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.’ Watch Full Episodes Here: https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/ Paramount+ is here! Stream all your favorites shows now on Paramount+. Try it FREE at https://bit.ly/3qyOeOf #Nintendo #ThisObjectInHistory #SmithsonianChannel Subscribe to The Smithsonian Channel: https://bit.ly/2FE6OSh Twitter: https://bit.ly/33lH712 Instagram: https://bit.ly/3iw9Iay Facebook: https://bit.ly/3kkVOZp