NESticle
Encyclopedia
NESticle was a popular NES
emulator for DOS
, created by Sardu
of Bloodlust Software
. The name is a portmanteau of "NES
" (the console
it emulates) and "testicle
".
NESticle offered its initial release as NESticle v0.2 on April 3, 1997. The program originally ran under DOS
and Windows 95
, offering few features and only supporting a handful of games. It was one of the first freeware
NES emulators, and quickly became more popular than shareware
rivals such as iNES. This was certainly due to the fact NESticle ran that much faster on the hardware of the day. Its speed can be attributed to the fact that the code was compiled with the Watcom
C/C++ compiler. Within a few weeks the program had become considerably more robust, and could play the majority of then-available NES ROMs. It was a massive step forward in emulation, making NES emulation accessible to the mainstream computer user. Some emulator programmers complained that a side effect of Nesticle's success was that it made people expect that emulation for more advanced systems, like the SNES
, be just as finished.
The source code for NESticle was stolen from Sardu's computer by a code cracker, named Donald Moore (also known as MindRape) of Damaged Cybernetics, who accessed its network shares with Samba
. Because of the incident, Sardu decided to discontinue NESticle. August 1998 saw the final NESticle release, version x.xx, and support for the emulator was discontinued.
NESticle eventually became obsolete as other emulation projects continued to develop and improve. However, it was a major step in the evolution of console emulation, noted for the public introduction of save states, automatic frameskipping, in-game movies, netplay
, and its speed, particularly on lower-end computers.
The current webpage for NESticle is hosted on Zophar's Domain
.
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...
emulator for DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, created by Sardu
Icer Addis
Icer Addis is a computer programmer considered a legendary figure in the emulation scene. He co-founded Bloodlust Software with his friend Ethan Petty, a small software company in Wichita, Kansas dedicated to developing shareware and freeware games featuring humorous and bloody graphics.Working...
of Bloodlust Software
Bloodlust Software
Bloodlust Software is a developer of humorous PC computer games. It was originally formed in 1992 by two high school students who were angry at the rise of movements against computer game violence...
. The name is a portmanteau of "NES
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...
" (the console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
it emulates) and "testicle
Testicle
The testicle is the male gonad in animals. Like the ovaries to which they are homologous, testes are components of both the reproductive system and the endocrine system...
".
NESticle offered its initial release as NESticle v0.2 on April 3, 1997. The program originally ran under DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
and Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
, offering few features and only supporting a handful of games. It was one of the first freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
NES emulators, and quickly became more popular than shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
rivals such as iNES. This was certainly due to the fact NESticle ran that much faster on the hardware of the day. Its speed can be attributed to the fact that the code was compiled with the Watcom
Watcom C compiler
The Watcom C/C++ compiler is a compiler for the computer programming languages C and C++ that produces executable programs for several platforms and operating systems. The code it produces for MS-DOS executes very fast. It was one of the first compilers to support the Intel 80386 "protected mode"...
C/C++ compiler. Within a few weeks the program had become considerably more robust, and could play the majority of then-available NES ROMs. It was a massive step forward in emulation, making NES emulation accessible to the mainstream computer user. Some emulator programmers complained that a side effect of Nesticle's success was that it made people expect that emulation for more advanced systems, like the SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, be just as finished.
The source code for NESticle was stolen from Sardu's computer by a code cracker, named Donald Moore (also known as MindRape) of Damaged Cybernetics, who accessed its network shares with Samba
Samba (software)
Samba is a free software re-implementation, originally developed by Andrew Tridgell, of the SMB/CIFS networking protocol. As of version 3, Samba provides file and print services for various Microsoft Windows clients and can integrate with a Windows Server domain, either as a Primary Domain...
. Because of the incident, Sardu decided to discontinue NESticle. August 1998 saw the final NESticle release, version x.xx, and support for the emulator was discontinued.
NESticle eventually became obsolete as other emulation projects continued to develop and improve. However, it was a major step in the evolution of console emulation, noted for the public introduction of save states, automatic frameskipping, in-game movies, netplay
Multiplayer game
A multiplayer video game is one which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time. Unlike most other games, computer and video games are often single-player activities that put the player against preprogrammed challenges and/or AI-controlled opponents, which often...
, and its speed, particularly on lower-end computers.
The current webpage for NESticle is hosted on Zophar's Domain
Zophar's Domain
Zophar's Domain is an emulation website founded on November 9, 1996 by Brad Levicoff. The site's name comes from Lunar Eternal Blue on Sega CD, Saturn and PlayStation. On September 20, 2000, the site was passed on to Sam Michaels, previously the site's CGI programmer.Zophar's Domain was intended as...
.
See also
- Nintendo Entertainment SystemNintendo Entertainment SystemThe 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...
- GenecystGenecystGenecyst was a popular Sega Mega Drive/Genesis emulator for DOS, by Bloodlust Software . Due to its high speed and then-good YM2612 emulation , it was widely regarded as the all-around best Mega Drive/Genesis emulator on the scene, with the nearest competitor being KGen...
- Bloodlust SoftwareBloodlust SoftwareBloodlust Software is a developer of humorous PC computer games. It was originally formed in 1992 by two high school students who were angry at the rise of movements against computer game violence...
- List of emulators
- Testicles