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Sega vs Nintendo

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In Nintendo’s perspective

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Console Releases

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Nintendo Entertainment System (1983-1985)

Notable games – Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong

Impact:

• Revived the video game industry after the 1983 crash

• Established Nintendo as a global gaming leader

•. Created some of the most iconic game franchises still popular today

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Game Boy (1989)

Notable games – Tetris, Pokémon Red & Blue, Super Mario Land

Impact:

• Revolutionised portable gaming

• Outsold Sega’s handheld (Game Gear) due to longer battery life and strong games

• Made Pokémon a worldwide phenomenon

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Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1990 – 1991)

Notable games – Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong Country

Impact:

• Beat Sega’s Genesis/Mega Drive in long-term popularity thanks to superior graphics and games

• Strengthened Nintendo’s reputation for high quality, family-friendly titles

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Nintendo 64 (1996)

Notable games – Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye 007

Impact:

• Introduced true 3D gaming and analog controls

• Showed Nintendo’s focus on innovation rather than copying competitors

• Helped shape modern gaming design

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GameCube (2001)

Notable game – Super Smash Bros, Legend of Zelda – Wind Waker

Impact:

• Struggled commercially against Sony and Microsoft, but loved by fans

• Reinforced Nintendo’s reputation for quality-first development

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Nintendo’s Marketing

• Family-friendly image – Nintendo focused on being safe, fun and suitable for everyone. Especially children and families.

• Character-based marketing – They used mascots like Mario, Link and Donkey Kong to build a strong, recognizable brands.

• Quality Control – The “Nintendo Seal of Quality” reassured parents that every game was well-made and appropriate.

• Creative Advertising – Commercials often showed people having fun together, highlighting joy and imagination rather than aggression

• Innovative focus: Each console was advertised for its unique features –
  • NES – “Now your playing with power”
  • Game Boy – “Play it Loud”
  • Wii – “Wii would like to play”

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Nintendo’s Mascots

Nintendo’s best-known mascot is Mario, created by Shigeru Miyamoto in 1981. He first appeared in Donkey Kong and became famous in Super Mario Bros (1985). Mario was designed with simple shapes, a hat, and a moustache so he could be seen clearly on old screens. He became the friendly face of Nintendo, appearing in Super Mario World , Mario kart and Super Smash Bros.

Link, the hero from The Legend of Zelda (1986). was made to represent courage and adventure. His games, like Ocarina of Time and Breath of The Wild, let players explore huge fantasy worlds.

Donkey Kong began as Mario’s rival but later starred in his own games, such as Donkey Kong Country.

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Nintendo Sales

Total console units sold – 860 million units

Total games sold – 5.9 billion units

Total money earned – £161.5 billon

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Nintendo Invitations

1. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES, 1985)

• Lockout chip & “Nintendo Seal of Quality”: Prevented low-quality or unlicensed games, helping restore consumer trust after the 1983 video game crash.

• Side-scrolling platformers: Popularized by Super Mario Bros., shaping countless future games.

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2. Game Boy (1989)

• Portable gaming with interchangeable cartridges: Allowed players to take games anywhere.

• Long battery life & durable design: Outlasted competitors like Sega Game Gear.

• Massive hit with Tetris and Pokémon: Showed portable gaming could be mainstream.

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3. Super Nintendo (SNES, 1990/1991)

• Mode 7 graphics: Early 3D-like rotation/scaling effects in games like F-Zero and Super Mario Kart.

• Advanced audio chip: Enabled richer music and sound effects in games.

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4. Nintendo 64 (1996)

• Analog stick controller: Introduced precise 3D movement in games like Super Mario 64.

• Four-player controller ports built-in: Popularized multiplayer console gaming at home.

• Cartridge-based 3D games: Allowed faster loading than CD-based competitors at the time.

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5. GameCube (2001)

• Mini-disc format: Smaller, more durable discs than standard CDs/DVDs.

• High-quality 3D graphics at low cost: Made advanced graphics accessible to home players.

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6. Nintendo DS (2004)

• Dual screens, one touch-sensitive: Opened up new gameplay styles.

• Microphone & Wi-Fi connectivity: Introduced simple voice commands and wireless multiplayer.

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7. Wii (2006)

• Motion controls (Wii Remote): Changed how people physically interact with games.

• Accessible gaming: Brought in non-traditional gamers, including older adults and families.

• Virtual Console: Allowed playing older Nintendo games on a new system.

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8. Nintendo Switch (2017)

• Hybrid console design: Can be used as both a handheld and a home console.

• Joy-Con motion & HD rumble: Improved motion control and tactile feedback.

• Portable multiplayer: Multiple players can share a single system for local play anywhere.

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Overall

Nintendo’s innovations often focus on new ways to play, not just graphics or raw power.

They popularized motion controls, portable gaming, dual screens, analog movement, and hybrid consoles, influencing almost every modern gaming system.

Nintendo’s emphasis on unique hardware + strong first-party games is what set it apart from Sega and other competitors.

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Weekly Reflections

Week 1 – Learning Blender

This week I learned how to use Blender. I practiced the basic tools and functions to get familiar with the software. This helped me understand how to create and manipulate 3D models, which will be useful for any visual elements in my project.

Weeks 2–3 – Research: Sega vs Nintendo History

During these weeks, I researched the history of Sega and Nintendo. I learned about their competition, key consoles, and major games. This gave me important background knowledge for my project and helped me understand the context for the perspective I would focus on.

Weeks 4–5 – Writing from Nintendo’s Perspective

This week I wrote about the Sega vs Nintendo rivalry from Nintendo’s perspective. I focused on Nintendo’s strategies, successes, and challenges during the competition. Writing from this viewpoint helped me develop my analytical and media research skills, and I learned how to present information clearly for an audience.