3. It’s Dangerous to go Alone! Take this (New Technology): Nintendo’s Impact on the Technological Landscape of the Video Gaming Industry

Goldberg provides a communication perspective on Nintendo’s 100-year history of innovation. Relying on tried-and-true, iconic intellectual properties, including “Super Mario Brothers,” “The Legend of Zelda” and “Pokémon,” Nintendo focuses on delivering a memorable gaming experience via unique hardware and innovative interfaces. From plastic playing cards to the upcoming NX, Nintendo forces its competitors to keep up beyond sales numbers and graphics capabilities. Goldberg explores the impact of Nintendo’s innovative offerings on the technological landscape of video games, and gaming culture, in their popularization of portability, immersion and expansion of the game-world beyond the console. The chapter ends with a discussion of what comes next for Nintendo, including the foray into mobile game development and augmented reality games such as “Pokémon GO.”