Turn VSCode into a Retro Gaming Console with a 20‑in‑1 NES Extension

1. Introduction

A few days ago I shared the IDEA Mario plugin, which received many private messages. However, the real fun is the "Little Emperor" VSCode extension that brings retro games back to the editor.

2. The Real Little Emperor IDE

Warning: using this may trigger workplace penalties because it truly lets you play games while on the job.

3. Usage

Install the Little Emperor extension in VSCode; it comes with Mario built‑in. To enable the 20‑in‑1 game pack, follow these steps:

cd ~
mkdir .\.anes\remote\anes-repository-master
cd .\.anes\remote\anes-repository-master

Then create a list.json file in that directory and paste the following JSON:

[
  {
    "name": "Contra",
    "url": "http://www.dream-island.org/roms/fc100/Contra.zip",
    "fileName": "Contra.zip",
    "nesName": "CONTRA.NES"
  },
  {
    "name": "Contra 2",
    "url": "http://www.dream-island.org/roms/fc100/Superc.zip",
    "fileName": "Superc.zip",
    "nesName": "SUPERC.NES"
  },
  {
    "name": "吞食天地",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/tstd.zip",
    "fileName": "tstd.zip",
    "nesName": "tstd.nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "魂斗罗外传",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Contra.Forge.zip",
    "fileName": "Contra.Forge.zip",
    "nesName": "Contra Forge.nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "快打旋风",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Mighty.Final.Fight(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Mighty.Final.Fight(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Mighty Final Fight (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "西游记",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Saiyuuki.World(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Saiyuuki.World(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Saiyuuki World (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "三目童子",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Mitsume.Ga.Tooru(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Mitsume.Ga.Tooru(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Mitsume Ga Tooru (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "彩虹岛",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Rainbow.Islands-The.Story.of.Bubble.Bobble.2(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Rainbow.Islands-The.Story.of.Bubble.Bobble.2(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Rainbow Islands - The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "忍者猫9合1",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/9in1Ninja.Cat.zip",
    "fileName": "9in1Ninja.Cat.zip",
    "nesName": "9 in 1 (Ninja Cat) (Unl).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "中国象棋",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Zhong.Guo.Xiang.Qi.zip",
    "fileName": "Zhong.Guo.Xiang.Qi.zip",
    "nesName": "Zhong Guo Xiang Qi (Asia) [p2].nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "1942",
    "url": "http://02.bd-pcgame.720582.com:8090//emu/fc/roms/1942(JU).zip",
    "fileName": "1942(JU).zip",
    "nesName": "1942 (JU).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "炸弹人合集",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/BOMBMAN.zip",
    "fileName": "BOMBMAN.zip",
    "nesName": "BOMBMAN.NES"
  },
  {
    "name": "淘金者",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Lode.Runner(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Lode.Runner(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Lode Runner (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "马戏团",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Circus.Charlie(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Circus.Charlie(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Circus Charlie (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "雪人兄弟",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/SNOWBROS.zip",
    "fileName": "SNOWBROS.zip",
    "nesName": "SNOWBROS.NES"
  },
  {
    "name": "超时空要塞",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Choujikuu.Yousai-Macross(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Choujikuu.Yousai-Macross(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Choujikuu Yousai - Macross (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "坦克大战",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Battle.City(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Battle.City(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Battle City (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "松鼠大作战2",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Chip.n.Dale.Rescue.Rangers.2(U).zip",
    "fileName": "Chip.n.Dale.Rescue.Rangers.2(U).zip",
    "nesName": "0382 - Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2 (USA).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "俄罗斯方块",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Tetris(Bullet-Proof)(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Tetris(Bullet-Proof)(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Tetris (Bullet-Proof) (J).nes"
  },
  {
    "name": "双截龙3",
    "url": "http://11.down.thenightblindness.com:8000/fc/Double.Dragon.3-The.Rosetta.Stone(J).zip",
    "fileName": "Double.Dragon.3-The.Rosetta.Stone(J).zip",
    "nesName": "Double Dragon 3 - The Rosetta Stone (J).nes"
  }
]

After saving the file, the extension will list these games in VSCode, allowing you to launch them directly.

4. Tips

Use the secret phrase "摸鱼小霸王" in the public account backend to join the community. Note that playing at work may lead to disciplinary action, for which the author assumes no responsibility.