Blockchain NFT Platform Inscribes Nintendo 64 Emulator onto Bitcoin Network
Blending 1990s gaming nostalgia with blockchain technology, NFT platform Ninjalerts has successfully inscribed a Nintendo 64 (N64) emulator onto the Bitcoin network. This breakthrough allows users to play multiplayer games in their browser across various explorers and marketplaces. The emulator is part of Ninjalerts’ “Pizza Ninjas” profile picture NFT project, which aims to preserve classic video games using blockchain technology. The company also provides guidance on uploading permanent and functional video games onto Bitcoin.
Brotli Compression Enables Storage of Larger Games on Bitcoin
Ninjalerts initially believed that an N64 emulator would not be practical due to file size limitations. However, the recent implementation of Brotli compression into the Ordinals protocol has reduced file sizes by approximately 80% without compromising quality. This development makes it more feasible to inscribe larger systems like the N64 and its games onto Bitcoin. For example, games like GoldenEye 007 can now be efficiently stored within a single Bitcoin block or split across multiple transactions.
Pizza Ninjas Project and Legal Compliance
Ninjalerts emphasizes that it does not inscribe copyrighted games and operates within legal and ethical standards. The company recommends users find legal methods for video game preservation and avoid activities that could infringe copyright laws. According to Ninjalerts’ GitBook, owners of legal copies of computer programs, including video games, are allowed to make backup copies for archival purposes under U.S. Copyright Law.
Playing Games through Ninja Profile Picture NFTs
The Pizza Ninjas project will embed the N64 emulator in each Ninja profile picture NFT, enabling users to play games in their browser across any Ordinals explorer or marketplace. However, users will have to wait for Ninjalerts to develop the user interface before game-playing functionality can be enabled within the Pizza Ninja NFTs.
The Rise of Ordinals and Impact on Bitcoin Network
Last year, the rise in popularity of Ordinals on Bitcoin sparked debates about the existence of inscriptions representing NFTs and tokens on the network. Inscriptions rely on Bitcoin’s OP_RETURN function to store data in the blockchain. This popularity led to increased transaction activity and congestion on Bitcoin, causing fees to rise. However, with the decline in inscriptions activity, transaction fee revenue has also subsided.
Hot Take: N64 Emulator on Bitcoin Marks Milestone for Game Preservation
The successful inscription of a Nintendo 64 emulator onto the Bitcoin network is a significant milestone for game preservation using blockchain technology. This breakthrough allows users to play classic multiplayer games directly in their browsers across various platforms. With Brotli compression reducing file sizes, it is now more feasible to store larger gaming systems like the N64 and its games on Bitcoin. Ninjalerts’ commitment to legal compliance ensures that copyrighted games are not inscribed, focusing instead on facilitating discussions about blockchain technology’s potential in game preservation. The rise of Ordinals has sparked debates about the use of inscriptions on Bitcoin and its impact on network congestion and transaction fees.