While a widespread release of the console wouldn't take place until 1986 (the same year it was released in Europe), it was in late 1985 at the FAO Schwarz in Manhattan, New York (as part of an advance market test) that the first of millions of the machines would pass over the counter of an American retailer.
The first games available were, in hindsight, some of the strongest launch titles in console history, including classics like Excitebike, Ice Climber, Duck Hunt and Baseball. The first consoles, meanwhile, were built by nice ladies.
Interestingly, according to 1UP, Nintendo's advertising boss at the time Gail Tilden reckons that first console was sold not to an American consumer, but to a representative of a "Japanese competitor".
The venerable old machine lasted ten years on the US market, with Nintendo ceasing production of the NES in 1995. In that decade it gave birth to many of gaming's most cherished franchises and characters, from Super Mario Bros to The Legend of Zelda to Metroid.
Those were the good ol' days.
ReplyDeleteAhh, the nes...how i miss it
ReplyDeleteI was just talking to a friend about how awesome NES Monopoly was...I'd love to find that on an emulator somewhere
ReplyDeleteinteresting!! :D
ReplyDeleteoh yes, i'm having great memories with zelda on NES :D
ReplyDeletefirst steps to nerdness ^^
Now I can't get the Mario Bros theme out of my head. Thanks for that
ReplyDeleteHell yeah, the console that got me addicted to video games.
ReplyDeleteCool Story Bro!;)
ReplyDeletethat's a good device
ReplyDeletei love the nes, i bought one yesterday :D
ReplyDeleteI love you NES!
ReplyDeleteI own one of these. It's unreliable, but still fun.
ReplyDeleteNo school like the old school.
ReplyDeleteThe good old days right here, love it!
ReplyDeleteawesome console is awesome
ReplyDeletethats awesome. It also makes me sort of sad I'm not old enough to have been around for gaming's greatest time.
ReplyDeleteawesome.
ReplyDeleteNintendo have brought me many years of pleasure
Ahh the good ol' days!
ReplyDeletehappy bday nes
ReplyDeletenintendo has honestly been my childhood... so many memories
ReplyDeleteI am i sad that I used to play with that system in college? Huge fan of Techmo and Punchout. BTW...really love your blog! Made you geek pick of the day.
ReplyDeleteDang I remember the daze playin this as a kid.. Crazy how time flies!
ReplyDeleteman, those were the days, so much fun, TECHMO BOWL!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday you beautiful system you.
ReplyDeletehappy birthday nes
ReplyDeletei love it !!!
ReplyDeleteYou got me Nintendo nostalgia soo hard!
ReplyDeletethe classics will never age
ReplyDeleteaah awesome!
ReplyDelete25 years already?! Whaaaa!!
ReplyDeletei do love my NES. Great post. I had no idea it was so old as of today!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, its hard to belive its been so long.
ReplyDeletewow, it takes me back. duck hunt.
ReplyDeleteWow...this is starting to make me feel old. Feels strange that I'm working on remakes of a 25 year old series.
ReplyDeleteduuuuuude
ReplyDeleteIt's been so long..
ReplyDeleteAll hail the 8 bit era.
ReplyDeleteI use yo have one... good ol Mario!
ReplyDeletei miss old times
ReplyDeletenitendo gameboy sega RAMBO! XD
this is so awesome. nes rules
ReplyDelete2 more years for the 2600's 35th!
ReplyDeleteall hail nintendooo
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if Nintendo would release some more classic titles to the wii to commemorate.
ReplyDeleteLong live the NES!!!
ReplyDeleteSo many good times :/
wow its older than me.
ReplyDeleteAnd they're still making the same game.
ReplyDeleteNES is 25 already. Damn I feel old today.
ReplyDeletehaha, this is so awesome! I love NES!
ReplyDeleteHappy bday!
ReplyDeleteThe 1st system I ever gamed.
damn Nintendos had a good run
ReplyDeletesigh, its like looking at my childhood in a box.
ReplyDeleteOh man...this makes me feel old.
ReplyDeleteTake some time to (only )view my blog
Stay classy : >
Happy bday NES!
ReplyDeleteI still have my Robbie the Robot that came with it the first year it was in the states....damn I'm old....
ReplyDeleteFirst system I ever got. I was but a wee lad back then. Some of my greatest early childhood memories were playing various game on my nes with my parents. :')
ReplyDeleteHappy b-dayy nintendo!!!
ReplyDeletelol that phone doesnt look very cool
ReplyDelete25 years? makes me feel old.
ReplyDeletehappy birthday old friend
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I feel old now.
ReplyDeleteMy sister bought us one with her babysitting money like a month after release. Well, she bought half of it, my dad matched her with the other half. She was even awesome enough to leave it at home when she moved out years later till I got myself an SNES.