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[[File:Radarscope.png|thumb]] |
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| − | '''''Radar Scope''''' is an arcade game by [[Nintendo]] released on [[1979]] in Japan and in the USA on [[1980]]. The game was a commercial failure |
+ | '''''Radar Scope''''' is an arcade game by [[Nintendo]] released on [[1979]] in Japan and in the USA on [[1980]]. The game was a commercial failure in the North America market, which eventually led Nintendo to replace all of the ''Radar Scope'' cabinets with the ''[[Donkey Kong (video game)|Donkey Kong]]'' video game. This move became Nintendo's saving grace as it didn't only return Nintendo to their former glory, but exceeded it completely. Ironically, Nintendo's biggest flop saved them and shot them to the top of the industry. The complete history of this is explained below. |
==History== |
==History== |
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| − | Nintendo was regularly delivering arcade video games to the market, most of which were simple shooters that were clones of previously released video games like ''Space Invaders''. Because of this, Nintendo was not yet a household name outside of Japan, and within their home country they weren't nearly as well known as they used to be. ''Radar Scope'' was set to be released in Japan, and |
+ | Nintendo was regularly delivering arcade video games to the market, most of which were simple shooters that were clones of previously released video games like ''Space Invaders''. Because of this, Nintendo was not yet a household name outside of Japan, and within their home country they weren't nearly as well known as they used to be. ''Radar Scope'' was set to be released in Japan, and it became relatively successful. Meanwhile, Nintendo opened up a new branch in the United States called Nintendo of America, and the president of the company ordered a large shipment of ''Radar Scope'' cabinets due to its success in Japan. Months and months later the game eventually came to America in New York, and retailers were severely disappointed with the game that Nintendo promised them. Time had passed since it was developed, and newer, more interesting games were already on the market that out shined this game completely. |
| − | + | With retailers rejecting Nintendo's new game, Nintendo of America was left with thousands of unused arcade units. They didn't want the units themselves to go to waste though, so they requested that Nintendo HQ make a game that they can use within the cabinets. Initially [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]], the president of Nintendo, assigned Shigeru Miyamoto to just remake the game and make it more modern for the players. Instead, Miyamoto made an entirely new game that wasn't even part of the shooting genre, but of a relatively new genre that had hardly been explored. He replaced the unused ''Radar Scope'' arcade units with his masterpiece ''Donkey Kong'', which upon release would become one of the most successful arcade games ever released, all thanks to an unsuccessful, uninspired shooter. |
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It should be noted that the soundbite used when the spaceship shoots in ''Radar Scope'' was used for Mario or Jumpman's walking in ''Donkey Kong''. |
It should be noted that the soundbite used when the spaceship shoots in ''Radar Scope'' was used for Mario or Jumpman's walking in ''Donkey Kong''. |
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Revision as of 13:54, 23 December 2015
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Radar Scope is an arcade game by Nintendo released on 1979 in Japan and in the USA on 1980. The game was a commercial failure in the North America market, which eventually led Nintendo to replace all of the Radar Scope cabinets with the Donkey Kong video game. This move became Nintendo's saving grace as it didn't only return Nintendo to their former glory, but exceeded it completely. Ironically, Nintendo's biggest flop saved them and shot them to the top of the industry. The complete history of this is explained below.
History
Nintendo was regularly delivering arcade video games to the market, most of which were simple shooters that were clones of previously released video games like Space Invaders. Because of this, Nintendo was not yet a household name outside of Japan, and within their home country they weren't nearly as well known as they used to be. Radar Scope was set to be released in Japan, and it became relatively successful. Meanwhile, Nintendo opened up a new branch in the United States called Nintendo of America, and the president of the company ordered a large shipment of Radar Scope cabinets due to its success in Japan. Months and months later the game eventually came to America in New York, and retailers were severely disappointed with the game that Nintendo promised them. Time had passed since it was developed, and newer, more interesting games were already on the market that out shined this game completely.
With retailers rejecting Nintendo's new game, Nintendo of America was left with thousands of unused arcade units. They didn't want the units themselves to go to waste though, so they requested that Nintendo HQ make a game that they can use within the cabinets. Initially Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president of Nintendo, assigned Shigeru Miyamoto to just remake the game and make it more modern for the players. Instead, Miyamoto made an entirely new game that wasn't even part of the shooting genre, but of a relatively new genre that had hardly been explored. He replaced the unused Radar Scope arcade units with his masterpiece Donkey Kong, which upon release would become one of the most successful arcade games ever released, all thanks to an unsuccessful, uninspired shooter.
It should be noted that the soundbite used when the spaceship shoots in Radar Scope was used for Mario or Jumpman's walking in Donkey Kong.
Trivia
- According to Nintendo's history, thousands of the cabinet was converted to Donkey Kong (video game), and went on to be a huge success.
- This game remain popular in Japan for a short period of time.