12-in-1 NES console for the lazy retro gamer
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jun 9th 2006 at 2:00AM }
The utlitarian M82 was an NES demonstration unit for department stores. Twelve classic NES titles jammed into a heavy, metal box built to support a heavy CRT monitor, the M82 is like a paean to the humble technology that this industry's been founded on.
Now, thanks to the magic of eBay, you can own a little slice of gaming history, pulled from the rubble of a shuttered Lionel Playworld with a complete assortment of titles: Donkey Kong Jr, Yo Noid, R.C. Pro Am, Golf, Rad Racer, Double Dribble, Life Force, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Super Mario 2, Ice Hockey, GOLGO 13, and the ever popular Super Mario Brothers / Duck Hunt combo cartridge.
Yo Noid?! I must have this now ... every copy must be destroyed. It has been written.
[Thanks, Groovy Guy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Raymond @ Jun 9th 2006 3:09AM
I wish I had that kind of money.
sev4 pri1 @ Jun 9th 2006 3:11AM
My Grandfather used to take me to the Nintendo store at Bellevue Square. They had about 12 of these units installed with slick black counters and walls with red pinstripes. My bro and I played and bought our first NES games there. Mega Man and Trojan. 5 years had past before we beat either one. Good times.
Crazylink @ Jun 9th 2006 4:07AM
Raaaaad Raaaaaacer!
(Sorry I couldn't help it)
Insomnia Bob @ Jun 9th 2006 5:39AM
Foolish mortal. No power on Earth can ever TRULY destroy the Noid!
Worship now, fools, before the alter of the M82, and know that ye are not worthy. Know ye this....and despair.
jadenguy @ Jun 9th 2006 6:30AM
I played yo! noid. capcom never failed to deliver on a license game, imo. this is no exception. don't be hatin' because the noid ruined one of your pizza. you should have avoided him better.
DG @ Jun 9th 2006 7:54AM
Wow. This brings me back. I certainly remember those kiosks and marveling at the vast amounts of games. However, I more fondly remember the Sega Genesis stands with the six cartridges lined up in a box next to the unit. My dentist actually had one in his office.
A few months ago, my local Meijer's was redoing its electronic section. They actually had the old Nintendo and Sega Genesis display cases with Xbox and PS2 games hanging up. It was a trip. My girlfriend, of course, didn't understand why I was so excited.
riffgod @ Jun 9th 2006 8:11AM
Holy crap! These were tht greatest inventions ever. While my family dragged me shopping I finally had a reason not to complain. "Mom, I'll be in electronics." Hours I spent standing in front of that thing.
I don't remember Yo! Noid being in them ever, but I loved that game. I never owned it because my dad would say that they should be giving it away since it was basically a commercial. He wouldn't buy it for me out of principal, and today I would agree with him on that. Still, I rented Yo! Noid and that 7up game many a times.
I feel like I'm 10 years old again. Thanks Joystiq, you've really made my day.
Doug the Aquacell Guy @ Jun 9th 2006 8:27AM
TMNT? Is that the arcade-to-NES port? That better be on the Virtual Console, and it better have online co-op. Or Xbox Live. Or both. Both is good.
Fuzz @ Jun 9th 2006 8:30AM
Ahh! not Golgo 13! ...
32_Footsteps @ Jun 9th 2006 9:09AM
Heh, I nearly beat the first Golgo 13 game. One of the most ridiculously difficult games I've ever seen. On the bright side, the guy did get laid constantly. Makes you wonder what life would have been like if Hot Coffee happened in the 8-bit era.
Also, I actually know someone who's a big fan of Yo! Noid. Kind of strange, if you ask me.
DG @ Jun 9th 2006 10:03AM
"TMNT? Is that the arcade-to-NES port? That better be on the Virtual Console, and it better have online co-op. Or Xbox Live. Or both. Both is good."
Man, people don't know ANYTHING. TMNT on the NES was an RPG-esque side scroller that was long and very difficult compared to most licensed games. I think I got past the diffusing bombs underwater (yeah, it still doesn't make much sense) level only once. The reward was being able to drive around in the Turtle Van -- yeah!
TMNT II: The Arcade Game on NES is what you're looking for. I think TMNT III was the Manhattan Project, but I could be confusing that with another system. Ther was also the regretable fighting game, TMNT: Tournament Fighters than was really only good on the SNES.
Most people think TMNT 4: Turtles in Time is the best of the lot, and I'd be inclined to agree. However, I haven't played the newer, post-2000 versions of the game that are cel-shaded and look pretty good.
dvddesign @ Jun 9th 2006 10:16AM
You never beat TMNT? Man. That was my life mission when I was a kid. I did it twice. You get to kick shredder's butt at the end. Sadly, Krang was no where to be found in this game.
You had to wait until the arcade brawlers to get to beat up krang.
As for the M82, I only ever got to play with one of them once, but it was the time when I got to play Rad Racer, Metroid, and Kid Icarus all at once, so it had it's influence.
avgbear @ Jun 9th 2006 10:32AM
Hell yes. I remember playing Ice Hockey in Dillards on one of these. I was beginning to think I dreamed it.
voice of reason @ Jun 9th 2006 10:35AM
yo noid! that game was awsome... ok maybe not, but i own it and my copy will never be destroyed. mwuahahaha
gotta love the yo-yo attack
flyguy @ Jun 9th 2006 10:57AM
I remember this at Sears...right next to a Sega Master System that never got much playing time. I was thinking about finding a PlayChoice 10 but then I thought of this contraption yesterday. It would seem improbable, but then I saw this today.
Scott Winston @ Jun 9th 2006 12:35PM
Yo! Noid was actually a good game, and I've never understood why it is so frequently shat upon. I don't see how its any worse than any of the Disney licensed games Capcom made. I liked it as a child and don't really understand all the bad press it gets. I think its just because Capcom used the Noid of all characters, and it became fun to talk about how awful it was. It's actually quite a fun NES game, which is why its included in this 12 in 1. Despite his vow to destroy all copies, I seriously doubt the poster has ever even played it.
Scott @ Jun 9th 2006 2:04PM
Re: #6 jadenguy
Easily one of the funniest comments I've seen posted on Joystiq.
romablog @ Jun 9th 2006 2:20PM
I remember many a late night eating pizza and playing with my yo-yo.
epobirs @ Jun 9th 2006 2:44PM
There was also a variation of this used for arcade units that offered numerous choices instead of a single game. Sort of like the SNK Neo-Geo cabinets that offered four games but not as widely distributed. Nintendo was rapidly withdrawing from the arcade business by the time they had the idea.
#7
As I recall, the selector box for the Sega was a third party peripheral that anyone could buy. I recall an Atari VCS one long ago, too. This was supposed to simplify gamers lives by having all of their favorites plugged in at once and avoid wear and tear on the console. Not a big selling point for the price and bulk.
kelekod @ Jun 9th 2006 4:55PM
I wonder how much something like that would go for considering about half the games can be found in a 99 cent bin at game stores that sell NES games..
TMNT is the best one listed after mario 1 and 2 of course. It was the one of the hardest games I've played, and actually I beat it for the first time like within the last 3 or 4 months. I've gotten to the dark cave area many times, but never knew where to go. The technodrome took several retries, but I finally beat it.
Life force is a sweet game too, a little easy, but it's fun every now and then. Same with RC Pro Am.
If I had one of those things, mine would be filled with: SMB1/duck hunt, SMB2, SMB3, wizards and warriors 1, Nobunaga's Ambition, Super Dodge Ball, Legend of Zelda, Double dragon (either 1, 2 or 3 not sure right now), LoLo 3, Contra, TMNT, and prolly the Zelda 2 or something along those lines.
Anybody else got a good list to put on here?
Nathan @ Jun 9th 2006 6:34PM
My list for the nes is:
Startropics 1 and 2(Zoda's Revenge)
Loz 1 and 2
Crystalis
Faxanadu
Final Fantasy
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Mario series
FeatherKing @ Jun 9th 2006 7:09PM
Yo!Noid is one of the hardest damn games i have ever played! i dont know how many hours i tried to get to the end, and finally i would get to the end of the board just to lose to that damn pizza contest!
Oh man those were the days
enumerated @ Jun 9th 2006 7:22PM
I remember this at Woolworth's...next to it's crappy instore diner ;)
turntabletux @ Jun 9th 2006 9:57PM
Oh the days. I still to this day catch myself on the couch with a huge box of Swedish Fish, a huge box of NES games and a cold beer. :]
-Ant
Pete @ Jun 9th 2006 11:53PM
I actually love Yo Noid! but I think it may just be a sentimental thing, as I don't think I ever got past the 4th level or something.
Ryan Christensen @ Jun 9th 2006 11:54PM
Contra! UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A B A - 99 lives neeches!
Cobra Triangle was my favorite but it is never to be found in emulators or in the bins. Castlevania and of course SMB and all zeldas. That gold cartridge was an entire summer.
noromamai @ Jun 10th 2006 6:13AM
I actually own one of those (and a bunch of other stuff), it's sitting in my living room (not hooked up though). I remember buying it about 8 years ago, it was in a small gameshop. At the time i was scrounging gameshops and flee markets with a friend from time to time to see what we could find (console wise). At first the guy didn't want to sell it, in the end he did, coz i told him it would have a better home with me. Bought it for about US$60. Had to drag it home in a big garbage bag, and that thing REALLY is heavy! But i am glad i did!