Console Classix is a United States online video game rental subscription service, whose niche is in providing console games for play on a home computer system.

Console Classix currently offers an unlimited play subscription for $5.99 a month or credit for donations of old game cartridges mailed to their headquarters. The paid subscription allows you to play premium consoles such as Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy

Game Boy

The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...

 whenever there is a copy available. Users who do not have a paid subscription can still play NES

Nes

-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...

, Atari 2600

Atari 2600

The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...

 and ColecoVision

ColecoVision

The ColecoVision is Coleco Industries' second generation home video game console which was released in August 1982. The ColecoVision offered arcade-quality graphics and gaming style, and the means to expand the system's basic hardware...

 games for free provided no single user is playing the game.

Technology Overview

Console Classix is a digital video game rental system. The current method of distribution relies on client-server technology and virtual machines to allow the user to play console games on the PC. The current Console Classix client includes a variety of virtual machines specifically designed to play the games available on the different platforms they offer. The client receives the virtual machine image and stores it temporarily in memory until the user either loses their internet connection or shuts down the game. Once the client stops communicating to the server that the game is in use the game is digitally checked back in to allow another user the opportunity to play. Console Classix has multiple copies of the games available so many users can play the same game.

The following consoles are currently supported:

• Atari 2600
  Atari 2600
  The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
  
  
• ColecoVision
  ColecoVision
  The ColecoVision is Coleco Industries' second generation home video game console which was released in August 1982. The ColecoVision offered arcade-quality graphics and gaming style, and the means to expand the system's basic hardware...
  
  
• Game Boy
  Game Boy
  The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
  
   to Game Boy Advance
  Game Boy Advance
  The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
  
  
• Nintendo Entertainment System
  Nintendo Entertainment System
  The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
  
  
• Sega Game Gear
  Sega Game Gear
  The was Sega's first handheld game console. It was the third commercially available color handheld console, after the Atari Lynx and the TurboExpress....
  
  
• Sega Master System
  Sega Master System
  The is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
  
  
• Sega Genesis
• Super Nintendo
• Nintendo 64
  Nintendo 64
  The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
  
  
• TurboGrafx-16
  TurboGrafx-16
  TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
  
  

Requirements

• Internet connection
• Windows 98
  Windows 98
  Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
  
  , Windows 2000
  Windows 2000
  Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
  
  , XP
  Windows XP
  Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
  
  
• Pentium 2 233 MHz or better processor

External links

• Console Classix Official Site
• Console Classix Wiki