Miniature versions of consoles are all the rage at home – and seemingly everywhere else. It feels like every other week a new, little emulation box is released onto the market to satisfy the retro gaming cravings of the general public.
While these are usually smaller in size than the real deal, they’re manufactured to look exactly the same and are to scale. However, these are generally powered by the same sort of hardware you’d find in a mobile phone – that’s to say, the innards look completely different. If that bothers you, be prepared to be bothered no more.
Unfortunately, while they won’t play games (or even power on) Bandai has just announced several scale model kits for the original Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Spotted at the All Japan Model Hobby Show a few days ago, these 2:5 scale kits are a part of Bandai’s Best Hit Chronicle line. As you build both the consoles and the controllers, scaled-down reproductions of the circuit boards, RF shields and various pieces of plastic for the disk drives are all part of the journey to complete these minuscule versions of your favourite consoles.
Bandai is aiming for a March 2020 release date with a sale price of ¥2,750 (~US$25). Bandai label this as the “First Surprise”, while the “Second Surprise” involves the company Nissin… who sell instant ramen. I can’t even begin to guess what that kit would entail; a miniaturised packet of noodles, including tiny versions of the noodle cake and the flavour sachets? Who knows. I’m craving MSG now.
More consoles would be great, Bandai – and while we’re at it, a miniature “Classic Version” Saturn that can be turned on and play games would be awesome too, Sega.
Growing up while the fifth generation of consoles reigned supreme meant that Brendan missed out on much of the 80’s and early 90’s of gaming the first time around. He either lacked the cognitive ability to play them, as naturally, he was a baby - or he simply didn’t exist yet. Undeterred, Brendan started a blog called Retro Game On in 2011. This followed his exploits as he collected and played everything he could get his hands on no matter what the release date. While RGO is mainly YouTube focused these days concentrating on video reviews and historical features, the itch to do some old fashion writing never went away. More recently, Brendan has been a staff writer for the gaming website, GameCloud, mostly focusing on the indie gaming scene in his locale of Perth, Australia.
