The
Super Nintendo Entertainment Systems (SNES) was Nintendo's second home
console. It was released in 1990 in Japan. It was released over the next
there years worldwide.
In Japan, it was released as the Super Famicom. Once again, the look of
the console was different in Japan then the rest of the world. It
originally sold for $210 USD in Japan. Nintendo had shipped 300,000
units and they were sold within hours. It released the following year in
the US for $199.
The console had enhanced graphics and sound then the NES. The cartridges
had enhancement chips which gave the system additional graphics and
sound capabilities.
Some cartridges would be equipped with battery backup to save game data.
Extra RAM and custom coprocessors were also in some. These allowed the
system to display better graphics. Nintendo released a Super Game Boy
add-on cartridge which allowed gamers to play Game Boy games on their
Super Nintendo.
Once again, a Super Mario game was released alongside the console. Super
Mario World and F-Zero were available from the console's release.
With games, Nintendo had to approved each game to limit violence being
directed towards children. This policy was phased out when the ESRB was
formed.
Nintendo ceased production of the SNES in 1999. The last first-party
title was Kirby's Dream Land 3. Super Famicom would continue production
in Japan until September 2003 and released games for it until 2000.
Nintendo ceased repairs on the Super Famicom in 2007 due to the lack of
replacement parts.
The SNES sold over 49 million units. Most of the units sold was in the
United States with over 23 million units. SNES games continue to live on
through the Wii and Wii U Virtual Console.