Nintendo Arcade History: From Laser Clay Shooting to Donkey Kong’s Breakthrough

Nintendo Arcade History: From Laser Clay Shooting to Donkey Kong’s Breakthrough Nintendo’s transformation from a Kyoto-based playing card manufacturer into a global gaming powerhouse is one of the industry’s most fascinating stories.

While modern gamers know Nintendo for legendary franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and the enduring success of the Nintendo Switch, the company’s journey into the video game sector began with experimental arcade hardware and innovative gameplay design.

Tracing Nintendo’s arcade history reveals not only creative triumphs but also the vital lessons and legal hurdles that paved the way to its video game dominance. Early Innovations: Hanafuda to Electronic Entertainment Founded in 1889, Nintendo initially produced hanafuda playing cards, eventually expanding into pre-electronic toys and novelties.

The company’s transition toward gaming hardware became evident in the late 1970s with releases like the Color TV-Game 6 and Color TV-Game 15.

These early home consoles established Nintendo’s intent to compete in the burgeoning video game market, but the company’s technical foray into electronic entertainment began earlier in the arcade space. Pioneering Arcade Cabinets and Projected Video Systems Nintendo’s first major arcade venture was the Laser Clay Shooting System, launched in 1973, which used 16mm film projection to simulate shooting galleries.

The system was followed by a succession of cabinets like Mini Laser Clay, Wild Gunman (1974), Shooting Trainer (1976), Sky Hawk (1976), and Battle Shark (1977).

These electromechanical games performed steadily in the Japanese market through the late ’70s and built the technical foundation for future digital endeavors. EVR Race, designed by Genyo Takeda and released in 1975, marked Nintendo’s entry into video-based arcade gaming.

This six-player horse-racing simulator, praised for engaging multiplayer action, was also notable for its operational complexity due to its reliance on videotape technology.

In later comments, industry icon Shigeru Miyamoto has credited Genyo Takeda as Nintendo’s first video game designer, though many attribute pivotal developmental roles to Gunpei Yokoi for his work on the 16mm projected video lineup. Classic Arcade Creations and the Birth of Donkey Kong Nintendo continued to push technical boundaries with releases such as Sheriff (1979), also under Takeda’s direction with art from Miyamoto.

Sheriff introduced dual-stick controls, a concept that would later become a genre-defining feature in modern shooters.

Meanwhile, Radar Scope, released in 1979, enjoyed success in Japan but struggled in North America, leading to a stockpile of unsold cabinets at Nintendo of America. In response to this setback, Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi instructed his development teams to retool the unsold units with a new game.

Shigeru Miyamoto’s resulting project, Donkey Kong (1981), became a landmark hit, launching not only Nintendo’s global prominence but also the career of Mario, then known as Jumpman.

Donkey Kong’s success saw it ported to numerous home platforms, including the Atari 2600 and ColecoVision, showing Nintendo’s capacity for cross-platform appeal long before the era of the Nintendo Switch and eShop. Legal Hurdles: The Ikegami Tsushinki Court Battle During its rapid arcade expansion, Nintendo subcontracted game development to outside firms such as Ikegami Tsushinki.

Titles developed under this relationship included Computer Othello (1978), Block Fever (1978), Radar Scope (1979), Sheriff (1979), and Donkey Kong (1981).

Legal disputes emerged over the use and duplication of Donkey Kong’s source code.

In a verdict delivered by the Tokyo High Court in 1989, it was confirmed that Nintendo had indeed replicated Ikegami’s code.

The parties reached a confidential settlement in 1990, creating ongoing debate about the original code’s ownership and contributing to why many classic arcade titles remain unavailable in modern Nintendo game collections. Legacy and Path to Home Console Dominance With Donkey Kong’s breakout success, Nintendo established a leadership position in game design and digital entertainment.

The popularity of its arcade titles laid the groundwork for the 1983 launch of the Famicom (known internationally as the Nintendo Entertainment System), which would trigger a new era in home console gaming. Nintendo’s early arcade history stands as a testament to technical innovation and resilience in the face of challenges.

From mechanical shooting galleries to genre-defining twin-stick shooters and iconic platformers, Nintendo’s arcade legacy continues to inform its creative journey—from eShop launches on Nintendo Switch to today’s blockbuster franchises.

Donkey Kong Nintendo arcade Genyo Takeda Shigeru Miyamoto Nintendo Switch Ikegami Tsushinki Minoru Arakawa Hiroshi Yamauchi Famicom Radar Scope Laser Clay Shooting System