Wood grained NES was almost a thing…

To celebrate the NES's 40th anniversary, a panel discussion revealed that the console was initially planned to have a woodgrain veneer design similar to the Atari 2600, but this idea was rejected in favor of a home entertainment-focused aesthetic. The panel, including former Nintendo of America employees, discussed the challenges of launching the NES in the U.S. after the 1983 video game crash, emphasizing the importance of a design that would appeal to skeptical consumers and retailers. The final design, which became a resounding success, helped revitalize the video game industry and paved the way for future consoles.