NES

NES is a video game platform.


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The NES was launched when the video game industry was headed downhill due to a deluge of poor games and over-saturation. Nintendo's first home gaming console became an enormous success and managed to pull industry back to its feet.

Overview
The Nintendo Entertainment System logo
The Nintendo Entertainment System logo

The Nintendo Entertainment System (often abbreviated as "NES," and sometimes called simply "Nintendo"), was Nintendo's first attempt to attract home consumers. The 8-bit video game console was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, and Australia in 1985 (although it was released in 1983 in Japan). In Japan and many other Asian countries, the NES was known as the Family Computer (or as it came to be later known: the Famicom). In some Asian countries, it was known as the Tata Famicom.

The Top Loader, or the NES2
The Top Loader, or the NES2

After the video game market crash of 1983, the NES was the perfect revitalization. Because of this, it was the best-selling video game console of all time. The NES introduced many conventions that have become standard including game controller layout and third-party software licensing.

A second version of the NES (known as the top loader) was released. The color scheme was virtually the same, but there were some minor differences. Cartridges were loaded into the top as opposed to from the front. This hardware revision virtually eliminated the common need for owners of the original console to blow into their cartridges before inserting to make them work thanks to its improved design.

Nintendo also released the PlayChoice-10. The PlayChoice-10 was an arcade cabinet that contained full versions of ten NES games. This was to capitalize on the success of arcades at the time, as well as compete with Sega's arcade versions of the Sega Genesis and Sega Master System. In addition to Nintendo's own games, many third party games also appeared on the PlayChoice-10.

Licensing
Nintendo's seal of quality
Nintendo's seal of quality


Nintendo's licensing techniques were both revolutionary and for a time, illegal. Nintendo had a veritable monopoly on the market at the time, so they encouraged developers to make games for their console. But, developers had to sign a contract stating they would only develop games for the NES. Also, a chip was instituted into the NES called the 10NES. If this same chip was not found in the cartridge, the game wouldn't load. Eventually, however, these business practices were ultimately outlawed.

Despite Nintendo's efforts, unlicensed games were still created for the system. Designers found ways to bypass the 10NES chip. One such way was to short circuit the chip, temporarily ceasing its function. However, Atari Games created unlicensed software for the NES under the name Tengen. Tengen didn't want to be held liable for short-circuiting and possibly damaging the NES, so they devised a chip (nicknamed Rabbit) that disabled the 10NES chip. It was later discovered that their patent was acquired illegally, and thus, they were sued by Nintendo and lost.

History
The Family Computer
The Family Computer

After the success of the arcade game in the 1980s, Nintendo looked to Masayuki Uemura to design a cartridge-based home console. It was first released in Japan on July 15, 1983. Three launch titles were available: Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Popeye. At first, the console was prone to crashes (due to a bad chip set). After a re-release with a new motherboard, the Famicom became incredibly popular.

In an effort to enter the North American market, Nintendo negotiated with Atari to release the Famicom as the Nintendo Advanced Video Gaming System, but the deal didn't get off the ground. In June of 1985, Nintendo unveiled the North American version of the Famicom; the NES. On October 18, 1985, the NES was released, along with eighteen launch titles: 10-Yard Fight, Baseball, Clu Clu Land, Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Duck Hunt, Excitebike, Golf, Gyromite, Hogan's Alley, Ice Climber, Kung Fu, Mach Rider, Pinball, Stack-Up, Tennis, Wild Gunman, Wrecking Crew, and Super Mario Bros.

NES Emulators

Japanese Famulator
Japanese Famulator
After the release of the NES a lot of companies made emulators for retro gamers. One example is the new release of the NES Emulator
Famulator Controller
Famulator Controller
"Famulator" in Japan created by "Cyber Gadget". The Famulator is a slimmer, thinner, and lighter version of the original NES. Although the models look totally different the cartridges fit perfectly and run perfectly. The Famulator was priced 2,980 Japanese Yen, which adds up to roughly 30 American Dollars, creating a cheap and small NES for retro gamers. The Famulator comes with two controllers with the typical A & B buttons but an add on with AA & BB which are just double the speed of the regular A & B buttons. The Famulator also includes the normal cables for connection to a display.


Technical Specifications

The infamous 10NES



  • CPU: 8-bit microprocessor (by Ricoh, based on MOS Technology 6502 core) operating at 1.79MHz on NTSC systems and 1.66MHz on PAL systems.
  • Memory: 2 KB of random access memory, 49,128 bytes of read-only memory
  • Video: Custom-made picture processing unit (by Ricoh) named RP2C02 (in NTSC models, operates at 5.37 MHz) and RP2C07 (in PAL models, operates at 5.32 MHz)
  • Color palette of 48 colors and 5 grays, 25 colors on one scanline
  •  64 sprites displayed on the screen simultaneously (sprites can be 8 x 8 pixels or 8 x 16 pixels)
  • Display resolution is 256 x 240 pixels (effective resolution of 256 x 224 pixels)
  • Audio: Ricoh RP2A03 on NTSC systems and Ricoh RP2A07 on PAL systems. Has 5 separate audio channels. Two pulse-wave, one triangle-wave, one white-noise and one DPCM channel.

NES games
Edit
Platform Name: NES
Release Date: Oct. 18, 1985
Online Support: False
Install Base: 61,900,000
Original Price: $200
Producing Company: Nintendo
Total Games: games
My gaming platforms.
a list of 7 items by Aaron
Consoles
a list of 8 items by G0rd0nFr33m4n
My Video Game Hardware
a list of 14 items by n1Nj4d00m
Mario
first in Donkey Kong
24
Luigi
first in Mario Bros.
13
Dr. Light
first in Mega Man
7
Princess Peach
first in Super Mario Bros.
7
Bowser
first in Super Mario Bros.
7
Dr. Wily
first in Mega Man
7
Mega Man
first in Mega Man
7
Michelangelo
first in
6
Raphael
first in
5
Leonardo
first in
5
Space
first in Spacewar!
48
Castle
first in
36
New York
first in
27
Jungle
first in
22
Cave
first in
19
The United States of America
first in The Oregon Trail
19
Sewer
first in Mario Bros.
19
Japan
first in
18
Underwater
first in
13
Desert
first in
11
Cheat Code
first in Manic Miner
297
2D
first in Tennis for Two Simulator
190
Jump
first in Donkey Kong
139
Virtual Console
first in
128
Side-Scrolling
first in
94
Boss Fight
first in DND
94
Bosses
first in DND
89
Game Over
first in
82
Death
first in
73
Tie-In
first in
73
Sword
first in
69
Gun
first in
65
Bomb
first in B-17 Bomber
62
Key
first in
35
Laser
first in
35
Spaceship
first in Spacewar!
33
Missile
first in
31
Car
first in
28
Shield
first in
26
Platform
first in Donkey Kong
26


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