30 long years to our favorite plumber with a mustache. It’s been a good run.
We didn’t even mind holding B the whole time.
It started out as the Famicom (The Family Computer) in Japan on July 15, 1983 but Nintendo’s legendary console didn’t make heads turn until it’s North America release on October 18, 1985. 26 years ago Nintendo released one of the most infamous consoles to date, helped revitalize the US video game industry after the video game crash of 1983 and set the standard for subsequent consoles of it’s generation. The Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, was released to limited American markets starting in New York City followed by the the rest of the country in February 1986. Some games for it’s launch were Duck Hunt, Excitebike, Golf, Hogan’s Alley, Kung Fu & Wild Gunman to name a few.
By the end of the 80′s, start of the 90′s, Sega released their 16-bit Sega Mega Drive/Genesis system marking the end of the NES’s dominance. After Nintendo released the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the user base of the NES dwindled. However, even though game developers ceased production for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a number of iconic video game franchies and series that started on the NES transitioned to newer consoles and remain peoplur today.
The last game to be released for the NES was Wario’s Woods. In 1995 Nintendo of America officially discontinued the NES. But Nintendo of Japan kept producing new Nintendo Famicoms until September 2003 and even continued to repair the consoles until October 31, 2007 only because the parts to repair them were discontinued.
It’s no doubt that the NES is one of the most influential video game systems ever produced and a still beloved by fans world wide. Thanks Nintendo for giving us such a influential system, characters that still live today and hours upon hours of fun.
On October 14, 1977 Atari released the Atari Video Computer System (VCS). Following the release of the 5200 in 1982 the VCS was renamed to Atari 2600 after the part number CX2600.
The 2600 is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code instead of dedicated hardware with built-in games. Originally retailed for $199, the 2600 typically came with two joystick controllers, a pair of paddle controllers and a cartridge game (first Combat then later Pac-Man).
During the VCS hay-days, Atari Inc. continued to grow but the programmers were becoming disgruntled with Atari for not giving credit to the game developers. Many of these game developers left the company to form their own independent software companies such as Activision, Imagic, Coleco and Mystique. Atari attempted to block third-party development for the 2600 in court but failed causing many games to be released for the system that Atari did not approve of. One of the most notorius games that caused an image problem for Atari was the game Custer’s Revenge which caused protests from women’s and Native American groups because it depicts General George Custer raping a Native American woman.
Because of these poor quality third-party games and disappointing games like Pac-Man and E.T., Atari’s 2600 is cited for a big reason of the video game crash of 1983. Atari’s success came to a sudden halt.
In 1985, Atari released the 2600 Jr. The redesigned 2600 was advertised as a budget gaming console ($50). The Atari 2600 continued to sell in the United States and Europe until 1991.
Over it’s lifetime it’s estimated 40 million units were shipped and it’s video game library was over 900 titles. The final Atari-licensed release was KLAX in 1990. The Atari 2600 was officially retired by Atari Corp. on Janury 1, 1992 (14 years, 2 months) making it the longest lived home video game console in video game history.
Giving credit where credit is due, thank-you to Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney and the programmers of Atari for creating the video arcade and modern video game industries!
Happy 34th Anniversary Atari 2600!
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