It’s not one more day for Nintendo, after knowing the retirement of one of its most recognized employees. Lance Barr announced his departure from the industry after serving with the company for nearly 40 years. We are talking, neither more nor less, of who was in charge of designing the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the US version of the Super Nintendo.
It was Barr himself who made the news known through his profile on LinkedIn (via VGC). “After almost 39 years at Nintendo, I am retiring to pursue ‘other’ projects,” said the designer himself. His history with the company began in December 1982, when he applied for a part-time job; this happened while he was studying industrial design at the University of Washington.
Over time, Lance Barr’s bond with Nintendo of America became permanent, and he became a product designer, an area he later led. And while he has been involved in countless number of projects within the company, there is no doubt that has been a key part of the success of the NES in the West.
Lance Barr and his impact on the success of Nintendo consoles in the West
The designer was tasked with the mission of give a new look to the Nintendo Famicom for release in North America. The console was launched in Japan in July 1983 and landed just over two years later, in October 1985, in the United States.
However, aesthetically the Nintendo Entertainment System was nothing like the Japanese Family Computer. The history of the console is quite extensive but, in short, Barr and Don James were in charge of giving it the final look (in format and colors), which later became a registered trademark in much of the world.
One of the most striking points is related with change in cartridge placement position. The slot was no longer at the top, but at the front, behind a hinged lid. Because the Atari crisis had generated mistrust in home consoles, they gave the NES a design with a certain air of a videotape player. Thus, it was easier to promote it as an “entertainment system” and avoid the bad reputation that afflicted its rivals.
Years later, it was the Super Nintendo’s turn. In this case, the design changes were less drastic than in the NES; Lance Barr was in charge of modifying the aesthetics of the console for the version that went on sale almost exclusively in the United States. Unlike the Super Famicom, whose design was retained in the European version of the SNES, the North American edition had straight edges and adopted the violet color for the buttons, both in the body of the console and in the control.
It is clear that Barr’s contribution to the industry is immeasurable. Therefore, the withdrawal not only impacts Nintendo, but the entire sector. His work is part of a legacy that, without a doubt, has transcended generations.