PodParley PodParley
Nintendo's Origins

EPISODE · Mar 16, 2023 · 3H 27M

Nintendo's Origins

from Acquired · host Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

You may think you know the Nintendo story: a plumber named Mario, a princess named Zelda… and didn’t they buy the Seattle Mariners at some point? We thought we knew it too. And then we started researching and were blown away.The lovable Disney-like Nintendo that we know today is a 130 year-old a playing card company (i.e. gambling), forged in the shadowy world of the Yakuza and shaped by a four-generation cycle of bitter family betrayal. And its unlikely transformation into a global multi-billion dollar media monopoly was led by an iron-fisted patriarch who — amazingly — never played a video game in his life! Get ready for one of our favorite stories Acquired has ever told — we couldn’t make this one up if we tried!Links:Our Atari episode with Nolan BushnellVideo of id Software’s legendary PC “port” of Super Mario Brothers 3Episode sourcesCarve Outs:Everything Everywhere All At OnceMichael Lewis on Tim Ferriss and on CSPANSponsors:Sentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentryWorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos25Anthropic: https://bit.ly/acquiredclaude25Statsig: https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig26More Acquired!Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Merch Store!© Copyright 2015-2026 ACQ, LLC

NOW PLAYING

Nintendo's Origins

0:00 3:27:20

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

The Acquired Taste Podcast Whitney Diggs and Jadea Jackson Amazing things arise when two friends can come together to create a safe space to have deep conversations, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company through their unique storytelling. Join Whitney and Jadea in their new and exciting podcast, Acquired Taste, as they cover a wide range of topics including pop culture, personal experiences, and thought-provoking discussions. With their unique perspectives and hilarious banter, you will not want to miss out on the chance to connect through the power of audio. Join us every fourth Sunday for your monthly dose of an Acquired Taste! An Acquired Taste Podcast Audioboom Studios Life of an Architect Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins A gifted storyteller communicating the role and value of architecture to a new audience, host Bob Borson uses the experiences acquired over a 25-year career to inform his podcast. A small firm owner, architect, and college design instructor, co-host Andrew Hawkins brings his insight from his 20 years in various roles within the profession. It responds to the public curiosity and common misunderstanding about what architects do and how it is relevant to people’s lives, engaging a wide demographic of people in a meaningful way without requiring an understanding of the jargon or knowledge of the history of the profession. With a creative mix of humor and practicality, Borson’s stories are informative, engaging, and approachable, using first-person narratives and anecdotes that have introduced transparency into what it really means to be a practicing architect. To learn more about Bob, Andrew, and what life is like as an architect, please visit Lifeofanarchitect.com The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business. Henry Lopez The How of Business - how to start, run and grow a small business - is a weekly show for aspiring Entrepreneurs and existing Small Business Owners. If you are looking for actionable advice, tips and techniques on how to start (including launching or buying your first small business), run and grow your small business, this is the podcast for you! In each episode we either discuss a business topic, or interview an existing small business owner or business service provider. The How of Business is hosted by Henry Lopez who shares the knowledge and experience he has acquired over his corporate and entrepreneurial careers.
URL copied to clipboard!