The Way Games Work: NES Zapper

Monday, 29 August 2011 09:30 Last Updated on Thursday, 15 March 2012 08:30 Written by Kevin 18 Comments

The Zapper for the Nintendo Entertainment System was the most popular light gun ever for a home video game console. Now it’s time to find out how it works: it’s quirks, it’s compatibility with modern technology, and yes – even the myths that surround it.

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 29th, 2011 at 9:30 am and is filed under 16 Bit Gems, The Way Games Work. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
  • Fishtalkcomics

    I’ve been waiting for this for so long xD Well worth the wait :) i appreciated the history behind the zapper as well, but i was surprised you didnt mention the first “Home Version” of Duck Hunt that had a projector that well project the ducks on a wall or screen and you had to shoot the lil duckies. No idea if that used a light gun (im guessing it did) or how it really worked (which is why i was hoping for a brief explanation) I’ve only read about it a couple times and have seen some youtube videos of it, but no body ever really explained how it worked. Anyways great job Roo keep it up, now where’s the next 16-Bit Gem, i can only rewatch them so many times ya’know :p

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001582780112 Roo Cotgw

      A nice point to make.  I always know I’m going to miss something in these episodes, and this is a great example.  I should look into it!

  • http://www.retrowaretv.com RetrowareTV

    Great series and great to gave it here — fantastic.  And of course, a Perfect Strangers reference.

  • Basicrounds

    Did that guy say Wasp Nipples?

  • http://twitter.com/davidhass3lh0ff michael smith

    awesome video 

  • Anonymous

    A very good and informative video, Roo.

  • http://www.facebook.com/sirkidd2003 Jay Kidd

    Roo plays Pathfinder! Awesome!

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001582780112 Roo Cotgw

      Just got into it at GenCon.  After 3 years of 4th edition, it’s like coming home…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Austin-Kelly-Mackert/100000790359124 Austin Kelly Mackert

    Wow, this is an awesome episode. Lots of great information here! Excellent work! :)

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RZY67KV4DVEK45KFZZW7RRATKE Trevor

    It works just fine on my 1080i dlp hdtv.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001582780112 Roo Cotgw

      That’s pretty awesome – I didn’t want to make the blanket statement that it wouldn’t work on any HDTV just because of situations like that.  Though it’s strange a DLP would be one of the ones that work, since they’re notorious for longer input lag than even LCDs.  I’m curious, what model is it?

  • Flatearth

    One question still remains. If the zapper is unusable with modern tv’s, is it unusable with pc monitors?

    Both of these are basically the same with a high native resolution. Only big difference is that pc monitors have a very small lag and manufacturers claim that some screens have only 2ms lag, which would not mess with the zapper.

  • http://fami-complex.blogspot.com/ Jerry

    Great breakdown of early light guns and the Zapper!  The next time I get questions about the Zapper and modern TVs, I’ll just send them here instead of giving them the history lesson like I usually do.

  • http://www.facebook.com/billy.w.hudson Billy Hudson

    you know as a kid I never wondered how it worked, but in my late 20′s I really started to scratch my head

  • http://www.facebook.com/billy.w.hudson Billy Hudson

    you know as a kid I never wondered how it worked, but in my late 20′s I really started to scratch my head

  • Anonymous

    Great video. Very informative. :-)

  • Marco Rossi

    moaar!

  • http://twitter.com/tailspower2001 tailspower2001

    The only bad thing about the NES Zapper is that it doesn’t work with my LCD.