Fusajiro Yamauchi, great-grandfather of Hiroshi Yamauchi (the former president and current executive advisor on the board of directors), began manufacturing and selling Japanese playing cards, Hanafuda (flower cards), in the Shimogyo-ward of Kyoto, Japan.

1902
Started manufacturing and selling the first western-style playing cards in Japan.

1947
Established Marufuku Co., Ltd.

1949
Hiroshi Yamauchi took office as President.

1951
Changed company name to Nintendo Playing Card Co., Ltd.

1952
Built headquarters in Higashyama-ward in Kyoto, Japan and consolidated the manufacturing facilities.

1953
Became the first company to succeed in mass-producing plastic playing cards in Japan.

1959
Started selling cards printed with Walt Disney characters, opening a new market for children's playing cards in Japan.

1962
Listed on the second section of the Osaka Stock Exchange and on the Kyoto Stock Exchange.

1963
Changed company name to the current Nintendo Co., Ltd. Started manufacturing and selling games and toys in addition to playing cards.

1969
Built a production plant in Uji City, a suburb of Kyoto.

1970
Stock listing was changed to the first section of the Osaka Stock Exchange. Started selling the Beam Gun series, employing opto-electronics.

1973
Developed the Laser Clay shooting-range system to succeed bowling as a major pastime.

1974
Developed image projection system employing 16mm film projector and entered into the arcade business. Began exporting systems to the U.S. and Europe.

1977
Developed Nintendo's first home video game machines, TV Game 15 and TV Game 6.

1980
Established a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc. in New York.
Developed and started selling GAME & WATCH product line, the first portable LCD video games with a micro processor.

1982
Established Nintendo of America Inc. in Seattle, Washington, and merged the New York subsidiary into it.

1983
Started selling the home video game console Family Computer System employing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and PPU (Picture Processing Unit). Listed stock on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1985
Began sales of the U.S. version of the Family Computer System called the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in America. The NES game, Super Mario Bros. became a smash hit around the world.

1986
Started selling the Family Computer Disk Drive System to expand the functions of the Family Computer System in Japan. NES released in Europe.

1988
On-line stock brokerage services utilizing the Family Computer Network System are started in Japan jointly with Nomura Securities. Enlarged Uji Factory and built Uji-Ogura Factory in order to keep pace with the rapid increase in product demaand. Nintendo of America Inc. publishes the first issue of Nintendo Power Magazine.

1989
Introduced Game Boy, the first portable, hand-held game system with interchangeable game packs, in Japan and the U.S.

1990
Nintendo enters the 16-bit market with the release of the Super Famicom in Japan. Established Nintendo of Europe GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany. Released Game Boy in Europe.

1991
The 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES, Super Nes), along with Mario World, is released in the U.S.

1992
Super Nes released in Europe. Introduced Mario Paint game software for Super Famicom. Players create their drawings with a dedicated Super Famicom Mouse. Nintendo of America Inc. develops portable Fun Centers to help the Starlight Children's Foundation bringing happiness to hospitalized children during hospital stays.

1993
Establish subsidiaries in France, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Australia. The Nintendo Gateway program is introduced to provide Nintendo entertainment to airline passengers and hotel guests in the U.S. Built Uji-Okubo factory.

1994
The Super Game Boy accessory is released, axpanding the library of games that can be played on the Super NES. Uji-Ogura and Uji-Okubo factories received ISO-9002 (ISO 9002 is a quality assurance model made up of quality system requirements. This model applies to organizations that produce, install, and service products.)

1995
Started selling SatellaView adapter for Super Famicom in Japan, enabling the system to receive digital data from broadcast satellite.
Virtual Boy was released in the U.S. and Japan.

1996
Nintendo 64 launches in Japan and the U.S. The first software title, Super Mario 64 is proclaimed by many as "the greatest video game of all time!" Nintendo introduces the Game Boy Pocket, a sleeker, 30-percent smaller version of the world's most popular hand-held videogame system. Pokémon Red and Blue for Game Boy are introduced in Japan.

1997
Nintendo introduces the innovative Rumble Pak attachement for the N64 controller which enables players to feel vibrations during game play. Nintendo 64 hits European market. In Japan, Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Power System to convenience stores where game players can rewrite their Super Famicom game contents. Pokémon TV series starts in Japan.

1998
Nintendo introduces Game Boy Color along with innovative devices called the Game Boy Camera and Printer, bringing new life to the longest running hit in the history of interactive entertainment. Pokémon, a breakthrough games concept for Game Boy is introduced to the rest of the world and generates an international craze to catch 'em all! Pokémon the 1st movie is released in Japan. Nintendo introduces Hey You, Pikachu! In Japan with Nintendo 64 VRS., the first voice recognition system for console video games. Nintendo introduces Pokémon Stadium for Nintendo 64, which makes use of the 64GB Pack that transfers data from a Game Boy cartridge to the TV screen via the Nintendo 64 console.

1999
Game Boy sells its one hundred millionth unit. Introduced Kirby's Tilt'n Tumble Game Boy game, the first video game software with "monitor sensor" technology in Japan. Pokémon Crystal Version for Game Boy Color is introduced in Japan. The headquarters of Nintendo Co., Ltd. are relocated to the Minami-ward of Kyoto, Japan.

2001
Start selling Mobile Adapter GB system in Japan, which links Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance to cell phones. Launched Game Boy Advance worldwide. The new version of Game Boy employs a 32-bit CPU and can generate 32,000 colours simultaneously on the screen. Launched Nintendo GameCube in Japan and U.S. e-reader, which scans barcodes printed on paper cards, is introduced as a peripheral for Game Boy Advance. Introduces Nintendo Game Cube Game Boy Advance cable to connect Nintendo Game Cube with Game Boy Advance.

2002
Nintendo Game Cube hits European and Australian markets. Satoru Iwata takes office as President of Nintendo Co., Ltd. Introduced Ruby & Sapphire for Game Boy Advance.

2003
Launched Game Advance SP, equipped with front lit-screen, rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, and compact folding design. Introduced Game Boy Player, which enables Game Boy software to be played on the TV Screen. Established the Tokyo Software Designing Department to facilitate development in Tokyo. Began an online membership service Club Nintendo. iQue (China) Ltd., a China based affiliate introduced the iQue PLAYER in China. The console itself takes the form of the controller and plugs directly into the television. It was only sold in China, mainly because of the rampant piracy issues there.
Games for this console are stored on a 64MB flash card which is contained within a cartridge that plugs directly into controller/console. Games are purchased at a special "iQue depot" where games may be downloaded onto the cartridge and played later, more in line with the Famicom Disk System. Demo games that come with the iQue include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, and Star Fox 64. These demos are time-limited versions of the games. Full versions of the three titles are available, as are other first party Nintendo titles such as Dr. Mario, Mario Kart 64, Wave Race 64, and F-Zero X.

2004
Launched the game Boy Advance software Classic Nes Series. The handheld gaming device Nintendo DS, which opened up a new style of entertainment with its dual screens, touch control, wireless communication, and voice recognition technology, launched worldwide.

2005
Game Boy Micro released worldwide. It is a smaller, sleeker, brighter version of the Game Boy Advance with interchangeable face plates. This is the most portable Game Boy hardware yet. In addition to the small size, the Micro features a 2-inch backlit screen and screen brightness adjustment. Like the SP, the Micro includes a built-in, rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery.

2006
Nintendo DS Lite is released world wide, the more stylish re-make of the Nintendo DS hand held is smaller, brighter and over all prettier! The Nintendo DS reaches 13 million sales worldwide within its first year and a half boosting Nintendo's profits by 27% in 2006 so far.
Wii is also announced, the next generation console featuring wireless connectivity, the option of downloading titles from older systems like the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafix16 and is compatable with Game Cube software.