Nintendo Console Launches Ranked: Best to Worst
▼ Summary
– The author recalls a difficult period in the early 1980s when video games disappeared from the market after Atari’s collapse, leaving their future uncertain.
– Nintendo’s NES initially had a tentative launch in the U.S., relying on the novelty of R.O.B. to appeal to retailers wary of game consoles.
– The author’s excitement for the NES was sparked by seeing a display at Sears, particularly the vibrant and advanced-looking *Super Mario Bros.* game.
– *Super Mario Bros.*, which the author had seen in arcades, symbolized the promise of high-quality gaming experiences at home.
– Despite a slow start, Nintendo became a household name in the U.S., marking a historically significant and tactical success for the company.
Nintendo’s journey from an obscure Japanese company to a household name in gaming began with the NES, a console that revived the industry after the 1983 crash. For many kids growing up in the early 80s, the disappearance of video games from store shelves felt like losing a beloved hobby overnight. When the Nintendo Entertainment System finally arrived in 1986, its debut was far from the spectacle we expect today. Instead, it crept into American living rooms with cautious optimism, backed by an unusual marketing strategy featuring R.O.B. the robot—a gimmick that cleverly rebranded the console as a “toy” to bypass retailer skepticism about video game hardware.
What truly cemented Nintendo’s place in gaming history wasn’t just hardware innovation but the unforgettable experience of Super Mario Bros. Seeing Mario dash through vibrant, scrolling levels for the first time, whether in arcades or on that iconic Sears display kiosk, felt revolutionary. The game’s polish and creativity made it clear this wasn’t just another Atari-era relic. Soon, Nintendo Power magazines fueled excitement for new releases, turning the NES into a cultural phenomenon. While later consoles like the Wii or Switch had flashier launches, the NES’s quiet triumph, turning skeptics into devotees—remains Nintendo’s most pivotal moment.
Looking back, what seemed like a shaky start was actually a masterclass in market strategy. The NES didn’t just sell consoles; it rebuilt trust in gaming itself. From hesitant retailers to parents mispronouncing the brand (who didn’t hear “Intendo” at least once?), Nintendo’s persistence paid off. That humble gray box didn’t just launch a company, it reignited an entire industry.
(Source: Kotaku)
