Nintendo Game and Watch - Zelda

Release year: 1989
Model No: ZL-65
Power consumption: 3V 0.0002W

This is said to be probably the best game in the series.

The marking NO(0)JEWELS UNADJUSTED struck me as being quite odd. A google search revealed that this is a marking used by (mechanical) watchmakers for tax purposes. Number of "Jewels" refers to how many jewel bearings used in a watch design. When imported into the US they are taxed accordingly. Modern jewel bearings are made of man-made sapphire or ruby, they are used when low friction bearings for light loads are needed, like in sensitive measuring equipment or accurate pocketwatches. It actually took me a full day to get the joke.

Back of top display.

Background artwork sheet.

Foreground artwork sheet and polarizing filter.

Lots of layers here. This is their order: aluminium-plastic reflector / Background artwork sheet / LCD / Foreground artwork sheet / Polarizing Filter

Under the display in the lower half of the unit sits the heart of the game, a custom ZL-65 chip. As you can see from the other pictures the unit uses very few electronic components.

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Last Updated: 2006-02-02