Nintendo has been synonymous with video games since 1983, but for the first hundred years of the company it did a bunch of other stuff. What were they famous for? Toys and games, of course. A lot of
analog stuff you couldn't plug into a TV and playing cards, stuff like that. If you weren't aware of Nintendo's long past, here's an interesting look at some of the
coolest things they made long before video games ever existed.
1
Kôsenjû Duck HuntYears before the iconic Duck Hunt video game, Nintendo released a physical Duck Hunt game.Players had to set up their gun, projector, and screen (decorating the screen was completely optional). After that you could shoot ducks with the best of them, but this game didn’t include the famous dog to mock your efforts.
2
Light TelephoneSome of these toys give you a glimpse of the creativity Nintendo would eventually bring to video games.For example, this “light telephone” actually decodes sound from light. That’s still pretty cool, and it was downright mindblowing in 1971.
3
Ultra HandIf there was one toy that embodied pre-gaming Nintendo, it would be the Ultra Hand.This was designed by Gunpei Yokoi and proved Nintendo would be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to toys.
4
Playing CardsBefore the video games and before the toys, Nintendo was known for one thing: playing cards.These ranged from traditional Japanese-style playing cards to Western-style playing cards to special decks helping people learn poems or master memory challenges.
5
New Coaster GameSometimes the best toys have the simplest designs.With the New Coaster game, Nintendo perfected a miniature coaster that allowed players to race their little beans down the track and compete to see who wins.
6
N&B BlocksAnyone can now buy official Mario Legos. But before Mario, Nintendo created its own Lego-like products known as “N&B” blocks.Tots could make creations inspired by the boxes or just do their own thing with these colorful blocks.
7
Power LiftAs early as the 1970s, Nintendo knew the public wanted complex, high-quality electronic devices.The Power Lift was the answer, allowing children to control a tiny vehicle as it loads different accessories.
8
Ultra MachineAfter the success of the Ultra Hand, Gunpei Yokoi knew he had to deliver another hit.The Ultra Machine was his next invention, allowing kids to use an included plastic bat to swing at balls thrown by this bestselling “ultra machine.”
9
Ele-Conga and AutoplayerThe Ele-Conga and Autoplayer was neither toy nor game. Instead, this was a legitimate electronic drum machine.And players could attach it to an Autoplayer to play along to certain songs. Ultimately, this toy was the grandfather to the Donkey Konga controllers we all know and love.
10
ShotracerNo, it’s not a Zapper. But the Shotracer toy proves Nintendo isn’t afraid to mash different ideas together to see what happens.In this case, they created a sci-fi gun that shoots out cool cars. This instantly won young boys over by combining two of the things (guns and cars) they liked the best.
11
Love TesterMany of Nintendo’s earlier toys and games skewed toward a younger audience.But this Love Tester allowed Nintendo to target young men and women, allowing couples to find out just how compatible they really were.
12
Magic RouletteEvery now and then, Nintendo bypassed kids and young people to target successful adults.That was the demographic for their different roulette games which brought the glamour of a casino right into the home.
13
Home BowlingBefore Wii Bowling, there was Home Bowling.It’s nothing more or less than a miniature bowling set, though everything from the box art to the box text indicates this was aimed more at Western audiences than a Japanese audience.
14
Mach RiderMach Rider became the name of a fun NES title. But before that it was the name of a cool toy that allowed players to launch and control a cool car.It can transform an entire living room into a cutting edge race track.
15
Time ShockTime Shock may sound like a Doctor Who episode, but it’s actually the name of Nintendo’s rip-off of Milton Bradley’s Perfection game.But the design differences shows Nintendo’s commitment to taking someone else’s idea and making it much better.
