New-Style Super NES
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New-Style Super NES
Super Famicom Jr.
Top: New-Style Super NES
Bottom: Super Famicom Jr.
Also known as     

    JP: Super Famicom Jr.

Manufacturer     Nintendo
Type     Home video game console
Generation     Fourth generation
Release date     

    NA: October 20, 1997
    JP: March 27, 1998

Introductory price     JP¥7,800
US$99.95
Discontinued     

    NA: 1999
    JP: September 25, 2003

Media     ROM Cartridge
CPU     Ricoh 5A22 @ 3.58 MHz
Sound     Nintendo S-SMP

The New-Style Super NES (commonly referred to as SNES Mini, SNES Jr., or its model number SNS-101) is a compact redesign of the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game console released by Nintendo in 1997. In Japan, the system is called the Super Famicom Jr. (Japanese: スーパーファミコン ジュニア Hepburn: Sūpā Famikon Junia). The New-Style Super NES continued Nintendo's practice of releasing low-cost, redesigned systems towards the end of a platform's lifespan.

Background

The New-Style Super NES was designed by Lance Barr, who also designed the NES-001, NES-101, and the SNS-001. Released at a lower price point, Nintendo marketed it as an entry-level gamer's system for customers who were on a budget and who may have been put off by the higher price of other more modern systems such as the Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn and PlayStation. Nintendo marketed the system in North America simply as the "Super Nintendo Entertainment System", just as the company had done the original SNS-001 model. It was released in North America on October 20, 1997 and retailed for US$99.95 The system was available as a stand-alone package or in a variety of bundles, each including one pack-in game such as:

    Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Target exclusive)
    Kirby Super Star (Target exclusive)
    Tetris Attack (Toys "R" Us exclusive)

The system was released in Japan as the Super Famicom Jr. on March 27, 1998 and retailed for ¥7,800. It was given the model number SHVC-101 and is very similar to the New-Style Super NES in both appearance and functionality. It was manufactured until September 2003.
Hardware changes
Rebranded Super NES controller.

The design of the SNS-101 is a large departure from that of the original North American Super NES. The system features a smaller footprint than the older model and contains a much less angular design language. To reach an affordable price point, several features were removed. The system lacks the expansion slot on the bottom of the console featured on the SNS-001, making it incompatible with the Japan-exclusive Satellaview add-on. The power and reset buttons were moved to the left hand side, and the cartridge eject button has been removed entirely. Additionally, it lacks a power LED to indicate when the unit is on. The internal RF modulator was also removed; however, an external RF modulator can be used.

The SNS-101 features the same AV multi-out port used on the original model. However, the SNS-101 only supports composite video through this port, whereas the SNS-001 supported composite video, S-Video and RGB. The video encoder used in the system still supports S-Video and RGB, but these pins were left unused. Users are able to modify the system to restore the removed functionality.

Small cosmetic changes were also made to the included controllers. The silk screened SNES logo was removed and replaced by the Nintendo logo molded into the casing. The controller itself was assigned the model number SNS-102.