Nintendo UK

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Nintendo UK is the name used for Nintendo's operations in the United Kingdom. It is part of Nintendo of Europe, which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd. [1]

Contents

Nintendo UK has existed in various forms, beginning in 1988 with the UK office of NES International (NESI), after Nintendo took over UK distribution of the Nintendo Entertainment System from Mattel. [2] [3] [4]

In 1993 Nintendo UK Entertainment Limited was the first company to use the name "Nintendo UK" after Nintendo again took over UK distribution of its products, this time from Bandai. [5] [6]

In January 2001 UK distribution was returned again to Nintendo from Total Home Entertainment (THE) Games Limited, a subsidiary of John Menzies. [6] Nintendo UK was established as a branch of Nintendo of Europe GmbH and registered to the Companies Act 1985, [7] moving offices to Slough. [5] Previously Nintendo's UK operations had been situated in Eastleigh, Hampshire. [8]

In 2006 Nintendo UK's offices were moved from Slough to Windsor, where they remain as of 2021. [9]

History

Game&watch-donkey-kong-2.jpg

1980: Game & Watch

Nintendo's Game & Watch handheld electronic games were imported and sold in the UK by Computer Games Limited (CGL), a trading name of UK electronics company Betacom. [10]

Game & Watch Ball, Vermin and Fire were the first Game & Watch games released by CGL in 1980 and were priced at about £20 each. [11]

CGL continued to release Game & Watch games in the UK throughout the 1980s, all branded with the CGL logo but otherwise unchanged with the exception of Helmet, which was renamed to Headache. [12]

Game & Watch games released in the UK by CGL
TitleSeriesModelRelease Date (Global)Release Date (UK)
BallSilverAC-011980-04-281980 [11]
FlagmanSilverFL-021980-06-05Unknown
VerminSilverMT-031980-07-101980 [11]
FireSilverRC-041980-07-311980 [11]
JudgeSilverIP-051980-10-04Unknown
ManholeGoldMH-061981-01-291981 [13]
Helmet (Headache)GoldCN-071981-02-211981 [13]
LionGoldLN-081981-04-291981 [13]
ParachuteWide ScreenPR-211981-06-191981 [12]
OctopusWide ScreenOC-221981-07-161981 [12]
PopeyeWide ScreenPP-231981-08-051982 [14]
ChefWide ScreenFP-241981-09-081982 [14]
Mickey MouseWide ScreenMC-251981-10-091982 [14]
EggWide ScreenEG-261981-10-09Unknown
FireWide ScreenFR-271981-12-04Unknown
Turtle BridgeWide ScreenTL-281982-02-011982 [15]
Fire AttackWide ScreenID-291982-03-26
Snoopy TennisWide ScreenSP-301982-04-28
Donkey Kong arcade at the QuakeCon 2005.png

1981: Nintendo arcade games

1981: Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong was the first of Nintendo's arcade games to gain mainstream recognition in the UK, arriving in UK arcades in late 1981. [16]

Owing to its popularity, many official and unofficial versions of the game were released. In 1982, Nintendo's own Donkey Kong Game & Watch game was released by CGL in the UK. [17] [18] Coleco's official licensed Atari 2600 version of Donkey Kong [19] was also released in the UK in 1982, with Computer & Video Games magazine reporting that "...shops who managed to get hold of advance copies of the game before Christmas sold out in a matter of days". [20] In 1986 official licensed ports of Donkey Kong were released by UK-based software development company Ocean Software for the ZX Spectrum [21] (£7.95), [22] MSX, [23] Commodore 64 [24] (£8.95) [22] & Amstrad CPC. [25]

Unofficial Donkey Kong-like games developed and released in the UK
TitleDeveloperPlatformRelease Date (UK)
Crazy KongGrandstandGrandstand1982 [26]
Crazy Kong 64Interceptor MicrosCommodore 641983 [27]
Killer GorillaMicro PowerBBC Mirco1983
Killer KongMark PhillipsCommodore VIC-201984 [28]

1982: Donkey Kong Jr. [29]

1983: Popeye [30]

1984: Donkey Kong 3 [31]

1984: Punch-Out!! [32] [33]

1985: VS. Golf [33]

1985: VS. Tennis [33]

1986: VS. Super Mario Bros. [34]

1987: PlayChoice-10

Nintendo's PlayChoice-10 multi-game arcade machine was distributed in the UK by Electrocoin Automatics Limited [35] [36] [37] from 1987, to coincide with the UK release of the NES, allowing players to try the latest NES games and also to preview possible upcoming releases "for as little as ten pence". [38] The arcade machine itself cost "around £2000". [39] According to the March 1988 issue of The Games Machine it had been "proving very successful in many pub sites around London". [40]

NES-Console-Set.jpg

1987: Nintendo Entertainment System

1987: Mattel

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched in the UK in May 1987, [41] [42] [43] [44] after Japan (1983), the US (1985) and Scandinavia (1986). [45]

Prior to launch, around mid-1986 it was speculated that Alan Sugar's Amstrad (which had recently bought Sinclair in April 1986) was planning to release the NES under the Sinclair name in the UK. According to Andrew Wright of Activision there were "plans to release it in the UK for around £85" [46] and according to Malcolm Miller, marketing director of Amstrad "We will reserve the Sinclair name for the entertainment area and that could include a game a games console" "but it remains to be seen how well the product will do in Europe - Europeans tend to think that the equipment has to educate as well as entertain. If we do one, though, it'll be Sinclair." [47]

Mattel had been selected to be Nintendo's UK distributor by late 1986. [48] Mattel showed the NES at the January 1987 Earl's Court annual Toy Fair, [49] [50] and Judith Hann demonstrated R.O.B. and the NES on the 17th February 1987 episode of BBC's Tomorrow's World. [51]

Mattel held a NES Game Pak Prize Draw from May 1st 1987 through April 30th 1988 for customers who purchased the NES and mailed in their warranty registration card survey to Hi-Tech Electronic Services Ltd. [41]

The NES was initially advertised in the June 1987 issue of Computer & Video Games magazine [42] at a recommended retail price (RRP) of £129.99 (compared to an initial RRP of $99.99 in the US) for the “basic set” including Super Mario Bros., and £199.99 (compared to an initial RRP of $179.99 in the US) for the “deluxe set”, which instead included the toy robot accessory “R.O.B.” (Robotic Operating Buddy) and “zapper” light gun accessory, and two games designed to showcase them, Gyromite for R.O.B. and Duck Hunt for the zapper. However, within a month the RRP was quickly reduced to £99.99 and £159.99 respectively [52] [53] [54] to compete with Sega's £99.99 [55] Master System, [56] which it remained at for the rest of 1987 and until 1990.

NES game paks retailed for around £20 to £40 [57] and were significantly more expensive than other contemporary cassette-based computer games, often available for under £10 or under £3 for budget titles for systems such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, which were already very popular in the UK at the time.

International divisions of American toy company Mattel initially handled distribution for the NES in the UK, [42] Italy, Australia and Canada on behalf of Nintendo.

U.S. Gold / CentreSoft's offshoot GO! was briefly appointed as a wholesaler for the UK by Mattel, but this initially only lasted until early 1988 and NESI's takeover of UK distribution (though NESI would reappoint CentreSoft as wholesaler again in November 1988). [58] [59]

Initial UK marketing and promotional activity focused primarily on R.O.B., [60] [42] mirroring early marketing strategies from Nintendo of America. In the US, the video game crash of 1983 left retailers apprehensive of “video games”, so in 1985 Nintendo rebranded the Japanese “Famicom” (Family Computer) video game console as the “NES” (Nintendo Entertainment System) and successfully marketed it to the US primarily as a toy experience, selling over 1 million units in 1986. [61] However, the video game crash of 1983 had a comparatively minor impact on the UK games market, as video game consoles such as the Atari 2600 were less popular, with the UK of the 1980s favouring home computers such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64. This was likely a contributing factor as to why Mattel's toy-centric marketing found more difficulty capturing the interest of the UK games market.

Although the NES was advertised in the UK at launch alongside “27 game paks now available” and as available to buy from at least 23 UK retailers, [42] Mattel seemingly overpromised and underdelivered, as it launched with 17 games [41] [62] [63] and with unreliable and limited availability from UK retailers. Mattel announced and advertised UK retailers publicly before securing deals, including Woolworths, Currys, Dixons and Asda, who quickly contacted trade newspaper Computer Trade Weekly (CTW) to deny that Nintendo products had gained a listing. [58] UK retailer Argos only listed the NES once in their Autumn/Winter 1987/88 catalogue, including the more expensive deluxe set bundle but no NES game paks, [64] and it did not reappear in Argos catalogues until 1990. [65]

All games initially available were from Nintendo themselves, with no third party NES games available in the UK until 1988. [66] By the end of 1987, [62] [67] the following 27 Nintendo-developed games were released for the UK by Mattel (as originally advertised):

10-Yard Fight, Balloon Fight, Baseball, Clu Clu Land, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong III, Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Duck Hunt, Excitebike, Golf, Gumshoe, Gyromite, Hogan's Alley, Ice Climber, Kung Fu, Mach Rider, Mario Bros., Pinball, Popeye, Soccer, Stack-up, Super Mario Bros., Tennis, Urban Champion, Wild Gunman, Wrecking Crew.

For a game to be released for the NES, it would need to be approved by Nintendo, and as Nintendo controlled cartridge production, developers would be required to agree to Nintendo's terms, which were far more restrictive than developing for home computers where software development was unrestricted and actively encouraged.

Despite the relative restrictiveness of development, several UK developers did go on to create successful NES games, most notably Rare (formerly home computer developer Ultimate Play the Game), who released several games for the NES, including Slalom, R.C. Pro-Am and Battletoads.


1988: NESI

In April 1987, Ron Judy (previously vice-president of marketing at Nintendo of America, who in 1983 had set up distribution for Nintendo's arcade games in Europe) moved to Paris, France and opened a small office above the Champs-Élysées, selling Nintendo products in France and Holland (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) as NES International (NESI) under exclusive distributorship from Nintendo Co., Ltd. [45]

After Nintendo's obligation to Mattel ended in 1988, (and according to The Games Magazine after briefly being passed to U.S. Gold's offshoot GO!) [59] NESI took over distribution of Nintendo products in the UK with Bruce Lowry (previously Vice President of Sales at Nintendo of America and President of Sega of America) moving to live and work on Nintendo's distribution in the UK for 3 years, [68] beginning as Managing Director of NESI's UK offices in Coventry. [58] [2] [3]

The 1988 chip shortage likely complicated Nintendo's efforts to make progress in the UK. In the US, where the market for Nintendo cartridges was larger than that for all home computer software, the 1988 chip shortage caused the delay of games such as Zelda II: The Adventure of Link [69] and combined with increasing demand resulted in a shortage of stock of many popular NES games.

In the UK, Nintendo only released a handful of games in 1988. This included The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, Pro-Wrestling and R.C. Pro-Am. [70]

Nintendo's licensing agreement restricted third parties to releasing a maximum of 5 NES games per year. [71] Although third party licenses were available for the UK from 1988, [66] third party NES games did not start to be released in the UK until around the end of 1988 or early 1989. Konami were the first third party to release games for the NES in the UK, first releasing Castlevania, The Goonies II, Gradius and Top Gun. [72]

Boots and Littlewoods signed up as UK retailers for the NES in spring 1988, and until 1990 Boots would be the only major stockist of the NES in the UK. [58] In November 1988, U.S. Gold's distribution business, CentreSoft was again reappointed as a Nintendo wholesaler for the UK by NESI, with the deal this time lasting until 1 September 1991. [58]

The NES continued to struggle in the UK games market throughout 1988. According to Mike Hayes, marketing director for Nintendo UK from 1989, “Nintendo at the time was a failing brand having been treated as a toy by Mattel and never really securing the phenomenal success that it had enjoyed in Japan and North America. Dusty boxes of the Deluxe Edition would languish on the shelves of the only major stockist - Boots”. [73] According to Luther De Gale of De Gale Marketing, [74] at the time a Nintendo salesman and previously of Konami UK, [75] "Although the Nintendo is alive and well, and living in the homes of 12 million Japanese and five million American families, I've only just seen one in my local computer store - and I supplied it to them!" and "Although Nintendo have failed to produce results in Britain, the interest is still so strong that arcade companies like Electrocoin are starting to push from behind.". [76]

1989: Serif

In June 1989 [58] UK distribution of Nintendo products was taken over by San Serif Print Promotions Limited (abbreviated to Serif or San Serif), who held the rights to Trivial Pursuit and Pictionary in Europe. [77]

UK retailer Dixons began a 75 store trial with the NES in May 1989, but this lasted just five months and was cleared out in October 1989. [58]

1990: Bandai

By 1990 Bandai were successfully distributing the NES in France and Holland under European Bandai President, Bernard Prat. [58] In August 1990 [58] UK distribution of Nintendo products was taken over by Bandai [58] in anticipation of the launch of the Game Boy and Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles NES bundle, and handled from their UK offices in Fareham, Hampshire. [78] Some of the key staff from Serif switched to Bandai to continue to work on Nintendo's UK distribution, such as marketing director Mike Hayes and sales manager Rob Cooper. [58]

For Christmas 1990, the NES was bundled with Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (the word Ninja was considered controversial in the UK at the time) and sold at a reduced price of £79.99 (previously £99.99). [79] [80] According to Mike Hayes, this was much against the wishes of Nintendo of America, but increased sales by 2000% and helped to re-establish Nintendo in the UK market, overtaking sales of Sega's Master System at the time. [81] [82]

NES games released in the UK
TitleUK Release DateUK LicenseeUK DistributorReferences
10-Yard FightJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Balloon Fight1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
BaseballJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Clu Clu LandJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Donkey KongJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Donkey Kong III1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Donkey Kong Jr.1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Donkey Kong Jr. Math1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Duck HuntJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
ExcitebikeJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
GolfJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Gumshoe1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
GyromiteJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Hogan's AlleyJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Ice Climber1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Kung Fu1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Mach Rider1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Mario Bros.1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Pinball1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
PopeyeJune 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Soccer1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Stack-up1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Super Mario Bros.June 1987NintendoMattel [42] [43] [83]
Tennis1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Urban Champion1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Wild Gunman1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Wrecking Crew1987NintendoMattel [62] [67] [83]
Kid Icarus1988Nintendo [83]
Metroid1988NintendoNESI [83]
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!1988NintendoNESI [83]
Pro Wrestling1988NintendoNESI [83]
R.C. Pro-Am1988NintendoNESI [83]
The Legend of Zelda1988NintendoNESI [83]
Castlevania1988KonamiNESI [83] [84] [85] [72]
Gradius1988KonamiNESI [83] [85] [86] [87] [72]
The Goonies II1988KonamiNESI [83] [85] [72]
Top Gun1988KonamiNESI [83] [72]
Super Mario Bros. 2June 1989Nintendo [83] [88]
Rush'n AttackJuly 1989Konami [88] [89]
Ghost 'N GoblinsAugust 1989Capcom [88] [89]
Gun.SmokeAugust 1989Capcom [88] [89]
Ikari WarriorsSeptember 1989SNK [89] [90]
TrojanSeptember 1989Capcom [89] [90]
Section ZOctober 1989Capcom [90] [91]
XeviousOctober 1989Bandai [90] [91]
Mega ManNovember 1989Capcom [90] [91]
RoboWarriorNovember 1989Jaleco [90] [91]
Tiger-HeliDecember 1989Acclaim [91] [92]
Wizards & WarriorsDecember 1989Acclaim [91] [92]
Cobra TriangleJanuary 1990NintendoSerif [91] [92]
Life Force: SalamanderJanuary 1990Konami [91] [92]
Track & Field IIJanuary 1990Konami [91] [92]
Double DribbleFebruary 1990Konami [91] [92]
Metal GearFebruary 1990Konami [91] [92]
To the EarthFebruary 1990NintendoSerif [91] [92]
Zelda II: The Adventure of LinkMarch 1990NintendoSerif [93] [94]
Castlevania II: Simon's QuestApril 1990Konami [93] [94]
RygarApril 1990Tecmo [93] [94]
Solomon’s KeyApril 1990Tecmo [93] [94]
AirwolfMay 1990Acclaim [93] [94]
BatmanAugust 1990Sunsoft [94] [95]
Fester's QuestAugust 1990Sunsoft [94] [95]
Skate or DieAugust 1990Palcom [94] [95]
Teenage Mutant Hero TurtlesAugust 1990Palcom [94] [95]
TetrisAugust 1990NintendoBandai [94] [95]
Bionic CommandoOctober 1990Capcom [95] [96]
Blades of SteelOctober 1990Konami [95] [96]
Bubble BobbleOctober 1990Taito [95] [96]
Double Dragon IIOctober 1990Acclaim [95] [96]
Spy vs. SpyOctober 1990Kemco [95] [96]
Silent ServiceNovember 1990Konami [96] [97] [98]
Donkey Kong ClassicsDecember 1990Nintendo [97]
FaxanaduDecember 1990NintendoBandai [96] [97]
Mega Man 2December 1990Capcom [97] [99]
PaperboyDecember 1990Mindscape [96] [97]
RobocopDecember 1990Ocean [96] [97] [100]
World WrestlingDecember 1990Tecmo [96] [97] [101]
Wrath of the Black MantaDecember 1990Taito [96] [97]
Double DragonJanuary 1991NintendoBandai [97] [99]
PinbotJanuary 1991NintendoBandai [97] [99] [102]
Solar JetmanJanuary 1991NintendoBandai [97] [99] [103]
Ghostbusters IIFebruary 1991Activision [99]
ProbotectorFebruary 1991Konami [99] [104]
Rescue: The Embassy MissionFebruary 1991Kemco [99] [104]
Snake Rattle 'N RollFebruary 1991NintendoBandai [97] [99]
Stealth ATFFebruary 1991NintendoBandai [97] [99]
Super Off RoadFebruary 1991NintendoBandai [97] [99]
The Adventures of Bayou BillyFebruary 1991Konami [99] [104]
DuckTalesMarch 1991Capcom [99] [104]
Nintendo World CupMarch 1991NintendoBandai [99] [104]
Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinjaApril 1991Ocean [99] [104]
Gauntlet IIApril 1991Mindscape [104] [105]
Gremlins 2April 1991Sunsoft [99] [104]
IronSword: Wizards & Warriors IIApril 1991Acclaim [104] [105]
Burai FighterMay 1991Nintendo [104] [105]
Dr. MarioMay 1991Nintendo [104] [105]
Rad GravityMay 1991Activision [104] [105]
Days of ThunderJune 1991Mindscape [106]
Jack Nicklaus Championship GolfJune 1991Konami [105] [107]
Turbo RacingAugust 1991Data East [105] [107]
Captain SkyhawkAugust 1991Nintendo [105] [107]
SolsticeAugust 1991Nintendo [105] [107]
Super Spike V'ballAugust 1991Nintendo [105] [107]
Battle of OlympusOctober 1991Nintendo [107] [108]
Boulder DashOctober 1991Nintendo [107] [108]
GoalOctober 1991Jaleco [107] [108]
Isolated WarriorOctober 1991Nintendo [107] [108]
Kabuki Quantum FighterOctober 1991Nintendo [107] [108]
Shadow WarriorsOctober 1991Tecmo [107] [108]
ShadowgateOctober 1991Kemco [107] [108]
Defender of the CrownDecember 1991Palcom [108] [109]
Kickle CubicleDecember 1991Nintendo [108] [109]
Low G ManDecember 1991Nintendo [108] [109]
Power BladeDecember 1991Taito [108] [109]
RollergamesDecember 1991Konami [108] [109]
Ski or DieDecember 1991Palcom [108] [109]
Super Mario Bros. 3December 1991Nintendo [108] [109]
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space MutantsDecember 1991Acclaim [108] [109]
Top Gun: The Second MissionDecember 1991Konami [108] [109]
WWF WrestleManiaDecember 1991Acclaim [108] [109]
Smash TVJanuary 1992Acclaim [110]
Blue ShadowFebruary 1992Taito [109] [111]
Chip 'n Dale Rescue RangersFebruary 1992Capcom [109] [111]
Dragon's LairFebruary 1992Elite [109] [111]
Maniac MansionFebruary 1992Jaleco [109] [111]
Mission ImpossibleFebruary 1992Palcom [109] [111]
North & SouthFebruary 1992Infogrames [109] [111]
Star WarsFebruary 1992JVC / Lucasfilm Games [109] [111]
Swords & SerpentsFebruary 1992Acclaim [109] [111]
Blaster MasterApril 1992Sunsoft [111] [112]
Bugs Bunny Birthday Blow OutApril 1992Kemco [111] [112]
Captain PlanetApril 1992Mindscape [111] [112]
Hunt For Red OctoberApril 1992Hi Tech Expressions [111] [112]
Jackie Chan's Action Kung FuApril 1992Hudson Soft [111] [112]
New Ghostbusters IIApril 1992HAL Laboratory [111] [112]
New Zealand StoryApril 1992Ocean [111] [112]
Rainbow Islands: Bubble Bobble 2April 1992OceanBandai [111] [112]
Snake's RevengeApril 1992Konami [111] [112]
Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles II: The Arcade GameApril 1992Konami [111] [112]
Totally RadApril 1992Jaleco [111] [112]
BattletoadsMay 1992TradewestBandai [113]
Adventures of Lolo 2June 1992HAL Laboratory [112] [114]
CrackOutJune 1992Palcom [112] [114]
Double Dragon IIIJune 1992Acclaim [112] [114]
GodzillaJune 1992Toho [112] [114]
Hyper SoccerJune 1992Konami [112] [114]
Little Nemo The Dream MasterJune 1992Nintendo [112] [114]
Lunar PoolJune 1992FCI [112] [114]
Road FighterJune 1992Palcom [112] [114]
Operation WolfAugust 1992TaitoBandai [115]
The Flintstones: The Rescue of Dino & HoppyAugust 1992TaitoBandai [115]
Adventure Island IIAugust 1992Hudson Soft [114] [115]
Four Player TennisAugust 1992Nintendo [114] [115]
High SpeedAugust 1992Tradewest [114] [115]
HookAugust 1992Ocean [114] [115]
Mega Man 3August 1992Nintendo [114] [115]
NES Open Golf TournamentAugust 1992Nintendo [114] [115]
Addams FamilyOctober 1992Ocean [115] [116]
Adventure in the Magic KingdomOctober 1992Capcom [115] [116]
Robocop 2October 1992Ocean [115] [116]
Batman Return of the JokerDecember 1992Sunsoft [116] [117]
Mario & YoshiDecember 1992NintendoBandai [116] [117]
Paperboy 2December 1992Mindscape [116] [117]
TaleSpinDecember 1992Capcom [116] [117]
Tiny Toon AdventuresDecember 1992Konami [116] [117]
Tom & JerryDecember 1992Hi Tech ExpressionsBandai [116] [117]
Probotector II: Return of the Evil ForcesFebruary 1993KonamiBandai [118]
Castlevania III: Dracula's CurseMarch 1993Palcom [118]
Galaxy 5000TBCActivision
Marble MadnessTBCMilton Bradley
LemmingsTBCOcean [117]
T2: Terminator 2: Judgment DayTBCLJN [114]
WWF WrestleMania ChallengeTBCLJN
The Simpsons Bart Vs. The WorldTBCAcclaim [117]
Digger T. Rock: Legend of the Lost CityTBCMilton Bradley
California GamesTBCMilton Bradley
TrogTBCAcclaim
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on BloboloniaTBCNintendo
Action in New YorkTBCInfogrames
Adventure Island ClassicTBCHudson Soft
Alien 3TBCLJN
Alfred ChickenTBCMindscape
AsterixTBCInfogrames
BarbieTBCHi Tech Expressions
BattleshipTBCMindscape
Battletoads / Double DragonTBCNintendo
Bucky O'HareTBCPalcom
CastelianTBCStorm Sales Curve
Darkwing DuckTBCCapcom
Bram Stoker's DraculaTBCSony Imagesoft
DuckTales 2TBCCapcom
DropzoneTBCMindscape
EliteTBCImagineer
Eliminator Boat DuelTBCStorm Sales Curve
F-15 Strike EagleTBCMicroProse
Ferrari Grand Prix ChallengeTBCAcclaim
Gargoyle's Quest IITBCCapcom
George Foreman’s KO BoxingTBCAcclaim
Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkTBCTHQ
James Bond Jr.TBCTHQ
Jimmy Connors TennisTBCUbisoft
Joe & Mac: Caveman NinjaTBCElite
Jurassic ParkTBCOcean
Kirby's AdventureTBCNintendo
Kick OffTBCImagineer
Krusty's Fun HouseTBCAcclaim
The Lion KingTBCVirgin
Mario Is Missing!TBCMindscape
McDonaldLandTBCOcean
Mega Man 4TBCNintendo
The Miracle Piano Teaching SystemTBCMindscape
Monster in My PocketTBCPalcom
Noah's ArkTBCKonami
Pac-ManTBCNintendo
ParodiusTBCPalcom
Parasol Stars: Rainbow Islands IITBCOcean
The Legend of Prince ValiantTBCOcean
Pirates!TBCPalcom
Punch-Out!!TBCNintendo
Rad RacerTBCNintendo
Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister SixTBCLJN
Street GangsTBCInfogrames
Super Mario Bros. / Duck HuntTBCNintendo
Super Mario Bros. / Tetris / Nintendo World CupTBCNintendo
Super TurricanTBCImagineer
Sword MasterTBCActivision
Tetris 2TBCNintendo
The Incredible Crash DummiesTBCLJN
The Jungle BookTBCVirgin
Time LordTBCMilton Bradley
Ultimate Air CombatTBCActivision
WWF WrestleMania Steel Cage ChallengeTBCLJN
Wizards & Warriors IIITBCAcclaim
Yoshi's CookieTBCNintendo

1989: Club Nintendo

Club Nintendo was the first official magazine for Nintendo in the UK and Europe, mirroring Nintendo Fun Club from the US. It was distributed by subscription and designed, translated from English into 13 or 14 different European languages and printed by Catalyst Publishing, a contract publishing house in Lemington Spa, Warwickshire. [119] Up to six issues were released per year, at a rate of one issue every two months from March/April 1989 to July/August 1993, [120] [121] when Nintendo Magazine System (first published by EMAP in October 1992) replaced it as the UK's primary official Nintendo magazine.

Game-Boy-FL.jpg

1989: Game Boy

1989: Imports

Although not officially released in the UK until September 1990, the Game Boy console and Game Boy games were imported and sold in the UK as early as July 1989. [122] The Game Boy launched in Japan in April 1989 and unlike the Nintendo Entertainment System before it, which used regional lockout methods such as the 10NES chip, the Game Boy accepted cartridges designed for markets of any country and any language.

1990: Bandai

The Nintendo Game Boy was officially launched by Nintendo in the UK in September 1990, [123] with the first 5,000 Game Boy consoles being sold to UK retailer Dixons by Serif and Bandai sales manager Rob Cooper. [124]

UK distribution for the Game Boy was initially handled by Bandai, who took over distribution of Nintendo products in the UK from Serif in August 1990 [58] after Serif were unable to raise the £4 million to fund inventory merchandising and marketing costs [58] to finance the bid for the UK market, reported by Computer Trade Weekly via Advanced Computer Entertainment magazine to be upwards of £20 million total. [125]

The Game Boy launched at a recommended retail price (RRP) of £69.99 (compared to a RRP of $89.99 in the US) and was sold bundled with the Tetris Game Pak and a Game Link Cable. Six other Game Boy Game Paks were available and sold separately at launch in the UK including Super Mario Land, Alleyway, Golf, Qix, Solar Striker and Tennis, all with a RRP of £19.99. [95] [126]

The Game Boy was advertised as stocked by UK retailers Currys, Debenhams, Dixons, Hamleys, Harrods, Index, Rumbelows, Toys R Us, Selfridges, Virgin and Woolworths. [127]

Game Boy games released in the UK
TitleUK Release DateUK LicenseeUK DistributorReferences
TetrisSeptember 1990NintendoBandai [95]
Super Mario LandSeptember 1990NintendoBandai [95]
AlleywaySeptember 1990NintendoBandai [95]
GolfSeptember 1990NintendoBandai [95]
QixSeptember 1990NintendoBandai [95]
Solar StrikerSeptember 1990NintendoBandai [95]
TennisSeptember 1990NintendoBandai [95]
Balloon KidFebruary 1991NintendoBandai [97]
Pinball: Revenge of the GatorFebruary 1991 [97]
KwirkFebruary 1991 [97]
Wizards & Warriors X: The Fortress of FearFebruary 1991 [97]
Double DragonMarch 1991 [99]
Gargoyle's QuestMarch 1991 [99]
The Amazing Spider-ManMarch 1991 [99]
The ChessmasterApril 1991 [104]
Nintendo World CupMay 1991 [104]
Burai Fighter DeluxeJune 1991 [104]
Dr. MarioJune 1991Nintendo [104]
The Bugs Bunny Crazy CastleAugust 1991 [105] [107]
Radar MissionAugust 1991Nintendo [105] [107]
Side PocketAugust 1991 [105] [107]
Batman: The Video GameOctober 1991 [107] [108]
Chase H.Q.October 1991 [107] [108]
DuckTalesOctober 1991 [107] [108]
F-1 RaceOctober 1991 [107] [108]
Hyper Lode RunnerOctober 1991 [107] [108]
Motocross ManiacsOctober 1991 [107] [108]
R-TypeOctober 1991 [107] [108]
RoboCopOctober 1991 [107] [108]
Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Fall of the Foot ClanOctober 1991 [107] [108]
Boulder DashDecember 1991 [108] [109]
BoxxleDecember 1991 [108] [109]
Castlevania: The AdventureDecember 1991 [108] [109]
DynablasterDecember 1991 [108] [109]
Gremlins 2December 1991 [108] [109]
Kung Fu MasterDecember 1991 [108] [109]
PaperboyDecember 1991 [108] [109]
The Rescue of Princess BlobetteDecember 1991 [108] [109]
Bubble GhostFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Fortified ZoneFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Ghostbusters IIFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Mercenary ForceFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Navy SEALSFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
NemesisFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
OthelloFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Bart Simpson's Escape from Camp DeadlyFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Skate or Die: Bad 'N RadFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Sneaky SnakesFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Super R.C. Pro-AmFebruary 1992 [109] [111]
Blades of SteelApril 1992 [111] [112]
Bubble BobbleApril 1992 [111] [112]
Burger Time DeluxeApril 1992 [111] [112]
Choplifter IIApril 1992 [111] [112]
Q*bertApril 1992 [111] [112]
WWF SuperstarsApril 1992 [111] [112]
Double Dragon IIJune 1992 [112] [114]
Gauntlet IIJune 1992 [111] [114]
The Hunt for Red OctoberJune 1992 [111] [114]
Solomon's ClubJune 1992 [111] [114]
Snoopy's Magic ShowJune 1992 [111] [114]
Marble MadnessJune 1992 [112] [114]
Pac-ManJune 1992 [112] [114]
Football InternationalJune 1992 [114]
Mr. Do!August 1992 [112] [115]
Metroid II: Return of SamusAugust 1992 [114] [115]
Kid Icarus: Of Myths and MonstersAugust 1992 [114] [115]
HookAugust 1992 [114] [115]
Adventure IslandAugust 1992 [114] [115]
Caesars PalaceAugust 1992 [114] [115]
Mega Man: Dr. Wily's RevengeAugust 1992 [114] [115]
Home AloneOctober 1992 [115] [116]
The Addams FamilyOctober 1992 [115] [116]
Mickey MouseOctober 1992 [115] [116]
Shadow WarriorsOctober 1992 [115] [116]
Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles II: Back From the SewersOctober 1992 [115] [116]
Track MeetOctober 1992 [115] [116]
T2: Terminator 2: Judgment Day [114]

1992: Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Nintendo-Super-Famicom-Set-FL.jpg

1992: Nintendo Magazine System

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