Make Your Own SNES Games!

PLUS: Evercade Adds New Games: Bitmap Brothers and Legacy of Kain

Author

James Williams
October 09, 2024

Fun Fact: The original concept for Grand Theft Auto was very different from the game we know today. GTA was initially supposed to be a racing game called "Race'n'Chase". During development, a glitch caused the police cars to aggressively attack the player's vehicle. The developers and testers found this glitch so entertaining that they decided to scrap the original racing concept and rebuild the entire game around high-speed police chases and criminal activities. This happy accident led to the creation of one of the most successful and controversial video game franchises in history.

In today’s email:

NESMaker Levels Up: SNES Development on the Horizon

The retro dev community is buzzing with excitement as NESMaker, the popular NES development tool, announces its expansion into 16-bit territory. Rebranding as Retro Game Forge, the software is set to add SNES support to its arsenal, opening up a whole new frontier for aspiring game creators.

Joe Granato, the mastermind behind NESMaker, revealed this game-changing news during a recent livestream. The software, which has been the secret sauce behind countless homebrew NES titles, is evolving to meet the demands of developers hungry for more powerful tools.

Here's what this means for the retro gaming landscape:

Expanding Horizons: With SNES support, developers can now create games with enhanced graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics. This opens up a world of possibilities for indie creators looking to capture that 16-bit magic.

Accessibility Boost: NESMaker's user-friendly interface has been a game-changer for aspiring developers. By maintaining this approachable design for SNES development, Retro Game Forge could lower the barrier to entry for 16-bit game creation.

Potential Market Shift: As more developers gain access to SNES development tools, we could see a surge in homebrew SNES games hitting the market. This might impact the collectibility and pricing of original SNES titles.

Cross-Platform Opportunities: Granato hinted at the possibility of easily porting NES games to the SNES platform. This could lead to enhanced versions of popular 8-bit homebrew titles, giving them a new lease on life.

Retro Verse Expansion: The virtual arcade known as The Retro Verse is set to become a marketplace, allowing developers to sell their creations directly to consumers. This move could disrupt traditional crowdfunding models for retro game projects.

The financial implications of this shift are significant. NESMaker currently retails for $36, but the addition of SNES support could justify a price increase, similar to other video game release dates. For indie developers, this investment could potentially lead to new revenue streams through The Retro Verse marketplace.

BitMask Publishing, Granato's publishing label, is also making moves to port NES titles to modern platforms like Nintendo Switch, Steam, and mobile devices. This multi-platform approach could significantly increase the reach and profitability of retro-style games.

As we look to the future, several questions remain:

  • How will established SNES homebrew developers react to the potential influx of new creators?

  • Will major game publishers take notice and invest more in retro-style games?

  • Could this lead to a revival of official SNES game development by Nintendo or other companies, perhaps similar to the Evercade releases?

What's your take? Are you excited about the possibility of creating your own SNES games, or do you think the market is becoming oversaturated with retro-style titles?

YouTube's Retro Gaming Explosion: 1000x Growth Since 2007

Retro gaming is making a huge comeback! YouTube has seen a huge jump in retro gaming videos. There are 1000 times more uploads in 2024 compared to 2007. This isn't just a small change—it's a big comeback!

The YouTube Culture and Trends team says that retro gaming is super popular right now. But why are people loving these old games again?

The Numbers

Let's look at the facts:

  • 1000 times more retro gaming videos in 2024 vs. 2007

  • Lots of new content about old consoles from the 80s and 90s

  • Newer consoles (like the Wii U) are now called "retro"

These numbers show that more and more people love watching videos about old games.

There are a few reasons why:

  • Nostalgia: People love remembering games from when they were kids.

  • Easy to Play: Old games are easy to play now because of things like Nintendo Switch Online.

  • Simple Fun: Old games are not as complicated as new games, and people like that.

  • Streaming: People love watching others play these old games on sites like Twitch.

Retro Gaming Is Big Business

Retro gaming is not just fun—it's also big business. By 2026, the retro gaming market is going to be worth a lot of money.

  • Nintendo is still making money from their old games and consoles.

  • Sega has new mini consoles with old 16-bit games.

  • Sony might make a PlayStation Classic 2.

The Antstream Arcade also lets players stream lots of retro games. This makes it easy for fans to play their favorite classics.

Retro Content Is Growing for Creators

YouTubers and streamers are finding that retro gaming is very popular. Channels like 'The Gaming Historian' and 'MetalJesusRocks' with reviews, guides, and fun facts about old games are getting more views.

Top creators are seeing:

  • More ad money

  • Deals with companies that sell retro products

  • Support for making documentaries about old games

What Is "Retro"?

The meaning of "retro" is changing. People still love NES and SNES games, but now even games from the early 2000s are called retro. The new Legacy of Kain game for Evercade shows that the retro market is getting bigger.

This change means:

  • More content for creators and more people watching

  • Challenges like making sure new retro games are still interesting and dealing with copyright issues

Retro Gaming's Influence

Retro gaming isn't just about playing old games—it has a big impact on many parts of our culture. Here are some ways retro gaming is influencing different areas:

  • Fashion: Clothes inspired by retro games are popular.

  • Music: Chiptune music and video game concerts are growing.

  • Movies and TV: More shows are about old video games and set in the 80s and 90s.

What This Means for Marketing

For marketers, retro gaming is a great chance to connect with people:

  • Campaigns: Use retro styles to make ads that people love.

  • Collaborations: Work with retro gaming influencers to reach more people.

  • Products: Make products with a retro theme.

  • Content: Add retro gaming ideas to your ads and videos.

The Future of Retro Gaming

The future of retro gaming looks bright! With new technology like VR and AR, we might soon get to feel like we're really back in the 80s arcades or 90s living rooms. Imagine putting on a VR headset and walking through a virtual arcade, playing classic games just like you did as a kid, or using AR to see your favorite retro characters come to life in your own living room. These technologies can make the retro gaming experience even more immersive and exciting.

The Bottom Line

The retro gaming boom on YouTube is more than just remembering old games—it's a big trend that affects creators, marketers, and the gaming world. As "retro" changes, there will be more chances for everyone to join in the fun.

Super R-Type is Back: Nintendo Brings Old Games to Switch

Nintendo has made retro game fans happy by adding Super R-Type and two special games from Japan to the Nintendo Switch Online game library. This makes the library even bigger and lets players around the world try games they couldn't play before.

Super R-Type is a fun space shooting game for the Super Nintendo. It is hard to beat, but the bright colors and cool graphics make it very exciting. Now, kids today can play it on the Switch Online library and try to save the world from the bad guys in space.

The best surprise is the two new games from Japan. We do not know which games they are yet, but many people are guessing. Maybe it will be the famous Rendering Ranger: R², which is a very rare game from the Super Famicom. It was made by the same person who created Turrican. It is a very special game that collectors love to have, but it is very hard to find and expensive to buy. Now, more people may get to play it!

Adding these special games is a smart move by Nintendo. It makes the subscription more fun for people who already have it and also attracts more people to join. Many companies are now giving us old games to play again, which is great for kids and adults who love retro games.

For Nintendo, this is a good way to use their old games to make money while encouraging more people to get the Switch Online subscription. It shows how old games can still be fun and profitable today.

The retro gaming market is growing fast. The global retro gaming market is expected to be worth $14.5 billion by 2028. Nintendo is in a good position to be a big part of this growing market.

For game developers, Nintendo's success with their old games shows how using classic game ideas can make fans happy and bring in new players. Now we wonder, who will be the next to share their old games with us?

Evercade Adds New Games: Bitmap Brothers and Legacy of Kain

Evercade, a handheld game console for retro games, is getting new titles. The company recently announced that The Bitmap Brothers Collection 2 and The Legacy of Kain Collection 1 will come out this September. This makes Evercade's game library even bigger and lets new players enjoy important classic games.

The Bitmap Brothers were known for their groundbreaking visual style and fun gameplay. They made very cool games that were popular in the late 80s and early 90s. Collection 2 will have games like The Chaos Engine and Z. These games helped shape the action and strategy genres we play today.

The Legacy of Kain games are also very special. They have great stories and spooky worlds. These games helped make video game storytelling better. This is one of the first times these games are being re-released on newer systems.

This news is more than just fun memories; it is also a smart business move for Evercade. By adding these great games, they are becoming an important part of the retro gaming market. Evercade lets people play old games easily, without needing to collect old systems or use emulators.

This shows how important old games are for companies. Many companies with classic games are finding ways to make money with them again. Working with Evercade is a good way to do this, with little risk and lots of possible rewards.

The retro gaming market is getting bigger, especially since many people stayed home during the pandemic. Market Research Future says the market will be worth $8.3 billion by 2027. Evercade's plan of using real game cartridges is perfect for people who like to collect things, and this helps the retro game market grow.

Adding these games to Evercade could change the retro gaming world even more. Will other companies also release collections of their old games? Or will big game console makers make more classic games available to play?

What's Next in Retro Gaming?

Stay tuned for more retro gaming news in our next issue! There’s so much to look forward to, and we’re here to bring you all the latest updates and exciting announcements.We hope you tune back in for our next issue, where we'll dive deep into more retro gaming news!

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