Next week, two consoles that couldn’t be more different are being released. The first comes out November 10th from Sony, the Pro version of their PS4 and the company’s answer to Microsoft’s Project Scorpio. The other is being released by Nintendo, dropping the day after on the 11th, and is a miniature version of the NES that comes preloaded with 30 classic titles. Jury’s out on which will sell better, not that they’re in competition, but it looks like Nintendo is pulling out all the stops to have the NES Classic in the hands of every gamer that cares even an ounce about nostalgia. Their ultimate weapon? The Nintendo Power Line!
For those that don’t remember (which includes me as I was born in ’92), before the internet was being piped into every home in America, gamer’s were extremely limited when it came to discovering tips and tricks for their games on the NES system. So Nintendo devised the Nintendo Power Line, a phone number you could call if you ever needed help in a game. The ultimate precursor to micro transactions.
"While playing one of the 30 great NES games included on the NES Classic Edition during the weekend following the Friday launch, you might find yourself puzzled by some of the more challenging games. (“How do I find the first Warp Whistle in Super Mario Bros. 3?” you might ask yourself.) If your memories of the original games fail you, no need to fret. You can just call the Power Line, which will return and run from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13, between the hours of 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT each day. The original Power Line was a beloved service in the ’80s that connected fans to Nintendo Game Play Counselors who offered helpful tips and tricks. In this fully automated version, you can use your real-life phone (bonus points if it has a cord!) to dial (425) 885-7529 to hear recorded tips for several games, plus behind-the-scenes stories from original Nintendo Game Play Counselors. You never know what you might learn!"
Of course, we now do have the internet pumped into our houses, and this won't be like talking to another actual human being on the other end of the line, but for one weekend Nintendo seems to be determined to take us back ot 1989.
