Beforemario
@beforemario.bsky.social
Blog and book about Nintendo toys and games from 1889 to the early 1980s; from before Mario.
(+ occasional transgression into things more recent)
beforemario.com
(+ occasional transgression into things more recent)
beforemario.com
Pinned
Beforemario
@beforemario.bsky.social
· Jul 7
Just wrapped up the 7-part report on our Nintendo Pilgrimage in Kyoto in October 2024:
Stay at Marufukuru ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #1 ✅
Meeting legends ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #2 ✅
Big Wii-mote cushion ✅
Honoring a legend ✅
Super Nintendo World ✅
All here: blog.beforemario.com/2025/05/a-ni...
Stay at Marufukuru ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #1 ✅
Meeting legends ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #2 ✅
Big Wii-mote cushion ✅
Honoring a legend ✅
Super Nintendo World ✅
All here: blog.beforemario.com/2025/05/a-ni...
Something you don't see every day: a shipping box with 5 mint Virtual Boys!
Spotted on Yahoo Auctions, bids starting at a hopeful 440,000円
Spotted on Yahoo Auctions, bids starting at a hopeful 440,000円
December 31, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Something you don't see every day: a shipping box with 5 mint Virtual Boys!
Spotted on Yahoo Auctions, bids starting at a hopeful 440,000円
Spotted on Yahoo Auctions, bids starting at a hopeful 440,000円
New addition to the BeforeMario collection...
Vintage Nintendo playing cards from late 1950s / early 1960s, with amazing cool design
Vintage Nintendo playing cards from late 1950s / early 1960s, with amazing cool design
December 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
New addition to the BeforeMario collection...
Vintage Nintendo playing cards from late 1950s / early 1960s, with amazing cool design
Vintage Nintendo playing cards from late 1950s / early 1960s, with amazing cool design
Reposted by Beforemario
Who coined "Metroidvania"? It wasn't @jparish.bsky.social, and he'll be the first to tell you. Besides, there are far more interesting questions, like: How did it spread? Evolve? And what's it got to do with rickrolling?
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
The History Of The Word "Metroidvania" And How It Spread
YouTube video by Critical Kate (of A Critical Hit!)
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Who coined "Metroidvania"? It wasn't @jparish.bsky.social, and he'll be the first to tell you. Besides, there are far more interesting questions, like: How did it spread? Evolve? And what's it got to do with rickrolling?
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
Flashback to October 2024...
Would love to visit the Nintendo Museum again in the future
Maybe in 2026?
Would love to visit the Nintendo Museum again in the future
Maybe in 2026?
December 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Flashback to October 2024...
Would love to visit the Nintendo Museum again in the future
Maybe in 2026?
Would love to visit the Nintendo Museum again in the future
Maybe in 2026?
Yesterday a fierce bidding war ensued over this rare 1960s Nintendo tank race game, called "Home Race" (ホームレース).
Final price ¥251,000.
It was only the third copy that surfaced in over 20 years.
Final price ¥251,000.
It was only the third copy that surfaced in over 20 years.
December 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Yesterday a fierce bidding war ensued over this rare 1960s Nintendo tank race game, called "Home Race" (ホームレース).
Final price ¥251,000.
It was only the third copy that surfaced in over 20 years.
Final price ¥251,000.
It was only the third copy that surfaced in over 20 years.
Reposted by Beforemario
I have scanned and uploaded the extremely rare Nintendo company guide from 2000: archive.org/details/nint...
This is my first attempt at archiving my collection so I expect the quality will improve as my process does
This is my first attempt at archiving my collection so I expect the quality will improve as my process does
November 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I have scanned and uploaded the extremely rare Nintendo company guide from 2000: archive.org/details/nint...
This is my first attempt at archiving my collection so I expect the quality will improve as my process does
This is my first attempt at archiving my collection so I expect the quality will improve as my process does
The flip side of this (real silver!) medal features the familiar N&B Block playing boy, who is also shown on various boxes and a instruction booklet.
Did you know that this was the son of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi?
Did you know that this was the son of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi?
November 3, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The flip side of this (real silver!) medal features the familiar N&B Block playing boy, who is also shown on various boxes and a instruction booklet.
Did you know that this was the son of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi?
Did you know that this was the son of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi?
Very happy to add this to the Before Mario collection:
1960s silver medal "N&B Block Nintendo"
Comes in a small Paulownia box, similar to one used for hanafuda cards
Presumably a prize in a competition, but backstory still unknown
1960s silver medal "N&B Block Nintendo"
Comes in a small Paulownia box, similar to one used for hanafuda cards
Presumably a prize in a competition, but backstory still unknown
October 31, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Very happy to add this to the Before Mario collection:
1960s silver medal "N&B Block Nintendo"
Comes in a small Paulownia box, similar to one used for hanafuda cards
Presumably a prize in a competition, but backstory still unknown
1960s silver medal "N&B Block Nintendo"
Comes in a small Paulownia box, similar to one used for hanafuda cards
Presumably a prize in a competition, but backstory still unknown
October 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Holo Hanafuda (ホロの花札) for Nintendo Switch, special edition with dedicated card set
September 27, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Holo Hanafuda (ホロの花札) for Nintendo Switch, special edition with dedicated card set
Today was a nice opportunity to get an instant 3 out of 5 new-in-box Nintendo Color TV Game collection (if you were willing to fork out some yen): Color TV Game 6, Block Kuzushi & Racing 112
September 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Today was a nice opportunity to get an instant 3 out of 5 new-in-box Nintendo Color TV Game collection (if you were willing to fork out some yen): Color TV Game 6, Block Kuzushi & Racing 112
Bonus throwback 1998
September 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Bonus throwback 1998
Tokyo Throwback 1998
Shibuya crossing
Akihabara
Shibuya crossing
Akihabara
September 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Tokyo Throwback 1998
Shibuya crossing
Akihabara
Shibuya crossing
Akihabara
Tokyo Throwback 2004
Pokemon Center
Madarake Galaxy
Yoyogi Park
Pokemon Center
Madarake Galaxy
Yoyogi Park
September 13, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Tokyo Throwback 2004
Pokemon Center
Madarake Galaxy
Yoyogi Park
Pokemon Center
Madarake Galaxy
Yoyogi Park
September 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Nintendo DS lite x Bathing Ape
September 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Nintendo DS lite x Bathing Ape
Pre WW2 set of Nintendo ”Mountain of Flowers" (花の山) hanafuda playing cards
August 31, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Pre WW2 set of Nintendo ”Mountain of Flowers" (花の山) hanafuda playing cards
Unused pack of pre WW2 Nintendo "sunrise" hanafuda (日の出)
August 30, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Unused pack of pre WW2 Nintendo "sunrise" hanafuda (日の出)
Reposted by Beforemario
I want to introduce a new piece of Nintendo memorabilia in my collection. This is a pre-WW2 Nintendo piece that came from a company HQ, likely the Marufukuro location. I bought it at auction on Mercari. I didn't quite know what it was when I bought it, except that it was pre-War.
August 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I want to introduce a new piece of Nintendo memorabilia in my collection. This is a pre-WW2 Nintendo piece that came from a company HQ, likely the Marufukuro location. I bought it at auction on Mercari. I didn't quite know what it was when I bought it, except that it was pre-War.
Finally found a yellow Nintendo Unirack unit, after 20+ years of searching
Somehow, these are much rarer than blue and orange ones
Somehow, these are much rarer than blue and orange ones
August 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Finally found a yellow Nintendo Unirack unit, after 20+ years of searching
Somehow, these are much rarer than blue and orange ones
Somehow, these are much rarer than blue and orange ones
amiibo collection +7
Over the last 2-3 years I have thought that we got the last one several times, but still no end in sight
Over the last 2-3 years I have thought that we got the last one several times, but still no end in sight
August 9, 2025 at 8:18 AM
amiibo collection +7
Over the last 2-3 years I have thought that we got the last one several times, but still no end in sight
Over the last 2-3 years I have thought that we got the last one several times, but still no end in sight
It's tempting....
Mario Kart blow-up toy, unused in box (currently on Mercari for ¥38,100)
Mario Kart blow-up toy, unused in box (currently on Mercari for ¥38,100)
August 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
It's tempting....
Mario Kart blow-up toy, unused in box (currently on Mercari for ¥38,100)
Mario Kart blow-up toy, unused in box (currently on Mercari for ¥38,100)