Nintendo is one of the most iconic brands in the gaming industry. With humble beginnings as a playing card company in 1889, Nintendo has come a long way to become a dominant force in its industry today. In this blog post, we’ll look at the history of Nintendo and some of its most memorable moments.
What is Nintendo?
Nintendo, roughly translated from Japanese to English as “leave luck to heaven,” is a Japanese multinational consumer electronics company founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi. Nintendo Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. The company’s international branches are primarily responsible for manufacturing and developing handhelds such as the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch consoles. Its Japanese branches are responsible for manufacturing home console systems such as the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. As of March 31st, 2020, Nintendo has sold over 700 million hardware units and 6.5 billion software units worldwide. By market value, Nintendo is one of the biggest video game companies in the world. It has produced some of the most well-known and successful video game brands ever. This includes Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Animal Crossing, Donkey Kong, Kirby, and Pokémon, among others. Although not as widespread as Sony’s PlayStation or Microsoft’s Xbox platforms, Nintendo maintains a strong presence in the console market with its flagship Wii U and 3DS consoles. The company also produces some of its first-party titles for mobile devices, such as iPhone and Android devices, through DeNA after their ill-fated foray into the mobile market with their previous product, the ill-fated Android-based microconsole Nano Gaming System (NGS).
While most people associate Nintendo with video games, the company started as a playing card company called Fusajiro Yamauchi’s Dai-Nippon Yugekidan before eventually branching out into toys, electronic goods, love hotels, and food distribution; you name it. They even failed to enter the film industry with their studio subsidiary Shochiku Oyama, which closed in 2006 after only making three movies. However, in recent times, they appear to have rediscovered their rhythm due to huge successes like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (the best-selling fighting game ever) and Pokémon Sword & Shield (currently the best-selling Pokémon game ever). Only time will tell what new successes await this legendary company.
1889 – The Early Years
Fusajiro Yamauchi established Nintendo in 1889 as a business that produced playing cards. The company’s first product was a traditional Japanese card game called Hanafuda. These cards were popular among the upper class and allowed Nintendo to find early success. In 1929, Yamauchi handed over control of the company to his son-in-law, Sekiryo Kaneda.
1947 – The Post-War Years
After World War II, Kaneda changed the company’s focus from playing cards to other products, such as toys and games. During this time, Nintendo began producing its first toys based on American pop culture characters such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. The business was slow initially, but things started to pick up in the 1950s as the Japanese economy recovered from the war.
1963 – The Birth of Mario
In 1963, Hiroshi Yamauchi took over as president of Nintendo from his father-in-law Sekiryo Kaneda. Under Yamauchi’s leadership, Nintendo began branching into new areas, such as electronic games. One of their earliest successes came in 1974 with the release of an arcade game called EVR Race. This game was significant because it was one of the first video games to use a microprocessor.
1981 – The Golden Age of Gaming Begins
In 1981, Nintendo released its first home video game console, the Famicom (short for Family Computer). This system was released in North America two years later under the name “Nintendo Entertainment System,” or NES for short. The NES would become one of the most popular gaming consoles, selling over 60 million units worldwide. It established Nintendo as a major player in the gaming industry and laid the foundation for future successes such as the Super NES and Nintendo 64.
Nintendo Today
Nintendo is a Japanese company that primarily focuses on developing and manufacturing video games and consoles. Fusajiro Yamauchi established the business in 1889, and its initial product was Hanafuda, a traditional Japanese card game. Nintendo is currently one of the world’s most successful video game companies, and it has created enduring properties like Super Mario and Pokémon. The company has also expanded into mobile gaming by releasing popular titles such as Super Mario Run and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Moving forward, Nintendo plans to continue growing its presence in the mobile gaming market while expanding its console offerings line-up with the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch Lite.
Nintendo’s Future
Nintendo is a company that has been in the gaming industry for over three decades. During that time, they released some of the most iconic franchises and hardware in video gaming history. Despite its success, the company has had its share of struggles in recent years. The Wii U was a commercial failure, and the 3DS has struggled to find its footing. As a result, many people are speculating about Nintendo’s future.
It is difficult to say what the future will bring for Nintendo. The company has demonstrated its capacity for change and adaptation, and they have consistently recovered from setbacks. That said, Nintendo will need to make significant changes if they want to stay relevant in the current gaming landscape. The good news is that they are willing to do just that with their new console, the Nintendo Switch. Time will tell whether this bet will be profitable, but one thing is for sure: Nintendo will continue to be a major player in the video game industry for years to come.
Nintendo is one of Japan’s oldest and most successful companies. Nintendo was initially established in 1889 as a playing card business before growing to become a global leader in the worldwide gaming market. With iconic characters like Mario and Donkey Kong, Nintendo has created some of the most beloved games and consoles. The company has had its share of ups and downs but always manages to come out on top thanks to its innovative spirit and commitment to quality gaming experiences.