While the NES is famous for being the console that established Nintendo as a world-leader in the realm of video games, it's vital to remember that when it was initially pitched to US retailers, success was by no means a sure thing.
The Video Game Crash of 1983 had knocked retail confidence in games consoles and Nintendo actually had a hard time convincing major stores to even stock the product. In fact, it held a 'soft launch' in New York City on October 18th, 1985 to prove that there was demand for such a system.
Friend of the site Phil Summers (he's the guy who creates those amazing hand-drawn retro guides) has managed to trace some promotional flyers from the period and has been painstakingly cleaning them up to make them look flawless.
He's found one that pre-dates not only the 1985 New York 'soft launch' but the reveal of Lance Barr's iconic 'zero insertion force' design which was officially shown off to the public in June of the same year. The flyer also places a firm focus on R.O.B. the Robot – referred to as the 'Nintendo Video Robot' here – and shows an early console/controller design which was ultimately abandoned in favour of the machine we actually got in the February of the following year.
The very different-looking console on this flyer – which was referred to as the Nintendo Advanced Video System at the time – has a top-loading cartridge system (and appears to be using Famicom carts) while the controllers have a square D-pad not entirely unlike the one which would make its way onto the Sega Master System joypad.
It's a curious look at what could have been, and we'd recommend checking out some of Summer's other clean-up jobs – the one which features a man wearing a C3PO costume back-to-front is especially cool.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 22
Wow, I've never seen this before. Really like that console design, very sleek. It's not a million miles from the Xbox One actually.
Not an illusive ad. The people who bought these stocks now are probably REALLY very rich.
Thank Rob they shifted to a proper d-pad. It'd be nice if we could get a modern controller with a decent d-pad again sometime.
That almost looks like the PS2slim. Very chique.
I do understand why they went with something more closely resembling a VCR though. Everyone were getting those at the time. It was a rsensible high-tech thing to buy.
The cartridge sticking out of the top was something people had seen on the Atari, which is exactly what Nintendo DIDN'T want to remind anyone of.
Plus, front-loading meant the system would fit nicely under the TV.
Wow, that console looks like Elon Musk's latest car!
Still, I'm glad they didn't release a NES with non-detachable controllers.
Ahh me old mate Phil uploaded these.
The console design itself looked a hell of a lot better than the plastic front loader that we ultimately ended up getting, but I'm glad that they never made those controllers, because they really don't look like they would have done a better job than the ones we know and love.
I thought we all knew about this.
Are they using phone-style cords to plug the controllers in? (OMG, there's probably a whole generation now who is not used to phones needing to be plugged into designated wall jacks in order to receive calls!)
I've always loved this design. Not necessarily the controllers but the system itself. Interesting the controller cord plugs look like just phone jacks.
The top load design would have been the better way to go (which they eventually did).
@Agriculture They actually did in Japan, the original Famicom had controllers attached to the console.
I also read once that with that design above Nintendo was looking to make the controllers infrared wireless.
Looks like a larger Colecovision clone.
@JayJ Yes, and the cords even attached on the back. The famicom is a much better design in every way, except that.
Lovely design, always preferred the Famicom over US/UK console to be honest.
on one hand, looks better.
on the other hand, final version had batter controllers design wise.
You can see a physical prototype of the AVS at the Nintendo NY store in NYC.
@kepsux Have you checked out the 8bitdo SN30 Pro+ ? I like it better than the Pro Controller (which has a decent enough dpad, at least ) - particularly for dpad focused games.
@Tandoori I've heard that, but have not used one. The recently released SNES controller Nintendo made has a perfectly fine d-pad too, what I meant more is on a controller bundled with the system it's a bit of a bummer there is no d-pad, and as a result I spent a lot on a pro controller that has one, but is terrible. It's amazing they messed this up after perfecting it in the 80s hahaha
@Ooccoo_Jr @Ooccoo_Jr
is it even real?
check the joypad connectors.
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