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Nintendo Entertainment System Video Game Console

American History Museum

Nintendo Entertainment System, Control Deck, Controllers, and Game Cartridge
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  • Nintendo Entertainment System, Control Deck, Controllers, and Game Cartridge
  • Case for Nintendo Entertainment System
  • Nintendo Entertainment System, Pistol Controller, AC Adapter, AV Cable, RF Switch and Cable

    Object Details

    Description
    The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched in the United States in 1985 and soon dominated the video game market. Among its most famous games was “Super Mario Bros.,” which popularized the “platformer” genre, and remains one of the best-selling games of all time.
    The system’s commercial success surprised many observers. A previous generation of home video game consoles had recently collapsed in what is remembered as the "video game crash of 1983." Amidst initially booming popularity, the market had become oversaturated with consoles and games. Many games were unoriginal, poorly designed, and hastily programmed. Meanwhile more versatile home computers began to compete for the same customers. The NES was an adaptation of the Family Computer (or Famicom), which Nintendo had released in Japan in 1983. When developing a version for the American market, Nintendo sought to avoid association with earlier video game systems. They branded the NES as an "entertainment system," with a boxy gray design and futuristic aesthetic that would sit inconspicuously alongside stereos and VCRs. In an effort to achieve quality control and suppress piracy, they engineered a lockout chip that prevented the system from playing unlicensed cartridges, requiring developers to obtain Nintendo’s approval of their games.
    This system includes a control deck, an AC adapter, an AV cable (to attach to a television), and an RF switch and cable (to attach to a television). There are two standard controllers, as well as an orange and gray plastic pistol with cable that serves as a "Zapper" controller. The components are described in an instruction booklet entitled "Control Deck." The objects are stored in a blue cloth case with red handles and yellow trim. Also in the case is a "Wizards & Warriors" game cartridge. The copyright date on the game is 1985, the copyright date on the accompanying instructions is 1990, hence the date assigned.
    For related games, not received with this set, see 2003.0344.03 and 2003.0344.04.
    Location
    Currently not on view (gun; case; cords; instruction booklet)
    Credit Line
    Gift of Cassandra Jerde and Brandon Balfanz
    date made
    ca 1990
    ID Number
    2012.0216.01
    catalog number
    2012.0216.01
    accession number
    2012.0216
    Object Name
    video game console
    Measurements
    overall: 27.5 cm x 34 cm x 26.5 cm; 10 13/16 in x 13 3/8 in x 10 7/16 in
    See more items in
    Medicine and Science: Computers
    Computers & Business Machines
    Data Source
    National Museum of American History
    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-baaf-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
    nmah_1436726
    NMAH
    NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM VIDEO GAME CONSOLE
    National Museum of American History
    CC0
    Metadata Usage
    CC0
    GUID (Link to Original Record)
    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-baaf-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
    Record ID
    nmah_1436726
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