Nintendo history: unusual business ventures and major controversies

Over its 137-year history, Nintendo has engaged in various unconventional business ventures and faced several legal and safety controversies. During the 1960s, while struggling with its playing card business, the company attempted to diversify by operating a taxi fleet, selling instant rice, and opening a motel in Kyoto.

In the 1980s, Nintendo successfully defended against a lawsuit from Universal Studios, which claimed Donkey Kong infringed on King Kong. The defense, led by attorney John Kirby, utilized a previous legal argument from Universal stating that gorillas were in the public domain. Nintendo later named the character Kirby in his honor.

Other notable incidents include the 1993 Mortal Kombat release, where blood was replaced with gray sweat to meet censorship standards, and a 1999 legal settlement involving Mario Party minigames that caused skin irritation and nerve injuries in children. Additionally, the Wii era saw a massive recall of Wii Remote straps after reports of the accessories detaching during gameplay. The company also faced criticism from PETA following the 2011 release of Super Mario 3D Land.