Nintendo came first, launching in 1889 as a playing card company, over 50 years before Sega‘s founding in 1940 as a jukebox and slot machine distributor.

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

To answer the question "which came first, Nintendo or Sega", Nintendo verifiably preceded Sega by over half a century. Nintendo originated in 1889 as a manufacturer of Hanafuda playing cards in Japan. Sega emerged much later in 1940 as a Hawaii-based amalgamation of jukebox and slot machine distributors.

While both companies would eventually push video gaming forward tremendously, Nintendo had planted its roots in entertainment and games since beginning as a playing card company in the 1800s. Let‘s explore the complete history.

Nintendo‘s DNA Rooted in Play and Gamesmanship Since 1889

Nintendo‘s founder Fusajiro Yamauchi established the company in 1889 in Kyoto as a maker of Hanafuda playing cards. These beautifully illustrated cards gained popularity in Japan over the next several decades. As playing cards gave way to electronic entertainment, Nintendo evolved with the times.

In the 1960s, Nintendo licensed Disney characters for playing cards to drive interest. Then in the 1970s Nintendo moved into electronic toys and games like beam light rifle series. Their efforts culminated in 1977‘s Color TV-Game home console developed jointly with Mitsubishi, the first of many pioneering Nintendo video game systems.

Sega Origins from 1940s Slot and Jukebox Companies in Hawaii

While Nintendo was founded in Japan during the 1800s, Sega emerged around 1940 in Honolulu, Hawaii from the remnants of several slot machine vendors and jukebox distributors. These companies were Standard Games, Service Games and Rosen Enterprises, which merged to form a unified business dubbed SErvice GAmes, later pronounced "Sega" in homage to their roots.

Sega‘s original domains included importing slot machines and jukeboxes to US military bases overseas during wartime. But after WWII, these business suffered from diminished demand and legal restrictions. This led Sega to explore manufacturing their own coin-operated machines instead of relying on imports.

The Rush to Gaming: Sega and Nintendo‘s Console War History from 1983-2001

Nintendo would release their iconic Famicom home video game system in 1983, the same year Sega launched the SG-1000 console as their first gaming platform. This marked the starting gun for a furious clash of rivals spanning nearly two decades.

Rather than catalog every twist and turn in granular detail, let‘s jump to some major events in their battle for video game dominance:

1983 – 1989: Famicom launches in Japan along with Sega‘s SG-1000 console. Famicom becomes a smash success once released in the US as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985. Sega‘s Master System poses a marginal threat to Nintendo‘s market lead. Game Boy revolutionizes portable gaming in 1989.

1989 – 1994: Sega devises the 16-bit Sega Genesis as a hi-tech competitor to aging 8-bit NES. Sonic the Hedgehog released in 1991 as a direct affront to Mario. Nintendo retaliates in 1990 with Super Nintendo, the legendary 16-bit SNES console. Fierce marketing battles aim to show either Sega or Nintendo as the coolest console for gamer youth.

1994 – 2001: Nintendo launches industry‘s first 64-bit console with Nintendo 64 in 1996. Sega answers a couple years later with technically superior but complex 128-bit Dreamcast in 1998. Sony‘s PlayStation leads on game variety and developers, becoming the dominant force of this era. Unable to recover from Dreamcast‘s failure, Sega exits the console business in 2001. Nintendo marches on.

While this abbreviated timeline omits many finer points in theCONSOLEWARS between Nintendo and Sega throughout the 1980s to 1990s, it gives a sense of the fierce competition between the two rivals which pushed video gaming technology rapidly forward in just over a decade before Sega ultimately conceded defeat.

Now having reviewed when each company arrived on the scene along with high notes of their console war, let‘s reflect on some innovations and contributions of each company across gaming history.

Nintendo Innovations: Portable Gaming, Rumble Packs, 3D Gaming, Motion Controls

Beyond pioneering the very concept of a home video game console then popularizing it globally with NES, some groundbreaking Nintendo innovations across the decades include:

  • Game Boy (1989) – Made portable gaming mainstream
  • Super Nintendo (1990) – Iconic 16-bit system with legendary game catalog
  • Rumble Pack (1997) – Rumble feedback in Nintendo 64 controllers
  • Pokémon Video Games (1996) – Best selling RPG series of all time
  • Nintendo DS (2004) – Dual screen portable becomes #2 selling console ever after PS2
  • Wii (2006) – Brought motion controls to the mainstream
  • Nintendo Switch (2017) – Hybrid portable/home console gaming device

Reviewing Nintendo‘s steady stream of hardware shown above, it becomes clear how the company consistently pioneered new frontiers like handheld gaming, 3D visuals, rumble feedback, motion gaming and hybrid device capabilities over 40+ years since the 1970s.

Sega Innovations: Graphics, Sports Games, Sonic the Hedgehog

Now let‘s consider major innovations associated with Sega across its console gaming history:

  • Sega Master System (1985) – Showcased superior graphics to aging NES
  • Sega Genesis (1988) – More powerful 16-bit rival for Super Nintendo
  • Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) – Beloved anti-Mario icon reached immense popularity
  • EA Madden NFL series (1990s) – Most famous sports video game series pioneered by Sega
  • Sega Dreamcast (1998) – Powerful 128-bit console with innovative features like internet connectivity and visual memory units for game portability between systems

Like Nintendo, Sega moved gaming forward tremendously with hardware leaps paired with compelling software like Sonic and cutting edge sports games.

The back and forth one-upmanship between Sega and Nintendo ultimately produced a golden age of gaming innovation in the 1990s driving exponential leaps in graphics, sound, speed and overall gaming sophistication compared to the simpler arcade and Atari era that preceded it.

Nintendo Marches On While Sega Bows Out of Consoles

Given Sega‘s chain delivering leading-edge gaming technology in the 16-bit and 128-bit eras, it may be puzzling they exited the console hardware business in 2001 after the Dreamcast‘s failure while Nintendo presses onward today.

Ultimately Sega lacked the war chest and diverse revenue streams Nintendo built over a century developing games, toys and novelties. With a few consoles losing steam, Sega had to cut losses. Nintendo‘s card company origins afforded the resilience to absorb periods of struggle.

Equally if not more important, Sega struggled with third party developer support while Nintendo sealed elite partnerships. Franchises like Final Fantasy, Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid flocked to Nintendo while overlooking Sega systems. This pattern repeated until the software gaps became too substantial for Sega consoles to overcome.

There‘s no doubt Sega spurred Nintendo to dramatic achievements in gaming while pushing dazzling technology itself. But by 2001 gaming had evolved from a battle of hardware specs to one of developer support and mass appeal. Sega‘s revival efforts with consoles like Saturn and Dreamcast couldn‘t best the entrenched industry goliaths Nintendo‘s polish and Sony‘s developer ecosystem had cultivated over time.

So Sega retreated to become a cross-platform game publisher focused nostalgically on Sonic and other retro icons. Meanwhile Nintendo marched on at the vanguard of video game innovation as both a beloved game developer and durable hardware maker evolving from 1980s 8-bit to 2010s hybrid systems, durable thanks to its origins developing play over a century before Sega entered the fray.

Evaluating Sega and Nintendo‘s interwoven past from playing card and slot machine companies to shaping both modern video gaming‘s technology and culture through decades of both rivalry and inspiration, the clear verdict is Nintendo came first by over 50 years.

To encapsulate:

  • 1889 – Nintendo founded for Hanafuda playing cards in Japan
  • 1940s – Sega emerges from jukebox and slot machine vendors in Hawaii
  • 1983 – Nintendo launches Famicom (NES) while Sega debuts SG-1000 console
  • 1989-2001 – Era of fierce console wars across 8-bit, 16-bit, 64-bit generations
  • 2001 – Sega exits console market, Nintendo continues innovating

So while Sega matched Nintendo‘s passion and pushed video game technology forward tremendously in the 1990s, Nintendo preceded them in founding by over 50 years to form a company dna rooted in games and play.

This gave Nintendo the resilience and focus to persist as both a game design icon and durable hardware maker while less diversified challengers like Sega rose and fell around them across decades of dramatic industry change.

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

Similar Posts