I’ve branched out a little from my weekly NES live streams and posted my first product review for the Hyperkin Cadet controller for the Nintendo Entertainment System and NES Classic Edition. (They also have USB versions, which I failed to mention in the video.)
I mainly did this because although I’d heard great things about the controller from many reviewers (and only one exception), I didn’t see anyone actually test one out for the things that usually are terrible in third-party NES controllers, particularly the D-pad, which often triggers diagonals accidentally. So I decided I needed to try it for myself. I’ve also been interested in what it looks like inside, since most knockoffs are pretty cheap, but I was pleasantly surprised. This controller looks very well made, with an actual chip like the original NES controller, rather than your typical “globtop”:
No black glob here! Just a real chip and a pretty clean looking PCB.
Here’s the back. Not much to see here.
The rubber membranes seem very similar to replacement parts for NES controllers.
Unfortunately, there’s a screw hidden under that Hyperkin label.
I doubt I’ll do too many of these, but I’m very interested in, and picky about, controllers and I thought these details might be helpful to anyone else who is curious or on the fence about these controllers. I’m already planning to review the just released RetroUSB wireless controller as well, which is about six times more expensive than this one.
New Book!
As I mentioned, I’ve rekindled my interest in 8-bit Nintendo video games, and now you can watch me play through my collection of nearly 300 NES cartridges! I’m running a series called “NES Alphanumeric!” over on YouTube, which involves weekly, hourlong live streams of me playing a game while providing commentary and chatting with viewers–basically a weekly AMA + video games. I’m usually streaming on WedNESdays, but obviously on alternative days when I have events (see above). Here’s my latest episode, a game called Air Fortress.
I’m planning a special live stream on Tuesday, May 16 at 9 p.m. Eastern to promote the new story collection. See, the Nintendo Entertainment System launched in New York City in October 1985, which just so happens to be the time and place in which my story 1985 is set, and my characters are geeky technophiles, so… Of course the NES makes an appearance! I thought I’d celebrate by playing the game they play in the story, Gyromite. (With perhaps a bonus round of Duck Hunt). Stay tuned for more details, but in the meantime, subscribe to my YouTube channel and/or follow me on Twitter @ecmyers for updates and reminders.