New videogame hardware might be thrust into our lives every couple of years, but the legend of systems past lives on. Testament to this is SEGA's support of the Dreamcast, (launched in 1999) which the firm only ceased this year.

Now Nintendo is following in its footsteps, with Itmedia reporting that the company will no longer supply spares and repairs for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 64, Game Boy or Game Boy Pocket. That the necessary parts for each are becoming increasingly difficult to source is the reason behind the decision.

Nintendo has taken the opportunity to boast that everyone can still download their favourite retro gaming gems via the Wii's Virtual Console service.

Clouds, silver lining and the like, then... sort of. If you ask us, it’s just not the same blowing at our Wiis for an hour and a half just to try and get one NES game to boot successfully.