 The Zapper's original design | |
| Developer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Light gun |
| Generation | Third generation |
| Release date |
|
| Lifespan | 1984~1998 |
| Discontinued | October 21, 1998 |
| Connectivity | Cable |
| Platform | Nintendo Entertainment System |
| Marketing target | Toy, then video game |
| Best-selling game | Duck Hunt |
| Model Number | NES-005 |
| Predecessor | Video Shooting Series light gun for Famicom |
| Successor | Super Scope |
The Zapper is an electronic light gun accessory launched within the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in North America on October 18, 1985. It is a cosmetic redesign by Nintendo of America's head designer Lance Barr, based on Gunpei Yokoi's Video Shooting Series light gun (光線銃シリーズガン), which had been released in Japan for the Famicom on February 18, 1984. The Zapper requires compatible NES games, such as Duck Hunt, Wild Gunman, and Hogan's Alley. Its internal optical sensor allows the player to aim at a television set and accurately shoot at in-game targets.
The Zapper bridged Nintendo's existing library of hit arcade light-gun shooter games into the NES's launch library. As distinct toys, the Zapper and R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy) were key to the identity of the NES bundle, for positioning the NES's 1985–1986 launch into the North American toy market instead of into the crashed video game market.