Fascinating, especially because since 1985 I have ALWAYS wondered how the light gun worked, but I just never looked into it.

I bought some USB NES controllers and got an emulator and lots of old games so my kids can play when they're big enough, but I wish I could have an actual NES console for them, like one that looks like the original but maybe is just all software-based or something.

*quality

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by lucky760.

I always saw that weird screen flicker when playing those games and knew it had something to do with the light gun....just never knew exactly what was going on.

Friend of mine had a loose wire or cold solder joint in his zapper. Every time you pulled the trigger, I guess the diode lost voltage momentarily, and if you pointed at a white piece of paper, you would kill everything on duck hunt (win), and everyone on hogan's alley (lose).

It was cool for about 20 minutes, then he sent it in for warranty repair.

Semi off-topic but the title "NES Zapper" reminds me of the NES Advantage my little brother had. For those that don't know, it was this controller that was meant to be like a real arcade-style controller with enlarged buttons & a true post and knob joystick. It had a big base that you could set down on a coffee table or in your lap. Here's what they look like.

My brother had it in his lap, probably playing Metroid or something, and being that it was wintertime, and prime scuff-your-socks-on-the-carpet-and-static-shock-your-little-brother-season, I scuffed my socks on the carpet and touched his hand as he played. What instantly followed was like a super-powered shock that I felt as much as he did (well, not quite as much...) It turns out that the NES Advantage had a metal base, and when I shocked his hand, it fried the controller(on his lap) and it basically electrocuted his wang. He screamed like a a little girl so I was, as you can imagine, completely thrilled with the results. Unfortunately my parents didn't see things my way and they made me buy another controller. It was so worth it though.