15. Immortal Nintendo! A (thankfully fake) brand obituary.

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Legendary gaming company Nintendo fails to recover after PETA scandal

September 23^rd 1889 – November 15^th, 2011

Due to a series of unexpected events, the legendary gaming company, Nintendo, closed its doors on the video game industry today. A conflict between Nintendo and PETA arose recently about the “Tanooki suit” sometimes worn by Nintendo’s most well-known character, Mario.

Nintendo fought with all its might; however, to the surprise of many, the company wasn’t strong enough to withstand PETA’s power. Shocked fans around the world gathered at the various Nintendo Headquarters to mourn the loss of this legendary company and brand.

Nintendo, founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, began as a humble trading card and toy company. After experimenting with niche companies such as taxi services and Japanese love hotels in the 1960s, Nintendo stepped into the digital gaming realm in 1974. It was1977 when they first released their very own gaming hardware. The character that became the face of Nintendo, a little stout plumber named Mario, debuted in 1981 as “Jumpman” in a Donkey Kong game. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, one of Nintendo’s most well-known game designers and producers, Mario appeared in over 200 games throughout Nintendo’s life. Miyamoto is also known for his creation of the Legend of Zelda series featuring the Hero of Time, Link.

After stepping into the digital realm, the company released 5 main consoles, multiple handheld devices and countless games while climbing to the top of the industry, becoming one of the “Big 3,” along with Sony and Microsoft.

Along with the fans, many others are predicted to be affected by Nintendo’s closing. While Nintendo had quite a few in-house games, the majority of games released on Nintendo devices were created by 3^rd-party gaming companies. Without Nintendo, these 3^rd-party companies are soon to be in desperate need of an alternative company to sell their games to.

More recently, Nintendo expressed the importance of being healthy by introducing products like the Wii Fit, catering to health-conscious consumers. Nintendo believed that it was unnecessary for video games to be viewed as an unhealthy activity. To further their healthy image, Nintendo even teamed up with the American Red Cross Association to promote healthier living. Nintendo didn’t just simply say they valued a healthy lifestyle; they did things to show it. Doing and showing, as opposed to telling, really strengthened Nintendo as a brand.

Nintendo was a great brand that offered the consumer so much more than a product. Nintendo wanted to share a feeling, idea and connection with all gamers alike. They didn’t just make video games. Unlike Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo always focused on the potential of the gaming experience to bring family and friends together. A grandparent who had never picked up a game controller in their life could easily sit down with their grandchild and give a Nintendo game a test run. They had simple, family-oriented games, but also catered to the more dedicated gamers as well.

Though Nintendo is gone, its legacy will still live on. The characters and storylines are too great to be forgotten, living on in the hearts of fans. There was never a question as to whether or not the brand’s ideals were far greater than the company itself.

An official memorial service for fans will be held and broadcast at Nintendo’s main headquarters in Kyoto, Japan next Tuesday.