Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) – Released in US on October 18, 1985

1985- The Nintendo Entertainment System, along with the Robotic Operating Buddy (R.O.B.) and the Zapper light gun are released in New York. Eighteen games were available, two of which came bundled with the system: Duck Hunt and Super Mario Brothers.

The NES was a step up to it’s predecessor – the Famicon Disk system (which looks like a Steampunk version of the NES). Differences included 60-pin cartridges (famicon had 72-pin), case design and extra peripherals, like a 3.5 inch floppy drive.

Nintendo Favicon Family Computer with HVC-022 floppy disk drive

I remember riding my bike to the bank (there was no on-line banking in 85) – which actually was 35 miles away from my house – to get the money and buy this system. It was well worth it. My favorite game to date is still Tetris.

The NES system cost $125. Worldwide release would be in Feb 1986.Now You’re Playing With Power!

This Day in Tech History podcast show notes for October 18

• Several points in Thomas Edisons’ history
• Apple Performa 6360
• VidaLinux

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Tagged as: aggregator, apple performa, case design, day in tech history, duck hunt, favorite game, floppy drive, games, light gun, money, NES, nes system, nintendo entertainment system, performa 6360, pin case, Podcast, predecessor, riding my bike, several points, super mario brothers, technology history, thomas edisons, vidalinux, worldwide release

Article by Jeffrey Powers @geekazine

Jeffrey has written 382 awesome articles for us at Day in Tech History