I vaguely remember a phone number you could call for instructions and/or tips on games. Given I’m in tech support now, this idea seems both depressing and hilarious. Was it real or am I insane (or both)?
It was real - I seem to recall that a Doper worked the lines. Hopefully they’ll drop in.
It existed. Sega had one too. They were 1-900 numbers that charged per the minute. I don’t think I ever called one, personally, nor did I know anyone who did. I can’t imagine how many callers the Sega one got from the poor kids who couldn’t figure out that damn barrel in Carnival Night from Sonic 3.
A neat look at the documentation they used to dole out their tips.
But you want to know the crazy part? Nintendo didn’t shut the line down until 2005.
I called them at least once. Since I didn’t pay the phone bill at the time I wasn’t too worried about the cost. :smack:
I seem to remember it was a free call, but in a Washington state area code.
I called it once, to find out how to progress in Castlevania II (the thing where you kneel down with an orb equipped and a whirlwind transports you.)
I think I did too about the first Legend of Zelda game. Something about finding a dungeon…
Was that to cross a body of water, like a lake or something?
I called about Castlevania II, as well. Not sure if I did about Legend of Zelda, or if I waited for spoilers / hints to be published in Nintendo Power.
Kids today have it so easy.
Nope, it was to get past the rock wall in the northwest corner of the map once you had the red stone. You also need to pull a similar stunt (using the blue stone or the red stone in the southeast somewhere) to expose the way to the castle containing Dracula’s heart.
Yeah, I have no idea how you were supposed to find them on your own.
For some reason, I think I also used the tip line for “StarTropics.”
I loved that game.
Was it related to Nintendo Power magazine? I looked up a couple of instruction manuals for NES games online and didn’t see any mention of a tip line in the manuals. I do have a vague recollection of its existence, but I never called it.
I totally called that