View Full Version : Knock-Off Systems - What were they?
Smack2k
11-14-2013, 10:29 PM
Saw a Youtube video about an NES Knock Off / Clone called the MicroGenius and it made me wanna know:
What are some of, if not all, the clones / knock-offs of all retro systems from Atari through PS1...
Thanks!!
Urzu402
11-14-2013, 10:39 PM
I don't think there are any knock offs of CD based systems like the Playstation and Saturn, but Cartridge systems are abundant mainly NES, SNES and Sega Genesis, not sure if any others for like the 2600 are out there,
Suikoman444
11-14-2013, 11:27 PM
The Atari 2600 especially had a ton of them AtariAge has a page devoted to it:
http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/consoles.html
Satoshi_Matrix
11-14-2013, 11:42 PM
One could build a 2600 using off the shelf components, which is exactly what Coleco did with the Gemini. Also there's the Atari Flashback 2, which unlike the first and third, is so damn similar to a 2600 the designers even marked on the pcb where a cartridge port could go to turn it into a real 2600 that plays 2600 carts.
The most common type of clone is the Famiclone, or NES clone. There are more Famiclones from around the world than there are clones for everything else combined.
Due to copyright patents, required copywritten BIOSes and lack of general interest, there are no CD based clone systems. Right now, the newest systems being cloned are the SNES and Genesis/MegaDrive, although this doesn't seem to apply when it comes to the GameBoy line as there are a number of GBA clones being made.
The Atari 2600 especially had a ton of them AtariAge has a page devoted to it:
http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/consoles.html
There are also several GB b/w clones, (I own one CIB) and some GBC clones as well...
BlastProcessing402
11-17-2013, 05:45 PM
copywritten
Not a word. Please use "copyrighted" in the future. (Sorry, major pet peeve of mine)
wiggyx
11-17-2013, 06:46 PM
One could build a 2600 using off the shelf components, which is exactly what Coleco did with the Gemini. Also there's the Atari Flashback 2, which unlike the first and third, is so damn similar to a 2600 the designers even marked on the pcb where a cartridge port could go to turn it into a real 2600 that plays 2600 carts.
The most common type of clone is the Famiclone, or NES clone. There are more Famiclones from around the world than there are clones for everything else combined.
Due to copyright patents, required copywritten BIOSes and lack of general interest, there are no CD based clone systems. Right now, the newest systems being cloned are the SNES and Genesis/MegaDrive, although this doesn't seem to apply when it comes to the GameBoy line as there are a number of GBA clones being made.
There are TONs of Nintendo portable clones who's patents are still valid and are newer than the SNES/Genesis. China has virtually no copyright law. Patents and copyrights don't stop them from cloning, and never have. NES clones have been around since the Fami/NES was still viable and available at retail. It's more likely that a lack of need for clones in order to fill a gap in original hardware availability is keeping us from seeing 5th gen and later hardware clones.
As far as the OP's Q, there are more clones than can be accounted for out there. There's virtually no way to hunt down and catalog all of them :(
goob47
11-17-2013, 07:48 PM
Not a word. Please use "copyrighted" in the future. (Sorry, major pet peeve of mine)
Dude. Stop. It's a major pet peeve of mine that the English language is full of words and sayings that make no sense (i.e. "I could care less"), but I deal with it, because I am a normal human being who isn't judgmental about everything everyone says (or types, for that matter)
Please chill.
Koa Zo
11-17-2013, 09:01 PM
Dude. Stop. It's a major pet peeve of mine that the English language is full of words and sayings that make no sense (i.e. "I could care less"), but I deal with it, because I am a normal human being who isn't judgmental about everything everyone says (or types, for that matter)
Please chill.
Looks like you're the one who needs to chill.
I salute people who have the foresight and integrity to uphold language standards. Otherwise we'll continue devolving into illiterate numbskulls.
Not that I'm one to talk. After years of reading people who don't distinguish between "your, you're, and ur" I'm not so sure myself anymore.
If no one spoke up and pointed out that "I could care less" is not the actual phrase they meant to say, then people would continue uttering that nonsensical mistake.
Don't be lazy and indifferent. Learn and improve.
As for clone hardware, an oddball one I bought from Japan is a Famiclone shapped like a N64 controller. And then there is the Korean Famiclone I just got which has Dreamcast styled controllers.
I don't think it is likely we'll ever document all the clone systems out there.
goob47
11-18-2013, 10:57 AM
Looks like you're the one who needs to chill.
I salute people who have the foresight and integrity to uphold language standards. Otherwise we'll continue devolving into illiterate numbskulls.
Not that I'm one to talk. After years of reading people who don't distinguish between "your, you're, and ur" I'm not so sure myself anymore.
If no one spoke up and pointed out that "I could care less" is not the actual phrase they meant to say, then people would continue uttering that nonsensical mistake.
Don't be lazy and indifferent. Learn and improve.
Language in itself is a bunch of jargon. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." You could call the word copyright idiot instead, and if we were taught it that way, no one would know the damn difference. So you chill out too, prick.
ColecoVision:
- Dina
- Bit ILO90
- Follow Me
- Onyx
http://www.colecovision.dk/clones.htm
- Hanimex Pencil II
- Spectravideo
http://www.colecoworld.com/system_clones.html
Koa Zo
11-18-2013, 01:26 PM
Language in itself is a bunch of jargon. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." You could call the word copyright idiot instead, and if we were taught it that way, no one would know the damn difference. So you chill out too, prick.
I'm not the one in a tizzy, calling people prick. And I also recognize that language is not just arbitrary sounds and groups of letters.
Get a grip, fool.
goob47
11-18-2013, 08:46 PM
I'm not the one in a tizzy, calling people prick. And I also recognize that language is not just arbitrary sounds and groups of letters.
Get a grip, fool.
"In a tizzy..." wow. You know, when I first joined this forum, I used to think, "Wow, this is a great group of people. They all love vintage video games, collecting, and helping people." Now I'm starting to realize that all most people care about is correcting others' mistakes in order to empower themselves and make them feel smarter. Thanks.
Koa Zo
11-18-2013, 09:49 PM
"In a tizzy..." wow. You know, when I first joined this forum, I used to think, "Wow, this is a great group of people. They all love vintage video games, collecting, and helping people." Now I'm starting to realize that all most people care about is correcting others' mistakes in order to empower themselves and make them feel smarter. Thanks.
Really?
One person corrected one mistake, in a straight forward and simple manner. Then you took it upon yourself to crusade against such behavior, and proceeded to derail the thread (with my assistance) instead of letting the correction stand.
edit: Ah, I just looked at your recent post history. Your behavior speaks for itself.
Good bye.
PS - I hope as you grow up you learn to accept criticism and correction of your mistakes. It isn't about you, it's about what is correct or incorrect.
Niku-Sama
11-18-2013, 09:57 PM
stop crapping the thread and take it to pm off you wanna bitch at one another.
on topic one of my favorite clones is the family comfort console. I'll post pics when I get home. on the toilet at work at the moment
Koa Zo
11-18-2013, 10:06 PM
stop crapping the thread
on the toilet at work at the moment
well done
a very interesting Famicom variant is the Daewoo Family Noraebang Karaoke & Game Machine
It includes a cartridge which acts as a Karaoke machine.
Niku-Sama
11-19-2013, 12:25 AM
it's that the one they found on game center cx when they went to Korea?
Koa Zo
11-19-2013, 02:15 AM
it's that the one they found on game center cx when they went to Korea?
Not sure, didn't see that episode.
Just found that Hardcore-Gaming has a list with pictures of Korean Famiclone consoles (http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/korea/appendix-consoles2.htm) the karaoke unit is roughly 1/4 way down the page. If I'm not mistaken, the karaoke cart accepts memory cards which contain the songs.
There is a Famiclone with a built in keyboard further down that page. One was listed on eBay a couple months ago, complete in box, and with one of the educational cartridges. I think it sold for like $200 shipped, I was so bummed I didn't have the throw-away money at the time.
goob47
11-20-2013, 07:54 PM
Really?
One person corrected one mistake, in a straight forward and simple manner. Then you took it upon yourself to crusade against such behavior, and proceeded to derail the thread (with my assistance) instead of letting the correction stand.
edit: Ah, I just looked at your recent post history. Your behavior speaks for itself.
Good bye.
PS - I hope as you grow up you learn to accept criticism and correction of your mistakes. It isn't about you, it's about what is correct or incorrect.
As much as I would like to respond with a witty and sarcastic response, I'm going to refrain for the sake of this thread. Sorry for any trouble I may have caused. I just wanted to say that I've had experience with people correcting word usage (I misspelled epitome) and some guy bitched me out hardcore. It really doesn't feel good, and it also doesn't make you feel very welcome on a forum such as this one.
As of this topic, have any of you seen the new "GB Boys" that are being sold a lot recently? What's the deal with those?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GB-Boy-Game-Color-Colour-Kong-Feng-Backlight-Screen-Handheld-System-LSDJ-DMG-/291010437441?pt=Video_Games&hash=item43c192e141