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Nintendo is Created
The company of Nintendo is started, but not as a video game devolping company. The company was never intnended to create video games from the start, and was actually started as a producer of Hanafuda cards. They still make the cards today in Japan, despite being solely a video game company. -
The True First Nintendo Console is Released
Before Nintendo went on to make the games that we all know and love, they had to start somewhere else. Nintendo had first started releasing their own hardware when the Color TV Games were first created. This console had four different models, and were only released in Japan. The consoles had sold over 3 million units, and was taken off the market in 1980. -
Shigeru Miyamoto Joins Nintendo
After he had graduated 1975 from college, he had eventually joined Nintendo of Japan in 1977, and would leave one of the biggest impacts in the company's history. As he is responsible for making both Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. -
The First Step Into Portable and Handheld Gaming
After the release of the Color TV Games, Nintendo would then later in 1980 go on to make the first ever handheld video game console. Developer Gunpei Yokoi had been inspired of the idea of the new console by watching a man on a train entertain himself with a calculator. The console had later been name the Game and Watch, and had released the first Game and Watch, Ball. There were a total of 60 different games. Also, the modern day D-pad was created first for a Donkey Kong Jr. version. -
The Donkey Kong Arcade Cabinent, and Years of Fame to Follow
Nintendo had started its early years as a game producer making the Color TV Games, but wasn't too popular in the video games market. That was until the release of the arcade cabinent entitled "Donkey Kong". Donkey Kong would be the very beginning of Nintendo's successful career in the video game market, and would also introduce both the most known face in gaming and their mascot, Mario (who was actually Jumpman before he was named Mario). -
The Release of the Famcom, a.k.a, The NES.
As some may recall, one of the most major keypoints in Nintendo history was the first major release, when the Famicom was released in Japan. The Famicom was an 8-bit was a console that was meant to bring the arcade releases from the company, to the average household in Japan. The console proved to be an outstanding success, as a new console was made to do the same thing for Americans. The NES was released later, and was once again a huge success. -
The Impact of Super Mario Bros.
Created and produced by designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario Bros. was a phenomenal selling game, as it is the fourth best selling game of all time. The game had such a strong influence on the company, that the main protagonist, Mario, has now become and stayed as the company's mascot for years. -
Duck Hunt and the NES Zapper
Duck Hunt was a shooter game that was a launch title in North America for the NES, and had introduced the NES Zapper. The player would initially shoot at the tv and try to shoot as many ducks as possible. The game was not very popular at first, but was acclaimed later in its life, and serves as one of the most memorable games on the NES. -
Metroid
Metroid was another game made by Nintendo that would help once again with building its fanbase it has today. Metroid is a game where the player plays as Samus Aran, whos parent's are murdered by the Space Pirates and their leader, RIdley. The game had players go through multiple levels that would have the player return to multiple times to find new things. Metroid is another influential game in Nintendo's history, and players hope they may see another Metroid game return some day. -
The Legend of Zelda
One of Nintendo's most beloved franchises is the Legend of Zelda franchise. The series has 21 different games released, and has teased for a new entry to the series releasing in 2015. The original Legend of Zelda was another one of Nintendo's famous releases on the NES that had built up the foundations of a loyal fanbase, and would continue with producing Legend of Zelda games for years to come. -
Sony and Nintendo Team Up, and Fall Through...
Nintendo had originally wanted to create a successor to the NES known as the SNES-CD, which would feature ROM catridges and CD games to be played on the console. In the beginning works, Nintendo had teamed with Sony to create this new console, but it was later cancelled. Later, Sony had went on and created the PlayStation, which is to this day one of Nintendo's biggest competitors. -
The Release of the Gameboy, a Major Impact on Handheld Gaming
Working at Nintendo at the time was Gunpei Yokoi, who would give Nintendo a critical boost with introducing his idea for the next handheld console. Gunpei had brought two great ideas together to make an incredible system: the mobility of the Game and Watch, and the interchangeable cartridges with the NES. The console was 8-bit, and would become a huge success. Part of this success was because of the paired release of the Game Boy and a puzzle game caled Tetris. -
The SNES
During the time of the NES, Nintendo had begun a console war against Sega. However, Sega had made it to the market with their new console first, the Sega Genesis. Nintendo had bounced back by releasing the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), a 16-bit successor the NES. The system was capable of much more advanced graphics and sounds compared to its time, and was once again a great success. -
The Virtual Boy
Nintendo had initially wanted to make a console with "true 3D graphics", and the idea of the Virtual Boy was born. However, the console was a commercial failure in the end. The console had still used the ROM catridges, but one of the biggest reasons for its failure was the headaches induced to the user. Not even being on the market for a whole year in Japan and the US, the Virtual Boy was taken off the market. No other regions received the Virtual Boy besides North America and Japan. -
The Game Boy Pocket
The second model in the infamous Game Boy lineup would be the Game Boy Light. The new model switched the screen from a greenish tint to a black and white color, The model was also smaller, had a larger screen, and only required two AAA batteries to play. This would give the player 10 hours to play the system before it would need new batteries. (The true release date of this console could not be found.) -
The Nintendo 64
Originally named Project Reality, the next step in Nintendo's console lineup was the Nintendo 64. The game had featured a 64-bit processor, and would now give developers the power of full three-dimensional graphics. However, the console had continued to use the ROM catridges that past consoles had used, while competitors such as Sony had moved on to the CD format. The company had shipped 32.93 million N64 worldwide, outselling companies such as Sony and Sega. -
The Game Boy Light
Becoming a Japan-only exlcusive, Nintendo had released the Game Boy Light only two years after the release of the Game Boy Pocket. The new model had a new electro-luminescent background for poor lighting conditions. With only now requiring two AAA batteries, the player could play for 20 hours without the light, or 10 with it on. The model was also slightly bigger than the Game Boy Pocket. -
The Game Boy Color
In the same year as the release of the Game Boy Light, Nintendo had internationally released the infamous Game Boy Color. The handheld had featured for the first time a full color screen, had an 8-bit processor, and a Zilog 180 CPU. -
The Game Boy Advance
Three years after releasing the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Light, Nintendo had released the Game Boy Advanced. The console was a major stepup from the Color, as it now was 32-bit, had backwards compatibility with all old Gameboy games, and had a 3:2 resolution, However, the system only had a battery life of about 15 hours. -
The Gamecube
With the Nintendo Gamecube, Nintendo had finally pushed into the format of using CDs rather than rom cartridges. The console also began using Memory Cards to store game memory, rather than saving on carts. While it wasn't a great success, the Gamecube was still a major point in the company's life. -
Satoru Iwata Becomes President of Nintendo
After Hiroshi Yamuichi had retired, it was Iwata's turn to step up to the position. Originally working with HAL Laboratory, Iwata is the current president of Nintendo, and has been credited with the ideas of both the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Wii. -
The Game Boy Advance SP
Nintendo had once again released another member of the Game Boy family two years after the release of the original GBA. The model was simply a more upgraded version of its previous member, and had primarily featured the clam-shell design that many other consoles after it would keep. -
The Nintendo DS
After the Game Boy line was finally finished, Nintendo had continued their dominance in the handheld market with the Nintendo DS. Featuring a touch screen, a dual screen (hence the DS), a built in micophone, local wireless play, and backward compatitbility with GBA games, the system was an incredible success. -
The Game Boy Micro
The very last console in the Game Boy line was the Micro. The model had moved back to its original single design without the top screen, and had a 32-bit processor with it. The Micro is also rechargeable, and featured a removable face plate so the user could customize it. -
Reggie Fils-Aime Becomes CEO of Nintendo of America
Reggie Fils-Aime is the current president of Nintendo of America, and is popularly known amongst the gaming community for his famous quote, "My body is ready." However, Reggie has also been with the company since 2003, and has been with the company to see things such as the reveal of the Wii and the DS. -
The Nintendo DS Lite
After the release of the first model, Nintendo had released a new nodel of the device called the Nintendo DS Lite. The new DS was lighter, smaller, had a more stable clamshell design, and had a brigther screen than its previous version. -
The Wii
For the next home console that Nintendo would release, it would leave an innovative mark on the industry. The new console would feature online play, wireless controls, and would influence both Sony and Microsoft's shot at wireless controls as well. Also, it had featured backwards compatibility with Gamecube games. The Wii was a tremendous success, but would have a not as successful follow up. -
The Nintendo DSi
After the DS and the Lite, Nintendo would once again become even more innovative with their new model in the DS line: the DSi. The DSi now had featured both an inward and outward camera, internet connectability, an online store, and more. Aside from those features, the new model actually didn't come with backwards compatibility with GBA games. Other than that, this was an evolution in the Nitnendo DS line. -
The Nintendo DSi XL
After the release of the Nintendo DSi, Nintendo decided that it was either go big, or go home. With that, they released the Nintendo DSi XL, which the only major change was the size was larger than its previous model. -
Nintendo 3DS
After the Nintendo DSi, Nintendo had once again taken another step into innovative technology with the release of the Nintendo 3DS. As the name suggests, the model featured multiple 3D things such as 3D graphics and a 3D camera. It also featured new capabilities of using AR cards, a better online store, and many more features. The model also features backwards compatibility with former DS and DSi games. -
Nintendo 3DS XL
The XL version of the Nintendo 3DS rather instead of featuring just a larger screen size and console size, the new 3DS model featured a faster processor than its previous model. -
Wii U
The successor to the Wii would we be the Wii U, and would be the first home console to feature a controller with a touchscreen, a microphone, and a camera. With the console having as many new features as it does, not many developers wanted to make games for it, and it has had a hard time selling. However, as of late, sales have been looking better for the console. -
Wii Mini
Another version of the Wii was put out, and was oddly set to originally be a Canada-only release. The console was a much downgraded version, as it had no online, one SD card slot, no Gamecube backwards compatibility, and more. -
amiibo
As Nintendo continues to push farther into the future, new things and ideas are going to come, and that includes amiibo. amiibo are figurines that are set to work for the Wii U and the "New" 3DS, which will allow the players to transfer certain data through the figures and play games with them. (Not announced for a release date yet.) -
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The "New" 3DS
During this year, Nintendo had announced in a Japanese Nintendo Direct that a new model was being made. The new model features a faster processor, more shoulder buttons on the back, a new analog stick for camera view, works with the new "amiibo" figurines", and a better 3D mechanic. The new 3DS is set to release in Japan later this year.
