A year ago, I shipped off to various video game museums my collection of Nintendo Power magazines, consisting of most of the first 46 issues. But before I did, one last silly project I wanted to undertake was to list all of the prizes from various Players Polls.

NP used the Players Poll to determine the most popular games amongst players, and used the prizes as a means of incentivizing response. Some of the prizes struck me as a little strange, even when I was reading the magazine as a child. One that stuck out in my mind was the tie-in with the Total Recall NES title, dreadful game that it was — The grand prize was an authentic martian police force uniform from the movie. 2nd prizes included costume badges from the movie. 3rd prize was the game. It’s hard to tell which prize would have been worse. Similarly, the 1990 Jan/Feb issue had a contest themed around movies. One of the prizes involved a random game from a pool of 15 notoriously awful, movie-themed NES games.

On the other hand, some of the more notable grand prizes included a trip for 4 to Disneyland (1988 Nov/Dec); trip for 4 to Super Bowl XXV (volume 18); and a trip to New Orleans for NCAA Final Four (volume 43).

Some of the weirder ones included becoming a character in a Valiant comic book (volume 20); Hudson Hawk scavenger hunt organized in your home town (volume 24); Bill & Ted’s telehone booth, installed with phone bill paid for 1 whole year (volume 27); Robocop’s Ford Taurus (volume 35); and hanging with Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (volume 40). Further, there were at least 2 contests in which the grand prize involved doing work for Nintendo or its affiliates (1989 July/August offered the opportunity to do game testing for Nintendo; volume 32 was a trip to visit Rare and brainstorm ideas for a game). Another odd thing was that, while this magazine was aimed at kids (probably), a number of the contests revolved around R-rated movies (Robocop 2, Total Recall, and Hudson Hawk).

I thought I scanned a bunch of the more interesting examples before shipping off the magazines, but I can’t find them now. I found the scans and have updated the post.

1988 July/Aug – Super Mario Bros II cover

• 1st prize (1): 10 games of your choice
• 2nd prize (10): Super Mario Bros II
• 3rd prize (50): Nintendo Power jersey
• Notes: The contest page boasts OVER 60 BIG WINNERS; indeed, mathematically, there will be 61 winners. Also, according to the poll, it looks like the licensed library was roughly 87 games large at the time.

1988 Sep/Oct – Castlevania II cover

Theme: R.C. Pro-Am

• 1st prize (1): 10 games of your choice (presumably of the entire licensed library)
• 2nd prize (5): 14-inch scale model quick drive RC model car
• 3rd prize (10): R.C. Pro-Am game
• 4th prize (50): Nintendo Power jersey
• Notes: Again, “OVER 65 BIG WINNERS” when there will be exactly 66 winners.

1988 Nov/Dec – Track and Field II cover

• 1st prize (1): trip for 4 to Disneyland (4 days/3 nights)
• 2nd prize (600+): various NES games and accessories
• Notes: Trip to Disneyland; now we’re talkin’. I’m not sure if I mistyped that 600+ figure for 2nd prize winners. Seems off. 60 2nd place winners would be more in keeping with the contests up to this point.

1989 Jan/Feb – Zelda II cover

• 1st prize (1): A set of NES accessories
• 2nd prize (10): Zelda II game
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey
• Note: This one claims over 150 winners when the prizes only seem to add up to 61.

Click for larger image

1989 May/Jun – TMNT cover

• 1st prize (1): mountain bicycle with helmet
• 2nd prize (15): WWF Wrestlemania game
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

1989 Mar/Apr – Ninja Gaiden cover

Theme: Selecting games for the 1988 Nintendo Power Awards

• 1st prize (25): 8 of the best games of 1988, presumably as voted in this poll

1989 Jul/Aug – Mega Man 2 cover

• 1st prize (5): trip to Nintendo of America
• 2nd prize (10): Game Boy
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey
• Notes: Win the opportunity to do work for Nintendo (test unreleased game programs)

1989 Sep/Oct – Duck Tales cover

Theme: Robocop

• 1st prize (1): A trip for 4 to the movie set of Robocop 2
• 2nd prize (1): A Robocop arcade unit
• 3rd prize (10): Autographed Robocop game paks.
• Notes: The grand prize of a magazine ostensibly aimed at kids is to win a trip to the set of an R-rated movie.

1989 Nov/Dec – Tetris cover

• 1st prize (1): $1000 worth of presents
• 2nd prize (10): $50 toy store gift certificates
• 3rd prize (10): NES Satellite
• 4th prize (50): NP jersey

1990 Jan/Feb – Batman cover

Theme: Movie games

• 1st prize (1): A private showing of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie
• 2nd prize (15): random movie-based NES game
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey
• Notes: I can think of few worse NES-related prizes than the notoriously awful movie-based titles. There is a 2 in 15 chance of getting a good game from that set (Batman or Willow). The specific titles are listed in the scan.

 

1990 Mar/Apr – Super Mario Bros. 3 cover

Theme: 1989 Nintendo Power Awards

• 1st prize (25): pick 10 games from a library of 20 selected by Howard Philips

1990 May/Jun – Super C cover

Theme: Oh no, it’s Total Recall

• 1st prize (1): See the filming of Total Recall and meet Arnold himself; also, a copy of the Total Recall game as well as a Martian police uniform used in the movie.
• 2nd prize (5): Ultimate collector’s set of Total Recall badges
• 3rd prize (25): Total Recall game
• Notes: Remember that Total Recall is one of the most notoriously awful NES titles of all time.

 

Volume 16 – Maniac Mansion cover

Theme: Ultima: Quest of the Avater tie-in

• 1st prize (1): trip to Britannia Mansion and Origin Systems
• 2nd prize (15): set of 3 FCI RPG games
• 3rd prize (50): NP T-shirt

 
Click for larger images

Volume 18 – Dr. Mario cover

Theme: (American) Football

• 1st prize (1): trip for 4 to Super Bowl XXV
• 2nd prize (25): NES Satellite, NES Play Action Football, Superspike V’Ball
• Notes: This would have been the 1991 Super Bowl, New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills, 20-19, Tampa, FL

Volume 20 – Mega Man III cover

Theme: Valiant comic books

• 1st prize (1): become a character in a Valiant comic book
• 2nd prize (10): set of Valiant’s Nintendo-related titles
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 21 – Startropics cover

Theme: Battletech

• 1st prize (1): Battletech trip
• 2nd prize (10): Battletech game kits
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey
• Notes: This seems to have no evident Nintendo relation beyond Battletech being a video game.

Volume 22 – Metal Storm cover

Theme: 1990 Nintendo Power Awards

• 1st prize (25): pick 10 games from a library of 20 selected by Howard Philips

Volume 23 – Power Blade cover

Theme: NASCAR

• 1st prize (1): trip for 4 to NASCAR race
• 2nd prize (10): Bill Elliott’s NASCAR game and pit crew jacket
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 24 – Vice: Project Doom cover

Theme: Hudson Hawk

• 1st prize (1): Hudson Hawk scavenger hunt organized in your home town, plus a big-screen TV
• 2nd prize (5): Hudson Hawk movie party and game
• 3rd prize (25): NP jersey
• Notes: Another tie-in to an infamously bad movie. I also wonder what qualified as a big-screen TV in 1991 when this was published. And once more, R-rated movie.

Volume 25 – Battletoads cover

Theme: Fathers Day

• 1st prize (1): golf cart and 2 sets of golf clubs
• 2nd prize (25): golf visors and balls, and NES Open games
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 26 – Robin Hood cover

• 1st prize (3): trip to Nintendo of America to pick up the first SNES consoles to hit America
• 2nd prize (6): Game Boy + Tetris
• 3rd prize (9): NES Advantage
• 4th prize (30): NP jersey

Volume 27 – Mega Man In Dr. Wily’s Revenge cover

Theme: Bill & Ted

• 1st prize (1): Bill & Ted’s telehone booth, installed; phone bill for 1 whole year
• 2nd prize (25): Bill & Ted’s Excellent movie and game combo
• 3rd prize (50): (new!) NP jersey
• Notes: Just… odd. Install a phone booth in your house? Stand and make calls?

Volume 28 – Super Mario World cover

Theme: American Gladiators

• 1st prize (1): See the American Gladiators live
• 2nd prize (15); American Gladiators game
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 29 – Star Trek cover

Theme: Paper Boy 2

• 1st prize (1): Mountain bike trip for family and new bikes
• 2nd prize (5): Power Boy 2 for Game Boy
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 31 – Metroid (Game Boy) cover

Theme: Star Wars

• 1st prize (1): Star Wars Extravanganza
• 2nd prize (10): Star Wars masks and game pak
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey
• Notes: there was a special Star Wars screening in select cities to commemorate the game release

Volume 32 – Super Castlevania IV cover

Theme: Battletoads

• 1st prize (1): trip to Rare (“toadally cool”)
• 2nd prize (10): Battletoads for NES and Game Boy, Battletoads sweatshirt
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey
• Note: another labor trip: “Give them your ideas for the SNES version of Battletoads”

Volume 35 – WWF Super Wrestlemania cover

Theme: Another Robocop tie-in

• 1st prize (1): Robocop’s Ford Taurus
• 2nd prize (10): Robocop II movie + game pak
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey
• Notes: Again, an R-rated movie as prize in contest aimed at kids? Then again, first prize is a car.

Volume 36 – Darkwing Duck cover

• 1st prize (1): trip to Nintendo of America, meet George and Rob (NP reviewers); pick up new Super Scope
• 2nd prize (10): Super Scope 6 accessory and game pak
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 37 – Lemmings cover

• 1st prize (1): Street Fighter II CE arcade game (estimated value is $3500)
• 2nd prize (10): Street Fighter II for SNES
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 38 – Street Fighter II cover

• 1st prize (1): Super Mario Bros. Pinball
• 2nd prize (5): Custom-made Super Mario World jackets
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 39 – Mario Paint cover

Theme: The Simpsons

• 1st prize (1): Simpsons tie-in
• 2nd prize (10): either Krusty’s Fun House for NES or Krusty’s Super Fun House for SNES
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 40 – Felix The Cat cover

Theme: D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

• 1st prize (1): Hang out with Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince; Miracle keyboard tie-in
• 2nd prize (5): complete Fresh Prince music library
• 3rd prize (50): NP T-shirt
• Notes: This seems a bit tenuous as far as Nintendo connections goes. But at least they had Mike Tyson in common (Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! and “I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson” rap song)

Volume 41 – Super Mario Kart cover

Theme: Clue board game

• 1st prize (1): Clue trip
• 2nd prize (15): Clue game pak and Clue board game (Clue: The Great Museum Caper)
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 42 – Super Star Wars cover

Theme: (American) football

• 1st prize (1): NFL Pro Bowl
• 2nd prize (15): Super Play Action Football
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

Volume 43 – Road Runner’s Death Valley Rally cover

Theme: College basketball

• 1st prize (1): March Madness tie-in; trip to New Orleans for Final Four; NCAA Basketball for SNES
• 2nd prize (10): Official NCAA basketall + NCAA game pak
• 3rd prize (50): NP T-shirt

Volume 44 – The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse cover

Theme: NHL Hockey

• 1st prize (1): Take A Slap with the San Jose Sharks
• 2nd prize (5): NHLPA Hockey ’93 and Sharks jersey
• 3rd prize (50): NP T-shirt

Volume 45 – Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt cover

Theme: Wayne’s World

• 1st prize (1): Wayne’s World tie-in
• 2nd prize (unknown quantity): Wayne’s World SNES game + movie
• 3rd prize (unknown quantity): NP jersey

Volume 46 – Tiny Toon Adventures cover

Theme: Nintendo Power Awards ’92

• 1st prize (1): 25 games of your choice, any of the 3 systems (NES, SNES, or Gameboy)
• 2nd prize (100): a game selected by staff
• 3rd prize (50): NP jersey

And that’s about the point when I stopped subscribing.