Logo Credit: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
In the world of technology, it seems like companies are constantly rising and falling. Every app or website that once seemed like the center of our lives (like Myspace) will someday give up its relevance for another new app (like Facebook). That’s part of what makes it so impressive when a company like Nintendo can thrive amidst constantly-changing consumer preferences and cutthroat competition. What is behind the business name Nintendo?
The Origin of the Name Nintendo
Nintendo is a unique business name, and it befits the company that it belongs to! While videogames did not grow in popularity until the mid-1900s, Nintendo was initially founded in 1889. Initially, it was a playing card company that made handmade Japanese flower cards. There is not a definitive record of why the company was named Nintendo, but it’s believed that the business name relates to the playing cards. The rough translation of “Nintendo” is “leave luck to heaven,” which was the business strategy of the founder. Just like in card games, strategy is often more important than luck in finding lasting success.
Eventually, Nintendo branched out into other products and toys. In the 1960s, they started making novelty toys and exploring other business ventures. In the 1970s, Nintendo purchased the distribution rights of the Magnavox Odyssey console in Japan and began to develop in-home video games and arcade games. The smash hits of Donkey Kong and other iconic Nintendo games led to the development of other consoles, like the Game Boy and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Today, Nintendo still has the business name that made them famous for selling card games years ago, even though what they are known for has radically changed with the times.
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