How Nintendo Bartered Games to Save the NES in the 80s

It is hard to imagine a time when Nintendo struggled for attention, but a former Nintendo of America employee recently shared a wild story about the company's early days. Back in the eighties, the team behind the Nintendo Entertainment System had a very tight budget. This made it difficult to get their commercials out of the middle of the night.

To get better television slots, the company had to get creative. Because they lacked liquid cash, they famously bartered their own game cartridges to buy better advertising space. This unconventional trading helped move their commercials from 2 a.m. slots to times when actual kids and families were watching.

This hustle helped the NES find its footing and eventually revived the North American market. It is a fascinating look at the grit required to build a gaming giant from the ground up, proving that even industry titans had humble and desperate beginnings.