Nintendo might not be what it is today without a certain event in the past. Here you can find out what was so important for the Japanese developer over 40 years ago and why it changed the video game world forever.
Almost everyone knows Nintendo’s portable consoles such as the Game Boy, the DS or the Switch with all their different versions. But very few people know what the Japanese video game and game console manufacturer did beforehand. And even fewer people know the story that started Nintendo’s innovation in this area. To save a piece of this history, some people are willing to spend a lot of money.
You can read about what happened back then and why this still affects modern handheld devices and the games on them in this article.
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A train ride had a major influence on Nintendo’s first handheld gaming console
Why was a train ride so important to the history of video games? In 1979, Nintendo engineer Gunpei Yokoi was on a train within Japan. During the journey he observed other passengers and noticed a man who seemed very bored. To pass the time during the journey, this passenger played around with his calculator.
From this situation, Gunpei Yokoi came up with the idea for a portable mini console in watch format. He wanted to develop something that would engage people in a playful way and at the same time serve as a pastime. The concept for the first mobile handheld Game & Watch from Nintendo emerged from the context of the terms “game” and “watch”.
How long did it take for the idea to be implemented? After the Nintendo engineer presented his concept, it only took a week for Nintendo to give the green light for further implementation. Just one year later in April 1980, the Japanese video game and game console manufacturer finally released the very first Game & Watch console with the game “Ball”. A male juggled three balls back and forth between his hands in six preset positions.
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What kind of technology was in the Game & Watch handhelds? The LCD screens used by Nintendo for production differed little from the models in the watches and calculators of the time. The technology behind it was also kept simple. This was only just above the technological level of a pocket calculator from that time.
Since the budget for development was also tight, the developers had to differentiate the handheld from other competitors through its design and the games themselves in order to be successful. The first models had simple buttons to press. A few years later, Yokoi developed the D-Pad patent, which is still used today, and incorporated it into subsequent Game & Watch models. The good ergonomics for the time were a plus point compared to devices from other manufacturers.
The “button cell” batteries used could be replaced easily and at little cost. All of this enabled low sales prices. This meant that people who had lower budgets could afford the console.
What kind of models were there? From the birth of the first “Game & Watch” until 1991, a total of 56 models were produced. By the end of production, these had sold over 43 million copies (via Wikipedia). Since only a single game was available on each system, changing the game also required purchasing a new device. But it wasn’t just the games that changed with each new release.
The design has also been adapted over the years. The screen format changed in some cases and with the multi-screen series there were also versions with two displays next to each other. This careful development in conjunction with games that are simple but can still be challenging were crucial to the success of the Game & Watch.
Why was Nintendo more successful than other companies? Through simple game mechanics and highly addictive gameplay, Nintendo was better than the competition. Other companies such as Mattel had also produced comparable game consoles at the time. Despite a technological advantage, they failed due to their poor design, unwieldiness and poor game design.
Then as now – simple fun remains the most important ingredient for Nintendo
Has Nintendo been able to preserve the original concept over the years? Yes, even though the Game & Watch consoles came to an end in 1991, Gunpei Yokoi’s initial idea of simple entertainment as a pastime lives on in Nintendo’s subsequent devices.
The Game Boy was released in 1989 before it was discontinued. A superlative Game & Watch, if you will. The inspiration that began in 1980 with the first Game & Watch handheld can also be seen in the further developments of the Game Boy, the Nintendo DS with its various versions and currently the Switch console.
And we owe it all to a bored passenger on a train with his calculator to pass the time.
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