Nintendo Family Computer/ Famicom launch | The release of NES ancestor | Techday, July 15th
On this TECHDAY in history, on July 15th 1983, the Nintendo Family Computer, or Famicom, was released in Japan. The gaming console which, two years later, would give birth to the Nintendo Entertainment System, or simply NES, the most successful game console of the 80s. The Famicom, was a console that used cartridges, designed as a toy, emphasized in its red and white design. By the end of 1984, and before it made its way to the US and Europe, the Famicom had sold 2.5 million units in Japan alone, displacing its rival, Sega’s SG-1000.
However, the console’s success quickly attracted third-party developers, and the Famicom’s library of games grew rapidly. The console’s success in Japan prompted Nintendo to release the Famicom in other markets, including North America, where released as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985.
The Famicom’s success in Japan and later in other markets, helped revive the video game industry, which had been in a slump since the video game crash of 1983. Eventually succeeded by the Super Famicom (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) in 1990, it remained popular in Japan until it officially discontinued in 2003. In total, the Famicom sold over 20 million units in Japan and over 60 million units worldwide. It’s considered a classic and helped establish Nintendo as a major player in the video game industry.
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Author: PC-GR
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