Nintendo Color TV-Game CTG-BK6: The Block Kuzushi Console That Started Nintendo’s Home Gaming Legacy

The Nintendo Color TV-Game CTG-BK6, also known as Block Kuzushi (ブロック崩し), represents one of the earliest examples of Nintendo’s home console engineering. Released in 1979, the CTG-BK6 was the fourth and final entry in Nintendo’s Color TV-Game series—long before the Famicom and NES transformed global gaming.

Developed in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, Block Kuzushi revealed Nintendo’s growing commitment to hardware innovation. Even today, this console remains a treasured collector’s item and a window into Nintendo's pre-Famicom design philosophy.

At Retros.ae, we honor the systems that built the foundation of gaming history—and the CTG-BK6 holds a special place among early Nintendo devices.

🏛️ The History Behind CTG-BK6 — Nintendo Before the Famicom

Before the Famicom (1983), Nintendo was still experimenting with:

• Electronic toys

• Arcade machines

• Simple home gaming devices

The Color TV-Game line was Nintendo’s first major leap into the home entertainment market.

The CTG-BK6 specifically was modeled after the popular arcade game Breakout, but with Nintendo’s own twist and refinement.

It was also significant because:

✔ It was one of the last consoles before Nintendo reorganized into a home gaming empire

✔ It helped Nintendo gain experience designing dedicated chip hardware

✔ It became a stepping stone for engineers who later worked on the Famicom

Some team members who worked on this device later contributed to:

• Game & Watch

• Famicom

• Early arcade boards

This makes the CTG-BK6 historically invaluable.

🎨 Design & Build — A Rare Look at 70s Nintendo Aesthetics

Your uploaded image matches the authentic CTG-BK6, featuring:

• Cream white + red stripe finish

• Large mechanical dials

• Two analog paddles

• Simple plastic construction

• Top-loaded sliding switches

Nintendo’s early home consoles emphasized durability, and many functioning units still exist today—despite being over four decades old.

🧱 Gameplay: Block Kuzushi (Block Breaking Game)

The CTG-BK6 plays Nintendo’s version of Breakout, known as Block Kuzushi.

Players rotate the paddle using the large dial to bounce the ball and break bricks on screen.

The console includes:

• 6 distinct game modes

• Different speed modifiers

• Brick formation variations

• Single-player modes only

Gameplay is displayed in simple color graphics (CRT required).

🔌 Hardware Specifications

Despite being limited by modern standards, it was considered advanced for its time.

🟧 Packaging & Accessories

Original boxed units include:

• CTG-BK6 console

• AC adapter

• RF modulator

• Instruction card

• Original box (orange/white)

• Japanese manual

These components greatly increase collector value.

💎 Collector Value & Rarity (CTG-BK6)

The CTG-BK6 is rarer than earlier Color TV-Game models due to:

• Lower production numbers

• Being Japan-exclusive

• Its late entry before Nintendo shifted focus

🔍 Authenticity Checklist

CTG-BK6 units should feature:

✔ “CTG-BK6” printed on the bottom label
✔ Nintendo Co., Ltd. branding
✔ Mitsubishi co-development mention
✔ Proper dial tension on both controllers
✔ Faded-but-clear Japanese text on box
✔ Original AC adapter (rare)

At Retros.ae, authenticity checks include:

• PCB verification

• Dial rotation quality

• Cable integrity

• Label matching

• Box + manual matching

🖥️ CRT Compatibility Only

Because the CTG-BK6 uses RF analog output, it works only with:

• Vintage CRT televisions

• RF-compatible monitors

Modern TVs require an RF demodulator or analog-to-digital converter.

🔗 Internal Linking Suggestions

• Retro Nintendo Consoles

• Pre-Famicom Systems

• Vintage Japanese Electronics

• Nintendo Collectible Hardware