Nintendo’s had a long history of odd ads – from funky dance Zelda to The Turtles’ Smash Bros – so it’s interesting to get a look at where it all began. The company’s first video game television advertisement was a 30 second Game & Watch ad that is strikingly simple, and absurdly catchy.
The commercial isn’t particularly complex – it’s mostly just a chorus of enthusiastic Japanese people saying “Game & Watch!” over and over again – but there is a bit of a kitschy ’80s charm to it. It even includes a small section listing out various G&W games towards the end, and explains the system’s built-in watches (hence the name of the product). While not quite as eventually iconic as some other Nintendo commercial favorites, it’s clear that from the beginning Nintendo had the same fun attitude it still holds today. You, too, can enjoy the slice of Nintendo history right below!
Written by Amelia Fruzzetti
A writer and Nintendo fan based in Seattle, Washington. When not working for NinWire, she can be found eating pasta, writing stories, and wondering about when Mother 3 is finally going to get an official localization.
