Although Nintendo is one of the most iconic brand in video game history , the company was in stage business for nearly a hundred before the NES , Game Boy , or even Mario were ever dreamed up . Founded in 1889 , the Kyoto , Japan - based company was known as Nintendo Koppai in its plastic years and primarily madedifferent case of play cardsbefore branching off into toys and board games . Here are 8 non - video game products from Nintendo ’s near-127 - class story .
1 . play CARDS
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One of Nintendo ’s most democratic performing card series was theEhon Trump , a kind of picture Quran that featured boob tube - shaped boxes with famous Japanese cartoons and amusing Bible characters inside ( think Astro Boy and Ultraman ) . In 1959 , the companyacquired a licence from Disneyto grow toy dog and game for the Nipponese market place , and supply such beloved character as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck to the lineup .
2. RABBIT COASTER
After X of producing playing cards , Nintendo expanded to the plaything and plot market in 1964 withRabbit Coaster , a game in which player raced coloured beans down a serial publication of descending tracks and level to the finish business . The game ’s popularity direct Nintendo to release a whole series of “ coaster ” games , includingMy Car Race , Punch Race , and a sequel toRabbit Coaster .
3 . ULTRA HAND
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fight against heavyweight like Bandai in the Japanese toy market , Nintendo turned to up - and - coming designer Gunpei Yokoi to brainstorm some fresh ideas for the fellowship . In 1966 , Yokoi unveiledUltra Hand , a plastic grabber toy dog that could flesh out and abridge with its handgrip . The toy became a smash hit in Japan and was Nintendo ’s first product to sell more than one million whole .
Fun Fact : In 1989 — more than two decades later — Gunpei Yokoi also created the Game Boy for Nintendo .
4 . MACH RIDER
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In 1972 Nintendo releasedMach Rider , a barrage fire - powered race car that rested on a wild leek connected to gauge and a gear mechanism teddy , into the Japanese toy dog market . When its substance abuser would shift from one gear mechanism to the next , the railway car would burden and increase speed while dock . Once the user agitate into fourth geartrain , the Mach Rider would shoot off the Allium tricoccum .
5. ULTRA MACHINE
In 1967 , follow the success of Ultra Hand , Gunpei Yokoi createdUltra Machine , a battery - powered pitching simple machine that came with ping pong balls and a colored charge card squash racket . The toy became another hit for Nintendo , and gave the companionship the opportunity to branch out into alien grocery store . When the Ultra Machine was released in the United States and Australia , Nintendo shift its name toSlugger Mate , as the “ extremist ” blade was only recognizable in Japan .
6. MAGIC ROULETTE
Released in the mid-1960s , Magic Roulettewas direct squarely at the adult market . The sophisticated line roulette secret plan come up with plastic betting chips , a playing field , metallic element ball charge , and a roulette wheel , plus playing card . Magic Roulette could be played as traditional roulette or a variation of five - card poker using five chunk presence during a twisting rather of just one .
7 . LIGHT TELEPHONE
In 1971 Nintendo released theLight Telephone , a two - way walkie - talkie that used transmitted visible light for communication instead of radio waves . Rather than commercialise the Light Telephone to children , Nintendo targeted it as a novelty item for tech - savvy adults . It was only available in Japan , but it got some care inPopular Scienceas a “ walkie - talkie flashlight . ”
8. CHIRITORI
In the tardy 1970s , Nintendo released a small , radio - controlled void cleansing agent as a game . It was calledChiritori , which means “ dustpan ” in Japanese . Although Chiritori could actually pick up dust and other gunk off a flooring , it was intend to be a toy , not an actual household cleaning machine . Perhaps unsurprisingly , Chiritori was n’t a best seller for Nintendo ; the company only made a limited amount of unit , and the toy dog was discontinued shortly after its release .
