Magnates Media

Mini Documentary | The Untold Truth of Nintendo
1.2M+ VIEWS on YouTube

Written by
Bora Ömeroğlu

Brief

Write a 2500-word script on the History of Nintendo.
Provide the audience with interesting facts and controversies about the brand.
Take the audience on a journey. Be precise, specific and accurate.

Script.

From the humble beginnings of an handmade card company in Japan — to becoming one of the most influential brands in the world. As the architect of legendary icons like Super Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pokémon — no company has ever had a greater influence on the gaming industry than Nintendo.

But that’s not where the company’s success truly lay. Constantly reinventing itself over decades and shaping how people engage with video games — Nintendo became more than just a gaming company for many people. It became part of their childhood; it became part of their youth — it became part of their life.

But being a leader in the industry for over 30 years—certainly came with its share of controversies!

From facing major lawsuits over copyright infringements, to the inability to adapt to changing times —from being accused of promoting violence, to being accused of bullying its own game developers —Nintendo has been through it all. Yet each time found a way to live on for the next generation.

So, buckle up for an incredible story that will take you from 1889 — from a small shop in Kyoto, Japan — all the way up to the modern world of gaming and the brutal wars of game consoles of today.

This is the story of how one company shaped and perfected the video game experience not only once — but over and over again, for generations. This is the untold truth of Nintendo…

CHAPTER 1 – Humble Beginnings

The truly humble beginnings of Nintendo trace all the way back to September 23, 1889, in Kyoto, Japan.

The company was first founded by Fusajiro Yamauchi, a local artist who had a great talent for making and painting “Hanafuda” flower cards—a very unique Japanese playing card with intricate, colorful imagery.

At the time, “Hanafuda” was popular among the yakuza-run gaming parlors in the city, and many local card manufacturers were afraid to be associated with the criminal gang. But Yamauchi was not carrying any fears; he believed in himself and his craft.

The early 1900s were also a dire time for Japan. The country was experiencing severe economic troubles, and consumer interests were shifting drastically to basic needs alone.

However, it was also around the same time—thanks to his dedication to his craft and his ability to adapt to changing times—that Yamauchi’s work started to get noticed, and his reputation for producing high-quality Hanafuda decks began to spread throughout the country.

Things were looking up for Yamauchi!

He opened a small shop in Kyoto, Japan, and for the first time, he began recruiting new apprentices to expand Nintendo’s operations to its next levels…

For more of my script work, click HERE.