This Object in History: Nintendo

The mid-1980s were a wasteland for the American video game market, with consumers torn between quarter-guzzling arcade machines and sub-par home consoles, such as the Atari 2600. Enter the NES from Japanese giant, Nintendo; it featured unprecedented graphics, fun characters, and great value. By the 1990s, Mario was more recognizable than Mickey Mouse, and a third of US homes had one. And so does the Smithsonian: one of the original models, displayed at the National Museum of American History. Join us for a glimpse at a true "game-changer." (05:27)