If you have got ever learn up on the historical past of Nintendo, you already know that earlier than it went into the online game enterprise, the corporate started life by making playing cards and different novelties. The hanafuda and enjoying playing cards which Nintendo produced from its formation in 1889 took a again seat following the recognition of toys just like the Ultra Hand within the Sixties, and the corporate would quickly transfer into digital video games and, in the end, arcade and video video games.
But this isn’t to say that the corporate left playing cards behind utterly. Nintendo-branded Japanese Menko playing cards had been launched in Japan within the early Nineteen Eighties and collector Ben Gilmore has a sizeable colletion of those lesser-recognized Nintendo-branded playing cards. This milk cap/Pog-like tabletop sport is older than Nintendo itself, and there are Nintendo Menkos with Mario designs that date from the plumber’s pre-NES arcade days.
Gilmore has simply launched his website, Mario Menko, which paperwork these Mario and Nintendo playing cards. Keen to be taught extra about this area of interest a part of the corporate’s licensing historical past, we caught up with him to debate the historical past of Menko playing cards, his assortment, and simply how Mario comes into all this.
Nintendo Life: Starting with the fundamentals, what are Menko playing cards?
Ben Gilmore: Menko playing cards had been solely launched in Japan. They had been product of thicker card inventory and slightly smaller in measurement in comparison with an American baseball card. They had been collected as playing cards and performed as a sport.
The historical past of Menko begins in the midst of the Edo Period (early 1700s) when Menkos had been product of dried mud or clay. Paper or cardboard Menkos started within the mid-Eighteen Nineties. Baseball Menkos turned very fashionable in Japan within the Thirties and ’40s, whereas 1945-1964 had been the golden years for Sumo-related Menkos. Throughout the ’70s and early ’80s not as many Menkos had been produced as kids had been now spending extra time watching tv and utilizing digital gadgets.
Menko was not simply card amassing, nevertheless it was additionally a sport. Players would put a bunch of Menkos on the bottom or on a desk, then you definately would take a card in your hand and slam it down within the hope you’ll flip some Menkos over. The ones you flipped over, you possibly can preserve. The one with probably the most Menkos on the finish was the winner. Of course, there have been many variations of how one can play Menko, however this was the final thought.
What first attracted you to those playing cards?
When I first found these playing cards, I used to be instantly drawn to the colourful colors and inventive components. The different interesting facet is the very fact these had been produced earlier than the Famicom got here out in 1983 and the NES in 1985. A Nintendo card of Donkey Kong and Jumpman in ‘81 and Donkey Kong Jr in ‘82 is probably something that even most Nintendo enthusiasts don’t realise exists.
How huge is your assortment now?
I at the moment have round 200 Menkos. My assortment will proceed to develop, however I’m choosy about which playing cards I purchase. Rather than shopping for giant numerous playing cards in unhealthy form, I select to attend and discover those I need in good situation. Although there are some uncommon ones I’ll purchase in any situation as a result of they don’t come up on the market that always.
Could you inform us slightly extra about Nintendo’s relationship with Menko playing cards?
I do know that Nintendo employed an organization referred to as Amada within the early Nineteen Eighties to provide online game-associated Menkos for them. In Japan, there was not good document preserving on specifics and manufacturing of Menkos, so this data is tough to search out. Even when looking out Amada on-line, there’s just about nothing.
Along this Menko journey, I’ve made a couple of buddies in Japan. They have helped me get your hands on some particular Menkos I needed to purchase previously. My good friend Shinnosuke helped me work out that Amada remains to be in enterprise. They are at the moment a mother or father firm of Ensky Plus in Japan. I’ve contacted them, and I hope to amass particular data from them (issues just like the years they produced Menkos for Nintendo, portions, and so on.). If I’m in a position to get the suitable data from them, I’ll have the ability to share this with card grading corporations to allow them to lastly grade online game Menkos.
Several of those playing cards predate Mario’s breakout function in Super Mario Bros. When did the Nintendo mascot first enter your life and what are your fondest reminiscences of the corporate’s video games and consoles within the years since?
I first skilled Mario on Atari. I spent many hours enjoying Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. I briefly performed Mario Bros. on Atari as nicely, however I’ll always remember my expertise getting a NES. One of my buddies received a Nintendo earlier than I did someday in 1986. I went over to see if he needed to go baseball and he invited me in and confirmed me his NES. When I noticed the Zapper, I needed to play Duck Hunt first. Shooting the geese was enjoyable. Even although I nonetheless needed to shoot extra geese, he shortly shut it off and stated let’s play Super Mario. I had heard about it however hadn’t performed it but. We began a two-participant sport, he was Mario and I used to be Luigi. All it took was enjoying World 1-1 and I used to be hooked for all times.
We would do paper-rock-scissors to see who might be Mario. We stored enjoying all day and it shortly turned darkish exterior. I didn’t need to, however I needed to stop and go residence earlier than I received in bother. I went residence and informed my dad and mom in regards to the NES and the way badly I needed one. It didn’t take lengthy and I had a NES of my very own. I used to be fortunate to have dad and mom that searched out the video games I needed for my birthday or Christmas. I virtually had Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario 3, and Super Mario World the day they got here out. I miss these online game departments from the ’80s. So a lot cool stuff. Anytime my mother went procuring, I went together with her. If I could not discuss her into letting me get a sport, I might at the very least attempt to get a Nintendo Power or one thing.
Then, on Christmas of 1989, I acquired the most popular toy that 12 months, a Game Boy. After I used to be informed to go to mattress, I spent many hours underneath the covers enjoying Tetris (with a Light Boy put in, after all). There had been by no means any extra arguments with my sister on lengthy holidays due to my Game Boy.
The final system I had earlier than I left residence was a Super Nintendo. I’ve to say I in all probability performed Super Mario World greater than some other sport. The 16-bit graphics and making an attempt to finish my map with all of the secrets and techniques stored me busy for a very long time. There had been many Friday and Saturday nights I had buddies over to spend the evening. We ordered many pizzas and performed Mario till 3 or 4 within the morning. Those had been the times. I nonetheless have a Wii U with numerous classic video games downloaded on it, in addition to about each Mario sport you’ll be able to consider. But, I nonetheless have all my unique classic gear and video games — I’ll by no means half with them! Too many good reminiscences and I nonetheless play them to at the present time. Nothing beats enjoying them on my 36” CRT TV.
Back to Menko, the artwork on every card is wonderful they usually present how a lot Mario’s design modified between 1981 and 1985. Is there a selected design that you just like probably the most and why?
It is tough to choose just one design as I like all of them. I believe I can solely slender it all the way down to Mario’s design in Mario 3 and Super Mario World. Mario 3 modified a lot. Mario can now fly and all of the cool fits. Same in Super Mario World. As I’ve gotten older, I discover myself going again and enjoying the unique Super Mario Bros. rather a lot. It’s a basic that may all the time be enjoyable.
Given your ardour for the retro type, what do you make of Mario’s latest design in video games like Super Mario Odyssey or Mario + Rabbids?
I like the way in which Mario seems to be these days. He’s cool and up-to-date with the instances. I’m positive as time goes on, he’ll proceed to alter and keep present. I hope Nintendo continues to not let him develop stale and all the time finds one thing new he can do. That is what has all the time made Mario video games so enjoyable. With that stated, I nonetheless love my previous-college Mario video games the very best.
Alongside Mario, Nintendo additionally licensed Menko playing cards to be made with photos of different video games like Excitebike and Duck Hunt. What do you suppose made these playing cards so interesting for Nintendo?
The colors and artwork virtually popped off the playing cards. How they represented the pictures on the playing cards remained true to how they regarded within the video games. If you had been aware of the video games, whenever you noticed the playing cards, you knew precisely what it was.
How have you ever approached constructing a group when data of every card’s manufacturing are so exhausting to search out?
I mainly purchase what’s interesting to me. If you purchase what you want personally, most certainly you can be pleased with it. Over the years I’ve discovered which of them are rarer than others, so I all the time have my eyes peeled for these.
Is there a very uncommon card that you’re nonetheless hoping so as to add to your assortment?
To my data, I consider I’ve acquired the rarest. What I’m at the moment on the lookout for are the pre-1985 Menkos in wonderful situation. My purpose is to try to discover one of many ’81s, ’82s, or ’83s. Finding one which has excellent corners, floor, and [is] centered is sort of unimaginable. I’ve a 1981 that’s gradable, nevertheless it nonetheless isn’t what I might contemplate excellent. Does an ideal one even exist? Who is aware of! I’ll all the time be wanting and my buddies in Japan might be on the lookout for me, too.
What are your favorite playing cards in your assortment (each Nintendo-themed and in any other case)?
By far, my favorite is the 1981 Donkey Kong Menko card. It has Donkey Kong, Pauline, and Jumpman. It is similar picture that’s on the facet of the unique arcade machine. To my data, that is Jumpman’s (Mario) first look on a buying and selling card. This is what I contemplate Mario’s rookie card and the Holy Grail of Nintendo Menkos. It has taken me a few years of looking out to amass those I’ve. Trying to search out one in good situation is subsequent to unimaginable due to how they had been performed with. I’ve been fortunate and have managed to search out two which can be in actually fine condition and are price grading as soon as it turns into out there.
The 1982 Donkey Kong Jr. card is particular, too. Jumpman is now formally Mario and, for the primary and final time in Nintendo historical past, he’s a ‘villain’. This can be his first look on a card as Mario.
The 1983 Mario Bros. is one other one among my favourites. This can be Luigi’s first look on a card. To my data, that is the one Menko card that Mario and Luigi seem on collectively.
The photos on these three playing cards are the identical photos that had been on the arcade cupboards and on the Famicom cartridge field. In my opinion, these three playing cards are crucial to the historic significance of Mario and Nintendo historical past. There is nothing sooner than these. These had been the primary!
My different favorite is the 1985 Menko with Mario, Bowser, and Peach. This is the primary Menko I purchased. At first, I believed I purchased a Mario rookie card however we now know that isn’t so — it could be a Peach and Bowser rookie card although. It’s cool to see how Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Bowser have modified their seems to be in comparison with these early pics of them.
These playing cards make up a distinct segment a part of Nintendo’s historical past. Why do you suppose it is crucial that we protect gadgets corresponding to these?
These are the earliest items of Nintendo historical past that got here out within the very starting. Not solely exhibiting the success of Nintendo however commemorating these unique video games and the most well-liked mascot on planet Earth.
It is believed that the online game Menkos weren’t made in the identical portions as baseball playing cards within the US, so it’s unclear what number of had been made and what number of have survived. Due to the way in which the sport Menko was performed, I can’t think about giant portions of the pre-1985 playing cards are left, not to mention in good situation. These are the earliest playing cards produced by Nintendo, which included Mario’s rookie. This is why I really feel they need to be preserved.
Finding data of Menko playing cards looks as if a troublesome job, how will you already know when you have got the total set?
I’m nonetheless ready to search out out extra data from Amada in Japan. Maybe they will shed some gentle on what number of of those playing cards they made. Until then, I simply purchase what I like or don’t have.
Do you have got any recommendation for individuals seeking to accumulate Menko themselves? What are the very best locations to purchase and do you discover any forgeries or reproductions on {the marketplace}?
Always purchase what you want. If you do, you must all the time be pleased with it. If the situation is necessary to you, all the time ensure that to look at the pics of the cardboard. If the pics aren’t that good, request higher ones from the vendor. Beware of bulk Menko card heaps on the market. Numerous instances these giant heaps have Menkos which have seen higher days. It is feasible to search out good playing cards in respectable situation in a big lot, simply be cautious and people pics are necessary.
I bear in mind years in the past when eBay would solely have two or three particular person Mario Menkos listed for months on finish. Nowadays there are a dozen or extra pages of Nintendo Menkos. When it involves Menkos, in case you see one thing you want, you higher get it. In the previous, I’ve waited too lengthy and let one go me by. That was a grave mistake as a result of it took a number of years earlier than I noticed one other one come up on the market. That is a mistake I solely made as soon as.
I haven’t seen any forgeries or reproductions of Mario and Nintendo-related Menkos. Once you’ve held a Menko in your hand, you’ll know. Even in photos, they’re unmistakable in case you are aware of them.
This interview has been edited for readability.
Thanks to Ben for taking the time to speak to us and share photographs of his Menko assortment. You can go to his website, Mario Menko, for extra photos and knowledge on…nicely, Mario Menkos, after all.
Discussion about this post