Nintendo Entertainment System Oddities

25 years ago, the blockbuster console hit the US for the first time. And the country's been a little stranger ever since.

Posted by  | Monday, October 18, 2010


Shout to Fire

The very uncommon Konami LaserScope was essentially a head-mounted NES Zapper light gun. It also incorporated headphones that plugged into the NES’s audio out jack.

According to Konami, if a player wearing the LaserScope shouted “Fire!” into the unit’s built-in microphone, the device would fire a shot on screen. In reality, one could make any loud noise to operate the device, including a cough or a sneeze. As a former owner of the LaserScope, I can tell you first-hand that it was bulky, uncomfortable, and annoying to use; it’s no surprise that few people have heard of it.

Photo: RetroGamingConsoles



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10 Comments For This Post

  1. Angry Reader Says:

    How about a ONE PAGE article (instead of 14 pages) ?

  2. Jesse Says:

    cause his advertisers pay less.

    this is the state of "tech media"

    there are worse ones though, like when engadget theme's there entire page like a zune or android, because whatever company there skinning has literally bought there souls.

  3. bob nelson Says:

    you forgot the rock 'n roller, my favorite skate or die accessory 🙂

  4. jezra Says:

    the only thing worse than this being a multipage article, is the deletion of comments about how this should not be a multipage article.

  5. Zach Baker Says:

    Just wanted to post my work at a nintendo PC. I don't think I was the first to attempt this, but …
    http://zachrybaker.comt/projects/Nintendo/Nintend

  6. Max Says:

    Thanks for another great retrospective Harry.

    As for the multiple pages, at least he provides direct links to all pages from the first one (unlike some sites). That allows you to middle click all the links, then just close a tab as you read each page.

    Not as nice as all on one page, but its really not so bad.

  7. joemama Says:

    This is a good post. 1 page would suffice. I remember when I got a nintendo back when I was 9 and it just came out. Amazing how far these systems have come, but I still love the nintendo games!!! Zelda was my favorite. I might play it again when my kids grow and I have time. But fun times!!!!!!!!

  8. kimi53 Says:

    good story. I still have my NES and 12 or so games and still play them (favs are duck hunt, FBI academy, and caveman games), most work well and the box works fine. never once had a problem! thanks for the trip down memory lane!

  9. diek Says:

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  10. Arnum Says:

    Oh My, what kinda sick parents went out and bought a 'Homework First'. Well, mine would have if they knew it existed. We spent/invested/wasted so many of our early teens playing games like RC Racer.