It’s the Nintendo synth that never was: a music keyboard accessories for the NES built as part of a 1984 prototype called the Nintendo Advanced Video System (AVS). Best features: a space sound and rhumba button. The one and only model is here in NYC at Rockefeller Center’s Nintendo World Store, which features various one-of-a-kind Nintendo items; see NES Central’s extensive gallery for description and photos by someone who actually knows how to take pictures (read, not me, as you can see).
I’m not sure any of these controls were actually hooked up to anything software-wise, but you can dream. Anyone want to build a keyboard for your Game Boy music system? More pictures after the break. (PS, Happy 20th Birthday, Mario! Just 1 year before we can take you drinking.)
mario was in donkey kong in '81. so he's 24!
Technically, I should say Super Mario has turned 20. Mario himself (or originally Jumpman) — yes, he's been legal to drink for some time. We've closed many a bar together. 😉
In Japan the legal age for drinking is 20, so away we go!
Also there was a music keyboard and software for the Nintendo Famicom, if I remember it was called the "Do Re Mi" and was resold through Konami.
'Mario' first appeared under his new name in the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros. His bro Luigi made an appearance if you selected two-player mode. The 20th anniversary celebration refers to the release date of Super Mario Bros on the Japanese Famicom unit (modified and marketed as the NES in the rest of the Universe). So there. Mario & Luigi are older than they look.
Yeah, Nintendo's been toying with the age. That's why I said you could say it's "Super Mario's" birthday — because that'd be the 1985 appearance. No one can get it straight, though — here's someone claiming it's Luigi's 20th when, again, it should be 22.
http://www.nintendorks.com/archives/001435.php
Miracle Piano What a hot bit of kit this baby is! Be sure to check out this page as well.
Definitley a candidate for a time-consuming circuit-bend
mario's first appearance was wrecking crew
Can't put Dueling Banjos into the NES with a piano? Pity.