Google Maps for NES

Google Maps for NES ranks 6th in the list of april fool’s jokes that became real things. Google launched an April Fools' prank on Internet users over the weekend, transforming Google Maps into an 8-bit pixel world akin to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) or Family Computer that was popular in the 1980s. Google Maps (maps.google.com) users were greeted with a "Start Your Quest" box on the left side of the screen, where they could examine 8-bit landmarks, "be a hero and explore the environment," and "discover secret monsters." "Our Beta Maps technology, 8-bit Quest Maps, has specific system requirements. Your system may not fulfill the bare minimum for 8-bit computations "the notification stated.

However, choosing "Try it now" sends the user to a low-resolution, 8-bit world with controls reminiscent of the NES, famously known as the "Family Computer" in the Philippines 30 years ago. According to Mashable, the 8-bit version of Google Maps even temporarily went up last weekend, leading Reddit users to post world landmarks and historic places that could be viewed on the map.

• Website: hackaday.com/2021/09/02/google-maps-now-on-the-nes/