Movie introducing one "NES Nintendo" who supported Nintendo's entry into the US

Makoto TakahashiYaMouri masterLike the one that was active in the 1980'sFamicom expert"Although it can be said as a pro-gamer's hint of modernity, actually, even in the United States,Gaming MasterThere was a single man called 'Hello!Great Big StoryIn the following movie, "How Gaming Master was born, how did you support Nintendo 's advancement in the US" is introduced.

The Rise of Nintendo's Original Gaming Master - YouTube


Howard Phillips rolled up in America in the late 1980sNintendo Entertainment System(NES) It is a Gaming Master who was active at the boom.


The jacket which is decorated on the wall is the jacket that Phillips actually wore at the event nearly 30 years ago.


Mr. Phillips says, "I am a bit ashamed ... but ..." I took out the photo at that time I was active as a Gaming Master.


Mr. Phillips found employment in Nintendo in 1981. However, I did not get a job as a Gaming Master from the beginning, but was responsible for managing the warehouse for shipping. It was a monotonous job of recording the serial number of the arcade game being transported and packing it in a box for shipping, but this work said that there was a big "benefit" for Mr. Phillips.


The privilege is that you could play arcade games in warehouse like "Donkey Kong" and "Mario Brothers". Mr. Phillips took out of the box every time a new game chassis was delivered to the warehouse and he heard that he was playing with power.



At that time, Nintendo had just entered the United States and had its American corporation Nintendo of America (NOA) headquarters in Seattle. He was the representative director of NOAFumi ArakawaHe thought that "Nintendo should emphasize the spirit of the American era that is different from Japan in order to cut into the American market", and he was seeking opinions from players.


So, "If he is playing the game of Nintendo, I am familiar with the opinion of the players side," several employees in sync recommend Phillips.


In this way, Mr. Phillips became the official test player of NOA and took a job of playing an arcade game to be released on a trial basis.


In 1985, Nintendo will broaden his horizons from the arcade game to the home game market. In the United States, JapanNESAbout two years later, NES will be released. So Arakawa asked Mr. Phillips to "Which is the most interesting title among the games I've ever played?", Mr. Phillips presented 15 favorite books that I have played until now. Many of these 15 are released as launch software of NES.



NES became a huge hit in the United States and Mr. Phillips gained the recognition to the extent that it will be introduced in TV news as one person supporting NES 's software sales strategy.


And Gail Tilden who served as public relations director of NOA was to pay attention to the skill and recognition of Phillips' game. Mr. Tilden, who was looking for "an entity that can speak directly to children while respecting children playing the game" admitted the personality of somewhere somewhat innocent child like children, NOA spokes I will appoint as a man.


Mr. Phillips immediately becomes very popular, becomes a girl Master who plays with TV and events. And we will fly around the US to teach children the fun to play the game.


Negative campaigns and bashing that "game is harmful to children" behind the American NES hit will be done on television. However, Mr. Phillips said that he tried to strive to emphasize the positive part of the game, "I will discover new things and keep on trying patiently even if I am frustrated, that will be learning."


Children who have become familiar with playing games not only play games in time, they also ask for information such as game strategy, design, setting and so on.


Therefore, NOA is "Nintendo Power"We issue a magazine called.


Nintendo Power had information on how to capture various games and latest software. Mr. Phillips, who served as the president of the official fan club of NOA, will also do an editorial work to check every month whether the information to be posted on Nintendo Power is correct.


Mr. Phillips eventually became the face of the initial Nintendo Power.


Mr. Phillips made him appear "Howard & NesterManga was also serialized with Nintendo Power and gained popularity. Mr. Phillips is exactly the fire of the NES boom in the United States and it can be said that Nintendo is one who made a chance to make great success in the United States.


Phillips is reading a fan letter from a girl who was 12 years old at the time. It is written in Super Mario's stationery that "I am your biggest fan, I am reading Nintendo Power with my friends all the time," Philipps reads a gentle smile while reading a letter.



Phillips says that children were able to speak from their parents and their parents when walking in the city too much, but in response to the question "What was the best part for serving as a Gaming Master?" It was a lot of fun to meet everyone's dreams, shaking hands with the children and answering "What is your favorite game?" Was really great "and the movie is over.