Launching in early August, LEGO has created a new building set that recreates the design of Nintendo’s original gaming console, the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System.

Clocking in at 2,646 LEGO pieces, the set includes a lifesize console with opening door, a Super Mario Bros cartridge that fits inside the LEGO console, and a NES gamepad with working buttons. Similar to the original NES, the cartridge slot pushes down into the machine to lock the game into place.

In addition, the build includes a retro, 1980’s style, mini-television on a small stand. The television has dials on the right side for changing the channel, switching between UHF & VHF, along with knobs for brightness and contrast control. There’s even an antenna on top.

After completing the build, you can turn the crank on the side of the television to move a vertical, treadmill-style rotating band that simulates Mario’s first level within the game.

Interestingly, the new set is also compatible with Mario figurine in the Adventures of Mario Starter Kit (also shipping in early August). If you plug that Bluetooth-enabled Mario figurine on top of the television, it will produce sound effects, visuals and music from the classic video game.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a LEGO set without a steep price tag to entry. The LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment Center will cost $229.99 when it launches on August 1. In addition, the LEGO Adventures of Mario Starter Kit will cost $59.99. The LEGO NES is rated for builders age 18 and up while the Starter kit is rated for ages 6 and older.

You can watch a video of the LEGO build below:

Shut Up and Take My Money: LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System

Updating the machine that seriously escalated the console gaming craze, Nintendo will be selling a miniature version of the classic NES system starting on November 11, 2016.

Retailing for $60, the Mini NES will come with 30 classic games preloaded on the machine and includes a HDMI output for all those modern televisions. (The old NES used the classic red and yellow RCA jacks for transmitting video / audio).

The revamped NES comes with the classic controller, but it uses a different connector (so no hooking up a Powerpad or other type of controller). New controllers cost $10. It doesn’t include any type of Wi-Fi functionality, thus Nintendo has no way of updating the Mini NES with new games. The thirty games that come with the device will simply be it for consumers.

Those games include Balloon Fight, Bubble Bobble, Castlevania, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Double Dragon II: The Revenge, Dr. Mario, Excitebike, Final Fantasy, Galaga, Ghosts’ N Ghoblins, Gradius, Ice Climber, Kid Icarus, Kirby’s Adventure, Mario Bros., Mega Man 2, Metroid, Ninja Gaiden, Pac-Man, Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream, StarTropics, SUPER C, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, Tecmo Bowl, The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

Nintendo hasn’t detailed how the games have been upgraded to take advantage of high definition screens, if at all. However, gamers should be pleased to learn that Nintendo is including the option of suspend points in the game, so you won’t have to worry about reentering passwords to start playing the game again.

You can find more details on Nintendo’s site here. There are also multiple photos of the console below:

Shut Up and Take My Money: Nintendo’s Mini NES

Film and video game makers are always trying to make their visuals bigger, better, and more spectacular. However, very few seem to realize the truth at hand: graphics reached their peak with 8-bit. But then 8-bit became 16-bit, which became 64-bit, which became 3D handheld madness, which became Hal 9000.

Meanwhile, we’re left with longing for a 8-bit world that just isn’t compatible with this shoddy system known as reality. But what if… what if 8-bit never went out of style? What if modern games, movies, and TV shows still had those blotchy sprites and ambiguous cubism? Why, if such a thing were possible, surely people would pay money for it… and that’s the kind of sentiment that was shared at the meeting where 72Pins was born.

72Pins gets us. There’s something special – dare I say “artistic” – about the 8-bit video game aesthetic. Zombies weren’t horrifying, half-decayed images that haunted our dreams, but green squares with cartoon worms coming out of their head. For something created by basic programming code, 8-bit is versatile as a creative medium, and scholars agree that if he had the option, Michaelangelo would have worked exclusively with very basic pixelation.

So 72Pins takes pop culture – games, movies, and TV – and reinterprets them as classic NES games.  And since what we’re talking about is essentially fan art, NES cartridges make the best platform (no pun intended) to showcase the art! Just imagine, holding that gray plastic cartridge for the Shaun of the Dead NES game that never was.

What do they have? Have you ever heard of this little show called Breaking Bad? Why don’t you check out Bad Breakers!? It’s easy to recognize Walter White’s characteristic goatee in glasses in that 8-bit format. Another little-known movie featured on 72Pins is a little-known feature called Star Wars. While they don’t have scenes from the theoretical game, the cartridge does feature pixelated scenes from the movie. And here’s a treat for Arrested Development fans: an entire set of six designs, including Mr. Bananagrabber and Stair Kart.

And then there’s the video games. How would our favorite turn of the century games look if they were made 30 years ago? Imagine blowing on your World of Warcraft cartridge to get to work. Or, a real treasure, a version of Half-Life 3 that actually exists! They even have inside jokes, like a somewhat blasphemous NES cartridge for the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

This site is a haven for gamers and geek culture lovers! Check out their full selection and find the classic game that’s right for you!

Shut Up and Take My Money: 72Pins NES Cartridges

Developed by Flickr user weltall1028, this collection of photographs show off the creation of a full-sized Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) nearly created entirely out of LEGO bricks. As you can see in the photos below, the LEGO NES has a working hinge to open the front slot and a standard sized NES cartridge can even be inserted into the LEGO creation.

On the right side, you will notice the A/V connection and the other panel is located on the back of the LEGO NES. The artist has even added a red glowing power brick to the left of the power button to signify that the LEGO NES is currently on.

Check out the full set of LEGO NES photographs below as well as the YouTube video. You can also check out weltall1028’s other work with LEGOs on his YouTube account here.

Artist Recreates Classic NES System out of LEGOs

If you haven’t checked out the fantastic work of 72Pins, you are about to have a fun time. The company takes classic NES cartridges and applies a new label that’s related to something relevant in the gaming, television or movie industry. Of course, these aren’t real NES games. They are designed to be art pieces to show off your love for a specific piece of pop culture.

You can find these carts for sale on the 72Pins site here. While the majority are currently out of stock, the company constantly refreshes the carts, and updates on new carts in stock can be found on the 72Pins blog here. One of the most recent additions takes on the popular Netflix series Arrested Development with games about the Bluth stair car, Steve Holt, the chicken dance and Buster Bluth’s hook.

Check out some of our favorite shots of the 72Pins carts below:

NES Cartridge Art: Where the Past and Present Collide

While people can’t stop talking about the next generation of video game consoles, there’s a whole scene of gamers that are obsessed with modifying older consoles into other useful items or simply giving the console a brand new look.

Check out some of our favorite modifications below:

Steampunk Mod (Modified from the top load NES)

You can check out the entire photo set of the Steampunk mod here.

NES Cartridge Mod

Interested in fitting the system into a cartridge? Check out the full tutorial here.

Guitar Mod

Sold out at the moment, but you can check out more photos here.

DVD Player Mod

Tron Mod

Check out the Tron mod in action here on YouTube.

Lunchbox Mod with a Controller Handle

Check out the full details on Reddit here.

Mario Case Mod

Metal Gear Case Mod

See the case mod in action here.

HTPC Case Mod

Tutorial on Instructables here.

PlayStation 2 “Nestation” Case Mod

Purse Mod with Screen

Check out more pictures and video of the purse in action here.

Sneaker Mod

You can find more details here.

Suitcase / Lunchbox Case Mod

Check out more details here.

Toaster Case Mod

More pictures and details here.

Zelda Case Mod

See the case mod in action here.

15 of the Coolest NES System Mods

Whether you dreamed of being Lucas Barton from The Wizard or always wanted a piece of Nintendo peripheral history, the Power Mitt by Jon Kay of Fangamer will fit the bill.  This custom-printed oven mitt—an interpretation of the classic Power Glove—has all the details, all the “buttons” that you remember from the original and the classic 1980s design. The Power Mitt is a standard oven mitt that can withstand anything your kitchen can throw at you. At $15, it’s almost nine times less than what the actual Power Glove cost when it was brand new!  It’s just SO bad.

The Power Mitt

YMMV: The Power Mitt… It’s So Bad