Nintendo has gone down in history as a company that greatly shaped the video game industry. From its early consoles to iconic digital characters, Nintendo has been a trendsetter and has received much success.
Besides their popular consoles, characters, and games, there are some surprising and amusing facts about Nintendo. Yes, like how their famous mascot, Mario, could have had a different name or how one of their consoles got to travel to space.
Here are some of the fun facts about Nintendo.
Mario Was Initially Known As ‘Jumpman’
As surprising as it sounds, Nintendo’s famous mascot, Mario, was initially known as Jumpman. And guess what? His first appearance was in the Donkey Kong game. The title was popular, and Mario debuted as the hero who saved the damsel in distress.
Mario overcomes hurdles by jumping, and this was the first time a video game character performed a jumping action. Because of this, many people knew him as Jumpman.
Before Video Games It Was Card Games
Before Nintendo became a video game giant, it developed card games in Japan. The company made handmade Hanafuda card decks, and to this day, Nintendo remains the biggest playing card maker in Japan. You can find playing cards with Super Mario characters instead of the usual flowers and patterns.
GameCube Isn’t Actually a Cube
The GameCube was one of Nintendo’s creations and received mixed reactions from players and critics alike. Some praised its high-quality games, the vast library of titles, and innovative controllers, while others criticized its lack of multimedia features and design.
Speaking of its design, it’s easy to think that the GameCube is, well, a cube, but the truth is, it’s not. The GameCube actually measures 4.3(h) x 5.9(w) x 6.3(d), making it a rectangular prism or, at best, a cuboid. But let’s be honest: GameCube has a ring to it, and maybe that’s why Nintendo chose it.
What Does the Name Nintendo Mean?
Ever wondered what Nintendo means? Most names have a meaning or origin, and so does Nintendo. In 1963, the company’s third president changed the organization’s name from Nintendo Playing Card Co. Ltd to Nintendo Co. Ltd.
Since the company is based in Japan, it gets its name from the kanji characters Nin, Ten, and Do, which translates to ‘leave luck to heaven.’ A very interesting meaning that many don’t know about.
You Can Play Casino Games on Nintendo Consoles
The latest Nintendo console, the Nintendo Switch, is as versatile as it is entertaining. Whether playing on a big screen or using its portable mode, players can enjoy a wide range of games beyond the usual hits like Super Mario, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda.
Among the many genres available, casino-style games have also found their place on the platform. Players can experience the thrill of online slots real money, poker, and blackjack, spinning the reels and enjoying high-quality graphics similar to traditional video games. While Nintendo is best known for its family-friendly content, its game library continues to expand, offering entertainment options for all kinds of players.
The Legend of Zelda Game Was Inspired by Childhood Adventure
While some of the best games are works of fictional imagination, some are inspired by the creator’s life experiences. That’s the story of the popular game, The Legend of Zelda. The creator of the game, Shigeru Miyamoto, was Nintendo’s game designer, and he developed the game based on his childhood explorations in Sonobe, Japan.
Shigeru would explore caves, wander through forests, and discover wells and ponds near his hometown. His curiosity at a young age inspired his imagination to create this amazing game. This demonstrates how real-life experiences can inspire the creation of an immersive digital world filled with adventure.
Nintendo Makes History
To wrap things up, one of the most fascinating facts about Nintendo is that one of its consoles, the Game Boy, went to space. On a historical trip to outer space, Russian astronaut Aleksandr Serebrov took a GameBoy aboard the Soyuz TM-17 spacecraft and played Tetris while orbiting the Earth.
After staying in space for months and coming back, the GameBoy was still functional and is now displayed at the Nintendo World Store in New York. Next to it is a certificate documenting the GameBoy’s time out of Earth.
