When you have ever learn up on the historical past of Nintendo, you understand 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 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 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 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: Beginning with the fundamentals, what are Menko playing cards?
Ben Gilmore: Menko playing cards have been solely launched in Japan. They have been fabricated from thicker card inventory and a little bit smaller in dimension 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 midst of the Edo Interval (early 1700s) when Menkos have been fabricated from dried mud or clay. Paper or cardboard Menkos started within the mid-Nineties. Baseball Menkos turned very talked-about in Japan within the 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 youngsters have been now spending extra time watching tv and utilizing digital gadgets.
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 definitely would take a card in your hand and slam it down within the hope you’d flip some Menkos over. Those you flipped over, you can hold. The one with essentially the most Menkos on the finish was the winner. In fact, there have been many variations of the way to play Menko, however this was the overall 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 inventive components. The opposite interesting facet 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 the moment 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 number of playing cards in unhealthy 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 always.
May you inform us a little bit extra about Nintendo’s relationship with Menko playing cards?
I do know that Nintendo employed an organization known as Amada within the early Eighties to provide video game-related Menkos for them. In Japan, there was not good file conserving on specifics and manufacturing of Menkos, so this info is troublesome to seek out. Even when looking out Amada on-line, there may be just about nothing.
Alongside this Menko journey, I’ve made just a few associates in Japan. They’ve helped me get hold of some particular Menkos I needed to purchase previously. My buddy Shinnosuke helped me determine that Amada continues to be in enterprise. They’re at the moment a mother or father firm of Ensky Plus in Japan. I’ve contacted them, and I hope to amass particular info from them (issues just like the years they produced Menkos for Nintendo, portions, and many others.). If I can get the proper info from them, I’ll be capable to share this with card grading firms to allow them to lastly grade online game Menkos.
A number of of those playing cards predate Mario’s breakout position in Tremendous 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 properly, however I’ll always remember my expertise getting a NES. One in every of my associates acquired 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. Capturing the geese was enjoyable. Though I nonetheless needed to shoot extra geese, he rapidly 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 might do paper-rock-scissors to see who may very well be Mario. We stored enjoying all day and it rapidly turned darkish exterior. I didn’t wish to, however I needed to give up and go dwelling earlier than I acquired in bother. I went dwelling and advised my mother and father 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 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 buying, 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 Energy or one thing.
Then, on Christmas of 1989, I obtained the most well liked toy that 12 months, a Sport Boy. After I used to be advised to go to mattress, I spent many hours underneath the covers enjoying Tetris (with a Gentle Boy put in, in fact). There have been by no means any extra arguments with my sister on lengthy holidays because of my Sport Boy.
The final system I had earlier than I left dwelling 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 stored me busy for a very long time. There have been many Friday and Saturday nights I had associates over to spend the night time. 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 numerous 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 gear and video games — I’ll by no means half with them! Too many good reminiscences and I nonetheless play them to today. Nothing beats enjoying them on my 36” CRT TV.
Again 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 essentially the most and why?
It’s troublesome to choose just one design as I like all of them. I feel I can solely slim it all the way 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. so much. 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 current design in video games like Tremendous Mario Odyssey or Mario + Rabbids?
I like the best way Mario appears these days. He’s cool and up-to-date with the occasions. I’m positive as time goes on, he’ll proceed to vary 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’s what has all the time made Mario video games so enjoyable. With that stated, I nonetheless love my old-school Mario video games the very best.
Alongside Mario, Nintendo additionally licensed Menko playing cards to be made with pictures 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 nearly popped off the playing cards. How they represented the pictures on the playing cards remained true to how they seemed within the video games. When you have been conversant in the video games, whenever 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 seek out?
I principally purchase what’s interesting to me. When you purchase what you want personally, most probably you’ll be proud of it. Through 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 information, I consider I’ve acquired the rarest. What I’m at the moment on the lookout for are the pre-1985 Menkos in glorious situation. My purpose is to try to discover one of many ’81s, ’82s, or ’83s. Discovering one which has excellent corners, floor, and [is] centered is sort of not possible. I’ve a 1981 that’s gradable, but it surely nonetheless isn’t what I might take into account excellent. Does an ideal one even exist? Who is aware of! I’ll all the time be trying and my associates in Japan will likely 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 aspect 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 take into account 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. Looking for one in good situation is subsequent to not possible due to how they have been performed with. I’ve been fortunate and have managed to seek 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 might be his first look on a card as Mario.
The 1983 Mario Bros. is one other one in every of my favourites. This might 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 pictures that have been on the arcade cupboards and on the Famicom cartridge field. In my view, these three playing cards are an important to the historic significance of Mario and Nintendo historical past. There may be 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 could be a Peach and Bowser rookie card although. It is cool to see how Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Bowser have modified their appears 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’s important that we protect objects akin 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 authentic video games and the preferred 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 understand when you might have the total set?
I’m nonetheless ready to seek out out extra info from Amada in Japan. Perhaps they’ll 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 might have any recommendation for individuals trying to accumulate Menko themselves? What are the very best locations to purchase and do you discover any forgeries or reproductions on {the marketplace}?
All the time purchase what you want. When you do, you need to all the time be proud of 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. Watch out for bulk Menko card heaps on the market. Lots of occasions these massive heaps have Menkos which have seen higher days. It’s attainable to seek 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. These days there are a dozen or extra pages of Nintendo Menkos. In relation to Menkos, in the event you 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 may 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 conversant in them.
This interview has been edited for readability.
Due to Ben for taking the time to speak to us and share photographs of his Menko assortment. You possibly can go to his website, Mario Menko, for extra footage and data on…properly, Mario Menkos, in fact.
