When you’ve got ever learn up on the historical past of Nintendo, you recognize 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 Extremely Hand within the Nineteen Sixties, and the corporate would quickly transfer into digital video games and, in the end, arcade and video video games.
However this isn’t to say that the corporate left playing cards behind utterly. Nintendo-branded Japanese Menko playing cards have been launched in Japan within the early Nineteen Eighties and collector Ben Gilmore has a sizeable colletion of those lesser-known 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. Eager to study 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: Beginning with the fundamentals, what are Menko playing cards?
Ben Gilmore: Menko playing cards have been solely launched in Japan. They have been product of thicker card inventory and a bit smaller in measurement in comparison with an American baseball card. They have been collected as playing cards and performed as a sport.
The historical past of Menko begins in the course of the Edo Interval (early 1700s) when Menkos have been product of dried mud or clay. Paper or cardboard Menkos started within the mid-Eighteen Nineties. Baseball Menkos turned extremely popular in Japan within the Nineteen Thirties and ’40s, whereas 1945-1964 have been the golden years for Sumo-related Menkos. All through the ’70s and early ’80s not as many Menkos have been produced as kids have been now spending extra time watching tv and utilizing digital units.
Menko was not simply card accumulating, but it surely was additionally a sport. Gamers 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. Those you flipped over, you might preserve. The one with probably the most Menkos on the finish was the winner. After all, there have been many variations of the right way to play Menko, however this was the final concept.
What first attracted you to those playing cards?
Once I first found these playing cards, I used to be instantly drawn to the colourful colors and creative parts. The opposite interesting side is the actual fact these have 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 might be one thing that even most Nintendo lovers don’t realise exists.
How massive is your assortment now?
I at present have round 200 Menkos. My assortment will proceed to develop, however I’m choosy about which playing cards I purchase. Somewhat than shopping for massive a lot of playing cards in dangerous form, I select to attend and discover those I would like in good situation. Though there are some uncommon ones I’ll purchase in any situation as a result of they don’t come up on the market that usually.
Might you inform us a bit extra about Nintendo’s relationship with Menko playing cards?
I do know that Nintendo employed an organization known as Amada within the early Nineteen Eighties to supply video game-related Menkos for them. In Japan, there was not good report holding on specifics and manufacturing of Menkos, so this info is tough to search out. Even when looking Amada on-line, there’s nearly nothing.
Alongside this Menko journey, I’ve made a number of buddies in Japan. They’ve helped me get your hands on some particular Menkos I needed to purchase previously. My good friend Shinnosuke helped me work out that Amada continues to be in enterprise. They’re at present a guardian firm of Ensky Plus in Japan. I’ve contacted them, and I hope to accumulate particular info from them (issues just like the years they produced Menkos for Nintendo, portions, and so forth.). If I will get the proper info from them, I’ll be capable of share this with card grading corporations to allow them to lastly grade online game Menkos.
A number of of those playing cards predate Mario’s breakout function in Tremendous Mario Bros. When did the Nintendo mascot first enter your life and what are your fondest recollections 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 properly, however I’ll always remember my expertise getting a NES. Certainly one of my buddies obtained a Nintendo earlier than I did someday in 1986. I went over to see if he needed to move baseball and he invited me in and confirmed me his NES. Once I noticed the Zapper, I needed to play Duck Hunt first. Taking pictures the geese was enjoyable. Although I nonetheless needed to shoot extra geese, he shortly shut it off and stated let’s play Tremendous Mario. I had heard about it however hadn’t performed it but. We began a two-player 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’d do paper-rock-scissors to see who may very well be Mario. We saved enjoying all day and it shortly turned darkish outdoors. I didn’t need to, however I needed to give up and go residence earlier than I obtained in hassle. I went residence and advised my mother and father concerning 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 mother and father that searched out the video games I needed for my birthday or Christmas. I virtually had Tremendous Mario Bros. 2, Mario 3, and Tremendous Mario World the day they got here out. I miss these online game departments from the ’80s. A lot cool stuff. Anytime my mother went purchasing, I went together with her. If I could not discuss her into letting me get a sport, I might no less than attempt to get a Nintendo Energy or one thing.
Then, on Christmas of 1989, I obtained the most popular toy that 12 months, a Recreation Boy. After I used to be advised to go to mattress, I spent many hours beneath the covers enjoying Tetris (with a Mild Boy put in, in fact). There have been by no means any extra arguments with my sister on lengthy holidays because of my Recreation Boy.
The final system I had earlier than I left residence was a Tremendous Nintendo. I’ve to say I in all probability performed Tremendous Mario World greater than every other sport. The 16-bit graphics and attempting to finish my map with all of the secrets and techniques saved me busy for a very long time. There have 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. These have been the times. I nonetheless have a Wii U with loads of classic video games downloaded on it, in addition to about each Mario sport you’ll be able to consider. However, I nonetheless have all my authentic classic tools and video games — I’ll by no means half with them! Too many good recollections and I nonetheless play them to this present day. Nothing beats enjoying them on my 36” CRT TV.
Again to Menko, the artwork on every card is superb and so they present how a lot Mario’s design modified between 1981 and 1985. Is there a specific design that you just like probably the most and why?
It’s tough to select just one design as I like all of them. I believe I can solely slim it right down to Mario’s design in Mario 3 and Tremendous Mario World. Mario 3 modified a lot. Mario can now fly and all of the cool fits. Identical in Tremendous Mario World. As I’ve gotten older, I discover myself going again and enjoying the unique Tremendous Mario Bros. loads. It’s a traditional that may at all times be enjoyable.
Given your ardour for the retro fashion, what do you make of Mario’s current design in video games like Tremendous Mario Odyssey or Mario + Rabbids?
I like the best way Mario appears to be like these days. He’s cool and up-to-date with the occasions. I’m certain as time goes on, he’ll proceed to vary and keep present. I hope Nintendo continues to not let him develop stale and at all times finds one thing new he can do. That’s what has at all times made Mario video games so enjoyable. With that stated, I nonetheless love my old-school Mario video games one of the 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 assume made these playing cards so interesting for Nintendo?
The colors and artwork nearly popped off the playing cards. How they represented the photographs on the playing cards remained true to how they regarded within the video games. When you have been accustomed to the video games, if you noticed the playing cards, you knew precisely what it was.
How have you ever approached constructing a set when information of every card’s manufacturing are so onerous to search out?
I principally purchase what’s interesting to me. When you purchase what you want personally, most definitely you’ll be pleased with it. Over time I’ve found out which of them are rarer than others, so I at all times 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 information, I imagine I’ve acquired the rarest. What I’m at present on the lookout for are the pre-1985 Menkos in glorious situation. My aim is to try to discover one of many ’81s, ’82s, or ’83s. Discovering one which has excellent corners, floor, and [is] centered is nearly unimaginable. I’ve a 1981 that’s gradable, but it surely nonetheless isn’t what I might contemplate excellent. Does an ideal one even exist? Who is aware of! I’ll at all times be trying and my buddies in Japan will probably 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’s the similar picture that’s on the facet of the unique arcade machine. To my information, that is Jumpman’s (Mario) first look on a buying and selling card. That is what I contemplate Mario’s rookie card and the Holy Grail of Nintendo Menkos. It has taken me a few years of looking to accumulate those I’ve. Looking for one in good situation is subsequent to unimaginable due to how they have been performed with. I’ve been fortunate and have managed to search out two which are in actually fine condition and are value 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 may be his first look on a card as Mario.
The 1983 Mario Bros. is one other one among my favourites. This may be Luigi’s first look on a card. To my information, that is the one Menko card that Mario and Luigi seem on collectively.
The pictures on these three playing cards are the identical photos that have been on the arcade cupboards and on the Famicom cartridge field. For my part, these three playing cards are a very powerful to the historic significance of Mario and Nintendo historical past. There’s nothing sooner than these. These have been the primary!
My different favorite is the 1985 Menko with Mario, Bowser, and Peach. That 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 might be a Peach and Bowser rookie card although. It is cool to see how Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Bowser have modified their appears to be like 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 assume it’s important that we protect objects corresponding to these?
These are the earliest items of Nintendo historical past that got here out within the very starting. Not solely displaying the success of Nintendo however commemorating these authentic video games and the most well-liked mascot on planet Earth.
It’s 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 have been made and what number of have survived. As a result of method the sport Menko was performed, I can’t think about massive 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 the reason I really feel they need to be preserved.
Discovering information of Menko playing cards looks as if a tricky job, how will you recognize when you’ve gotten the total set?
I’m nonetheless ready to search out out extra info from Amada in Japan. Perhaps they will shed some mild on what number of of those playing cards they made. Till then, I simply purchase what I like or don’t have.
Do you’ve gotten any recommendation for folks seeking to acquire Menko themselves? What are one of the best locations to purchase and do you discover any forgeries or reproductions on {the marketplace}?
At all times purchase what you want. When you do, you need to at all times be pleased with it. If the situation is essential to you, at all times be certain to look at the pics of the cardboard. If the pics aren’t that good, request higher ones from the vendor. Watch out for bulk Menko card heaps on the market. Numerous occasions these massive heaps have Menkos which have seen higher days. It’s potential to search out good playing cards in first rate situation in a big lot, simply be cautious and people pics are essential.
I keep in mind years in the past when eBay would solely have two or three particular person Mario Menkos listed for months on finish. These days there are a dozen or extra pages of Nintendo Menkos. On the subject of Menkos, for those who see one thing you want, you higher get it. Up to now, I’ve waited too lengthy and let one move 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 could be a mistake I solely made as soon as.
I haven’t seen any forgeries or reproductions of Mario and Nintendo-related Menkos. When you’ve held a Menko in your hand, you’ll know. Even in footage, they’re unmistakable if you’re accustomed to them.
This interview has been edited for readability.
Because of Ben for taking the time to speak to us and share photographs of his Menko assortment. You may go to his website, Mario Menko, for extra footage and data on…properly, Mario Menkos, in fact.
