Nintendo Rabbit Coaster Game (#2) and New Coaster Game (ラビット コースター ゲーム, ニュー コースター ゲーム, mid 60s)

One of the very first toys Nintendo released was the Rabbit Coaster Game, from around 1965.

Around the same time, more coaster games were released by Nintendo: a second Rabbit Coaster Game (ラビット コースター ゲーム) and the New Coaster Game (ニュー コースター ゲーム).

We have added "#2" to the name of this Rabbit Coaster Game, to distinguish it from the other toy with the same name. However, it is possible that this one is actually the oldest of the two, as the exact release dates or release order of these games is not known.

Rabbit Coaster Game (#2) and New Coaster Game

Rabbit Coaster Game (#2) was the simplest of all coaster games, as well as the cheapest; it retailed for ¥500.

The box art features a very colorful artistic rendition of the track the "magic beans" will race on, as well as - appropriately - a number of running bunnies. The blue and pink drawing at the top shows one of the beans in a tumbling motion.

The beans pictured on the top of the box even have funny bunny faces.

Rabbit Coaster Game (#2)

The game consist of a single fixed sloping track, with four curves. The sign in the middle of the track says "Rabbit Coaster". A small box holding around 10 beans completes the set.

Close-up of one of the magic tumbling beans

If it wasn't for the beans' funny movement, this would be quite a boring race. However, a lead ball placed inside the beans slides back and forth as it rolls down, giving it an unexpected tumbling movement, which results in an unpredictable, exciting race. The lead ball also slows down the bean, prolonging the duration of the race.

And.. they are off!

Here we see the beans racing down the track, after they have been released at the top. The curves in the track are positioned in such a way to provide a fair race; all beans have to traverse the same distance to the finish.

We have a winner: the red bean

The red bean made it in first!

A Nintendo logo is embossed on the base of the toy, next to the finish line.

Although this Rabbit Coaster Game is fun, the track is a bit on the short side. The New Coaster Game improved on this, and even added some new twists to the concept.

New Coaster Game retailed for ¥800. For the additional three hundred yen over the Rabbit Coaster Game (#2) shown above, it provided an extra level to the track.

As with some of the other Nintendo toys from around this time, the box shows the game title in Japanese as well as in English. This was probably done to give it a modern trendy feel for the home market, rather than to make it appropriate for use abroad. Note the Nintendo logo in yet another style.

New Coaster Game

The bottom part of the game is a base with a fixed sloping track, much like the Rabbit Coaster Game (#2). Mounted on top of this, is a second track piece.

The innovative idea of this game is the way the two tracks are used by different racing objects. This is also why the game comes with two small boxes rather than one: one with the familiar tumbling beans used by all coaster games, the other one holds a little bag with silver ball bearings.

The use of these ball bearings is unique to the New Coaster Game. They will perform the first part of the race. At the start, they are placed side by side at the top of the track.

As soon as they are released, they race down. Because of the weight of the metal balls, they develop quite a speed.

After going through two curves in the top part of the track, the metal balls drop one level down. As they fall, they move one of the red levers each, releasing one of the awaiting magic beans. This is the handover moment of this relay race.

A small chime can be seen inside the base of the track

After they have released the lever, the metal balls drop on top of a chime and come to a stop at the back of the game, where their journey ends as unsung heroes.

Meanwhile at the front, the magic beans have taken over for the second part of the race. They tumble down the track, going also through two curves to ensure they all traverse the same length of track.

In the final stretch, the beans pass through a small tunnel and come to a stop at the finish line. An embossed Nintendo logo can be seen to the right of this.

Because of the way they move, the beans take a lot longer for their part of the race, compared to the metal balls. This gives a nice switch of pace to the game; first fast, then slow, with a ringing chime in the middle.

Nintendo Rabbit Coaster Game (ラビットコースターゲーム, mid 60's)

After decades of being a specialist in the field of producing and selling playing cards, in an effort to grow the company, Nintendo entered the toy market in the mid 60's, with a quickly expanding array of toys.

The marble-race like "coaster" games are among the earliest (if not the earliest) of Nintendo's toys from this period. Their exact release date is unknown, but they are believed to be from around 1965.

In total five different versions of "coasters" exist. Well, actually there are seven, if you also count the one in the Mini Game Series and the N&B Block version. Below we will take a close-up look at one of these, called Rabbit Coaster (ラビットコースターゲーム).

Nintendo Rabbit Coaster

The game came in a nice box, which measures around 30 by 40 centimeters. It cost ¥800.

The front of the box shows the game in a fantasy environment, which resembles some kind of a race track.

The box features the name of the game in both Japanese and English. An early version of the Nintendo logo can be seen on the side of the box.

The game has to be put together before it can be played. Assembly instructions are given on the inside of the lid.

Included with the parts is a small bag with two sheep and some fences, which will be used to decorate the bottom "meadow" section of the race track.

Also included, some glue to put the various parts together, a small piece of metal to be used as screwdriver, and a little bag with the "beans" which we will use for the race.

The plastic beans contain a lead ball, which will make the bean flip over and over as it comes down the track. The wobbly effect this creates is part of the fun of this game. It also make the beans run slower down the track than marbles would, prolonging the race and adding to the suspense.

Once assembled, the race track consists of 4 layers on top of each other. During the race the beans will work their way down to the finish line at the bottom right.

To prepare for the start of the race, the beans are placed in a holder which forms the starting line. To start, one of the two levers attached to this holder is pressed, releasing the beans.

The beans now start tumbling down the sloped track.

Each track piece contains holes at the end, allowing the beans to drop one level down.

After traversing down three track pieces, the beans arrive at the bottom; the final stretch.

After a mad dash they arrive at the finish line.

Pink the clear winner. Please note the Nintendo logo on the finish line piece.

Because of the way the beans tumble and wobble, the race is quite unpredictable, which make it genuinely exciting.

Let's race one more time!

The other Coaster games are Rabbit Coaster Game (different version), New Coaster Game, Ultra Coaster Game and Captain Ultra Coaster and N&B Block Coaster.