Nintendo Brings Back the ’80s to Celebrate the Launch of the NES Classic Edition
The Power Line Returns for One Weekend Only!
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Like, oh my gosh! The ’80s are totally back and Nintendo is
totally embracing them with the Nov. 11 launch of the Nintendo
Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition system, which includes 30
classic NES games such as Super Mario Bros., Metroid, Donkey
Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Kirby’s Adventure and PAC-MAN.
But it’s not just the launch of this awesome console that’ll crimp your
hair and tight roll your jeans:
-
On the night of Nov. 10, fans who visit the Nintendo
NY store in Rockefeller Plaza will have a blast in the past with
an ’80s-themed launch event. -
On launch weekend (Nov. 11-13), Nintendo is also bringing back its
righteously nostalgic Power Line for three days only. -
On Nov. 10 and Nov. 11, its social media channels will go completely
retro to a time when “social media” involved trading passwords and
game tips on the school bus.
Are you ready to go back in time? Grab your neon sunglasses and jelly
bracelets. Things are about to get radical.
“Many of us have fond and wonderful memories of the original NES,” said
Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and
Marketing. “With these launch activities for the NES Classic Edition, we
want to replicate the nostalgic feelings of sitting down and playing the
NES with your family for the first time.”
To kick off the launch, Nintendo will host a “Remembering #NESterday”
social media takeover starting on Nov. 10. By using the #NESterday
hashtag, Nintendo fans will be encouraged to share fond Nintendo gaming
memories and even present-day photos with their old NES consoles. Some
of these photos will be shared on Nintendo’s social media channels, and
people will also be able to participate in a Twitter sweepstakes that
will be just as tubular as you might expect.
On the night before the launch (Nov. 10) starting at 9 p.m. ET, Nintendo
invites you (and anyone who wants to party like it’s 1985) to the
Nintendo NY store for an ’80s-themed NES Classic Edition event. The
first 250 visitors can play classic NES games, participate in a costume
contest dressed as their favorite Nintendo characters or ’80s icons, and
show off their NES knowledge in the ultimate retro Nintendo game show.
When the clock ticks over to midnight on Nov. 11, the one-handed gloves
come off and the NES Classic Edition will be available to purchase,
while supplies last.
While playing one of the 30 great NES games included on the NES Classic
Edition during the weekend following the Friday launch, you might find
yourself puzzled by some of the more challenging games. (“How do I find
the first Warp Whistle in Super Mario Bros. 3?” you might ask
yourself.) If your memories of the original games fail you, no need to
fret. You can just call the Power Line, which will return and run from
Nov. 11 to Nov. 13, between the hours of 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT each day.
The original Power Line was a beloved service in the ’80s that connected
fans to Nintendo Game Play Counselors who offered helpful tips and
tricks. In this fully automated version, you can use your real-life
phone (bonus points if it has a cord!) to dial (425) 885-7529 to hear
recorded tips for several games, plus behind-the-scenes stories from
original Nintendo Game Play Counselors. You never know what you might
learn!
With 30 great NES games, a replica of the original NES controller, three
display modes (including one that makes your fancy hi-def display look
like a retro tube TV) and Suspend Points for easy on-the-spot saving,
the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition is a great value
at a suggested retail price of only $59.99. The stocking-sized console
launches on Nov. 11.
For more information about the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES
Classic Edition, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nes-classic.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of
interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan,
manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™
and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and
Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when
it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has
sold more than 4.4 billion video games and more than 696 million
hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U,
Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™,
Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi
XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo
GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons
that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™,
Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and
Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America
Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s
operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about
Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.
Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at http://press.nintendo.com,
a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the
site.
Contacts
GOLIN
Eddie Garcia, 213-335-5536
egarcia@golin.com
or
Rich
George, 415-318-4342
rgeorge@golin.com
