Nearly a decade before the Game Boy was released, a ‘Time Out’ commercial aired in North America. Chris Kohler discovered the segment on a film reel and then promptly gave the footage to The Video Game History Foundation.
Nintendo basically licensed the Game & Watch LCD game to Mego, which explains why you see their logo on the front of the casing. Turn the handheld around, and you’ll still find Nintendo’s logo embossed on the rear panel. If authentic, The Video Game History Foundation believes Time Out is the first American commercial for a Nintendo product.
- The classic system that changed gaming history is back!
- Get into spirit for the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. with Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros., out November 13th!
- This special system includes: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Ball (Mario version) and a digital clock
One day while browsing eBay, I happened upon a film reel containing a TV commercial for Time-Out, the first game in the series. I reached a deal with the seller and handed the film over to the VGHF right after I got it. The box notes that the film is credited to ‘Lion Rock Ltd.,’ which was a division of Mego. It is dated to June 25, 1980, just a couple of months after Nintendo of America was incorporated,” said Kohler.
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