That thing can run ubuntu linux? If we can get RetroArch/Lakka running on it, it could become a full on emulation machine! (assuming it has enough power ofc)

 

it's probably barebones enough just to run nes roms accurately


I expected a NOAC, (NES On A Chip)

 

Ooh, if i get my hands on one i think ill try getting that same linux setup running, would be really cool to see Castlevania SoTN running on an NES xD

 

Why develop a customized chip - including 100% hardware support for a very sensitive platform which magically including a GUI and autosaves, when it's far cheaper to buy an off the shelf chip that's just powerful enough to emulate that. I suspect it has the bare minimum of memory needed though.

That being said, it has no Wifi or Ethernet, so unless you find a way to hack those (along with a keyboard) in it will be pretty useless as a Linux box. But I would like to look into swapping out some ROMs, if possible.

 

why would it need to be so powerful? that's more than overkill

 

Still, what architecture is it based on?
Is it PowerPC like the late Nintendo consoles too?

 

This is interesting. Not so much that it has been hacked to run Linux, but that they put such a powerful board in there. I wonder whether they're going to reuse the same board in other such mini devices, hence the need for increased power. SNES mini and N64 mini, anyone?

 

So with it being a Cortex A7 quad-core (with a Mali400 GPU?), just what sort of emulation could we expect it is capable of? I'm now wishing I pushed even harder to get one.

 

I believe they have deals with Allwinner (for the Allwinner R16 SoC) to have that MB so cheap that every other alternatives where pointless ?
Anyway, for more info, there is a wiki
http://linux-sunxi.org/Nintendo_NES_Classic_Edition

 

Assuming it's legit, you could probably get away with PS1 emulation and some N64 stuff. PSP may be possible, too. This being based off of Android performance from a device with similar specs.