Toys R Us Has The NES
Nintendo has been busy trying to get retailers to carry its new gaming console. It’s been difficult to penetrate the mainstream stores due to the video game crash of 1983 and into 1984, which resulted in massive clearances and losses for many in the business. There’s good news however, as one of the most recognizable kids stores, Toys R Us, is now stocking the NES in New York and surrounding areas.
In its latest print ad, Toys R Us shows off the new NES, calling it the “Nintendo Video Robot Entertainment System”. Notice the absence of the words video and game? That’s because robots are all the rage right now with Transformers and Go-Bots, so who wouldn’t want an interactive robot to help play? The price is very competitive at $139.97 and a great deal for this powerful 8-bit gaming machine.
If you still have an Atari 2600 (and who doesn’t?), Toys R Us has quite a few bargains under $10. Games like Empire Strikes Back, Centipede, Dig Dug, and Ms. Pac-Man can be bought on the cheap. There are also some Commodore 64 games listed, with Zaxxon being a great deal at $7.97.
We have been hearing reports from some retailers that the NES is sold out and they are expecting more stock from Nintendo this week. This is fantastic news for the industry as it might be a sign that it’s ready for a comeback. We expect Nintendo to expand its distribution to more areas of the country if this New York area launch performs well.
Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.
