Nintendo
Nintendo was founded in Kyoto in 1889 making hanafuda playing cards, and spent most of a century in businesses that had nothing to do with electronics — including toys, taxis and a chain of love hotels — before arcade games and then home consoles reoriented it entirely. Its character design philosophy, largely shaped by Shigeru Miyamoto, is unusually consistent: readable silhouettes, primary colours, and mechanics that precede personality.
About Nintendo
Nintendo was founded in Kyoto in 1889 making hanafuda playing cards, and spent most of a century in businesses that had nothing to do with electronics — including toys, taxis and a chain of love hotels — before arcade games and then home consoles reoriented it entirely. Its character design philosophy, largely shaped by Shigeru Miyamoto, is unusually consistent: readable silhouettes, primary colours, and mechanics that precede personality. Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, Samus and Pikachu were all designed so that what the character does in the player's hands defines who they are. That approach is why Nintendo's characters have survived four decades of hardware change without significant redesign.
The company was founded in 1889, which makes it older than the Ford Motor Company and considerably older than the medium it is known for.
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Key eras
| Era | Years | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Arcade | 1978–1983 | Donkey Kong introduces the character who becomes Mario. |
| Console era | 1983– | The Famicom and its successors establish the core franchises. |
| Beyond games | 2016– | Theme parks and film, including the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie. |