, imo (since the discount is applied towards your current purchase, instead of a future purchase) and the discount % appears to be higher (based on my purchase experience anyway, since I don't know the exact % discount that Dell gives with their rewards program... guessing it's only about 5% with the Dell rewards). Best Buy states clearly, 20% off qualifying games (which appears to be most, if not all, physical copies of games, and select few of the digital download/Steam key games they sell). Of course, the Dell rewards are different in that it's not limited to just games.

Another recent suckazoid thing I've read about Nintendo is that they're not including a charger with the new 3DS XL.

Fans (reviews) say the charger was included with Nintendo's previous portable gaming units. But not this time. Now it's a separate purchase (and a must, if you want the new 3DS and don't already own a charger, since the 3DS doesn't work for long without one). An extra cost to keep in mind, if you're considering the new 3DS or packages that include it.

Somehow, I managed to get in an order for 1 of these packages. Earlier today I went on Dell.com, logged in to my account, and added it to my cart. I didn't submit/complete the order until recently though. Supposedly, they were already sold out, so I dunno. I guess the order went through because the item was still added to my cart (from when I was logged in to my Dell account earlier).

I'm saving about $126 (with Dell rewards certificates and 3% cash back through a credit card - Amex Simply Cash). $99 of those Dell rewards would've expired this December anyway, and I don't know anything else I would want to spend it on.

The Metroid & Zelda games on the 3DS should be fun. I've never had the chance to play the Zelda games on the N64. I'll probably sell the other three 3DS games (as new/unopened) - well, assuming my order actually goes through.

As well as return the Bose headphones ($330)... Then I'll probably eventually save up for a pair of Sennheiser's. The Bose QC 35's are highly rated on a few sites. But I trust Superstar's and the other guys' feedback much more than (possibly paid-off) online reviews.

Probably a degree of fanboism. But it's also due to Nintendo classics have been less accessible and treated like diamonds by Nintendo (released in limited quantity).

I read that some Nintendo classics were available on Nintendo's store (whatever that is called) and classic games could only be downloaded 1 at a time (to Wii/WiiU) at relatively high price per game... Regardless, pretty sure they didn't release their classics as compilations until NES/SNES classic consoles, which as you know is a recent thing.

Whereas Sega has released their classics on compilation discs (PS2, PS3) and digital download (Steam/PC) for years. In fact, I bought both compilation discs (PS2 and PS3). The PS3 version was worthwhile because the games were remastered in HD and a few extra hit games included (most notably, Streets of Rage 1 - 3).

I'll probably research and find out if the new "Sega Genesis Flashback" console has any worthy classic games not already in my collection.

Hey Zombie,
Someone commented about availability in the above link 10 minutes ago...

"Gamestop and Thinkgeek say they will have limited available stock tomorrow."

I hope you acquired one. Looking at their Twitter feed, they sold out in a few minutes.

I have no problem with people doing that, it's supply and demand. If you wanted one that bad you would have stood in line and gotten one. I don't see the point of owning one because I have a wii with all nes and snes games already installed on it. This is capitalism, this is what most Americans want.

God bless him if he's doing it the right way (standing in line and made scalping his full-time job). Because if he spent that much time doing it (acquiring 18 or more and doing it that way would require loads of time), that's low wages for a alot of effort.

But I feel it's much more likely (for him to acquire so many units in a short time), that he's either a manager at a retailer or he has bot program/s that buys them up for him the instant they become available at online stores.

It's partly on Nintendo.

They should either raise the price or produce more (and reap more profit through volume).

But it's also an issue when a select few people can hoard fairly large quantities. Most of these retailers have a limit of 1 per buyer and, with this product, it's very difficult to get a hold of just 1 unit. So it seems something's afoot when you see one person holding a dozen or more units.

It's an interesting phenomenon that these things are being stockpiled by scalpers, driving the price way up, and so many people are willing to get ripped and reward the scalpers.

btw, I already did acquire one (from Dell), so that's not my issue. And you know what, I wouldn't have bought one from a scalper and I'm glad I got one at regular price. Well, it was package deal with a 3DS and games. With Dell rewards (discounts), technically, I paid lower than retail for the items.

Here's to hoping that Nintendo produces 100 million of them, then remaining scalpers get left holding the bag. Hey, risk is a part of capitalism and sometimes people lose when they gamble. Because that's what the scalpers are doing, gambling with supply & demand and fluctuating price levels, as they're obviously not the manufacturers of the product (they ultimately don't control supply, if/when Nintendo simply steps up production).

Yeah I followed ThinkGeek on Twitter just to get the alert, got the alert and managed to add one to my cart but then I was getting a 503 error when trying to checkout. I kept refreshing and eventually I saw it in my cart but when I tried to check out, it said sold out and removed it from my cart. This happened over the course of 5 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if people out there were somehow causing that 503 error just to secure theirs and keep others from being able to buy one, hundreds of people were complaining on ThinkGeek's twitter about getting that error. Pretty sure the majority of the ones they sold are just gonna end up on Ebay or Amazon. Even Walmart is allowing scalpers to sell em on their site now too.

I remember last year there came a point where even the scalpers sold out of NES Classics, it looks like this time they have an overabundance of the SNES Classics because hardly anyone's paying scalper prices.

No matter though, finally got my controller to work in Higan and I have a lot of Rom's that I downloaded a while back. Higan doesn't seem to like Controller Companion though, after I hit some buttons my second display was suddenly disabled. Guess I'll have to just keep Controller Companion closed whenever I want to play Higan. It also has problems with Microsoft Edge browser.

Controller Companion's a $3 app on Steam that lets you control your entire desktop with a controller, it even has its own virtual keyboard.

Unfortunately, if the trend continues, buying a SNES classic through an online store is an unlikely occurance. I was lucky for some reason, successfully ordering one online (even when it was extra expensive packaged with a 3DS and games... I read it still sold out in minutes of going online). The item stayed in my Dell shopping cart for most of the day, until I submitted the order later that evening. But who knows, it's possible someone cancelled their order just moments before I clicked Submit Order and it was accepted.



You might have to do like Maniac suggested... Call around to various brick & mortar stores in your area, and stand in line. If you're persistent with that method, I think your chances of acquiring one could go up.

This site - www.nowinstock.net - is showing that Gamestop had them in stock today and several people were commenting that they called around to their local Gamestop stores, and many had them in stock.

Doesn't seem very reliable, since it generates tons of false positives for items being in stock. Easy to verify this by looking at the "NES classic" on their site and, as you know, that item hasn't been available in retail stores for months.


Many sites generate revenue by number of clicks, so I can see why they'd do that. It's click bait for the site to generate more revenue. Many of the comments sound fishy, trying too hard to make the site sound like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

All that effort for a Super Nintendo with a handful of games from the nineties...

Granted, with a retropie you can emulate many other consoles (even up to N64 and Saturn), so it's not without its merits and probably more fun (after the initial time & effort of putting one together).