How The NES Conquered A Skeptical America In 1985 | War Stories | Ars Technica
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 Published On Oct 29, 2020

Today on War Stories, Ars Technica is joined by Gail Tilden, the visionary marketing mind behind Nintendo of America's triumphant launch of the NES in 1985. 35 years ago, Nintendo knew they had a winner on their hands with the revolutionary Nintendo Entertainment System. However, following the early-1980’s collapse of the U.S. video game market, skeptical retailers and consumers alike would prove a difficult obstacle in bringing their product to the masses. Learn surprising details about the ups and downs Gail and her band of colleagues overcame in making the NES the cultural icon it is today, the methodology and partnerships that went into convincing doubtful retailers, and how Nintendo ultimately persuaded millions of families to open their living rooms to more than "just the next fad." If Gail's interviews for "High Score" on Netflix left you wanting more, this episode has you covered.

--
00:00 Introduction
00:58 A Famicom For The U.S.
05:54 Convincing America That This Was New
10:52 The NES - Fun For The Whole Family
19:44 Now You’re Playing With Power
--

Footage used in this video:
News Report: Nintendo's Revival of the Video Game Industry. December 1988
   • News Report: Nintendo's Revival of th...  

The Best NINTENDO Arcades
   • Best NINTENDO Classics Arcade Games  

Game & Watch - Flagman (c)1980 Nintendo [MAME emulation footage]
   • Game & Watch - Flagman (c)1980 Ninten...  

Nintendo - Mario's Cement Factory Video Game Commercial - 1983
   • Nintendo - Mario's Cement Factory Vid...  

Very first Nintendo Family Computer Commercial [1983]
   • Very first Nintendo Family Computer C...  

Famicom commercials
   • Famicom commercials  

NES TV Commercials (1986-1994) - NintendoComplete
   • NES TV Commercials (1986-1994) - Nint...  

NUTS FOR NINTENDO special on ABC news 2020 from 1988
   • NUTS FOR NINTENDO special on ABC news...  

16 Minutes of Atari 2600 Commercials from the 70s / 80s
   • 16 Minutes of Atari 2600 Commercials ...  

Excavating the Atari E.T. Video Game Burial Site-GameLife-WIRED
   • Excavating the Atari E.T. Video Game ...  

Early NES Nintendo Commercial featuring ROBtherobot
   • Early NES Nintendo Commercial featuri...  

Nintendo Zapper Commercial
   • Nintendo Zapper Commercial  

Duck Hunt (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
   • Duck Hunt (NES) Playthrough - Nintend...  

Golf (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
   • Golf (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComp...  

Clu Clu Land - NES Gameplay
   • Clu Clu Land - NES Gameplay  

Ice Climber - NES Gameplay
   • Ice Climber - NES Gameplay  

Parents Upset Over New Nintendo Console - Super Nintendo - Circa 1991
   • Parents Upset Over New Nintendo Conso...  

Ninja Kid - NES Gameplay
   • Ninja Kid - NES Gameplay  

Baseball (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
   • Baseball (NES) Playthrough - Nintendo...  

Mario Bros. (Nintendo, 1986) - NES Gameplay HD
   • Mario Bros. (Nintendo, 1986) - NES Ga...  

1980s Electrical store 1980s Dixons British Retail British Shops TV Eye 1986
   • 1980s Electrical store | 1980s Dixons...  

Nintendo-Published NES Games (1985-1986)
   • Nintendo-Published NES Games (1985-1986)  

RealSports Tennis for the Atari 8-bit family
   • RealSports Tennis for the Atari 8-bit...  

The Console Wars -- XMas 1990
   • The Console Wars --  XMas 1990  

Teddy Ruxpin Commercial
   • Teddy Ruxpin Commercial  

Punch-Out!! - NES Gameplay
   • Punch-Out!! - NES Gameplay  

My Top 10 BEST Issues of Nintendo Power
   • My Top 10 BEST Issues of Nintendo Power  

1990 Nintendo Power Commercial
   • 1990 Nintendo Power Commercial  

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How The NES Conquered A Skeptical America In 1985 | War Stories | Ars Technica

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