Rare 1970 Nintendo Kôsenjû SP (SP) lightgun! Japan exclusive, US Seller

  

This is my Kôsenjû SP light gun that unfortunately due to medical bills I must find a new home for. Will its next visit be to your house? The lot comes with everything you see in the photos. Also, it's from our smoke-free home and has been kept safely in storage to prevent sunfading.

Rather than reinvent the wheel in describing this item, here's a paraphrased snippet from the wonderful beforemario. At the start of the 70s, light-sensitive electronics (photoconductive cell or LDR - light-dependent resistor) were still fairly new. Manufacturers of these components were looking for new ways to apply them, thus extending their customer base. Sharp was one of the companies that produced them, and one of their sales staff, Masayuki Uemura, visited Nintendo and met with Gunpei Yokoi. Not only did this meeting result in a series of new toys, but Mr. Uemura eventually moved over to Nintendo where he came to head up one of the hardware design groups. Sharp's LDR would be used in the light-beam series called Kôsenjû SP (SP): toy guns that emitted a short flash of light when'fired' and targets equipped with a sensor that would register the light (when aimed correctly) and show the hit in various fashions.

The Kôsenjû SP series was introduced in 1970, and with this series Nintendo created something for the entire family: to be enjoyed by children and adults together (well, fathers and their sons, probably). Around this time, electronic games started to become mainstream, even though the retail prices were still considerable. When hit by the light-beam, a Jumping Bottle target would spring into two parts, held together by an electromagnet until hit by the light from the gun.

Other targets included a roulette that would spin, a lion that would roar and wildlife scenes with exotic birds or animals of prey (Electro Bird and Electro Safari) collapsing upon each hit. All guns and targets are battery operated. These toys are amongst the first (if not the first) commercially available light-guns for home use, although less sophisticated than the subsequent video game light-guns that work together with a TV screen (the Magnavox Odyssey rifle being the first one of these, released in 1972). The light gun is in great shape except for in one small spot where the plastic was chipped (please see the photos), and although the box and plastic tray have their wear they're still in relatively good shape considering they're over 50 years old. Again, please refer to the pictures to see the actual item you will receive.

Anyways, I think that's about it but again, any questions, please feel free to ask.