The provided text is a detailed historical account of Nintendo's evolution from a company producing handmade playing cards in 1889 to a global leader in the gaming industry. The narrative covers the company's early ventures into the toy and arcade game markets, its transition into the video game console industry, and its subsequent successes and failures.
Nintendo's first console, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), was released in 1983, and it helped revive the video game industry after a crash. The company's first handheld electronic gaming device, the Game Boy, was introduced in 1989. The Game Boy and Game Boy Color, which followed, were a massive success, selling 118.7 million units worldwide.
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was released in 1991, featuring advanced cartridges and a significant increase in processing power. Despite stiff competition, particularly from the PlayStation, the SNES sold 49 million units, outselling its closest rival, Sega's Genesis, which sold 35 million units.
The Nintendo 64, released in 1996, faced tough competition from the PlayStation, which had been out for two years. Despite quadrupling its bids, the N64 was no match for the CD-based PlayStation, which took over the market lead.
The Game Boy Advance was released in 2001, featuring a landscape design and shoulder buttons. It sold over 81.5 million units. The company then released the Nintendo DS in 2004, featuring a dual-screen design, a stylus for touch screen control, a built-in microphone, and Wi-Fi capabilities. The DS became the highest selling handheld console of all time, selling more than 154 million units worldwide.
The Wii console, released in 2006, introduced motion controls and was a major departure from the traditional button-based controllers. The Wii sold 102 million units, making it the highest selling console in its release year.
Nintendo continued to innovate with the release of the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, which introduced 3D gameplay to the DS models. The 3DS and its variants, the 3DS XL and New Nintendo 3DS, sold a total of 75.8 million units.
Despite the success of previous consoles, the Wii U, released in 2012, was one of Nintendo's biggest flops. The console was poorly marketed, and confusion about its purpose led to a lack of consumer interest.
1. Nintendo, founded in 1889 by Fusujiro Yamauchi, is a company known for its contributions to the video game industry.
2. Yamauchi started the company by producing handmade Hanafuda, a type of Japanese playing cards.
3. In 1959, the company changed its name to Nintendo Playing Card and entered into an agreement with Walt Disney to use Disney characters on their cards.
4. The company's name was shortened to Nintendo in the 1960s.
5. In 1970, Nintendo released Japan's first electronic toy, the Nintendo Beam Gun.
6. In 1977, Nintendo released its first official console, the Color TV-Game 6, in partnership with Mitsubishi.
7. Nintendo's first venture into handheld electronic gaming came in 1980 with the Game & Watch.
8. The Game Boy, released in 1989, was a handheld console that used interchangeable cartridges.
9. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was released in 1991 and was a 16-bit console.
10. The Nintendo 64, released in 1996, was Nintendo's next generation of console.
11. The Game Boy Advance, released in 2001, had a landscape design and included shoulder buttons.
12. The Nintendo DS, released in 2004, featured a bottom touch screen in addition to a top display screen.
13. The Wii, released in 2006, was Nintendo's first console to heavily use motion controls.
14. The Nintendo 3DS, released in 2011, was a new console that introduced 3D gameplay to the DS models.
15. The Wii U, released in 2012, was one of Nintendo's biggest flops.
16. Today, Nintendo is recognized as a source of fun and entertainment for families rather than a serious gaming console for individuals.
17. Nintendo's games tend to have much more cartoon-like graphics and fantasy-based characters compared to other machines.
18. The total sales of the 3DS and 2DS handheld consoles are 75.8 million.