On This Day: July 15, 1983 — Nintendo’s Famicom Launches in Japan
The Nintendo Famicom launched in Japan on July 15, 1983, priced at 14,800 yen (about $75). Its three launch games were Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Popeye. Designed by engineer Masayuki Uemura, the red-and-white console sold 500,000 units in two months, survived a costly chip recall, and became the NES in North America two…