NES Zapper
Encyclopedia
The NES Zapper, also known as the Beam Gun in Japan, is an electronic light gun
accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
and the Japanese Famicom. It was released in Japan for the Famicom on and alongside the launch of the NES in North America in October 1985. The Famicom version of the Zapper, made for the game Wild Gunman
, resembled a revolver
-style handgun, but the North American version resembled a futuristic science fiction
ray gun with a colour scheme matching the NES. Early versions of the Zapper were a dark gray, but its color was later changed to orange, as was now required for all "toy guns" under U.S. Federal Regulations. Although originally included in some configurations of the NES, the Zapper was available for purchase separately.
The Zapper allows players to aim at the television monitor and shoot various objects such as ducks, clay pigeon
s, targets, cowboys, or criminals, or other objects.
The Zapper was first released in 1985 with the launch of the NES in North America. It came bundled with the NES console, the Robotic Operating Buddy
and two games—Duck Hunt
and Gyromite
.
The Zapper is used on supported NES games such as Duck Hunt and Wild Gunman. To hit targets on the screen, players point the device by lining up the front and rear sights with the desired target and pulling the trigger. The Zapper could also be used on the title screens of games to move the cursor—done by pointing the device away from the screen and pulling the trigger—or starting the game (pointing at the screen and pulling the trigger).
When the trigger on the Zapper is pressed, the game causes the entire screen to become black for one frame. Then, on the next frame, the target area is drawn in all white as the rest of the screen remains black. The Zapper detects this change from low light to bright light, as well as at which screen position the change was detected. This is how the game knows which target has been hit. After all target areas have been illuminated, the game returns to drawing graphics as usual. The whole process is almost imperceptible to the human eye, although one can notice a slight "flashing" of the image.
Light gun
A light gun is a pointing device for computers and a control device for arcade and video games.Modern screen-based light guns work by building a sensor into the gun itself, and the on-screen target emit light rather than the gun...
accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and the Japanese Famicom. It was released in Japan for the Famicom on and alongside the launch of the NES in North America in October 1985. The Famicom version of the Zapper, made for the game Wild Gunman
Wild Gunman
is a light gun shooter game created by Nintendo.-Early version:The original version of Wild Gunman was one of Nintendo's electro-mechanical arcade games created by Gunpei Yokoi and released in 1974. It consisted of a light gun connected to a 16mm projection screen...
, resembled a revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
-style handgun, but the North American version resembled a futuristic science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
ray gun with a colour scheme matching the NES. Early versions of the Zapper were a dark gray, but its color was later changed to orange, as was now required for all "toy guns" under U.S. Federal Regulations. Although originally included in some configurations of the NES, the Zapper was available for purchase separately.
The Zapper allows players to aim at the television monitor and shoot various objects such as ducks, clay pigeon
Clay pigeon shooting
Clay pigeon shooting, also known as clay target shooting, and formally known as Inanimate Bird Shooting, is the art of shooting at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets, with a shotgun or any type of firearm....
s, targets, cowboys, or criminals, or other objects.
History and usage
R.O.B.
R.O.B. , released in Japan as the , is an accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in July 1985 in Japan and later that year in North America. It had a short product lifespan, with support for only two games which comprised the "Robot Series"; Gyromite and Stack-Up. R.O.B...
and two games—Duck Hunt
Duck Hunt
is a video game for the Nintendo Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System game console system in which players use the NES Zapper to shoot ducks on screen for points. The game was developed and published by Nintendo, and was released in 1984 in Japan...
and Gyromite
Gyromite
Gyromite is a video game released in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, designed for use with the Robotic Operating Buddy. Gyromite is one of two games in Nintendo's Robot Series, the other being Stack-Up. The opening screen of the game shows the title Robot Gyro, the Japanese name of the...
.
The Zapper is used on supported NES games such as Duck Hunt and Wild Gunman. To hit targets on the screen, players point the device by lining up the front and rear sights with the desired target and pulling the trigger. The Zapper could also be used on the title screens of games to move the cursor—done by pointing the device away from the screen and pulling the trigger—or starting the game (pointing at the screen and pulling the trigger).
When the trigger on the Zapper is pressed, the game causes the entire screen to become black for one frame. Then, on the next frame, the target area is drawn in all white as the rest of the screen remains black. The Zapper detects this change from low light to bright light, as well as at which screen position the change was detected. This is how the game knows which target has been hit. After all target areas have been illuminated, the game returns to drawing graphics as usual. The whole process is almost imperceptible to the human eye, although one can notice a slight "flashing" of the image.
The Games
Games compatible with the NES Zapper:- The Adventures of Bayou BillyThe Adventures of Bayou BillyThe Adventures of Bayou Billy, released in Japan as , is an action game by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System composed of fighting, driving and shooting segments...
(requires gun and controller) - Baby BoomerBaby Boomer (video game)Baby Boomer is an unlicensed action video game created by Color Dreams for the NES. It was developed during 1988 and released in 1989 for an exclusively North American market.-Summary:...
(unlicensed) (gun optional) - Barker Bill's Trick ShootingBarker Bill's Trick ShootingBarker Bill's Trick Shooting is a NES shooter made by Nintendo. It was released in 1990. It is based on the cartoon show titled Barker Bill's Cartoon Show, which was created by Paul Terry in . Barker Bill's Cartoon Show was one of the earliest cartoon shows produced for television...
- Chiller (unlicensed) (gun optional)
- Duck HuntDuck Huntis a video game for the Nintendo Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System game console system in which players use the NES Zapper to shoot ducks on screen for points. The game was developed and published by Nintendo, and was released in 1984 in Japan...
- Freedom ForceFreedom Force (video game)Freedom Force is a video game created by Sunsoft and released in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. In the game, the player takes the role of a sharpshooter in a counter-terrorist organization. Freedom Force was also one of the few NES games to make use of and require the light gun...
- Gotcha! The Sport!
- GumshoeGumshoe (video game)Gumshoe is a video game developed and published by Nintendo for the NES and released on June 6, 1986 in North America, and on June 15, 1988 in Europe. Gumshoe is played using the NES Zapper. The game was designed by Yoshio Sakamoto.- Story :...
- Gun-NacGun NacGun Nac is a video game made for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was released, September 1, 1991, developed by the Compile company, and published by the Nexoft Corporation.-Plot:...
- Hogan's Alley
- Laser InvasionLaser InvasionLaser Invasion, released as in Japan, is a multi-genre first-person action game released by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System in . The player takes control of a military operative who pilots an attack helicopter in order to infiltrate various enemy bases and fulfill his mission...
- The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger (video game)The Lone Ranger is an action-adventure video game released by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System exclusively in North America in . It is based on The Lone Ranger radio and TV franchise, the latter which was still rerunning in syndication when the game was released...
(gun optional) - Mechanized AttackMechanized AttackMechaNized Attack is a shooter game developed and published by SNK. It was released in North America for the arcade in , and it was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System in...
- Operation Wolf (gun optional)
- Shooting RangeShooting Range (video game)Shooting Range is a video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System made by Bandai in 1989.-Summary:This video game involves mini-games resembling the Old West; with the exception being the moon level because people did not land on the moon until the 1960s. The objective is simple: shoot the red...
(requires gun and controller) - To The EarthTo the EarthTo the Earth is a light gun shooter for the Nintendo Entertainment System produced by Nintendo. It was released on November 1989 in North America and in Europe on February 23, 1990. It uses the NES Zapper to destroy ships and gain powerups...
- Track & Field IITrack & Field IITrack & Field II is a sequel to Track & Field created by Konami for the NES in 1988. Despite the II numeral, it is actually the fourth game in the series. It still continues the Olympic-themed sports events, but adds more realism by choosing a country for the player to represent...
(Gun compatible) - Wild GunmanWild Gunmanis a light gun shooter game created by Nintendo.-Early version:The original version of Wild Gunman was one of Nintendo's electro-mechanical arcade games created by Gunpei Yokoi and released in 1974. It consisted of a light gun connected to a 16mm projection screen...
External links
- Converting the NES Zapper into a Snapper (sniper-rifle) - featured on G4G4 (TV channel)G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
's Attack of the Show!Attack of the Show!Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey... - How does the light gun for a video game work? at HowStuffWorksHowStuffWorksHowStuffWorks is a commercial edutainment website that was founded by Marshall Brain with the goal of giving its target audience an insight into the way in which many things work. The site uses various media in its effort to explain complex concepts, terminology and mechanisms, including...
- List of NES games supported by the Zapper from MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...