Kirjahaku

An exuberant ode to play and the epic story of a company that has redefined it--their quirky beginnings, their singular ethos, their endlessly innovative leaders and developers, their massive cultural impact, and most of all the video games themselves, which have inspired joy and creativity in millions What magical mushroom could have turned an unassuming playing card company, founded in Kyoto in 1889--whose tile cards were closely associated with gambling and Japan's criminal underworld--into one of the dominant cultural forces of the 21st century, with characters as memorable as any from the Disney or Marvel universes? A lifelong gamer and a renowned video games journalist, Keza MacDonald digs down to Nintendo's experimental roots, tracking the company's rise with each new revolutionary product and exploring the driving force of these creative triumphs (and occasional failures ): Nintendo's willingness to take risks, to place long-term goals over short-term profits. Leaping from game to game, Super Nintendo tells the remarkable story of the people who brought us Super Mario Bros., Zelda, Pok mon, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and more--not to mention the SNES, N64, Gameboy, Wii, Switch and a host of other wacky gizmos, from the Power Glove to the Rumble Pack to Nintendo Labo--and charts the delights they've offered over the decades. MacDonald draws on private interviews with the likes of Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario who continues to leave his stamp on the company, and even a recent trip to the secretive Nintendo HQ--making her one of the few Western journalists ever to set foot inside the building. A carousel of wonders, Super Nintendo whisks you back to the couch in the den, a controller in your hands for the very first time, staring up at a screen of infinite possibilities.

A joyous exploration of the cultural phenomenon that created Mario, Zelda and Pokémon, and an ode to our love of gaming, by one of the most trusted voices in video games writing. 'This is a great book.' CHARLIE BROOKER 'Among the best things ever written about Nintendo.' TOM BISSELL, author of Extra Lives 'Delightful . . . a vivid picture of the most important company in video games."' JASON SCHREIER, author of Blood, Sweat, and Pixels From the instant classics to the hidden gems, Nintendo's video games occupy a special place in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people around the globe. Every player has forged a unique connection with a beloved game, feeling that rush of awe and wonder as they immersed themselves in a virtual world in pursuit of that most human of impulses: the desire to have fun. Super Nintendo finds lifelong gamer Keza MacDonald exploring Nintendo's legendary roster of games - as well as consoles such as the SNES, Gameboy, Wii and Switch, and a host of other quirky inventions from the Power Glove to Nintendo Labo - drawing from decades' worth of exclusive interviews with their creators and the people whose lives have been changed by them. Along the way, she tells the story of how this unassuming playing card company, founded in Kyoto in 1889, became one of the dominant cultural forces of the twenty-first century. Offering unparalleled access to the company and its fun-filled world, and written with warmth and wit, Super Nintendo captures the love that so many of us feel for video games - and reveals just what that love tells us about being human. FEATURING CHAPTERS ON Ultrahand, Donkey Kong, Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokémon, Kirby's Adventures, Wii Sports, Animal Crossing, Nintendo Labo, Super Smash Bros, Splatoon 'This is cultural history at its most generous: Nintendo not as corporate monolith, but as dream factory, mythmaker, and companion to childhood.' SIMON PARKIN, contributing writer for The New Yorker

A joyous exploration of the cultural phenomenon that created Mario, Zelda and Pokemon, and an ode to our love of gaming, by one of the most trusted voices in video games writing. 'This is a great book.' CHARLIE BROOKER 'Among the best things ever written about Nintendo.' TOM BISSELL, author of Extra Lives 'Delightful . . . a vivid picture of the most important company in video games."' JASON SCHREIER, author of Blood, Sweat, and Pixels From the instant classics to the hidden gems, Nintendo's video games occupy a special place in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people around the globe. Every player has forged a unique connection with a beloved game, feeling that rush of awe and wonder as they immersed themselves in a virtual world in pursuit of that most human of impulses: the desire to have fun. Super Nintendo finds lifelong gamer Keza MacDonald exploring Nintendo's legendary roster of games - as well as consoles such as the SNES, Gameboy, Wii and Switch, and a host of other quirky inventions from the Power Glove to Nintendo Labo - drawing from decades' worth of exclusive interviews with their creators and the people whose lives have been changed by them. Along the way, she tells the story of how this unassuming playing card company, founded in Kyoto in 1889, became one of the dominant cultural forces of the twenty-first century. Offering unparalleled access to the company and its fun-filled world, and written with warmth and wit, Super Nintendo captures the love that so many of us feel for video games - and reveals just what that love tells us about being human. FEATURING CHAPTERS ON Ultrahand, Donkey Kong, Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon, Kirby's Adventures, Wii Sports, Animal Crossing, Nintendo Labo, Super Smash Bros, Splatoon 'This is cultural history at its most generous: Nintendo not as corporate monolith, but as dream factory, mythmaker, and companion to childhood.' SIMON PARKIN, contributing writer for TheNew Yorker