Official SNES launch date in US is......8/21/91

[Anthony1]

I've been trying to search around on the internet to get the exact launch date of the SNES in the U.S. Some sites say August 1991, some say September 1991, I know for a fact that I got mine on a Sunday in late August 1991. I had preordered my SNES from a place called "The Good Guys!" and I was calling them everyday in late August trying to find out which day they were going to get theirs. Then one Sunday, they had it, and said to come in and pick it up. It's possible they sold it to me a few days before the system was actually supposed to release. I remember when I picked it up. None of the individual games had been released, I could only play the pack in game Super Mario World. I think the following Tuesday, F-Zero, Pilotwings and SimCity all came out.


I have a box of old papers and stuff from back in that time period, and I should search through that box and see if I can find my old receipt and see what actual date was on it. I know it was very late August and I know it was a Sunday, but I'm guessing that wasn't the official launch date. Of course, it's very possible that the SNES didn't really have a "official" launch date, and that different days in late August retailers started receiving them and just started selling them once they got them. I'm not really sure, but if anybody knows the facts for sure, please let us know, I'm very curious to this.

[DragonMaster Sam]

I looked on Wikipedia, and it says August 13, 1991 as the U.S. launch date.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

I still have the sticker on my SNES the day I go it: Aug 25th 1991. No other store had them at all, so i have firmly believed that this date indeed the release date...and it was a Sunday actually too. The 13th doesnt sound right. I got mine from Toys R' Us and, at least back then, they wouldnt be 2 weeks behind on a new system they had posters plastered for everywhere.

[Chrome]

I got mine for my 5th birthday. August 14, 1991.

Later,
Chrome...

[Anthony1]

I got mine for my 5th birthday. August 14, 1991.

Later,
Chrome...sorry to burst your bubble, but the SNES launched in late August. That August 13th date on some sites is very wrong

[suppafly]

afaik it was august 23rd 1991....i read that on a mag...(dont remember which one)

[Vectorman0]

I got mine for my 5th birthday. August 14, 1991.

Later,
Chrome...sorry to burst your bubble, but the SNES launched in late August. That August 13th date on some sites is very wrong

Why did you make this topic if you aren't going to fairly consider the responses you get?

[Anthony1]

I got mine for my 5th birthday. August 14, 1991.

Later,
Chrome...sorry to burst your bubble, but the SNES launched in late August. That August 13th date on some sites is very wrong

Why did you make this topic if you aren't going to fairly consider the responses you get?






Ok, maybe that post was kinda harsh, but I definitely know that the SNES was first available publicly in the United States in late August. It was not available publicly in the U.S. in early or mid August. It was definitely late August. Now, having said that, I'm not absolutely certain, that the official launch date was late August. I'm just saying that it first became available to the general public at large in late August. I've seen the 8-13-91 date mentioned before, and I'm guessing that it's an incorrect date that has just been picked up by numerous websites. Either that, or that is the date that SNES systems were made available to the U.S. press to possibly review ahead of the actual launch. It's entirely possible that the offical date was actually one of the first days in September, but SNES systems started arriving in stores in late August, and a number of stores started selling them prior to the official date, and Nintendo didn't enforce it in a major way.


I experienced the launch in Sacramento, CA, and while that time was going on, I was constantly checking with the local Toys R Us and EB and Software ETC. and all the various places that would have carried it back then. I was checking in daily with all of them. Not a single one of them received a SNES prior to that Sunday in late August, so either Sacramento was an anomally or the SNES first appeared for retail sale in the U.S. in late August. I'm just trying to confirm this, and confirm the exact date if possible.

[poloplayr]

A Nintendo press/media person would probably be the best person to set this straight, no?

[NintenDk]

A Nintendo press/media person would probably be the best person to set this straight, no?

no they don't tend to know about not current generation stuff but, they have some kind of a hotline that you can talk to and that would be best. I read here someone called it once and the person there checked the computer to see what all the Players choice n64 games were and they got a call back with the complete list.

[j_factor]

It's possible the the August 13th date accurately describes some sort of limited launch, and its exact date of availability depends on your location. I think the first time something launched simultaneously the same day across all of North America was Sega CD. I know that Genesis, for example, first launched in just New York, LA, and SF, and other areas had to wait up to 2-3 weeks.

[dbiersdorf]

I'm sure the early Nintendo Power's tell all.

[Anthony1]

It's possible the the August 13th date accurately describes some sort of limited launch, and its exact date of availability depends on your location. I think the first time something launched simultaneously the same day across all of North America was Sega CD. I know that Genesis, for example, first launched in just New York, LA, and SF, and other areas had to wait up to 2-3 weeks.


There is no way in hell the SNES was launched on August 13th. That date is wrong PERIOD. It's very unfortunate, that Wikipedia seems to have that as a launch date, because all kinds of other websites are just picking that date up and running with it, and it's totally inaccurate. We are talking about possibly the best system ever in existence, pound for pound. In terms of the era it was released in, the fact it came out in Japan in 1990 and USA in 1991, that system was pound for pound, one of the best pieces of kit, that has ever been released...mate. Ya heard? We should know the fucking date the machine came out, and there shouldn't be this totally incorrect date floating around out there.


I checked a calendar of August 1991, and the last Sunday in August was August 25th. I'm about 99 percent certain that I picked my SNES up the day it was released, on the final Sunday in August. No other store anywhere near Sacramento had it before the final Sunday in August. The final Sunday in August was August 25th. I'm not 100 percent positive the launch date was officially August 25th, 1991, but I know damn well it wasn't anywhere near August 13th or 14th or anything like that.

[sirhansirhan]

It's possible the the August 13th date accurately describes some sort of limited launch, and its exact date of availability depends on your location. I think the first time something launched simultaneously the same day across all of North America was Sega CD. I know that Genesis, for example, first launched in just New York, LA, and SF, and other areas had to wait up to 2-3 weeks.


There is no way in hell the SNES was launched on August 13th. That date is wrong PERIOD. It's very unfortunate, that Wikipedia seems to have that as a launch date, because all kinds of other websites are just picking that date up and running with it, and it's totally inaccurate. We are talking about possibly the best system ever in existence, pound for pound. In terms of the era it was released in, the fact it came out in Japan in 1990 and USA in 1991, that system was pound for pound, one of the best pieces of kit, that has ever been released...mate. Ya heard? We should know the fucking date the machine came out, and there shouldn't be this totally incorrect date floating around out there.


I checked a calendar of August 1991, and the last Sunday in August was August 25th. I'm about 99 percent certain that I picked my SNES up the day it was released, on the final Sunday in August. No other store anywhere near Sacramento had it before the final Sunday in August. The final Sunday in August was August 25th. I'm not 100 percent positive the launch date was officially August 25th, 1991, but I know damn well it wasn't anywhere near August 13th or 14th or anything like that.

Let's see... we've got various reputable internet references that say August 13th, a member who remembers buying it around this time, and a logical reason for the discrepancy between your date and this date, versus your weird opinion that is not backed up at all. I admit that it might turn out that you're right, but I'm in the camp of the "What the hell'd you ask the question for if you don't want to know the answer?" people.

[Ed Oscuro]

A good question to ask would be where did you buy it?

I gotta go with Sirhansirhan on this one, and another vote of confidence in the "depends where you're at" system.

...Maybe this is Anthony's revenge for all the hating on his posts?

[LiquidPolicenaut]

Well, if it truly was released in limited quantities on the 13th to certain areas, then Im pretty sure NYC would have been included, as that is where I bought mine and saw it nowhere before the 25th. As I stated earlier, my box still has the official yellow sticker on it with the date I purhased it and that is 8/25/91.

I do understand where Anthony1 is coming from. Sometimes its hard when you dont know the exact answer to something, but DO know the wrong answer to it. There are some video game related info-bits that get tossed all over the internet and are completely wrong and really get me annoyed, one example being Snatcher. How many times do I correct people about the damn "uncensored code makes some chick naked and theres more blood" being false?!?! In this case, i KNOW i'm 100% right, but youd be surprised how many people refuse to accept it for some reason because a half-ass site somewhere tells them the opposite.

It just all comes down to finally wanting to know a full, 100% correct answer to something and being sick of hearing misinformation being repeated from an inaccurate source.

[Ed Oscuro]

Sometimes its hard when you dont know the exact answer to something, but DO know the wrong answer to it.
It's definitely hard to discover the truth when you're dead set against accepting any possibilities you have disqualified for vague, uncertain reasons!

Looking forward to more revelations here, anyway...there's been some interesting comments so far.

[Mayhem]

You'd think Nintendo themselves would have the answer, but there's no information in the system page for the SNES, and all the launch games are listed as August 1st. Very helpful, not.

[Vectorman0]

I tried...


Hi,

The Super NES was officially launched in North America in August of 1991.You'll find this, and a lot of other interesting information in our "Company History" in the Corporate Info section on our web site.

Nintendo of America Inc.
Mike Chandler

Nintendo's home page: http://www.nintendo.com/
Power Line (Automated Product Info): (425) 885-7529

[RCM]

I always thought SNES launched on 9/9/91. I wonder where I got that from.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

I always thought SNES launched on 9/9/91. I wonder where I got that from.

Maybe you're confusing it with the Dreamcast's American launch date of 9/9/99.

[RCM]

I always thought SNES launched on 9/9/91. I wonder where I got that from.

Maybe you're confusing it with the Dreamcast's American launch date of 9/9/99.

Na, I know PS and DC launched on 9/9 (95 and 99). I can't remember where I saw that the SNES launch was 9/9/91. Damn it!

[rbudrick]

I vaguely remember being the very first person to rent an SNES from the local rental shop on August 11th. Take that as you will, but it was one of the greatest days of my life and I'll never forget it.

-Rob

[Lothars]

It does sound like the release date is August 13th 1991

So I still think Anthony1 is wrong about it being the 25th

at least that's what it's seeming like

I asked on Nintendo's forums and well they may not be that realiable, it's the date I got from several places.

[Anthony1]

Ok, here is the deal.

I know that I'm kinda coming off as an asshole in this post, a stuburn asshole that is asking a question, yet refusing to believe anybodies answer to said question. But if you were me, and remember the SNES launch like I do, then this whole thread would be so freaking frustrating, because so much bad information is flowing, and being accepted as fact. Just because something appears in print on a website, doesn't mean it's true.

Now, having said all of that, I'm a rational person, I'm a logical person, I can deal with reason. So I'm willing to accept the fact that I could possibly be wrong. BUT..... BUT.....BUT...... if I am wrong, then it would require something else to be true.


Here is what I actually know to be fact: The Super Nintendo wasn't released in Sacramento, California, at any of the typical retailers till very late August 1991. I know this as fact because I was calling every major retailer in the greater Sacramento area on a daily basis in the weeks and days leading up till August 25th. I had my SNES pre-ordered at a electronics place called, "The Good Guys!". I had put $50 down to reserve the system. However, had Electronics Boutique or Software ETC or anybody else gotten the SNES even a day earlier, I would have bought it there, and later gotten my $50 back from Good Guys.

On Saturday, August 24th, I had checked with all the major retailers, and if any of them had SNES systems in stock, they had yet to put them up as available for sale. They all said they hadn't received them yet. Then Sunday morning, I called Good Guys when they opened, and they said that they had just gotten them. So I went straight there and picked the thing up. Again, this was Sunday, August 25th, 1991.


Now, one thing that I also know to be fact, is that there isn't any chance in hell that the SNES was available anywhere in Sacramento prior to at the very least August 20th, and personally, as much as I checked, I can pretty much guarantee August 25th. But just to be on the cautious side, I'll say August 20th. I called tons and tons of places everyday, checking in on it, but you never ever know, but one thing I do know is that the SNES was nowhere near Sacramento, California prior to at the very LEAST August 20th 1991.


Ok, so we have come to the conclusion that the SNES didn't launch in Sacramento, California till late August. Somewhere on or after the 20th of August, and most likely on the exact day of Sunday, August 25th, 1991. This is actual FACT. I can remember that week like the back of my hand. Now, does this mean that it's impossible that somehow the SNES was delayed to the Sacramento market? No it doesn't. Anything is possible. Having said that, please understand that Sacramento is the 25th largest market in the U.S., and we have all the major retailers. We are in the State of California, and we are like the 4th largest city. If it was available in California anywhere near the 13th or 14th or anything like that, it would be very, very unlikely that we wouldn't get our hands on it till the 25th. That's just not logical. I know some systems were released in limited markets, like the Atari Jaguar back in 1993, but the SNES was a national launch. If it was in California on August 13th or August 14th or August 15th, we would have gotten it the same day, or at the very least a few days later at the very most.


So the only plausable scenario for it not launching in late August (again, I'm not saying that August 25th is the definite date, I'm just saying that is the day it was first available to the general public in Sacramento) is that somehow all the various retailers in the greater Sacramento area had their shipments delayed 2 weeks for some strange reason. Personally, I just don't think that's very likely. Still, the reason I'm asking this question, is because I want to be absolutely certain of what the real date is, if there really is a specific date. It's entirely possible that there wasn't a written in stone date, and the SNES simply started arriving to retailers in "LATE" August, and the retailers started selling them as they got them, meaning that somebody in some odd city might have gotten theirs as early as the 20th or something, but this August 13th date is just absolutely bogus. I'm 99.9 percent sure of that. I'm just looking for some concrete evidence one way or the other. I'm going to have to do a hard target search to find my receipt. Anybody still have their receipt from buying their SNES in August? If so, please post a pic of it.

[Vectorman0]

I think the only conclusive evidence would be word from Nintendo regarding an exact date or promotional material with "August X, 1991." Does anyone remember seeing signs around the launch date that may have had a day?

[Anthony1]

I looked in the September 1991 and December 1991 issues of Nintendo Power, but couldn't find any info on the exact date. I don't have the October or November 91 issues. My guess is the November issues would likely be the issue with the correct date, if a date is in any of the Nintendo Powers.

I just looked through the October issue of EGM, and in the letters section, it says , "The Super NES store date has been pushed back to September 23rd!". Of course, we know it came out in August, but I thought that was kinda interesting that it said that. Normally the October issue of EGM would be out in early September, and by that time they would have known if the system launched on August 13th.

I'll check some more EGM issues out and see if it says a date anywhere.

[Anthony1]

YES!!!!!


I FOUND IT!!!!!



CONFIR-FUCKING-MATION!!!!



from the November 1991 issue of EGM, in the Super NES Buyer's Guide Section on page 162:


SUPER NINTENDO
IT's HERE!!!

The long awaited Super NES is finally available to the U.S. gaming public. The first few pieces of this fantastic unit hit the store shelves on August 23rd, 1991. Nintendo, however, released the first production run without any heavy fanfare or spectacular announcements.....



Ah, so August 23rd. Well, in Sacramento, we didn't get it till August 25th, but that's cool with me. I just knew I wasn't fucking crazy, and I knew the August 13th date was total bullshit.

[Anthony1]

I just looked through the October issue of EGM, and in the letters section, it says , "The Super NES store date has been pushed back to September 23rd!".



Hmmm.... Maybe the October issue of EGM had it right all along, but it they accidently put September, when they meant to put August.

[devils advocate]

YES!!!!!


I FOUND IT!!!!!



CONFIR-FUCKING-MATION!!!!



from the November 1991 issue of EGM, in the Super NES Buyer's Guide Section on page 162:


SUPER NINTENDO
IT's HERE!!!

The long awaited Super NES is finally available to the U.S. gaming public. The first few pieces of this fantastic unit hit the store shelves on August 23rd, 1991. Nintendo, however, released the first production run without any heavy fanfare or spectacular announcements.....



Ah, so August 23rd. Well, in Sacramento, we didn't get it till August 25th, but that's cool with me. I just knew I wasn't fucking crazy, and I knew the August 13th date was total bullshit.


I think you just proved EVERYBODY right. Notice, that they said that Nintendo also PRERELEASED the SNES before the actual launch date.
Personally, I could care less about the paper date. I would be more interested in when it ACTUALLY hit stores for the first time.

PS I think you owe the guy who got it for his Bday, and many others an apology. From that last quote, it would have been easy to get it on the 15th if you were in the right place at the right time.

[Hypnotuba]

I think you just proved EVERYBODY right. Notice, that they said that Nintendo also PRERELEASED the SNES before the actual launch date.


Does it really say there was a prerelease? I think it says that the first consoles hit the shelves on August 23. The next sentence means that Nintendo didn't make a big deal about these first units being released. Something like that.

[sirhansirhan]

YES!!!!!


I FOUND IT!!!!!



CONFIR-FUCKING-MATION!!!!



from the November 1991 issue of EGM, in the Super NES Buyer's Guide Section on page 162:


SUPER NINTENDO
IT's HERE!!!

The long awaited Super NES is finally available to the U.S. gaming public. The first few pieces of this fantastic unit hit the store shelves on August 23rd, 1991. Nintendo, however, released the first production run without any heavy fanfare or spectacular announcements.....



Ah, so August 23rd. Well, in Sacramento, we didn't get it till August 25th, but that's cool with me. I just knew I wasn't fucking crazy, and I knew the August 13th date was total bullshit.

You do realize that the people who think it came out on 8/13 can just disregard this "proof" as easily as you disregard Wikipedia's "proof," right? The official word from Nintendo was August; that's about as good as it's going to get. And you can argue that an old issue of EGM is more reputable than Wikipedia (and you'd probably be right), except that doesn't explain the guy who got it for his birthday. Why would he remember getting it on his birthday wrong?

All the same, 8/23 makes infinitely more sense than your 8/25 date. I'm surprised that no one has pointed out that stores don't get shipments on Sundays, genius. Your memory is as flawed as anyone else's.

[Hypnotuba]

Who knows why I'm bothering with this in the middle of the day, but I figured I'd do a quick check of Usenet posts from August 1991 to see when the SNES was released. I don't even care, but, it's a trivia bit that's stuck in my head. :)

Here's one that is about it being available on August 22:

http://tinyurl.com/h2gxq

Here's another post from August 24th about its availability at Toys R Us:

http://tinyurl.com/mq922

So, perhaps the 23rd is looking good for a release date, maybe it was a tiny bit earlier or later, depending on your location, but around that date. Any other ideas?

[poloplayr]

Maybe the release wasn't just as co-ordinated as releases are these days and it came out at slightly different dates depending on where in the US one was?

[Ed Oscuro]

Who knows why I'm bothering with this in the middle of the day, but I figured I'd do a quick check of Usenet posts from August 1991 to see when the SNES was released. I don't even care, but, it's a trivia bit that's stuck in my head. :)

Here's one that is about it being available on August 22:

http://tinyurl.com/h2gxq
Thanks for that link, Hypnotuba, that's awesome!

Here's a very important excerpt I think everybody should read:


.. rave review deleted [i.e. 'snip quote'] ... Why did they release it earlier than the release date in my video game magazine?
Welcome to the real world where reporters get their facts wrong. Actually the reporters probably got it right but reported it as a fact from God, whereas it was actually their best guess at how long it would take to ship the first boxes from Japan to US stores.
This whole thing highlights the fact that back in the day there was no "street date," you just sold the games when they got into the store. Easy. Later on game console manufacturers/developers realized the benefit of creating hype and anticipation of release on a specific date so they started setting street dates. Then people started breaking the dates, and then people got fired, and...

[rbudrick]

23rd, 13th, whatever. What I do know is that it was released much earlier than expected as a surprise to the world. It was shock to everyone I knew because Nintendo pulled a fast one.

So, this gives me two ideas:

1.) It was scheduled to be released on the 23rd, and they then released it on the 13th.

2). It was released on the 23rd, but was supposed to be released in September.

And it's possible the East coast got them first, and San Fran had to wait.

-Rob

[Anthony1]

23rd, 13th, whatever. What I do know is that it was released much earlier than expected as a surprise to the world. It was shock to everyone I knew because Nintendo pulled a fast one.

So, this gives me two ideas:

1.) It was scheduled to be released on the 23rd, and they then released it on the 13th.

2). It was released on the 23rd, but was supposed to be released in September.

And it's possible the East coast got them first, and San Fran had to wait.

-Rob




The second one is exactly right. The SNES was "supposed" to come out in September. If you look at all the magazines in August and September, they all thought it was coming out in September. Early September. I remember at the time, that I was calling around, and all the stores thought they would get it around the first week of September.


The SNES didn't release anywhere near August 13th, and I dare anyone to prove me otherwise. How many times do I need to repeat this? The November 1991 issue of EGM arrived in stores in mid October, and the lead time for the mag would have put their information current to about September 10th. So, in that mag, they had the knowledge of what had happened up until about September 10th, so if they found out that it first arrived in stores on August 23rd, then I fucking believe them. Wikipedia is wrong. Plain and simple. All the other sites that are showing August 13, are simply following the incorrect information from Wikipedia. That dude checked usenet posts, and the posts say August 22nd and August 24. Egm, from that actual time period says August 23rd. I bought mine on August 25th, and I've already explained a million times about how nobody had one in Sacramento prior to that Sunday. It's very likely that stores received them before Sunday, but didn't put them up for sale till Sunday.


THIS CASE IS CLOSED.

[Anthony1]

All the same, 8/23 makes infinitely more sense than your 8/25 date. I'm surprised that no one has pointed out that stores don't get shipments on Sundays, genius. Your memory is as flawed as anyone else's.



When did I say that the SNES launched on August 25th? I said that Sacramento stores didn't start selling them till the 25th. I didn't know the exact launch date, but I knew damn well it wasn't anytime around the 13th or 14th or 15th. It was late August. I knew that for sure. I also knew for sure that no place in Sacramento was selling them prior to Sunday August 25th. I can remember that week like the back of my hand. I was checking with numerous stores every single day via the telephone.

Are you trying to say that I'm not telling the truth? Or that I'm mistaken about it not being available in Sacramento till August 25th? Because I'm not making this shit up. I know it like it was yesterday. I was so hyped over the SNES launch, it wasn't even funny, and I basically couldn't stop thinking about it, and I was calling all the stores in Sacto for like a week or more leading up to launch.


And, didn't Nintendo recently release a system in the U.S. on a Sunday not too long ago? Like the GameCube or original DS or DS lite? For some reason I remember a Nintendo system launching on a Sunday recently in the U.S.

[Hypnotuba]

This whole thing highlights the fact that back in the day there was no "street date," you just sold the games when they got into the store. Easy. Later on game console manufacturers/developers realized the benefit of creating hype and anticipation of release on a specific date so they started setting street dates. Then people started breaking the dates, and then people got fired, and...


That's a good point. I'm so used to "the big launch date" now, that I don't really think of how it used to be.

I wonder what was the first console with a big launch on a specific date. PlayStation? I really have no clue. I hadn't been gaming for years until I got back into it in 1997. I missed the whole 16-bit era, and the first part of the 32-bit Saturn/PS era. And let's not forget this includes the 3DO/Jaguar/CDi/32x freak era. :) Actually, the $30 Jaguars at Kay-Bee were what got me back into gaming. . .

ANYWAY. . .the point is I have no idea if any of those systems had well-known fixed release dates.

I remember the Dreamcast launch; I had that preordered in May for the big 9/9/99 release. Good times. :)

[Mayhem]

And, didn't Nintendo recently release a system in the U.S. on a Sunday not too long ago? Like the GameCube or original DS or DS lite? For some reason I remember a Nintendo system launching on a Sunday recently in the U.S.

It was the original DS: 21st Nov 2004. I know cos it came out the day after I arrived in the US for Thanksgiving, and of course I was there to go grab one :)

[Ed Oscuro]

And, didn't Nintendo recently release a system in the U.S. on a Sunday not too long ago? Like the GameCube or original DS or DS lite? For some reason I remember a Nintendo system launching on a Sunday recently in the U.S.
That's pretty irrelevant. Nintendo's, and everybody else's, on making game/system launch dates a big thing is meant to drive the hype machine, but this tactic wasn't as widely used back then (for one, there's no evidence there was an enforced "street date," stores just sold the merchandise when they got it).

[poloplayr]

Nintendo Launches New Super System
GEORGE TIBBITS
649 words
2 June 1991
The Associated Press
English
(Copyright 1991. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
SEATTLE (AP) - Video game giant Nintendo says its long-awaited super game system will hit the U.S. market by Sept. 1, and it expects hard-core game players to buy 2 million of the new machines this year.

That's great, its competition says.

"I think it helps us a lot," says Tom Kalinske, president and chief executive officer of Sega of America, which brought out its Genesis enhanced video game system two years ago. "I think they now, obviously, are playing catchup."

Nintendo of America formally introduced its Super Nintendo Entertainment System during the weekend at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago. The 16-bit machines offer far better graphics, sound and action than Nintendo's current 8-bit models.

The Super NES will be priced at $199.95, with games priced around $50. Nintendo's first game for the new system will be "Super Mario World," yet another installment of the travails of its mustachioed hero, Mario.

"I think initially it's going to be a big success because Nintendo has a brand name that is synonymous with terrific video games," said Paul Valentine, analyst with Standard & Poor's Corp. in New York.

Valentine thinks the saturation point for video game systems has been reached, though he likes the long-term prospects for hand-held games. Still, "There is a hard-core group of Nintendo addicts who are going to initially go out and buy this system."

But Peter Main, Nintendo's vice president of marketing, said the company isn't abandoning the older system, which is in a third of all U.S. homes.

Main said Nintendo expects to sell 6 million games for the Super NES this year, with retail hardware and software sales totaling $700 million.

The company forecasts selling 4.5 million of its 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment Systems, compared with 7.2 million in 1990, and 45 million NES games, down from 60 million last year. It also anticipates selling 5 million Game Boy hand-held players, 1.8 million more than in 1990, and 25 million units of Game Boy software, compared with 9 million last year.

Even with the new device, NES and Game Boy will make up more than 76 percent of Nintendo's second-half 1991 sales, Main said.

A bit is a piece of computer data. A 16-bit machine can process more data quicker than an 8-bit, permitting more elaborate games.

Japan's Nintendo Ltd. dominates the video game industry, with more than 85 percent of the total U.S. market. But it lagged in introducing a 16-bit game system, even though Sega and NEC brought their 16-bit machines out in 1989.

"You never like to be second or third, but you do like to be right," Main said in a telephone interview from Chicago.

Main said Nintendo fundamentally completed the hardware for the new system two years ago, but company executives weren't satisfied with the games, and sent the system back for more work.

In previous interviews, Main also said Nintendo didn't want to bring out the new system while demand remained high for the older machines. Nintendo's 8-bit games can't be played on the new 16-bit device, and vice versa.

Main downplayed the game compatibility issue. The electronics to permit 8-bit games to be played on the new set would add another $40 or so to its cost, he said, and Nintendo anticipates most of its sales will be to people who already have the 8-bit machine.

Nintendo will continue to develop new games exclusively for the 8-bit NES, he said, with 40 new titles to be brought out this year.

Sega recently dropped the price of Genesis to $149.99, while NEC has lowered the price of its system to $99.99.



-------------



BUSINESS
NINTENDO GAMBLES WITH `SUPER' NEW GAME
TIMES STAFF: TIMES NEWS SERVICES
986 words
2 June 1991
The Seattle Times
FINAL
E1
English
(Copyright 1991)
Nintendo took a big step - and a big gamble - in the video-game business yesterday, formally rolling out its new super game system at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.

The new game, based on 16-bit technology that allows improved graphics, sound and dizzying speed, runs the risk of making obsolete the existing 8-bit games in the homes of 28 million people.

And it comes at a time where there appears to be a waning of interest of young people in the video games and growing resistance to the games by parents.

But there was none of that gloom yesterday as Nintendo, whose U.S. headquarters is in Redmond, made the announcement. At the same time, it said its sales remained strong, boosted by consistent sales of the existing Nintendo system and portable video games such as Game Boy.

"We are excited about the arrival of the Super NES," said Peter Main, the company's vice president for marketing, "but what we're equally excited about is the added strength this product gives to Nintendo's three-product line-up."

For the first half of the year, the company reported retail sales of 1.5 million units of video-game machines and 15 million units of software, or games. At the beginning of 1991, Nintendo had projected retail sales of 4.5 million units of hardware and 45 million pieces of software.

Main said the company expects the new super game to be a niche product, which will appeal to a defined market.

Expected to be on retailer shelves by September, the Super NES is projected to sell 2 million units of hardware and 6 million units of software by year-end 1991, main said.

But old games won't work on the new system, so the company is counting on parents writing off what they've already spent on the older games and hardware and shelling out $199.95 for the new Super, plus $60 for each game.

The existing system probably cost parents about $100 each, plus $35 for each game.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo plans to spend $25 million this year on advertising for the new super game. It has been running new product teasers for months in Nintendo Power, the company sponsored magazine that reaches an estimated 2 million readers.

Nintendo competitors did not allow the company to introduce its game without comment.

Sega of America Inc., another game manufacturer, said from its South San Francisco headquarters that "if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Nintendo is paying Sega of America Inc. the biggest compliment of all, by following in Sega's footsteps."

Sega said it established the 16-bit video-game category in 1989 with its Genesis system and Nintendo now is playing "follow the leader" with the unveiling of the Nintendo Super NES.

As Nintendo debuted its new game, another potentially landmark announcement was made that promises to have a major long-term impact on the home-electronics business. Sony Corp. said it will join forces with Nintendo in marketing a new type of video-game system.

The alliance links two of the world's most successful and innovative consumer electronics companies in an effort to popularize home entertainment systems based on compact discs. Such machines provide far better graphics and sound quality than current video-game systems, and analysts say they could form the basis for a new breed of "multimedia" computers for the home.

The Sony-Nintendo agreement promises to steal much of the thunder from Philips, which is unveiling its long-awaited Compact Disc Interactive (CDI), a home entertainment and education system.

Philips and Sony had once been allies in the development of CDI, but Sony now appears to be going its own way. Philips, for its part, has recognized that games will be an important selling point for the CDI technology. The Netherlands-based company reportedly has reached an agreement of its own with Nintendo to make Nintendo game titles available on CDI discs.

But the Sony-Nintendo deal is much more far-reaching.

By year-end in Japan and the beginning of next year in the United States, Sony will introduce a compact disc-based game machine, called the Play Station, that will also be able to play the new super Nintendo games, the ones written for Nintendo's own new, high-powered machine.

Simultaneously, Sony will roll out at least 10 compact-disc games - most of them based on characters and themes drawn from movies being produced by Sony's Columbia Pictures affiliates and music being promoted by Sony's record company, formerly CBS Records.

Nintendo controls an estimated 80 percent of the $5 billion U.S. video-game business. Sales of Nintendo machines and game cartridges are largely driven by the popularity of characters such as mustachioed Mario, of Super Mario Brothers fame.

But the Nintendo juggernaut has slowed recently, and analysts have wondered whether consumers would be persuaded to buy the company's new machine.

CDI, the similar CDTV being marketed by Commodore International, and the Sony-Nintendo format are not technically compatible; as in home computing and videotape technology, that raises the prospect of a prolonged battle to establish an industry standard.

Such a contest would be significant, because these systems may form the basis for a new breed of home computer-entertainment systems that has much of the functionality of a personal computer and can also handle video and sound.

PHOTO: ILLUSTRATION; Caption: 1) BARRY WONG / SEATTLE TIMES 1989: WILLIAM WHITE JR., LEFT, NINTENDO'S DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND PETER MAIN, VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, HAVE HELPED LEAD NINTENDO TO SUCCESS THE PAST FEW YEARS. THEY FACE A STRONG CHALLENGE WITH THE NEW SUPER SYSTEM. 2) NINTENDO: SUPER MARIO MAY BECOME OBSOLETE WITH NINTENDO'S NEW SUPER SYSTEM.



--------------


BUSINESS
Super Nintendo sells quickly at OC outlets
Ron Campbell:The Orange County Register
484 words
27 August 1991
The Orange County Register
MORNING
d03
English
Copyright (c) 1991 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.
Last weekend, months after video-game addicts started calling, Dave Adams finally was able to sell them what they craved: Super Nintendo.

Adams, manager of Babbages in South Coast Plaza, got 32 of the $199.95 systems Friday. By Monday afternoon he had five left.

"Everybody that calls up (to see if they're in stock) seems to hop in their car and come down to get one," he said. "I expected to blow them all out the first day."

Nearly one-third of all American homes have Nintendo systems, according to the company. The last big-selling Nintendo game, Super Mario Brothers III, grossed $450 million at $49.95 a set.

Super Nintendo features greatly improved graphics and color because of its 16-bit microprocessor. Until now the video giant had sold only eight-bit systems, leaving the more sophisticated machines to competitors Genesis and Sega of America. The new system offers 256 colors at once, 16 times more than the old system.

Nintendo is getting into the 16-bit arena late. It continued to push its eight-bit system while Sega of America and NEC Technologies surrendered that market and started selling 16-bit systems earlier this year.

At Software Etc. in the Mall of Orange, manager Don Leon was counting the minutes until his shipment of Super Nintendos arrived. He had ordered eight and already had reservations for most of them. He takes reservations only for particularly hot items, he said.

Super Nintendo began showing up in Southern California stores Wednesday, nearly three weeks before the official Sept. 9 release date.

"The people that really wanted to get it right away knew it was out," Adams said. "People have been calling for months on this thing."

The Toys R Us store in Cerritos got 80 on Wednesday and was down to a handful Monday afternoon, a store spokeswoman said.

Answering players' questions Q. Where is the 16-bit Super Nintendo available? A. Until the official nationwide release Sept. 9, availability will be limited. Toys R Us and some smaller distributors had it early. Nintendo says Kmart, Target and FAO Schwarz will have it.

Q. Can you play games from the eight-bit Nintendo system on the new 16-bit system? A. No. Nintendo says it will continue to supply games especially for the eight-bit machines.

Q. What games are available for the 16-bit system? A. Nintendo is packaging "Super Mario World," the fourth game involving the mustachioed video hero, with Super Nintendo. Two other games, a flight simulator called "Pilotwings" and a "space-age racing game" called "F-Zero" are available for $49.95 each. Nintendo intends to offer two more games in October _ "Sim City," a city planning game, and "Super Play Action Football." A sixth game, "Zelda III," will be available by Christmas.

[Anthony1]

Last weekend, months after video-game addicts started calling, Dave Adams finally was able to sell them what they craved: Super Nintendo.

Adams, manager of Babbages in South Coast Plaza, got 32 of the $199.95 systems Friday. By Monday afternoon he had five left.





Thanks for those very informative articles poloplayr. That pretty much confirms it. It appears that SNES systems started arriving as early as Wednesday August 21st, 1991. Most outlets got their shipments on Friday, August 23rd 1991. So it appears with the SNES, that it didn't have a carved in stone release date, but the earliest known account of SNES systems arriving for sale was Wednesday August 21st 1991, so far all intents and purposes, I think we can safely say that was the launch date. Now if we could just notify Wikipedia so they could stop the mis-information with their incorrect August 13th release date.

[6502]

I updated the Wikipedia entry for the SNES with August 21, 1991 as the date first available (and Sept. 9 as the official launch date). We'll see if it sticks, if someone reverts the edit might have to get into the talk page for the entry and cite the articles poloplayr listed.

[RCM]

I updated the Wikipedia entry for the SNES with August 21, 1991 as the date first available (and Sept. 9 as the official launch date). We'll see if it sticks, if someone reverts the edit might have to get into the talk page for the entry and cite the articles poloplayr listed.

I'm glad I didn't pull that 9/9/91 out of my arse. I like the "fact" that three systems launched on the same date.

[Guyver03]

All the same, 8/23 makes infinitely more sense than your 8/25 date. I'm surprised that no one has pointed out that stores don't get shipments on Sundays, genius. Your memory is as flawed as anyone else's.

I don't know about that. Nintendo does have a thing for Sunday releases. Nintendo DS, DS Lite, Super Mario DS, Pokemon Emerald, just to name a few from recent memory. I'm not claiming that is was a Sunday launch, but they have been known for it.

And it is possible to get something in shipment before the item is supposed to be released. Ever heard of a street date?

If that weren't the case then why was my store sitting on a couple hundred copies of Halo 2, Madden 2004/2005/2006, 40 PSPs, and about 30 X-box 360s (just to name a few) before certain dates? Poor shelf stocking skills? Or possibly because they got sent to the stores and we were told to sit on them until this date. That in no way invalidates the people that said the system was available earlier than late August though. It's entirely possible that someone also broke street date and was selling systems early. Happens all the time.

[j_factor]

I'm so used to "the big launch date" now, that I don't really think of how it used to be.

I wonder what was the first console with a big launch on a specific date. PlayStation? I really have no clue.

I think it was actually Sega CD, if you count that as a console. October 15, 1992 was the hyped launch date. I remember it sold out its initial shipment (I think it was 50k units) within 3 weeks, which was considered a big deal at the time. For a while there were no Sega CD units in stores as they waited for the second batch to arrive.

[suppafly]

afaik it was august 23rd 1991....i read that on a mag...(dont remember which one)

I knew i was right in my prediction...do i get a prize?? :)

[Anthony1]

afaik it was august 23rd 1991....i read that on a mag...(dont remember which one)

I knew i was right in my prediction...do i get a prize?? :)



Well, technically, some stores got it as early as Wednesday, August 21st, so I guess one would have to consider August 21st, 1991 as the "true" launch date. Supposedly the official date was September 9th, but it ended up coming almost 3 weeks earlier. To be honest, I kinda question the September 9th thing, because I thought it was supposed to arrive the very first week of September, but who knows, maybe the September 9th date really was the official launch date, but it ended up launching 8-21-91.


Somebody mentioned the Sega CD as being the first system with a "real" launch date, and they thought it was in October, but I'm about 95 percent sure the Sega CD launched in November. I got mine the day it released at a Software ETC in Arden Fair mall in Sacramento, CA. I'm about 95 percent sure it was in November.







mm

[j_factor]

Somebody mentioned the Sega CD as being the first system with a "real" launch date, and they thought it was in October, but I'm about 95 percent sure the Sega CD launched in November. I got mine the day it released at a Software ETC in Arden Fair mall in Sacramento, CA. I'm about 95 percent sure it was in November.

October 15, 1992 is given as the US launch date on Segabase, Wikipedia, and answers.com. I'm pretty sure I remember seeing that in print at the time, too. Also, if you look up the release dates for Night Trap and other launch games, they all say October 15.

Sega had originally announced that it would come out in November, so maybe that's why you think it was November. But I know for a fact that it was sold out well before Thanksgiving, so for it to have been a November launch, it would've had to sell out almost immediately, which didn't happen.

[shadowkn55]

You are under the assumption that shipments of new products arrive at the store on launch day. It would be difficult to coordinate shipments across the country so that every store gets them on the same day. Stores usually get stuff a few days or sometimes a week or more before launch date. They are under contract to not sell the item until the specified launch date. So even if a store gets a few units in before the launch date, the launch date still remains unchanged. They just aren't supposed to sell before then. So the Sunday launch someone else mentioned and the guy getting his SNES for is birthday on Aug 13 is still pausible.

I remember getting a call from EB games to come pick up my reserved copy of FFVIII a few days before the official launch date because they didn't want crowds of people clogging their little store.

[Anthony1]

So the Sunday launch someone else mentioned and the guy getting his SNES for is birthday on Aug 13 is still pausible.




actually, it's not possible. Back when the SNES launched, there wasn't a firm launch date, although some people claim September 9th, 1991 was the target launch date for the SNES. If you read this thread in it's entirety, then you would know that the very first SNES systems reached retail shelves on Wednesday, August 21st, 1991. Most retailers started receiving shipments on August 23rd, 1991, but a few retailers got it two days earlier on Wednesday. I bought mine on August 25th, because that was the first day any store in Sacramento had them.


This case has been closed, and August 21st, 1991 is the official "true" launchdate, until somebody can prove me otherwise.

[Lothars]

So the Sunday launch someone else mentioned and the guy getting his SNES for is birthday on Aug 13 is still pausible.




actually, it's not possible. Back when the SNES launched, there wasn't a firm launch date, although some people claim September 9th, 1991 was the target launch date for the SNES. If you read this thread in it's entirety, then you would know that the very first SNES systems reached retail shelves on Wednesday, August 21st, 1991. Most retailers started receiving shipments on August 23rd, 1991, but a few retailers got it two days earlier on Wednesday. I bought mine on August 25th, because that was the first day any store in Sacramento had them.


This case has been closed, and August 21st, 1991 is the official "true" launchdate, until somebody can prove me otherwise.

You still haven't proved that it is August 21st, 1991 and until you do it's still possible.

I still think August 13th is still plausible.

[badinsults]

According to a few usenet posts I found, it certainly didn't launch before the 21st, as they were commenting that stores got them on the 22nd or 23rd (for example (http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.video/browse_frm/thread/522963eb0b8a4b50/c90210b153d1eb1d?lnk=st&q=snes+release+date&rnum=2&hl=en#c90210b153d1eb1d)). I would say that the 13th was not the date it was released.

[Ed Oscuro]

Back when the SNES launched, there wasn't a firm launch date
'='

Then why the (oft-changed) topic title (currently "Official SNES launch date in US is......8/21/91)?

[Ed Oscuro]

According to a few usenet posts I found, it certainly didn't launch before the 21st, as they were commenting that stores got them on the 22nd or 23rd (for example (http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.video/browse_frm/thread/522963eb0b8a4b50/c90210b153d1eb1d?lnk=st&q=snes+release+date&rnum=2&hl=en#c90210b153d1eb1d)). I would say that the 13th was not the date it was released.
In those few examples. That only proves that it was out on the 22nd and 23rd; there could indeed have been instances of the SNES units arriving sooner than that.

[FlufflePuff]

Just to add a little fuel to the fire. Game Informer #113 cites September 9th, 1991 as the official launch date. There is a small blurb in the Classic GI section. I'm guessing they probably know what they are talking about, as they were making magazines when the system launched. I'm not implying that it wasn't accidently/intentionally released early in some places, but let's stick to facts instead of what we remember from our childhoods.

[Anthony1]

ok, are people arguing this just for the fuck of it or what? I mean, is this because some of you don't like me, and you're just trying to come up with anything possible to make me look incorrect? The whole reason I started this post, is simply because I wanted to know the "TRUE" date that the SNES was first available for sale in the United States.


PERIOD.

I was just trying to find out the fricking truth. I could care less which specific day was the "real" date, but I just wanted to know which date it was. Now, since the thread started, people started sharing various bits of information. If one considered things from a rational perspective, then they would be forced to come to the conclusion that the Super Nintendo was first sold in the U.S. on August 21st, 1991.


Here are 5 facts to share about this:

1. The November 1991 issue of EGM states that the Super Nintendo first began arriving in stores on Friday, August 23rd, 1991.


2. The Orange County Register - Ron Campbell - 27 August 1991 - "Last weekend, months after video-game addicts started calling, Dave Adams finally was able to sell them what they craved: Super Nintendo. Adams, manager of Babbages in South Coast Plaza, got 32 of the $199.95 systems Friday. By Monday afternoon he had five left. "

3. The Orange County Register - Ron Campbell- 27 August 1991 - Super Nintendo began showing up in Southern California stores Wednesday, nearly three weeks before the official Sept. 9 release date. "The people that really wanted to get it right away knew it was out," Adams said. "People have been calling for months on this thing." The Toys R Us store in Cerritos got 80 on Wednesday and was down to a handful Monday afternoon, a store spokeswoman said.

4. 2 usenet posts from August 1991 claim it released on the 22nd and 24th respectively.

usenet post about it being available on August 22:

http://tinyurl.com/h2gxq

usenet post from August 24th about its availability at Toys R Us:
http://tinyurl.com/mq922


5. I myself purchased my Super Nintendo on Sunday, August 25th, 1991, the first day I know of any retailer having it available in Sacramento, California




The most compelling information is from the article written by Ron Campbell of the Orange County Register dated August 27th, 1991. Mr. Campbell's 484 word article titled "Super Nintendo sells quickly at OC outlets" clearly explains that the Super Nintendo was launched the previous weekend in Southern California. He has a quote from Bob Adams, the manager of Babbages in South Coast Plaza, who got 32 of the $199.95 systems Friday. He also reported this:

" At Software Etc. in the Mall of Orange, manager Don Leon was counting the minutes until his shipment of Super Nintendos arrived. He had ordered eight and already had reservations for most of them. He takes reservations only for particularly hot items, he said.

Super Nintendo began showing up in Southern California stores Wednesday, nearly three weeks before the official Sept. 9 release date.

"The people that really wanted to get it right away knew it was out," Adams said. "People have been calling for months on this thing."

The Toys R Us store in Cerritos got 80 on Wednesday and was down to a handful Monday afternoon, a store spokeswoman said. "



And then there is the date in the EGM mag that claims that SNES systems first went for sale in the U.S. on Friday, August 23rd, 1991. I mean how many freaking sources do you need? The information clearly suggests that the SNES started arriving in stores the week of August 21st. The first stores got it on Wednesday, alot more got them on Friday, and in my neck of the woods, they went on sale that Sunday. So basically, starting with August 21st, they could have been sold any date after that, but the facts point to August 21st being the very FIRST DATE!!!!


PLEASE STOP THE MADDNESS! @_@

[Anthony1]

Just to add a little fuel to the fire. Game Informer #113 cites September 9th, 1991 as the official launch date. - let's stick to facts instead of what we remember from our childhoods.




Yeah, it's already been said that the "target" launch date was September 9th, 1991, but it released early. I'm not interested in the "target" launch date. I'm interested in the "actual" first day it was available for sale in the U.S.


As for sticking to the facts, I've provided a list of facts that support it coming out the week of August 21st, and that August 21st was the first known date that it was available for sale. Everything is pointing to that, and the only thing pointing against that is Wikipedia's incorrect date, and some dude remembering he got one on his birthday. If he indeed did get it on his birthday, then he got it on his birthday in August of 1992, not 1991. Or he got it a few weeks after his birthday if he did get it in 1991. Or maybe he simple isn't 100 percent clear when he got it.


I'm absolutely 100 percent clear when I got mine. It was Sunday, August 25th, and I remember it like the back of my hand, and I was 20 years old that day, not some little kid. August 25th was the first day it was available for sale at any stores in the Sacramento area. (At least all the stores I called)

[j_factor]

Just to add a little fuel to the fire. Game Informer #113 cites September 9th, 1991 as the official launch date. There is a small blurb in the Classic GI section. I'm guessing they probably know what they are talking about, as they were making magazines when the system launched. I'm not implying that it wasn't accidently/intentionally released early in some places, but let's stick to facts instead of what we remember from our childhoods.

GI doesn't know shit. They once stated that the 32x was never released in Japan, which is patently untrue.

[Anthony1]

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g257/Anthony1fromDP/Picture003-1.jpg

[j_factor]

What magazine is that, Nintendo Power? It's overtly gushing.

[Lothars]

I believe it's EGM but that really doesn't prove to me that it is in fact the 21st especially when it's possible that it can be earlier than the 21st and I still stand by that.

including the fact there are other posters in the thread that said they had one before the 21st of August

[Jibbajaba]

including the fact there are other posters in the thread that said they had one before the 21st of August

Dude, ONE guy. ONE. Who got it for his fifth birthday. Do you remember dates clearly from that time? I don't. Shit, maybe he had a belated birthday party for some reason and got it then. We are going to ignore all of the evidence given in this thread because someone thinks that they remember something happening when they had just turned 5?

Give me a break...

Chris

[MarioMania]

Why are you guys barking on about dates for, Let's just end it with Aug. 21st

[DragonMaster Sam]

August 21st is pretty much right. I really need to read up first beforehand.


Ten months later, on September 9, 1991, Nintendo officially released the Super Famicom in North America (although the system went on sale as early as August 21, 1991 in some areas of the US) with a new redesigned case as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Initially sold for a price of $199 US, the North American package included the game Super Mario World. The SNES was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland in April 1992 for £150, with a German release following a few weeks later. The PAL versions of the console looked identical to the Japanese Super Famicom, except for labeling.

That's from Wikipedia, so August 21, 1991 is pretty much the answer.

[Anthony1]

More confirmation for the August 23rd, 1991 date. That is the Friday that most stores started selling SNES systems in the U.S., although a few started as early as Wednesday August 21st, 1991.



From the February 1992 EGM in the Letters section:


Page 16:


SUPER FAMI GAMES ON S-NES


I've owned a Super Nintendo since they first came out on August 23, 1991. I have purchased almost all of the cartridges available, but when it comes to sports games there are a lot missing. I have heard that there is an adapter which will let me play the Japanese Super Famicom games on my Super NES. There are a lot more great games out in Japan than here and I just don't want to wait for the games to come out over here. Is there such a device as there is for the Genesis/Mega Drive and PC Engine/TurboGrafx?

Alex Kreit
Oakland, CA



So this guy in Oakland aparently got one on that Friday, which adds more evidence to the theory that the week of the 19th thru 25th in August 1991, is the first week of availability.



I know this is pretty much a dead issue, but I just happened to be reading my Feb 92 issue of EGM and I noticed this letter.

[Steven]

Anthony, LOL

I uploaded that pic a couple days ago and put it in the Happy Anniversary DC topic b/c I didn't want to bump this one and someone had bought up the SNES release date.

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/99/54/25954599/34300318537406l.jpg

Great issue BTW, cover was one of the best. Hi-res Ken shot

[DocRamon]

this thread is awesome...

nintendo has the dates of all their systems listed on their press site. you need a password to get in, but i woulda thought that SOMEONE else here would have one...

10/18/85 - NES
07/21/89 - Game Boy
08/19/91 - SNES
10/15/93 - NES Redesign
08/21/95 - Virtual Boy
09/03/96 - Game Boy Pocket
09/29/96 - Nintendo 64
10/20/97 - SNES Redesign
11/18/98 - Game Boy Color
06/11/01 - Game Boy Advance
11/18/01 - GameCube
03/23/03 - Game Boy Advance SP
11/21/04 - Nintendo DS
09/19/05 - Game Boy Micro
06/11/06 - Nintendo DS Lite

[Anthony1]

this thread is awesome...

nintendo has the dates of all their systems listed on their press site. you need a password to get in, but i woulda thought that SOMEONE else here would have one...

10/18/85 - NES
07/21/89 - Game Boy
08/19/91 - SNES
10/15/93 - NES Redesign
08/21/95 - Virtual Boy
09/03/96 - Game Boy Pocket
09/29/96 - Nintendo 64
10/20/97 - SNES Redesign
11/18/98 - Game Boy Color
06/11/01 - Game Boy Advance
11/18/01 - GameCube
03/23/03 - Game Boy Advance SP
11/21/04 - Nintendo DS
09/19/05 - Game Boy Micro
06/11/06 - Nintendo DS Lite



The August 19th date is inaccurate. Period. They might have used that date, because that Monday was when they first started shipping the units to retailers. Or it may have been a date when units were sent to the gaming press or other industry people, but the earliest a SNES was officially sold to a regular customer in the United States was 8-21-91, a Wednesday. The vast majority of SNES systems were first sold on Friday 8/23/91.


This case has been closed, and the only reason I posted again to this thread, is just because I had randomly been looking at the Feb 92 issue and noticed that letter.

[Lothars]

ok, I wasn't going to post in the topic again but if it lists August 19th 1991 on a nintendo site that makes me believe that's the official date

especially I could see that being the date, Nintendo started sending systems to retail and meaning august 21st 1991 is not incorrect but it's not correct either.

[Lothars]

ok, I wasn't going to post in the topic again but if it lists August 19th 1991 on a nintendo site that makes me believe that's the official date

especially I could see that being the date, Nintendo started sending systems to retail and meaning august 21st 1991 is not incorrect but it's not correct either.

I do want to apologize to arguing about it being August 13th, but now at least we know it's basically August 21st but at least it's all a resolved issue though.

[Chrome]

Man, I missed out on one hell of an argument. I've been called a liar, idiot, and a few other names because of a date and I wasn't even here to defend myself. Damn.

I know, FOR FACT, that I got my system on my fifth birthday. My birthday is on the 14th, did I have a late party, it's a possibility. Was it a week later on the 21st? I seriously doubt it. When I ask my parents, they do confrim they bought me the system for my birthday. They can't remember whether I had a late birthday party or not.

Did I get the system early? I don't know, I was 5 for crying out loud. It was my first video game system, I was excited. I am in WV, a little piss ass state no one seems to care about. One of my Targets broke the DS lite street date. I remember the local Hill's breaking the N64 street date as well.

So who knows. Doubt what I say, but have the respect not to call me a liar.

Later,
Chrome...

[poloplayr]

Best thread ever.

[DocRamon]

this thread is awesome...

nintendo has the dates of all their systems listed on their press site. you need a password to get in, but i woulda thought that SOMEONE else here would have one...

10/18/85 - NES
07/21/89 - Game Boy
08/19/91 - SNES
10/15/93 - NES Redesign
08/21/95 - Virtual Boy
09/03/96 - Game Boy Pocket
09/29/96 - Nintendo 64
10/20/97 - SNES Redesign
11/18/98 - Game Boy Color
06/11/01 - Game Boy Advance
11/18/01 - GameCube
03/23/03 - Game Boy Advance SP
11/21/04 - Nintendo DS
09/19/05 - Game Boy Micro
06/11/06 - Nintendo DS Lite



The August 19th date is inaccurate. Period. They might have used that date, because that Monday was when they first started shipping the units to retailers. Or it may have been a date when units were sent to the gaming press or other industry people, but the earliest a SNES was officially sold to a regular customer in the United States was 8-21-91, a Wednesday. The vast majority of SNES systems were first sold on Friday 8/23/91.


This case has been closed, and the only reason I posted again to this thread, is just because I had randomly been looking at the Feb 92 issue and noticed that letter.

do me a favor then... email nintendo and tell them that THEIR date for the release of THEIR system is wrong.