“Level 135 unlocked!” : The History of Nintendo and Recap of the CDU x ASLC Super Nintendo World Event

On January 31st, the Askew Student Life Cinema and Club Down Under teamed up to transport FSU students back to the golden era of gaming in celebration of Nintendo's 135th anniversary. The activity-packed event rekindled memories of the Super Nintendo era and left guests with a warm feeling of nostalgia. In honor of this company's tremendous milestone, let's dive deeper into how Nintendo became the gaming platform we know and love today and its continuous impact on our generation.

In 1889, Fusajito Yamauchi established Nintendo (then Nintendo Koppaai) as a humble playing card company in Kyoto, Japan. They initially produced hand-crafted Hanafuda, a type of Japanese playing cards. These cards gained popularity in the nation after Japan banned most forms of gambling in 1882 but allowed Hanafuda. Little did anyone know that this modest entrepreneurship venture would evolve into the entertainment powerhouse we know today.

In 1959, Nintendo made a deal with the Walt Disney Company that allowed them to use Disney characters on Nintendo's cards. This partnership kick-started a new era for the company, signified by president Hiroshi Yamauchi, renaming the company from "Nintendo Playing Card Co., Ltd." to simply "Nintendo." Between 1963 and 1968, Nintendo experimented with various new ideas and ventures, such as a taxi company, an instant rice company, and even a love hotel chain. By the late 1960s, Nintendo ventured further into the toy industry, which led to the development of the "Ultra Hand." This toy was an extending arm that reached out and grabbed objects, and it was one of Nintendo's earliest hit toys, selling over a million units. The brains behind this toy were Gunpei Yokoi, who was initially hired to maintain the machine assembly lines but was quickly recognized for his electrical engineering talent. With Yokoi's skillset, Nintendo entered a new era of entertainment that would take the world by storm: electronics.

In 1970, Nintendo developed its first electronic toy called the Nintendo Beam Gun, a solar-powered light gun designed by Masayuki Uemura. Two years later, Nintendo partnered with Magnavox to create a light gun controller based on the Beam Gun design for the first commercially available home video game console. This console was called the Magnavox Odyssey and featured a light gun accessory named the Shooting Gallery. Soon after, Nintendo journeyed further into the newfound world of video game console development and partnered with Mitsubishi Electric to create the Color TV-Game Machine. The company soon started developing arcade cabinets, leading to the creation of Donkey Kong with Shigeru Miyamoto at the head of the project. From 1980 to 1991, Nintendo developed a series of electronic devices featuring a single game and a clock/alarm called the Game & Watch, which sold over 43 million units.

In 1983, in Japan, Nintendo released the first version of the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, known as the Famicom. The gaming industry continued to evolve, with Nintendo remaining a significant contributor to this development. Throughout the 1990s to the present day, Nintendo geared towards producing portable and home game consoles, which has continued throughout the years with the Nintendo Gameboy, DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL, Wii, 3DS, WiiU, and the recent Nintendo Switch and Lite. Over time, Nintendo has slowly evolved from producing playing cards to toys to the groundbreaking electronic video game consoles that house the games and characters we know and love.

Time skip to the modern day, our generation has grown up playing Nintendo consoles such as the Wii and DS, making them a significant part of our childhoods. Super Nintendo holds a special place in the hearts of college students, representing a shared cultural experience that surpasses backgrounds and interests. The ASLC x CDU Super Nintendo World event showcased the diverse and captivating worlds of Pokemon, Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and Kirby, each with its unique charm that has left an incredible mark on the gaming community. After visiting the event and interviewing fellow Nintendo enthusiasts, it became evident that Super Nintendo provides a sense of nostalgia that brings students from various backgrounds together, fostering a sense of community and shared memories.

After checking in at the front of the Askew Student Life Center courtyard, participants were welcomed into the beautiful world of Super Nintendo. They were immediately greeted with activities such as creating their own Poké Balls, crafting perler bead designs of their favorite Nintendo characters, and painting "warp pipe" flower pots. These activities allowed our students to tap into their creativity and DIY spirit while also taking them for a trip down memory lane as they interacted with characters that have been present in their gaming journey. "I adored Nintendo growing up and played on our family Wii nearly every day after school, so attending an event themed around these characters I love made my day," responded Vicky while waiting for her perler bead creation to be ironed by a volunteer. In addition to creative activities, the event was rounded off with delicious donuts themed to our favorite Nintendo characters, such as Mario, Princess Peach, Donkey Kong, and more.

The event also featured various opportunities to interact with the characters that left a mark on our childhoods through games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The highly anticipated Super Smash Bros Tournament allowed participants to relive classic gaming moments and showcase their skills. Additionally, the Animal Crossing Island showcase invited guests to exhibit their meticulously crafted islands in the theater. The competition encouraged a friendly rivalry and highlighted the limitless possibilities for self-expression within the Nintendo universe. When asked about the impact of video games on a college campus, Nicole responded, "I think video games, especially e-sports, offer a fantastic opportunity for us to bond as college students because it serves as a medium where we can play together and relive shared nostalgia of these games and characters." Nintendo had an incredible effect on our childhoods and still serves as a way to bond and foster community today.

As we came together to celebrate Nintendo's 135th anniversary, we can see how the Super Nintendo universe evokes shared experiences, creative expression, and friendly competition. From a simple playing card company to one of the most well-known video game powerhouses and universes, Nintendo had a remarkable impact on our generation. This event served as a reminder that, even in the middle of busy college life, there is always time to reconnect with childhood nostalgia, especially with the familiar, comforting world of Super Nintendo. After the ASLC x CDU Super Nintendo Event and learning the rich history of Nintendo, it is clear that the joy, creativity, and camaraderie around the Super Nintendo universe will continue to be a timeless force, bringing together college students in a shared journey of nostalgia and fun.

Writer: Miranda Muller

Artist: Solymar Estrella