subdirectory_arrow_right Wrecking Crew (Game), Excitebike (Game), Ice Climber (Game), Duck Hunt (Game), Wild Gunman (Game), 10-Yard Fight (Game), Hogan's Alley (Game), Gyromite (Game), Baseball (Game), Clu Clu Land (Game), Tennis (Game), Stack-up (Game), Kung Fu (Game), Pinball (Game), Nintendo Entertainment System (Platform), Family Computer (Platform)
▲
2
▼
Multiple early "black box" NES releases' cartridges produced during the console's US launch in Winter 1985 didn't use NES ROM chips, but rather Famicom ROM chips with a built-in converter. The 15 NES launch titles, and the only games known to have these chips, are:
•10-Yard Fight
•Baseball
•Clu Clu Land
•Duck Hunt
•Excitebike
•Golf
•Gyromite
•Hogan's Alley
•Ice Climber
•Kung Fu
•Pinball
•Stack-Up
•Tennis
•Wild Gunman
•Wrecking Crew
All of these games would eventually be reprinted with regular NES chips.
•10-Yard Fight
•Baseball
•Clu Clu Land
•Duck Hunt
•Excitebike
•Golf
•Gyromite
•Hogan's Alley
•Ice Climber
•Kung Fu
•Pinball
•Stack-Up
•Tennis
•Wild Gunman
•Wrecking Crew
All of these games would eventually be reprinted with regular NES chips.
subdirectory_arrow_right Nintendo Switch (Platform)
▲
1
▼
Within the Nintendo Switch firmware prior to Version 4.0.0 (for Japanese, US and European systems only), there is a hidden NES emulator stub called "flog" that can only be unlocked on the Home Screen and when the console's internal clock is set to July 11th (if the date is changed in System Settings, but the console is connected to the internet and can see the actual date, this method will not work). The method to unlock it involves detaching the Joy-Cons from the console, holding them pointing forwards/downwards, then moving them to a vertical position and holding it for a few seconds. This gesture may take time to hone due to it being a specific movement tracked by the Joy-Cons, but when it is matched, the system will check to see if flog is installed. When checked, an audio clip of a man saying "chokusetsu" ("直接"), the Japanese word for "direct", will play and the screen will cut to black and launch the 1984 NES title Golf. This emulator is unique in that it includes instructions in English and Japanese on how to play depending on how the Joy-Cons are held, and has a more simplistic appearance than the emulators that would be used for Nintendo Switch Online. Pressing the Home button while playing Golf will return you to the Home Screen without any visible software running there.
With Version 4.0.0, Nintendo removed all of the code required to launch flog and play Golf, but the company seemed unusually hesitant to even acknowledge its existence when asked by news outlets. One month before its removal, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Amie released two statements regarding it when asked by Kotaku:
While this seems to allude that the secret emulator and Golf's inclusion were not authorized, this all but confirms that their purpose was to act as a tribute to Nintendo's late CEO Satoru Iwata. Iwata, who programmed Golf and previously hosted the Nintendo Direct showcase series, passed away on July 11, 2015, with the method to unlock the emulator mimicking a gesture he used during Nintendo Directs. Japanese fans on social media referred to the Easter egg as an "omamori", amulets that if kept close are said to protect the bearer and bring good luck, speculating that Golf was included by Iwata as a secret charm to watch over every Nintendo Switch unit after his death.
With Version 4.0.0, Nintendo removed all of the code required to launch flog and play Golf, but the company seemed unusually hesitant to even acknowledge its existence when asked by news outlets. One month before its removal, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Amie released two statements regarding it when asked by Kotaku:
"So, two comments on this. It was identified by folks playing around in the firmware. We've got nothing officially to announce for that content or what the plans are for that content. So that's that. Certainly anything that pays respect to my friend Mr. Iwata is something that is near and dear to me personally, but in terms of that execution and what it was meant to do or what the plans are, we've got nothing to announce."
"I'm struck whenever I go back to Kyoto and spend time in our headquarters and spend time in the offices where Mr. Iwata, myself and others would be meeting. It's always personally touching. And so, again, no comment on that particular execution."
"I'm struck whenever I go back to Kyoto and spend time in our headquarters and spend time in the offices where Mr. Iwata, myself and others would be meeting. It's always personally touching. And so, again, no comment on that particular execution."
While this seems to allude that the secret emulator and Golf's inclusion were not authorized, this all but confirms that their purpose was to act as a tribute to Nintendo's late CEO Satoru Iwata. Iwata, who programmed Golf and previously hosted the Nintendo Direct showcase series, passed away on July 11, 2015, with the method to unlock the emulator mimicking a gesture he used during Nintendo Directs. Japanese fans on social media referred to the Easter egg as an "omamori", amulets that if kept close are said to protect the bearer and bring good luck, speculating that Golf was included by Iwata as a secret charm to watch over every Nintendo Switch unit after his death.
Video demonstrations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGN6QXv7sfs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmkAvnnFICE
Polygon articles covering the discovery and removal of Golf:
https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/17/16323452/nintendo-switch-golf-emulator
https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch/2017/9/20/16338508/nintendo-switch-golf-iwata-theory
https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/27/16822340/nintendo-switch-golf-game-hidden-removed
Reggie Fils-Amie statements:
https://kotaku.com/nintendo-is-still-oddly-tight-lipped-about-the-switch-s-1820050815
The Cutting Room Floor article:
https://tcrf.net/Nintendo_Switch#Golf
Chokusetsu definition:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ちょくせつ#Japanese
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGN6QXv7sfs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmkAvnnFICE
Polygon articles covering the discovery and removal of Golf:
https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/17/16323452/nintendo-switch-golf-emulator
https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch/2017/9/20/16338508/nintendo-switch-golf-iwata-theory
https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/27/16822340/nintendo-switch-golf-game-hidden-removed
Reggie Fils-Amie statements:
https://kotaku.com/nintendo-is-still-oddly-tight-lipped-about-the-switch-s-1820050815
The Cutting Room Floor article:
https://tcrf.net/Nintendo_Switch#Golf
Chokusetsu definition:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ちょくせつ#Japanese
Related Games
Star Fox Adventures
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Mario Party: The Top 100
Yoshi
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Yoshi's Woolly World
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Bionic Commando: Elite Forces
Yume Koujou: Doki-doki Panic
Captain Rainbow
Battle Clash
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Pokémon Omega Ruby
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Game & Watch Gallery
Twelve Tales: Conker 64
New Play Control! Pikmin
Yo-kai Watch 3
Mole Mania
Luigi's Mansion
Super Mario 64 DS
Wizards
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Link's Crossbow Training
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Yoshi Touch & Go
Tomodachi Life
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Kirby's Pinball Land
Super Mario RPG 2
Star Fox
Sword of Mana
Gimmick Land: Tomato Atama no Himitsu
Balloon Fight
Cabbage
Yoshi's Story
Kirby's Adventure
Mario Strikers Charged
Mischief Makers
Pokémon Shield
Donkey Kong Junior
Stack-up
Advance Wars
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Pokémon Green Version
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Splatoon 2