Chapter 03 of 5
The Great Reset
Saving the video game industry from the 1983 crash with the NES and Mario.
- Crisis Point
The Great Crash
By 1983, the US video game market collapsed due to low-quality software and consumer apathy. Most companies fled the industry, leaving behind a $3 billion graveyard.
- Bold Strategy
The Trojan Horse
To avoid the 'video game' stigma, Nintendo marketed the Famicom as the 'Nintendo Entertainment System' (NES). They rebranded it as a sophisticated toy rather than a console.
- Design Pivot
Camouflage Design
The US version discarded the colorful Japanese shell for a 'VCR-style' front-loading deck. This made it fit perfectly into American living room entertainment centers.
17 more cards in this chapter
Could you answer this?
How did Nintendo initially market the NES in America to avoid being associated with the failing video game industry?
🍄 The Nintendo Company
- 01Hanafuda & HazardHow a handmade card company in 1889 Kyoto laid the groundwork for a giant.
- 02The Toymaker's LabFrom 'Love Testers' to 'Ultra Hands': Nintendo's quirky 1960s invention era.
- 03The Great ResetSaving the video game industry from the 1983 crash with the NES and Mario.
- 04The Blue Ocean StrategyHow the Wii and DS disrupted the 'Specs War' and changed who plays games.
- 05The Infinite PlaygroundThe Switch era, theme parks, and Nintendo’s future as a lifestyle brand.