This Month in Nintendo History: October 1985
04.10.11
To get a better perspective of the machine, we need to take a gander at the background of its maker, Nintendo Co., Ltd (translating roughly to “leave luck to heaven”). Since back in 1889 televisions had the notable handicap of not being invented yet, so - then known as Nintendo Koppai and led by Fusajiro Yamauchi - Nintendo’s business began with Hanafuda cards. These small rectangular cards were of such intricate design and widespread use at the time they might as well have been the videogame equivalent. Their production continues to this day, though in reduced form. Nintendo bigwig Hiroshi Yamauchi - Fusajiro Yamauchi’s grandson - experimented with other moneymaking venues, too, including a cab company, a TV network, a food production venture and, of all things, a love hotel chain (perhaps an inspiration for Birdo’s appearance?). These avenues did not pay off, however, and so Nintendo turned to toys for bored minds young and old. Their first was of the physical
Source: Cubed3