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[Deku]

I didn't have a problem with the SNES design. The plastic was really hefty and you could feel it was a quality product.

Compare this with the Genesis and the springy buttons Genny always felt more like a cheaply made toy to me, which it was, as back in the day, Sega made most of their hardware and carts from subcontractors out of Taiwan while Nintendo exported out of Japan.

 

[ourumov]

Folder -- I know some people who worked at NOA back when the SNES launched. I'm fairly certain about the reason I mentioned above (why it was changed for the US).

EDIT: BTW, did the Euro SNES have the two indented buttons like the US SNES did?

I never really understood that. They said it was so players could differentiate between the buttons, but I never had a problem with the Super Famicom pad...

No, the controller was the same it was the Japanese one. Here come some pics with 3 different region SNES carts (Yoshi's Island PAL, Super Metroid JP, Street Fighter II US), the infamous adapters, and the SNES PAL controller.

 

[Parallax Scroll]

Hey, the art on DW3 and DW4 US was damn good.

 

[Semjaza Azazel]

I have this old Nintendo Power article on the SNES, where they show a few different designs they were thinking of utilizing for the US release. From what I remember of the other ones, we're lucky we got what we did.

 

[FortNinety]

I have this old Nintendo Power article on the SNES, where they show a few different designs they were thinking of utilizing for the US release. From what I remember of the other ones, we're lucky we got what we did.

Any way we could see a scan please?

 

[Semjaza Azazel]

The magazines are at my parents'. I can't get to them easily... but if no one else has the article, I can probably get it in a day or two.

 

[Chittagong]

I have this old Nintendo Power article on the SNES, where they show a few different designs they were thinking of utilizing for the US release. From what I remember of the other ones, we're lucky we got what we did.

Oh god, I just MUST see that article! Please, someone, scan it! There is all too little insight available on Nintendo's design processes and prototypes.

Regarding the subject matter on hand - the US Super NES was the best by far, in my opinion. The console, geometric design, color pallette, game packaging, accessory packaging, the grey stripe logo, the typeface design used in the logo and accessories - everything formed a perfect family - probably the tightest in the history of gaming.

The Euro Super NES was more of a quick mixture of some Japanese stuff (console design, colorful dots logo) and some US stuff (logo, game packaging, font), and it just didn't form as natural a whole.

 

[FortNinety]

The magazines are at my parents'. I can't get to them easily... but if no one else has the article, I can probably get it in a day or two.

Good seeing you again btw, it's been a while hasn't it?

 

[ourumov]

This topic made me remember why I love my SNES so much....I should sell all my gaming stuff and re-concentrate again on making my SNES collection bigger.

 

[GDGF]

The magazines are at my parents'. I can't get to them easily... but if no one else has the article, I can probably get it in a day or two.

Bump! I'd still like to see that scan if you feel like showing.

 

[crisdecuba]

Yes, I'd love to see a scan also!

~Cris

 

[MomoPufflet]

I remember that article. Ironically all of the prototype models looked better than the piece of crap bathtub design that was released.

 

[soundwave05]

This is actually one of the biggest video game ironies of all.

In the 1980s/early 1990s Nintendo was still very, very concerned about video games looking a like a "toy" (because of the video game crash in the 1980s).

The NES and the SNES were carefully designed to actually look pretty bland/neutral and not very colorful.

I concur though, I liked the Super Famicom design better (specifically the buttons).

 

[MomoPufflet]

The biggest irony is the "redesigned" Super Nintendo LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE FAMICOM DESIGN THEY WERE TRYING TO AVOID IN THE FIRST PLACE. Fucking retarded.

 

[Error Macro]

I liked the US version 1 better than the Super Famicom or the version 2.


WHAT UP NOW BOYZ

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

I liked the US version 1 better than the Super Famicom or the version 2.


WHAT UP NOW BOYZ

MY LUNCH

 

[cs060mk2]

This is what I have heard,
They redesigned the US version because many Nintendos became broken when people spilled soda on it because they placed soda cans on their NES. So to make it harder for people to place soda cans on top of their SNES they made it like it is today in USA.

This problem was never big in Europe or Japan so they didnt need the redesign as much.

 

[COCKLES]

Americans got the shaft with the design. What with Idigo GC.....someone just loves Mauve at NintyHQ.

 

[Chittagong]

A small curiosity - notice that this picture features a rare Euro Super NES prototype - the front most face plate with the Super Nintendo logo is new and identical with the final release, but the text in the cartridge lid is the one from Super Famicom. This was replaced with a narrow "PAL VERSION" text in the cartridge lid for the final production unit. Not many of these units are around, although it was used for many of the initial promo shots:

 

[soundwave05]

Better pic of the various hardware iterations:

 

[ourumov]

I have to buy a SFC with its box someday...I have tons of Japanese games and I hate using the adapter to make them work.
The Japanese BOX for the SFC was pretty cool.

 

[radioheadrule83]

Better pic of the various hardware iterations:

That bottom right one is hot. I'd love to get one of those!