NES accessories - Falmouth-Games-Academy/comp310-wiki GitHub Wiki

The NES had a lot of accessories, from specific controllers for games like Arkanoid 1(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkanoid) to 3D glasses 2(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famicom_3D_System).

Famicom 3D System

The Famicom 3D System was an exclusive accessory, only available in Japan. It's name comes from the abbreviation of "Family Computer", Famicom, which was the name of the NES when it was originally released in Japan.

Famicom 3D system [2]

The system is a pair of glasses which allow the player to view certain games in "3D". It was connected to the NES using an adapter which connects to the third player expansion port. The 3D experience was only available on specially programmed games such as Highway Star (also known as Rad Racer) 3(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rad_Racer).

The glasses used the shutter glass 3D method, this uses LCDs in the left and right lenses. The LCDs displays are synchronised to the specially programmed game, and each eye will see a different perspective to create a 3D effect 4(http://famicomworld.com/system/other/3d-system/).

The system was a commercial failure, which is why it never released outside of Japan 2(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famicom_3D_System). Despite it not being popular, the people who have used it tend to say it works quite well, one blog post said "It actually produces a very convincing 3D effect" 6(http://famicomblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/famicom-3d-system-bought-it-tried-it.html).

NES Advantage

The NES Advantage was released in 1987 as an arcade style controller. It was designed to have a similar feel to cabinet arcade game controls, featuring rubber switches for the buttons and joystick, a plastic exterior case, and four rubber feet. It contains adjustable turbo controls for the A and B buttons (e.g. how fast the A or B button is pressed) and a toggleable pseudo–slow motion feature by pressing the "slow" button. However, this feature was not compatible with many games that had start menus or pause screens 12(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NES_Advantage).

NES Four Score

The NES four score was an accessory released in 1990 which enabled you and three friends to play together on the same console. It came with a boost button which allowed turbo pushing of the A & B buttons. Alternatively it could be used as an extender for your controller which seems very pointless 5(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NES_Four_Score). It was able to be used on 25 games! 5(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NES_Four_Score)

NES Four Score

Power Pad

The Power Pad is a floor mat game controller for the NES. It is a grey mat with twelve pressure-sensors embedded between two layers of flexible plastic. It was originally developed by Bandai. It was known in Japan as 'Family Trainer' when it was released in 1986, and as 'Family Fun Fitness' both in North America and Europe in 1987 and 1988 respectively. Nintendo soon acquired the rights from Bandai, and renamed it 'Power Pad' only in North America, the remaining 'Family Fun Fitness' mats were recalled from stores to be re-branded. Bandai retained the rights to the product outside of North America 7(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Pad).

The Power Pad accessory when in use is to be laid out in front of the video display you are using for the various games it is compatible for. Normally games would require the Power Pad to be plugged into the second NES controller port, leaving the first NES controller port for a standard controller to select options within the game. To use to Power Pad, players step on the large buttons, there are two illustrated sides to the mat, Side A has eight buttons and Side B has 12 buttons 7(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Pad).

The Power Pad was the earliest version of floor mat controller, it is classed as a soft mat, compared to 'hard mats' which you would most commonly find in arcades. The Power Pad was the earliest successful crossover of gaming consoles and traditional exercise, which paved the way for more games to be made for the next generation of the Power Pad. Compared to the exercise games you can get today the Power Pad seems like a obsolete accessory but when it was first released it was one of a kind, and introduced a whole new genre in games.

Games using the Power Pad often tested players on their timing, coordination and memory. Here is a list of compatible games

NES Power Pad

Zapper

The NES zapper (also known as 'The Gun' or 'Beam Gun' is an electric light gun accessory for the NES and Japanese Famicom. It was originally released in Japan on February 1984 and was also released in October 1985 following the release of the NES in North America.

The Zapper allows the player to aim at their television and "shoot" various objects that appear on the screen such as ducks, clay pigeons, targets, cowboys, criminals or other objectives. The Zapper is used on supported NES games, such as Duck Hunt and Wild Gunman. The Zapper could also be used on the title screens of games to move the cursor—done by pointing the device away from the screen and pulling the trigger—or starting the game (pointing at the screen and pulling the trigger) 8(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NES_Zapper).

NES Zapper

Power Glove

The Power Glove was another accessory for the NES that was actually another controller. The Power Glove gained public attention due to its early virtual reality mechanics and being shown in various forms of media. However, its two games did not sell well, as it was not packaged with a game, and it was criticized for its imprecise and difficult-to-use controls.

The Power Glove was released in 1989 but was only in retail until 1990. Whilst it was an officially licensed product by Nintendo, they weren't involved with the design or the release of the product itself. It was instead designed by Grant Goddard and Samuel Cooper Davis for Abrams/Gentile Entertainment (AGE), made by Mattel in the United States 10(https://web.archive.org/web/20150525222703/http://www.ageinc.com/tech/index.html) and PAX in Japan. Additional development was accomplished through the efforts of Thomas G. Zimmerman and Jaron Lanier, a virtual reality pioneer responsible for codeveloping and commercializing the DataGlove 11(https://web.archive.org/web/20081230194222/http://www.laparoscopic.md/surgery/robotics/history.html), who had made a failed attempt at a similar design for Nintendo earlier.

Only two games were released that supported the Power Glove, Super Glove Ball and Bad Street Brawler. Super Glove Ball was a faux-3D puzzle maze game and Bad Street Brawler was a classic beat 'em up. Alongside these two games, a further three more games were announced for the Power Glove but unfortunately were never released, these were, 'Glove Pilot', 'Manipulator Glove Adventure' and 'Tech Town'(also known as 'Tektown').

NES Power Glove

References

List of Nintendo Entertainment System accessories

Discussion

Here is a list of all the accessories for the NES!