Remember the '80s? The Goonies, leg warmers, Duran Duran and most importantly the Power Line. Yes, back when there was no internet (not even dial-up!) Nintendo fans struggling with a particular game could contact the call line for handy tips and hints from "Nintendo Game Play Counselors" (imagine having that on your CV). Now with the release of the NES Classic Edition on November 11th, Nintendo of America is going all retro and bringing back the much loved service, sort of.
From November 11th to 13th, between the hours of 6am to 7pm Pacific Time, the one-of-a-kind service returns to help those in need of game progression. Okay, not quite. This time around dialing (425) 885-7529 in the US will put you through to an automated version that recounts some recorded tips actually given out when the service was live. There is even the chance to hear behind-the-scene tales from original Nintendo Counselors. Gnarly dude!
Alongside the Power Line, fans that are lucky enough to visit the Nintendo NY store will be treated to a radical '80s-themed event to celebrate the release of the Mini-NES. On launch night (Nov 10th) the first 250 visitors will have a chance to try out some of the included games. There'll also be a costume contest that will allow people to dress as iconic gaming characters or '80s figures (a rare opportunity to have both Mario and Mr. T in the same room) with an ultimate retro quiz to show off knowledge. That'll start at 9pm ET if you're in the vicinity; it might be worth grabbing your Walkman and skating on down.
Lastly, NoA will be continuing the celebrations on social media, hosting a "Remembering #NESterday" campaign. From November 10th the hashtag can be used by fans to share their fondest memories of Nintendo's original console.
Will you be joining the totally righteous celebrations? Are you old enough to actually remember when the NES came out? Confess all below.
Comments 35
Why didn't Nintendo celebrate Zelda's 30th anniversary like this?
BTW, I'm not old enough to remember the NES, but I still love it.
no i am not old enough to remember the nes coming out but i do remember the wii u coming out 😉
The NES Classic Edition was a day one purchase for me, now not so much, here in Mexico you need to pay 130 dollars for the console and the extra controller, it's insane!
Old enough but was enjoying my sega master system.
Time to break out that mullet and stone washed jeans.
Haha, I spent like 20 dollars once calling this hotline back during my LttP days. My mom was furious.
@Xaessya Mullets weren't cool back in the 90's either.
@Xaessya Is that a young Pat Sharp?
And Europe gets what? Nothing?
Oh no wait, we get the added expense of buying a separate plug.
Nor do we get the poster featured at 1:30 in the video below.
@iamblinker
But you can easily obtain peyote there, so it's a trade off
@Ryu_Niiyama
Rat-tails were the best
According to the store website
http://www.nintendonyc.com/
the party is 6-8PM Thursday night.
Their twitter page says 9-11PM. Go figure, it's Nintendo.
https://twitter.com/NintendoNYC/status/793930752274509824
@Xaessya
Marble wash jeans. 😎
I use to call that line for everything. The BlasterMaster final enemy. I didn't know I just beat Athena. I asked them," Was that it for the ending"? I was so mad I hung up. Why wasn't there a boss fight in Goonies 2? I remember my mom being so mad about the phone bill. I remember calling them because I was waiting so long for Earthbound 64 to come out. I asked them, "What's the hold up". I was so mad.
The Nes was my very first home console and it will always hold a spot in my gaming heart.
Even though I think the NES Classic is an awesome idea, I'm still deciding if I should get one or not considering the fact I have an old NES with most of the games that are on the NES Classic.
@Xaessya I love that pic. When I was younger I wanted to BE that kid. I remember the NES pretty well, actually just bought a top loader NES and played it a bunch the last couple of days. I may skip out on the NES Mini because, while it's a cool collectible, there are more than those 30 games that I want on the NES. Small selection if you ask me. But yeah being born in 83 I was old enough to experience the NES the first time around.
Please do not put Mario and Mr. T in the same room. The world will explode!
I was just born when the NES was official released in all of North America, so I do have couple of great years remembering this amazing system! I mainly played cartoony type games back then, like Mario, TMNT, Ducktales, Felix the Cat etc. and never really got into Castlevania and Contra until the beginning of the SNES days.
@Xaessya
ducktales poster is sweet
@Senpai_Bruh
that's my deal too. bought my cousin's NES off him in like '91, kept it and have almost all of the games I would want here still in my collection so limited appeal for me. others I wouldn't sant at all (like balloon fight and ice climbers and zelda 2 blech.) and the last few I have on VC or could get carts for less than $60.
But to those who weren't around or didn't keep there's it should be a fun nostalgia trip.
biggest reason I wouldn't bite is that there's no way to expand the library. wait for NES Classic SPECIAL edition with the usb port
My mum bought a NES for me and my bro on sale from Woolworths. I think it was 20-odd pounds with 2 controllers and super Mario bros. Many fond memories playing Zelda 2, Maniac Mansion, Duck Hunt, Turtles. Also Ocean's Robocop 2 and Rescue Embassy Mission.
I was born in 88 so I don't have those real authentic memories of those times. Best I can remember is the mid 90s and up with my NES (well brother's at the time).
I can't imagine calling a hotline for help in a game, but then again I can remember waiting at least 5 minutes for a webpage to load on a dial-up connection for game tips.
The biggest fear is having a call come in on the same line.
@WilliamCalley Oh I remember those monstrosities. I used to threaten to cut my brother's off when he made me mad.
That's pretty cool.
I'm old. I remember the NES launch... Heck, I was around for Pong!
Best part about the NES was that there were plenty to go around. No lining-up hours before doors opened and STILL not getting one.
Imagine just being able to walk into any game/toy store at any time and simply buying one.
Crazy talk, right?
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
man you're right, I just checked out an unboxing and it doesn't come with the poster >
I don't care about the power adapter but not giving us the poster sucks.
@samuelvictor They were great stores. A shame to see them close after so many years.
imma bookmark this page cuz i have to dial that number lol
@SuperToe Pong, baby. You and me both. In on the ground floor.
I was born 1980 so the NES wasn't the first console I played but it was the first one I was addicted too.
Also Rob was freaking awesome no matter what anyone says. IT WAS A ROBOT!
It really is time they put a Nintendo Store in London, I must say. I'm so fed up with America getting all these big launch events while we get nothing. Maybe once the Big N gets a better foothold in the console race again they'll consider it. I'm not holding my breath, however.
@speeedracer216 I got mine from a friend in a yard sale and it came with 35 games! Since I now have the NES I can get more games for it which is pretty cool. This is one reason I might not get the NES Classic
NESterday! Clever!
30+ years of gaming and my first owned home console. It's my duty to obtain this system. As an added irony, my mom will be buying it for me, just like my NES from '88
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