Nintendo Entertainment System Video Game Console: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched in the United States in 1985 and soon dominated the video game market. Among its most famous games was “Super Mario Bros.,” which popularized the “platformer” genre, and remains one of the best-selling games of all time.

The system’s commercial success surprised many observers. A previous generation of home video game consoles had recently collapsed in what is remembered as the "video game crash of 1983." Amidst initially booming popularity, the market had become oversaturated with consoles and games. Many games were unoriginal, poorly designed, and hastily programmed. Meanwhile more versatile home computers began to compete for the same customers. The NES was an adaptation of the Family Computer (or Famicom), which Nintendo had released in Japan in 1983. When developing a version for the American market, Nintendo sought to avoid association with earlier video game systems. They branded the NES as an "entertainment system," with a boxy gray design and futuristic aesthetic that would sit inconspicuously alongside stereos and VCRs. In an effort to achieve quality control and suppress piracy, they engineered a lockout chip that prevented the system from playing unlicensed cartridges, requiring developers to obtain Nintendo’s approval of their games.

This system includes a control deck, an AC adapter, an AV cable (to attach to a television), and an RF switch and cable (to attach to a television). There are two standard controllers, as well as an orange and gray plastic pistol with cable that serves as a "Zapper" controller. The components are described in an instruction booklet entitled "Control Deck." The objects are stored in a blue cloth case with red handles and yellow trim. Also in the case is a "Wizards & Warriors" game cartridge. The copyright date on the game is 1985, the copyright date on the accompanying instructions is 1990, hence the date assigned.

For related games, not received with this set, see 2003.0344.03 and 2003.0344.04.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: ca 1990
• Object Name: video game console
• Measurements: overall: 27.5 cm x 34 cm x 26.5 cm; 10 13/16 in x 13 3/8 in x 10 7/16 in
• place made: Japan
• ID Number: 2012.0216.01
• catalog number: 2012.0216.01
• accession number: 2012.0216
• Credit Line: Gift of Cassandra Jerde and Brandon Balfanz
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.