Nintendo - a famous Japanese company has produced numerous innovative gaming devices and religious characters, known to everyone (you do not know Super Mario?). Surprisingly, this company was founded at the end of the last century. And even then it was part of the gaming industry. However, instead of consoles in the Nintendo involved in the release of cards.
This year, Nintendo will celebrate a unique anniversary. Companies celebrate entire 120 years. Agree that this is a great time. And in the world, a very small number of companies that can boast a long and successful history. Today we talk about how to develop this iconic Japanese company.
It all started with playing cards
Nintendo was founded in 1889. At its founders was Fusadziro Yamauchi. The first name of the company was Marufuku, and not Nintendo, as it is called today. The main activity of offspring Yamauchi from the beginning was the production of playing cards. In this case, unlike competitors Marufuku originally made quality maps, which were painted by hand, and then covered with lacquer.
In 1902, the company began to produce maps of the Western model, which at that time were unknown to the Japanese (yes, Japan had its own card, it is absolutely not suitable for the classic games - Nintendo became the first company that has brought to market Western maps). Progress has been made, and soon the company drew the attention of an entire industry - the gaming industry. It was a real breakthrough that allowed Yamauchi seriously raise revenue. Rapid development has led to the fact that in 1907 Fusadziro decides to rename the company, calling it Nintendo. True, it will be only the first of the many changes the company name. The time will come when next to the word "Nintendo" is a wide swath surname of the founder, then it will be removed, but added at the end of the phrase "Playing Card Company". The current name of the company will receive only in 1963.
Very soon, Nintendo is the market leader. And in 1956, Hiroshi Yamauchi, who is the grandson of the founder, visits the U.S. to learn from best practices in the management of the company. From this trip he has learned a lot, but perhaps the most fundamental was the idea that by licensing well-known characters can stimulate sales. In a few years after the first visit Hiroshi in the U.S., and he will sign a contract with Disney. The presence of well-known characters on the maps Nintendo seriously increase sales of the company.
In 60-ies Nintendo executives will seek new directions of development. The company will try on the very different markets: assembly of vacuum cleaners, television, taxis, motels, fast food. All these areas have failed. And Nintendo just lost a lot of money on them. However, immediately after the failure was followed by an unexpected success. Division Nintendo Games offered some interesting developments, which subsequently became hits. Since then, the company's activities has changed. Nintendo moves from cards to simple toys.
From playing cards to the production of video game consoles
Actually, toys, changed the history of Nintendo, submitted a talented engineer Ganpeem Yokoi. This is one of the most important people in the history of the company, as it was with his name will be associated all the early rise of Nintendo. At that time they were presented three fairly interesting toys: automatic feeding baseballs, unusual mechanical arm and playful device for testing the level of love. All these were pilot projects. Nobody believed that they so quickly become the main activity of Nintendo. But it happened.
Of course, dwell on these toys, the company does not intend to. Soon it became clear that her main focus will be development of several different designs - for home gaming consoles, arcade and handheld gaming devices. The first experiment to try a new direction, as expected, proved unsuccessful. In 1977, Nintendo released its first game console, which is in tatters falls in the market. A year later appears the first game machine from Nintendo, which as well as the console did not find a buyer. With a few lapses, finally, followed by great success. The company issued a cult portable gaming platform Game Watch (in Russia it was known as the "Electronics").
(Game Watch)
Game Watch - a small gaming platform, much like the Nintendo DS modern in design. Each copy of Game Watch was supplied with a sewn in his game. Change the game on a particular device can not be - it needs to acquire a new device. In many respects, this limitation was due to the fact that the background of each game was directly traced to the Game Watch. The device itself was simple enough. Worked on watch batteries. It was simple, but at the same time so entertaining, that rebound from the buyers was not. By the time Game Watch has been phenomenally successful gaming platform. It sold more than 10 million copies of the attachment. At the same time the company begins to actively move outside of Japan. In 1980 he was a branch of Nintendo in the U.S..
After the initial success of the company followed by the second. A talented engineer Shigeru Miyamoto decided to convert a slot machine Radar Scope. As a result, instead of the failed product at that time came the now legendary Donkey Kong. Thus, in 1981 the world saw a cult game and immediately the two now legendary characters. Except for the Donkey Kong in a game attended by brother Mario (Super Mario).
Additional PR Donkey Kong'u brought more and that the film company Universal has filed for Nintendo to court as soon as learned about this popular game. The Americans thought that the name of the gorilla too much like King Kong, right on which belonged to Universal. The absurd claim was lost. Nintendo triumphant. Not much time, and brother Mario has become the holder of his own game machine. This was the beginning of a huge series of games, which can now boast a couple of hundred million copies sold.
It turns out that by that time the company has been fairly good position in two directions. First, the portable game console Game Watch in great demand. Secondly, slot machines of the company clearly justify the money you spent. Now it was a third area - home consoles. And in 1983 in Japan in the commercially available console Family Computer, known throughout the rest of the world as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Two years after the consoles on the market in Japan, it went on sale in the U.S.. At the same sale in the U.S., you might say, did not start from scratch, because under the console has already been released a huge variety of games (at this point under the console has already been released such hits as Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda , Castlevania, and many others).
In the late 80-ies Nintendo broke yet another hit. It was released on a portable game console Game Boy. The LCD screens without backlighting, 8-bit processor - all components of the console. It was simple, but at the same time, the head exceeded the same Game Watch. As for the NES games are used cartridges.
At this point, Nintendo is already one of the leaders in the industry. The phenomenal success of the NES (Japan had sold 32 million copies in the U.S. about 30) provide the company with plenty of cash needed for the production of other consoles. It is worth noting that a serious percentage of revenue accounted for the Games themselves. For example, during the existence of NES games from the Super Mario series have sold a total circulation of 68 million copies, while The Legend of Zelda was able to gain more than 11 million. And these games are released very Nintendo.
Game Boy and was completely unique device. The thing is that he was leading on the market, even after all the competitors to present more sophisticated models of similar consoles. The golden age of the company and continued with the release of Super Nintendo Entertainment System.Pristavka was still good. One problem - the market loomed real competitor of the company Sega. In general, sales Nintendo still remains the market leader. But all became clear that soon may face real problems. And they came.
Fall
Sega was able to regain market share Nintendo. But it was only the beginning. In 1994, Sony introduced the world its amazing (for those times) console Play Station. Do I have to say that Sony was quick to settle Nintendo. In addition, the next console from Nintendo called the 64 was not as successful as the previous models. First, it used the already obsolete cartridges instead of cheaper CDs. The result naturally determined: Sony has sold more than 100 million copies of their consoles, while Nintendo was able to boast 32 million.
Among other things, the company has also been a failure prefix Virtual Boy, which had not been able to achieve any significant sales. All this is definitely not pleased leadership. The situation changed somewhat closer to the end of the 90's, when Nintendo was able to earn good money on the popularity of Pokemon. But it was only a temporary success, since the next console is a company called Game Cube was never able to win the demand of the masses.
It turned out that Nintendo is gradually slipped in a rather interesting niche, where its products were of interest only to devoted fans of the company. And the masses away from them. It seemed that the only thing that keeps Nintendo in the world - is more or less tolerable selling Game Boy. But then came enlightenment - Nintendo introduced a portable game console DS, which became instantly popular. Behind this success was followed by another - perhaps more significant. Released console Wii, changed the whole world and are today the best selling console. Wii, first of all, impressed all of its unusual functional characteristics and casual approach to games. This was just something that was sorely lacking for many players.
Long drop Nintendo ended. Today, once again finds itself. And the future of Nintendo sees a rainbow.
This year, Nintendo will celebrate a unique anniversary. Companies celebrate entire 120 years. Agree that this is a great time. And in the world, a very small number of companies that can boast a long and successful history. Today we talk about how to develop this iconic Japanese company.
It all started with playing cards
Nintendo was founded in 1889. At its founders was Fusadziro Yamauchi. The first name of the company was Marufuku, and not Nintendo, as it is called today. The main activity of offspring Yamauchi from the beginning was the production of playing cards. In this case, unlike competitors Marufuku originally made quality maps, which were painted by hand, and then covered with lacquer.
In 1902, the company began to produce maps of the Western model, which at that time were unknown to the Japanese (yes, Japan had its own card, it is absolutely not suitable for the classic games - Nintendo became the first company that has brought to market Western maps). Progress has been made, and soon the company drew the attention of an entire industry - the gaming industry. It was a real breakthrough that allowed Yamauchi seriously raise revenue. Rapid development has led to the fact that in 1907 Fusadziro decides to rename the company, calling it Nintendo. True, it will be only the first of the many changes the company name. The time will come when next to the word "Nintendo" is a wide swath surname of the founder, then it will be removed, but added at the end of the phrase "Playing Card Company". The current name of the company will receive only in 1963.
Very soon, Nintendo is the market leader. And in 1956, Hiroshi Yamauchi, who is the grandson of the founder, visits the U.S. to learn from best practices in the management of the company. From this trip he has learned a lot, but perhaps the most fundamental was the idea that by licensing well-known characters can stimulate sales. In a few years after the first visit Hiroshi in the U.S., and he will sign a contract with Disney. The presence of well-known characters on the maps Nintendo seriously increase sales of the company.
In 60-ies Nintendo executives will seek new directions of development. The company will try on the very different markets: assembly of vacuum cleaners, television, taxis, motels, fast food. All these areas have failed. And Nintendo just lost a lot of money on them. However, immediately after the failure was followed by an unexpected success. Division Nintendo Games offered some interesting developments, which subsequently became hits. Since then, the company's activities has changed. Nintendo moves from cards to simple toys.
From playing cards to the production of video game consoles
Actually, toys, changed the history of Nintendo, submitted a talented engineer Ganpeem Yokoi. This is one of the most important people in the history of the company, as it was with his name will be associated all the early rise of Nintendo. At that time they were presented three fairly interesting toys: automatic feeding baseballs, unusual mechanical arm and playful device for testing the level of love. All these were pilot projects. Nobody believed that they so quickly become the main activity of Nintendo. But it happened.
Of course, dwell on these toys, the company does not intend to. Soon it became clear that her main focus will be development of several different designs - for home gaming consoles, arcade and handheld gaming devices. The first experiment to try a new direction, as expected, proved unsuccessful. In 1977, Nintendo released its first game console, which is in tatters falls in the market. A year later appears the first game machine from Nintendo, which as well as the console did not find a buyer. With a few lapses, finally, followed by great success. The company issued a cult portable gaming platform Game Watch (in Russia it was known as the "Electronics").
(Game Watch)
Game Watch - a small gaming platform, much like the Nintendo DS modern in design. Each copy of Game Watch was supplied with a sewn in his game. Change the game on a particular device can not be - it needs to acquire a new device. In many respects, this limitation was due to the fact that the background of each game was directly traced to the Game Watch. The device itself was simple enough. Worked on watch batteries. It was simple, but at the same time so entertaining, that rebound from the buyers was not. By the time Game Watch has been phenomenally successful gaming platform. It sold more than 10 million copies of the attachment. At the same time the company begins to actively move outside of Japan. In 1980 he was a branch of Nintendo in the U.S..
After the initial success of the company followed by the second. A talented engineer Shigeru Miyamoto decided to convert a slot machine Radar Scope. As a result, instead of the failed product at that time came the now legendary Donkey Kong. Thus, in 1981 the world saw a cult game and immediately the two now legendary characters. Except for the Donkey Kong in a game attended by brother Mario (Super Mario).
Additional PR Donkey Kong'u brought more and that the film company Universal has filed for Nintendo to court as soon as learned about this popular game. The Americans thought that the name of the gorilla too much like King Kong, right on which belonged to Universal. The absurd claim was lost. Nintendo triumphant. Not much time, and brother Mario has become the holder of his own game machine. This was the beginning of a huge series of games, which can now boast a couple of hundred million copies sold.
It turns out that by that time the company has been fairly good position in two directions. First, the portable game console Game Watch in great demand. Secondly, slot machines of the company clearly justify the money you spent. Now it was a third area - home consoles. And in 1983 in Japan in the commercially available console Family Computer, known throughout the rest of the world as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Two years after the consoles on the market in Japan, it went on sale in the U.S.. At the same sale in the U.S., you might say, did not start from scratch, because under the console has already been released a huge variety of games (at this point under the console has already been released such hits as Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda , Castlevania, and many others).
In the late 80-ies Nintendo broke yet another hit. It was released on a portable game console Game Boy. The LCD screens without backlighting, 8-bit processor - all components of the console. It was simple, but at the same time, the head exceeded the same Game Watch. As for the NES games are used cartridges.
At this point, Nintendo is already one of the leaders in the industry. The phenomenal success of the NES (Japan had sold 32 million copies in the U.S. about 30) provide the company with plenty of cash needed for the production of other consoles. It is worth noting that a serious percentage of revenue accounted for the Games themselves. For example, during the existence of NES games from the Super Mario series have sold a total circulation of 68 million copies, while The Legend of Zelda was able to gain more than 11 million. And these games are released very Nintendo.
Game Boy and was completely unique device. The thing is that he was leading on the market, even after all the competitors to present more sophisticated models of similar consoles. The golden age of the company and continued with the release of Super Nintendo Entertainment System.Pristavka was still good. One problem - the market loomed real competitor of the company Sega. In general, sales Nintendo still remains the market leader. But all became clear that soon may face real problems. And they came.
Fall
Sega was able to regain market share Nintendo. But it was only the beginning. In 1994, Sony introduced the world its amazing (for those times) console Play Station. Do I have to say that Sony was quick to settle Nintendo. In addition, the next console from Nintendo called the 64 was not as successful as the previous models. First, it used the already obsolete cartridges instead of cheaper CDs. The result naturally determined: Sony has sold more than 100 million copies of their consoles, while Nintendo was able to boast 32 million.
Among other things, the company has also been a failure prefix Virtual Boy, which had not been able to achieve any significant sales. All this is definitely not pleased leadership. The situation changed somewhat closer to the end of the 90's, when Nintendo was able to earn good money on the popularity of Pokemon. But it was only a temporary success, since the next console is a company called Game Cube was never able to win the demand of the masses.
It turned out that Nintendo is gradually slipped in a rather interesting niche, where its products were of interest only to devoted fans of the company. And the masses away from them. It seemed that the only thing that keeps Nintendo in the world - is more or less tolerable selling Game Boy. But then came enlightenment - Nintendo introduced a portable game console DS, which became instantly popular. Behind this success was followed by another - perhaps more significant. Released console Wii, changed the whole world and are today the best selling console. Wii, first of all, impressed all of its unusual functional characteristics and casual approach to games. This was just something that was sorely lacking for many players.
Long drop Nintendo ended. Today, once again finds itself. And the future of Nintendo sees a rainbow.
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