How the Original NES Flopped at Saving Games and the Innovations that Changed Everything
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was one of the most iconic video game consoles of the 1980s and early 1990s. However, one of the significant shortcomings of the NES was its limited ability to save game progress. This article explores how early developers managed to overcome these challenges and the innovations that finally brought save game functionality to the platform.
Early Challenges and Limitations
For the vast majority of NES games, there was no built-in mechanism to save game progress. Players were essentially forced to start from scratch every time they powered on the console. This was a frustrating experience for many gamers, but some games did offer alternative solutions such as hardcoded passwords or password generators.
Hardcoded Passwords and Password Generators
Many games, like Romman 2, Castlevania 2, and other titles, employed a password system. These passwords allowed players to resume their game from a specific point after reloading the cartridge. Although they could be frustrating to remember and input correctly, they represented a step forward in providing a semblance of progress persistence.
Special Carts with Internal Storage
Some games, such as the Castlevania series, Mario (particularly Mario 2 USA), and the Legend of Zelda series, utilized special chips with internal memory. For example, the first Legend of Zelda game featured a small clock battery that powered an internal memory chip. While these innovations were rare, they marked a significant improvement over starting from the beginning.
The Limits of Early Memory Chips
Despite these early attempts, the limitations of the technology meant that these solutions were quite rudimentary and often finicky. For instance, one game would provide a code that you could input to retain some progress. Versions of this code would typically be difficult to remember and might not always work as intended.
Rare and Unique Solutions
There were some unique cases, such as a certain Zelda game that may have had some form of persistent memory. However, whether it was rewritable ROM or battery-backed without a replaceable battery, the method remained limited to the cartridge itself and did not represent an industry-wide standard.
Advancing the State of Save Games
The true turning point in NES save game technology came with the introduction of the Famicom Disk System in Japan and the Virtual Boy Game Pak in North America. These systems allowed for game data to be saved externally, offering a more reliable and convenient way to save progress.
The Famicom Disk System
The Famicom Disk System, an add-on for the Famicom (Famicom being the Japanese version of the NES), provided a more advanced method of storing game data. The system used floppy disks to save game states, allowing players to continue their game on another console or at another time. This was a game-changer, as it offered a level of persistence that the original NES could not.
The Virtual Boy Game Pak
The Virtual Boy Game Pak for the American Virtual Boy offered similar functionality. While it was not as common as the Famicom Disk System, it nevertheless contributed to the advancement of save game technology on the NES platform.
Conclusion
The NES was undoubtedly one of the most influential consoles in gaming history, but its crude handling of save game technology is a testament to the rapidly evolving nature of the industry. The advancements brought about by the Famicom Disk System and the Virtual Boy Game Pak paved the way for future innovations in game persistence, ensuring that players could continue their adventures where they left off. Today, quick save and resume features are standard in modern gaming, but it was the ingenuity of early developers and the creativity of players that brought us one step closer to that reality.