American Video Entertainment, also known as American Game Cartridges, was a software development company that published unlicensed NES software.
History[]
AVE was a subsidiary of Macronix, an American chip manufacturer who offered to do an NES ROM chip for Nintendo but got turned down. Macronix decided to start offering their ROM chips and a system called NINA (NintendoCompatible) which they patented.
In 1990, AVE was formed by Phil Mikkelson, Fred Hoot, and Richard Frick with a goal to deliver cheaper Nintendo games to consumers while still keeping a high game standard. The company had good relations with Toys R Us and initially did well in game sales.
When Nintendo changed the NES' hardware to lock out unlicensed games, AVE offered a hotline and directions to mod the console to play unlicensed games. AVE, quickly going bankrupt, filed suit on January 7 (or 11), 1991 for $105,000,000 against Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Japan in the US District Court in San Francisco for having an illegal monopoly and changing their machines so unlicensed cartridges wouldn't work. The case was settled under a secrecy order and, when AVE's products reached Europe, there was very low advertisement and most of the games didn't work on the European NES.
Published Games[]
| Name | Console | Released | Description | Cartridge No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backgammon (Unreleased) | NES/Famicom(?) | Development by Odyssey Software. | ||
| Big Mouth Bass (Unreleased) | NES/Famicom(?) | |||
| Blackjack | NES | 1992 | Development by Odyssey Software. | |
| Cue Stick (Unreleased) | NES | |||
| Deathbots | NES | 1991 | Development by Odyssey Software. | |
| Double Strike: Aerial Attack | NES | 1990 | Published by Sachen as Twin Eagle. | TC-006 |
| Dudes with Attitude | NES | 1990 | ||
| F-15 City War |
|
1990 | Development by Idea-Tek, published by HES in Australia. | |
| Impossible Mission II |
|
1990 | Originally published by SEI, development by Novotrade.
In Australia published by HES. |
|
| Krazy Kreatures | NES | 1990 | Development by Bitmasters. | |
| MaxiVision 15 |
|
1992 | Published by HES in Australia. | |
| Mermaids of Atlantis | NES | 1991 | Published by C&E as Magic Bubble. | A-1071 |
| Poker (Unreleased) | NES | |||
| Puzzle | NES | 1991 | Published for Famicom by Idea-Tek. | |
| Pyramid | NES | 1992 | Game of Sachen (NES - FC) | SA-009 |
| Rad Racket: Deluxe Tennis II | NES | 1991 | Development by Idea-Tek. | |
| Solitaire | NES | 1992 | Development by Odyssey Software. | |
| Tiles of Fate | NES | 1990 | Game originally published by Idea-Tek as Zhan Guo Si Chuan Sheng (FC). | ET.05 |
| Trolls on Treasure Island | NES | 1992 | Sequel to Dudes with Attitude. | |
| Ultimate League Soccer |
|
1991 | Development by C&E Inc. In Italy published for Trafalgar House, in Australia by Magexa. |
|
| Venice Beach Volleyball | NES | 1991 | Development by Idea-Tek. | |
| Wally Bear and the NO! Gang | NES | 1992 | Development by American Game Cartridges. | |
| Death Race | NES | 1990 | Development by American Game Cartridges. | |
| Chiller | NES | 1990 | Development by American Game Cartridges. | |
| Shockwave | NES | 1990 | Development by American Game Cartridges. |
Gallery[]
References[]
- http://www.neswarpzone.com/ave.html
- NES World Article 1 2
| List of games by American Video Entertainment |
|---|
|
Backgammon · Big Mouth Bass · Blackjack · Cue Stick · Deathbots · Double Strike · Dudes with Attitude · F-15 City War · Krazy Kreatures · Maxivision 15-in-1 · Mermaids of Atlantis · Poker · Puzzle · Pyramid · Rad Racket: Tennis Deluxe II · Solitaire · Tiles of Fate · Trolls on Treasure Island · Ultimate League Soccer · Venice Beach Volleyball · Wally Bear and the NO! Gang |