1979
NINTENDO

COLOR TV GAME BLOCK KUZUSHI (CTG-BK6)

MESA
COLOR TV GAME BLOCK KUZUSHI (CTG-BK6)

📜 History & Legacy

The Color TV Game Block Kuzushi (CTG-BK6), released by Nintendo in 1979, represents a significant step in the company's transition from a toy manufacturer to a video game powerhouse. Designed by Masayuki Uemura, who would later play a crucial role in the development of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the CTG-BK6 was the fourth entry in Nintendo's Color TV Game series. This console was dedicated to a single game: a variation of Breakout, a popular arcade game where players control a paddle to bounce a ball and break blocks. Unlike earlier models in the series, the CTG-BK6 offered six variations of the Block Kuzushi game, adding a degree of replayability and variety that was novel for dedicated consoles of the time.

The CTG-BK6 was a commercial success in Japan, contributing significantly to Nintendo's profits and solidifying its position in the burgeoning home video game market. Its simple gameplay and affordability made it accessible to a wide audience, including families and casual gamers. The console's colorful graphics, a step up from earlier black-and-white systems, also added to its appeal. While not as revolutionary as later Nintendo consoles, the CTG-BK6 played a vital role in shaping the company's future, providing valuable experience in hardware design, software development, and marketing strategies that would eventually lead to the creation of iconic consoles like the Famicom/NES.

⚙️ Specifications

  • ❖ CPU: Custom Discrete Logic
  • ❖ GPU: Custom Discrete Logic
  • ❖ RAM: Integrated within the custom logic
  • ❖ Storage: None (Game is built-in)
  • ❖ Media: None (Dedicated Console)

🎮 Top 10 Games

  • ★ Block Kuzushi (Variation 1)
  • ★ Block Kuzushi (Variation 2)
  • ★ Block Kuzushi (Variation 3)
  • ★ Block Kuzushi (Variation 4)
  • ★ Block Kuzushi (Variation 5)
  • ★ Block Kuzushi (Variation 6)
  • ★ N/A (Dedicated Console)
  • ★ N/A (Dedicated Console)
  • ★ N/A (Dedicated Console)
  • ★ N/A (Dedicated Console)

💡 Curiosities

  • ? Curiosity 1: The 'Color TV Game' series was Nintendo's first foray into the home video game console market.
  • ? Curiosity 2: Masayuki Uemura, the designer of the Color TV Game series, later led the development of the Famicom/NES.
  • ? Curiosity 3: The Block Kuzushi game is a clone of the arcade game Breakout.
  • ? Curiosity 4: The CTG-BK6 offered six different game variations, selectable via a switch on the console.
  • ? Curiosity 5: The console was only released in Japan.
  • ? Curiosity 6: The Color TV Game series was discontinued in 1980, paving the way for the more advanced Famicom.
  • ? Curiosity 7: The console's controllers were hardwired to the system.
  • ? Curiosity 8: The CTG-BK6 was more compact and sleek compared to its predecessors in the Color TV Game line.
  • ? Curiosity 9: All of the Color TV Game consoles were developed in conjunction with Mitsubishi Electric.
  • ? Curiosity 10: The success of the Color TV Game series proved to Nintendo that there was a viable market for home video game consoles.