Nintendo Entertainment System

This is the classic - the system that started everything. And as Sony, Microsoft (Xbox) and Nintendo work on getting out their 2005-2006 models, the original Nintendo (NES) system is still the classic. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was launched in 1984 and sparked an entire industry and a generation of Nintendo lines: SNES, N64, Gamecube, and the forthcoming Nintendo...

The NES originally came with two basic controllers (a up-down-left-right pad, start, select, and the A & B buttons). In fact, Nintendo was the first system to introduce the directional pad... and another interesting note - Nintendo actually invented it! By today's standards, the controller seems ordinary - but in 1984 it was sensationally different and still more-than-adequate for their games. If you were lucky enough to buy one of the first bundles, you also got the Duck Hunt gun. The gun was used to shoot flying ducks in the original Duck Hunt game.

The lasting appeal of the NES is evident in many ways. First, the NES is still ubiquitous - plenty available and being bought on eBay, all over college campuses, etc. In fact, 15 years after selling my original system in a Washington Post classified ad, I re-purchased on from eBay! Second, the games continue to be brought back to life - in arcades, on PC, on Gameboy and other consoles. While new games are graphically more interesting, the original NES games are lastingly challenging, fun, and interesting.

In my opinion, Nothing will ever beat the gold cartridge that is Zelda. That game was - and continues to be - my favorite video game of all time.

If you are shopping for a Nintendo system on eBay, I recommend pricing both the console and a bundle. Many bundles are available that include the console, controllers, adapters and games. Whether you are looking to add a specific game or pricing a bundle - try to include these games:

# Super Mario Bros
# The legend of Zelda
# Spy vs. Spy
# Duck Hunt
# Ducktales
# Final Fantasy
# Super Mario Bros. 3
# Little Ninja Bros
# Contra
# Tecmo Superbowl
# Double Dragon II
# Ice Hockey
# Mega Man