It often feels like Nintendo and I have grown up together. For instance, Super Mario Bros. was released on the Famicom on September 13th, 1985—just six days before I was born, on September 19th, 1985. My family and friends like to joke that I couldn’t wait to enter the world just to pick up an NES controller, and honestly, that’s not far from the truth! Some of my earliest memories are of playing the NES with my sister and our neighbors, completely obsessed by the sights and sounds of the games.
What amazes me even more is that Nintendo had already been around for nearly 100 years before Super Mario Bros. was released. Founded on September 23rd, 1889, Nintendo got it’s start with a successful line of Hanafuda playing cards and is even rumored to have had a brief stint as a love hotel operator (Which may be nothing more than an urban legend) before becoming the gaming giant we know today.
While it’s probably fair to say that most readers of Nintendo Wire are here for the video games, Nintendo has produced an impressive variety of other products over its 135-year history. Beyond the playing cards and love hotels I mentioned earlier, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Nintendo also developed a range of innovative toys.
Meet Ultra Hand!
These included the Ultra Hand, a plastic reach extender, and even a Love Tester, designed by Nintendo. The best part? All of these items will be on display at the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto when it opens next month!
While it’s always fun to take a trip down memory lane and revisit all the quirky products Nintendo created before they hit it big with the Famicom/NES, it’s the video games that stand out most to us. Nintendo has given me countless gaming memories over the years, and I’m incredibly grateful for all of them (except Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival). Through the magic of Nintendo, I started a business, met so many of my best friends, and even met my amazing wife. I’ve been along for the ride with Nintendo for as long as I can remember, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Happy Birthday, Nintendo!
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Written by Jason Ganos
Nintendo super fan since birth, Jason is the creator of Amiibo News and editor-in-chief at Nintendo Wire. One of his life goals is to provide the latest Nintendo news to fellow gamers with his natural know-how.
