Abstract
The North American video game crash of 1983 made it difficult for Nintendo to break into the American market with its new console, the Nintendo Entertainment System. When it finally did gain a toehold in 1986, it was the Nintendo ‘Seal of Quality’, a graphical rosette that was emblazoned on every official Nintendo release, that encouraged consumers to buy video game cartridges once more. This chapter explores how the difficulties in getting the Nintendo Entertainment System to market, coupled with a strong sense of house style, played an important part in creating a consistency in the 8-bit sound, in terms of both quality and style. The chapter focuses on Super Mario Bros., the game that defined the Nintendo Entertainment System. Its catchy soundtrack captured the qualities of the gameplay. It discusses how the game’s composer, Koji Kondo, defined the formal grammar and style of a new form of media music, the interactive game underscore, and worked with the hardware to create a light, jazz-inspired sound.
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