This Is How the NES Zapper Peripheral Actually Works

The NES Zapper was an incredibly cool peripheral for a video game console in the ’80s. Using some clever technology, it was able to track, with surprising accuracy, shots fired at on-screen targets in a time way before the Wii Remote revisited the concept of physically pointing your controller at the screen. You’ve probably at least guessed at how it worked in the past, but the specifics of the technology are pretty ingenious.

Of course, this isn’t exactly new information, but this video from Today I Found Out on YouTube is a good rundown of a bit of video game trivia of which you might not have known the technical aspects.

Additional hint: The gun works even better—by which I mean you’ll have better aim—if you sit really close to the screen, but that’s ****** cheating. Full cord distance or nothing.

(image via screengrab)

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Dan Van Winkle

Dan Van Winkle (he) is an editor and manager who has been working in digital media since 2013, first at now-defunct Geekosystem (RIP), and then at The Mary Sue starting in 2014, specializing in gaming, science, and technology. Outside of his professional experience, he has been active in video game modding and development as a hobby for many years. He lives in North Carolina with Lisa Brown (his wife) and Liz Lemon (their dog), both of whom are the best, and you will regret challenging him at Smash Bros.

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