Wii-reless N64, Genesis?

Messiah Entertainment, creators of the acclaimed Generation NEX (an unlicensed upgrade of the classic Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom deck with built-in wireless capabilities), are apparently targeting Nintendo's next-gen Wii for their next line of wireless products. The niche company is targeting the Virtual Console download service, specifically.

I had been an NEX owner for several months before becoming an employee at Game Crazy, one of the few retail distributors for the system. I was very happy with the system's near-perfect emulation of NES and Japanese Famicom games and did a random inventory search for "Messiah" to find new accessories and was amazed to see a line of products outside of the NEX universe, including wireless Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 controllers.
After successfully running the system on standard-definition 30-some inch sets, I had experienced difficulty running the video signal to an inherited 60" projection television, as the colors bled together and distorted the image onscreen. I e-mailed tech support, stating that my Atari 2600, Sega Master System and original NES all performed without incident on said set. I also took the opportunity to ask them about the Sega and N64 accessories, as I was unable to find any such products online.

I received a prompt reply from the support team, stating that many users have experienced difficulty playing the system on larger sets, as the system was designed to draw a minimal amount of power and thus was designed for smaller sets. Messiah hadn't anticipated the demand for wireless retro play on large sets and was in the works to upgrade hardware in the form of a newer system. They suggested a signal booster from any small-box electronics dealer and asked for input about any success in that area.

The representative also filled me in on the curiously listed products, stating that there are, in fact, official plans for an August release of wireless Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 controllers along with a receiver for more comfortable Virtual Console play on the Nintendo Wii. Adapters will then be released shortly thereafter enabling wireless play on the original Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 consoles.

The Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System already have wireless options available from Messiah, the former also a part of the official NEX line.

The actual e-mail from Messiah is published verbatim below:

Hello John, thanks for your questions. For the first part, the Generation NEX was built on a lower power consumption rating as it was designed for use on small TV sets. Game hardware in the past was often built using more power and therefore can still transmit a signal strong enough for large format TVs, which require a strong signal. We did not originally plan for the number of users who want to hook up old school NES games on their plasmas and large projection TVs. This is something we've received a fair amount of feedback on and we are considering upgrading in the future. Any upgrades would be a new console release. You may consult an electronics dealer and seek out a signal booster (cost?). Let us know if you have success in this area.

Secondly, it's great that you ran a search and came up with some curious listings from us. These Sega/N64/etc. Wireless Controllers are NEW and scheduled for release in August. We have developed a receiver for the Wii console that will come with classic style controllers for playing Virtual Console downloads with a more comfortable controller. After the initial launch, we will release receivers that allow you to use these same controllers on your classic hardware as well. Get it?

Good luck with your Wireless plans, we hope we can assist you in your efforts!


Thank you for Supporting Messiah Entertainment, Inc.

Messiah Support Staff