The Launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

[Anthony1]

I'm curious to find out more about the Launch of the NES here in the U.S. The way that I understand it, is that the NES originally came out in New York in limited quantities in December of 1985 for a price of $159 with 20 available game titles. Then after testing successfully there, it rolled out nationwide in February of 1996. Is this correct?

According to the DP game Database, these were the launch titles:

Wrecking Crew
Stack Up
Kung Fu
Ice Climber
Hogan's Alley
Gyromite
Excitebike
Duck Hunt
Super Mario Bros.
Mach Rider
Clu Clu Land
Baseball
Golf
Tennis
10-Yard Fight
Pinball


This is only 16 games, so if there were 20 games available at launch, what were the other 4 games?

Also, when the system went on sale Nationwide in early 1996, was the price still $159?

When did they get rid of the package with the Robot?

How much were the individual cartridges?

Basically I'm just curious about any and all information concerning the U.S. Launch of the NES.

[charitycasegreg]

it rolled out nationwide in February of 1996. Is this correct?



You mean 1986?

[Syxx573]

Thanks for correcting him, I had no idea that was a typo.

[ManekiNeko]

You sure ask a lot of questions, Anthony. It's perfectly normal to have a thirst for knowledge, but it would be a refreshing change of pace if you could post something other than requests for information. Share your thoughts on a game you've just played. Talk about your favorite game system. You know, give back a little!

JR

[Cmosfm]

Yeah, I have to agree here. You seem to be trying AWFULLY hard to get that perfect topic running or something. I've been feeling this way for a while...you're a great poster here, but you need some variety in your posts.

[ehall]

And if everyone else is smarter than you at video games and you don't have anything to contribute most of the time, just make a lot of jokes. :eek 2:


What?

:embarrassed:

[Anthony1]

Yeah, I have to agree here. You seem to be trying AWFULLY hard to get that perfect topic running or something. I've been feeling this way for a while...you're a great poster here, but you need some variety in your posts.



I appologize if my posts are starting to irritate people. I definitely didn't mean for that to happen. What typically happens is that I start getting interested in a particular system, or a particular series of games or something, and then I'm kindof obsessed on the topic for awhile. Then usually I will ask a number of questions regarding that particular topic. I consider the townsfolk here to be quite knowledgeable, so I like throwing things out there and then getting your guys feedback on it.

Lately, I've been on a kick regarding the NES. I've been buying old NES games and playing my old NES. I've been reading about it in old magazines that I have and also in stories on different websites.

The reason that I bring up the Launch of the NES is because alot of websites seem to have the same exact information on each website regarding the History of the NES. Alot of generalalities about the Launch but very few specifics. I was just trying to see if you guys had much more knowledge on the Subject and could enlighten me even further.

I'm sorry, I'm just a very curious fellow, and sometimes I probably do way too many posts and ask way too many questions.

Unfortunately nobody that I really know personally cares for old video games whatsoever. So you guys are my only resource or community for this type of thing. I'm like a sponge trying to soak up all your guys knowledge about this stuff, and I just can't get enough of it. It's like an addiction to me.

I gotta get it under control.

Thanks for letting me know I had this problem though. The first step is to always recognize that you actually do have a problem.

My bad, fellas. I will try to really refrain from doing to many posts asking for information and stuff like that.

I'm sorry.

[mosesshirai]

:)
Yo. These Guys are being a little hard on you. I think mostly they may be joking with you. You always ask insightful questions that make me read them. I definitely do not think you need to be sorry though. We are all here to get the association that we may not have where we are(rock in the middle of the sea anyone)? Keep posting. :) :) :) :)

Moses

PS. I can't help with the questions you asked about the NES, but now I am super curious about the answers too.

[ehall]

:)
Yo. These Guys are being a little hard on you. I think mostly they may be joking with you. You always ask insightful questions that make me read them. I definitely do not think you need to be sorry though. We are all here to get the association that we may not have where we are(rock in the middle of the sea anyone)? Keep posting. :) :) :) :)

Moses

PS. I can't help with the questions you asked about the NES, but now I am super curious about the answers too.

Well said. I hope you realize that my post was only a satire of how I feel about myself on this board (little fish, big knowlegable pond) and not directed at you. Hope I didn't send the wrong message......

[Bratwurst]

For the record, I don't skip Anthony1's posts too often. It could be because he actually posts a pertinent subject title for his threads. The rest of you yahoos could take note of that.

Of the 16 listed I found two games not in there that have a 1985 Oct. release date:

Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Wild Gunman

I'm too lazy to confirm, wasn't Popeye another one?

[mcgrail0007@netzero.net]

I bought one of the original NES systems from FAO. I had it shipped to St. Louis. I will never forget the first time that I played Super Mario Brothers. I could not believe how good it was. Since I had this shipped to me I was the only one in the neighborhood who had the system. No one else had even heard of it. My house was pretty popular for awhile with all of the neighbors showing up to play it. I might have my receipt somewhere with the prices.

By the way I bought it after seeing a story on CNN Headline News.

[Cmosfm]

Moses...I wasn't joking around. Also, Anthony, you don't need to be sorry or anything. I'd just like to see you with some input on some other topics. I just never see you around unless its a new topic your starting.

I'm just requesting you add some variety about what you post and such.

[Cmosfm]

Moses...I wasn't joking around. Also, Anthony, you don't need to be sorry or anything. I'd just like to see you with some input on some other topics. I just never see you around unless its a new topic your starting.

I'm just requesting you add some variety about what you post and such.

[wberdan]

urban champion
popeye
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Wild Gunman
Wrecking Crew
Stack Up
Kung Fu
Ice Climber
Hogan's Alley
Gyromite
Excitebike
Duck Hunt
Super Mario Bros.
Mach Rider
Clu Clu Land
Baseball
Golf
Tennis
10-Yard Fight
Pinball



i got every release title for that christmas...

i think that is right... might be off though.

i would have sworn that Gunshoe was a release title, but i guess not.....


willie

[Professor Hector]

It's my understanding that only five games were made available during the system's test launch in New York (no clue what these games were, or how much truth there is to this statement). I always thought the exact number of launch titles for the system's national unveiling was 17 (Donkey Kong Jr. Math would be the one missing from Anthony's list). Of course I could be wrong.

[Arqueologia_Digital]

urban champion
popeye
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Wild Gunman
Wrecking Crew
Stack Up
Kung Fu
Ice Climber
Hogan's Alley
Gyromite
Excitebike
Duck Hunt
Super Mario Bros.
Mach Rider
Clu Clu Land
Baseball
Golf
Tennis
10-Yard Fight
Pinball


Hehe, these games are of the best of NES...old memories in my mind... :roll:

[Kid Ice]

You sure ask a lot of questions, Anthony. It's perfectly normal to have a thirst for knowledge, but it would be a refreshing change of pace if you could post something other than requests for information. Share your thoughts on a game you've just played. Talk about your favorite game system. You know, give back a little!

JR

I see where you're coming from, but I disagree. Usually the purpose of starting a thread is to generate conversation, therefore Anthony is "giving" something when he does so.

[wberdan]

yeah i cant believe anyone is jumpin on this dude cause he starts threads.. i mean, chill out.


willie

[Raedon]

I went from C64 to an Amiga so i didn't really get excited by the 8 bit NES when I was playing 16 bit Amiga games at the time of it's release.

I got a NES when it was at $99 just so I could trade with friends and play some of the big names I had missed.. Zelda, SMB, etc.

[Cmosfm]

yeah i cant believe anyone is jumpin on this dude cause he starts threads.. i mean, chill out.


willie

No ones jumping on him cause he makes threads, its just that we'd like to see him other places on the boards than just in his own threads. We're encouraging social participation. It's no fun just to play on your own court....gotta hit the playground every once in a while.

:D

[Anthony1]

yeah i cant believe anyone is jumpin on this dude cause he starts threads.. i mean, chill out.


willie

No ones jumping on him cause he makes threads, its just that we'd like to see him other places on the boards than just in his own threads. We're encouraging social participation. It's no fun just to play on your own court....gotta hit the playground every once in a while.

:D


There are a number of reasons why you don't see me posting to much on other peoples threads. But the furthest down on the list is the "pure selfishness factor". It actually has more to do with alot more innocent of reasons.

Here are the reasons why you don't see me often posting in other peoples threads:

1. Pure Time Factor - I have very short windows of time to be on this website, and usually I have a burning question that I would love to have answered. Thus, in the short period of time that I have, I'm often doing my own post or responding to one of my posts.

2. No Broadband Factor - I used to have Broadband access, but haven't had it for a couple of months now. Why would Broadband be a factor? Well, I often click on all kinds of different posts, and sometimes I'm actually waiting several minutes to just have a single post load up!!!!! But if I click on "Post New Topic", it loads really fast.

3. Lack of Knowledge - For most of the posts out there, I just lack the knowledge required to interject anything of value. I'm not going to be posting about my favorite Sega Master System game, when I don't know a damn thing about the system. So alot of times I read other peoples posts but don't necessary respond because I don't feel that I really have that much knowledge on the subject to be posting about it. I don't usually want to just post one sentence posts either.

4. Pure Selfishness Factor - Now this is what Cmosfm and others are talking about. I'm not going to deny it. Yes, I'm a selfish individual. But I must say that this is the 4th factor in me not posting alot in other peoples posts. It's not the 1st factor, or the 2nd or the 3rd. So while it is indeed a true factor in my posting habits, it's not the overriding factor. Anyways, yes I'm selfish and I want "MY" questions answered, and I like to see my posts "Flourish". The first thing I do whenever I hop on DP is check the general Video Game section and just see if there are any particularly interesting topics. Then after that I usually will do a search of my own posts to see if there were any responses that I've never read. Then after that, oftentimes I will have a particular topic or question that I would like to throw out there. So that is the typical method that I have. But sometimes I will read another guys post and feel like there is something I can add to it.

For example: Christianscott27 had a topic about Steamgear Mash. He was talking about how him and his toddler sometimes play it in his toddlers room on a Commodore 1084 monitor. I happened to comment on the fact that those Commodore 1084 monitors are perfect for RGB display on alot of Video Game systems. Gaming in RGB is something that I know about, so I felt it was a good idea for me to interject and bring that up.

Another example is classicb had a post about a possible re-design of the PS2. I commented on how I felt that if Sony could add Dolby Digital 5.1 in game support and progressive scan 480P support that the PS2 could hang in there for a lot longer period of time. The reason that I commented that is because I've always felt that Dolby Digital 5.1 sound during actual game play is a huge factor and one of the biggest things that the PS2 was lacking. I also felt that the lack of Progressive Scan as a "standard" feature was another thing that the PS2 was really lacking. Of course I'm an audio/video nut besides being a video gamer. So I felt like this was something that I could comment on.


But believe me, I get your point. I did a search on all topics that I've posted on, and it seems that 85 percent of them or more are ones that I started. Only about 15 percent or less were ones that somebody else started, where I was adding a comment or a question or a suggestion or something. So I definitely can see a trend in my posting style. In terms of me being a "selfish" poster that just wants "his" questions answered, and "his" topics pondered.

I can see that.

And I'm going to make a serious effort in trying to curb that and participating more in other peoples topics.

So I don't believe the criticism of me is at all off-base. In fact it's very on target. For two different people to come to the same conclusion about me as a poster, it kinda opened my eyes quite a bit. If It was just one guy's opinions, then I could dismiss it as somebody being out of left field. But considering that two complete different guys felt the exact same way about my posts, that was a definite red flag.

So I appologize to everbody on DP, and like I said, I'm going to try to curb my "selfish" posting style as much as possible, and I'm going to focus in more on contributing to other peoples posts.

Thanks.

Seacrest OUT!!

[Dr. Morbis]

I think Anthony1 contributes MUCH more quality to this board in his 3.8 posts per day than you do Cmosfm with your 13.5 posts per day @_@

Don't listen to 'em Anthony1. Keep the questions coming.

And for the record, there are 17 US NES launch titles, not 20. And none of them are "Arcade Classic series". Those came out in June of '86.

[Jasoco]

I have these ones:
Urban Champion
Popeye
Wrecking Crew
Kung Fu
Hogan's Alley
Gyromite
Excitebike
Duck Hunt
Super Mario Bros. (Both boxed and unboxed.)
Mach Rider
Baseball
Golf
10-Yard Fight
Pinball

These are the ones I don't have yet:
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Wild Gunman
Stack Up
Ice Climber
Clu Clu Land
Tennis

Now, the launch titles. Was the Super Mario Bros and Duck Hunt sold separately at the time?

And what order and release date did each NES set come out? (Deluxe, Action, etc...)

[Cmosfm]

I think Anthony1 contributes MUCH more quality to this board in his 3.8 posts per day than you do Cmosfm with your 13.5 posts per day @_@


*ahem* for the 500th time....

...I work 11 hours a day, 6 days a week. I have the internet here at my store. In between customers I have nothing to do so I post and chat, and if you'd read through a lot of my posts I just don't post for the sake of posting I always have something relevant to say, a joke to make, a comment I feel I need to put out there, a helpful post or hint, something other than just a post for the sake of a post.

So please do not go taking pot shots at me until you do your research on the matter, I contribute pretty well here, and I think I'm fairly liked here. I was pointing out something that was bothering me about Anthony1 and he understands where I'm coming from.

So anyways, I think I will disregard your comment, because obviously it was an uneducated and unresearched remark simply based on the fact you don't like me pointing out a problem with a user and not being 100% super sugery nice.

[sniperCCJVQ]

Now, the launch titles. Was the Super Mario Bros and Duck Hunt sold separately at the time?

Yes they was.

And what order and release date did each NES set come out? (Deluxe, Action, etc...)[/quote]

I don't have a clue about release date but each NES set come out like this :

Deluxe
Control Deck
Action
Power Pad
Challenge
Sports
then the Top Loading.

[Jasoco]

I don't have a clue about release date but each NES set come out like this :

Deluxe
Control Deck
Action
Power Pad
Challenge
Sports
then the Top Loading.
I have the Deluxe now. Got it off eBay. Had the Action set in the 80's.

What were the games with all of them?

Deluxe: Duck Hunt and Gyromite (Came with Zapper-Gray and ROB.)
Action: Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt (On the infamous double-cart we all have seen many times. Came with a Zapper-Orange.)

What were in the others?
Was the Control Deck just the system and controllers?
What games were in the Challenge Set. (I have a feeling it was SMB3, wasn't it?)
How about the Sports set? (Can't think of what game they'd include in it.)
And the Power Pad set. Wasn't it Track Meet? That was the one with SMB/DH/WCTM, right?

Did the Top Loader come with any games at the time?

[The Manimal]

I don't have a clue about release date but each NES set come out like this :

Deluxe
Control Deck
Action
Power Pad
Challenge
Sports
then the Top Loading.
I have the Deluxe now. Got it off eBay. Had the Action set in the 80's.

What were the games with all of them?

Deluxe: Duck Hunt and Gyromite (Came with Zapper-Gray and ROB.)
Action: Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt (On the infamous double-cart we all have seen many times. Came with a Zapper-Orange.)

What were in the others?
Was the Control Deck just the system and controllers?
What games were in the Challenge Set. (I have a feeling it was SMB3, wasn't it?)
How about the Sports set? (Can't think of what game they'd include in it.)
And the Power Pad set. Wasn't it Track Meet? That was the one with SMB/DH/WCTM, right?

Did the Top Loader come with any games at the time?

I am pretty sure the redesigned NES came with SMB3 at some point...

[Daria]

Did anyone mention what the other first release games were? I saw a site last night that said something about "Milk and Nuts" being a launch game which was kinda odd because I was looking up Magic Cards and not video games. But thought I'd mention it. Have no idea if it's true, and in fact I've never even heard of the game. Although I did look it up on GameFaqs before posting.
________
Lenya (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/Lenya/)

[sniperCCJVQ]

What were the games with all of them?

Deluxe: Duck Hunt and Gyromite (Came with Zapper-Gray and ROB.)
Action: Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt (On the infamous double-cart we all have seen many times. Came with a Zapper-Orange.)


Both are correct. :)



Was the Control Deck just the system and controllers?


Yes, including Super Mario Bros alone.



What games were in the Challenge Set. (I have a feeling it was SMB3, wasn't it?)


Third right answer :)



How about the Sports set? (Can't think of what game they'd include in it.)


The Sports Set is probably the more rare set right behind the Top Loader. It consists of a NES with 4 controllers, and the NES Satellite. This including the Super Spike V'Ball / Nintendo World Cup combo cart. It was basically target for multiplaying.


And the Power Pad set. Wasn't it Track Meet? That was the one with SMB/DH/WCTM, right?


Fourth good answer :)



Did the Top Loader come with any games at the time?

No.

[sniperCCJVQ]

Did anyone mention what the other first release games were? I saw a site last night that said something about "Milk and Nuts" being a launch game which was kinda odd because I was looking up Magic Cards and not video games. But thought I'd mention it. Have no idea if it's true, and in fact I've never even heard of the game. Although I did look it up on GameFaqs before posting.

I don't know but "Milk and Nuts" was in fact released in Japan and can be found on alot of famicom multicart.

[Daria]

Did anyone mention what the other first release games were? I saw a site last night that said something about "Milk and Nuts" being a launch game which was kinda odd because I was looking up Magic Cards and not video games. But thought I'd mention it. Have no idea if it's true, and in fact I've never even heard of the game. Although I did look it up on GameFaqs before posting.

I don't know but "Milk and Nuts" was in fact released in Japan and can be found on alot of famicom multicart.

Yeah I saw that. Also before being ported to the Famicom it was suppose to have been an arcade game.
________
NO2 VAPORIZER (http://vapirno2.net)

[TheRedEye]

We have no reason to believe that Milk & Nuts was ever considered for release in the U.S. In Japan it was released 7-28-84, making it the first third party game for the Famicom!

[mosesshirai]

Wheeeew. It is just videogames. We all just want to be heard. It is all good.
Side Note:

Now that We have come full circle and see the GBA releasing a classic collection and cool new NES controller styled system how many times have we bought the same thing from Nintendo. Isn't addiction great. @_@

[Daria]

We have no reason to believe that Milk & Nuts was ever considered for release in the U.S. In Japan it was released 7-28-84, making it the first third party game for the Famicom!

Maybe the article I read was talking about the Jap release. It never actually stated which country they were talking about. Thanks for the info though. (:
________
ShyRoxanne (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/ShyRoxanne/)

[TheRedEye]

Oh dear. I just realized I referred to it as Milk & Nuts instead of Nuts & Milk. There goes my reputation.

[Daria]

Oh dear. I just realized I referred to it as Milk & Nuts instead of Nuts & Milk. There goes my reputation.

Apparently it's Nutz and Milk anyway. :P
________
Paoli (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/Paoli/)