NES Hardware

The System:After the video game crash, Nintendo first released the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985 along with R.O.B. and the Zapper to make this seem like a toy rather than a video game to get this on store shelves. It ended up reviving the video game industry in North America. Nintendo had released the Famicom in Japan a few years earlier and the NES is the international version of the Famicom. The NES has a front-loading VCR style design, rather than a top-loading design like the Famicom. This made it look less like a video game system. It was a success.

Several years after the NES was first released, Nintendo released the top loader which was a cheaper, cost-cutting version of the NES. As the name suggests, rather than the cartridge slot being at the front of the console, it is on top of the console. Rather than the rectangular controllers of the original NES, it had rounder controllers, also known as the dog bone controller. The top loader removed the lockout chip and it also removed the ability to use composite video so the top loader only has RF.

NES Controller: A simple controller but a good one. There is a directional pad and two action buttons along with a select button and a start button.

NES Zapper: The light gun. Used with games like Duck Hunt. Was originally released in gray but was later released in orange to make it look less like a real gun.

R.O.B.: A robot who is only used with Gyromite and Stack-Up.

NES Advantage: An arcade stick. Has a joystick and turbo buttons.

NES Max: A controller with a circular directional pad and turbo buttons.

Power Pad: A floor mat that you step on to control the game. Used with games such as World Class Track Meet.

NES Four Score Allows you to use up to four controllers with your system at a time.

NES Satellite Like the Four Score but it uses infrared to extend the range of your controllers.

Console Bundles: The Nintendo Entertainment System was released in many different bundles while they were being made:

• Control Deck: Just the system but some came with Super Mario Bros.
• Deluxe Set: Came with R.O.B. the Zapper, Duck Hunt, and Gyromite. There is also a version from the test market without the deluxe set wording.
• Action Set: Came with the Zapper and a Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt cartridge. There are both gray and orange Zapper versions and a version with a different box design. This is the most common bundle.
• Power Set: Came with the Power Pad and the Zapper along with a 3-in-1 cartridge Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet. There are both gray and orange Zapper versions.
• Sports Set: Came with NES Satellite, four controllers and a Super Spike V'ball/Nintendo World Cup cartridge.
• Challenge Set: Came with Super Mario Bros. 3.