The Great Gatsby as a 1987 Nintendo Game

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby was originally published 88 years ago today. The book has earned a place near the top of many Best American Novels lists. But if you know someone who still can't get into the story, perhaps this old school Nintendo version will do the trick.

Back in 2011, a mysterious website for the Gatsby game popped up, with someone claiming he’d bought the game at a yard sale for 50 cents. (“After dusting off my NES for like, 20 minutes I got it working, and jesus. So weird.”)

From the game's booklet: "It's the roaring 20s, and trouble's in store for Nick Carraway. It's hard to enjoy a party when you're being chased by wacky waiters, dizzy drinkers, and crazy dancers! Now you have to find Gatsby, the mysterious man you saw disappear on the hillside ... or did he?"

Melissa Bell of The Washington Post got to the bottom of the story. "San Francisco developer Charlie Hoey created, coded and published the game with the help of his friend Pete Smith as a tribute to their nostalgic love of old NES games." Charlie, if you're out there, we'd love to see what else you're working on.

You can go play the game here, old sport.