FACTBOX: Key facts, history for video game maker Nintendo

(Reuters) - Nintendo (7974.OS), known for its best-selling Wii game machine, started in 1889 as a manufacturer of Japanese playing cards, called Hanafuda.

Now worth $49 billion, thanks to its Wii game machine hit and a stable of animated stars such as Donkey Kong and the Mario Brothers, Nintendo is locked in a three-way video game battle with Sony (6758.T) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O).

Following are some key facts about Nintendo's transformation into Japan's fifth-most-valuable listed company.

* 1960s: Nintendo helped create a new market for children's playing cards in Japan in 1959 when it launched cards with Walt Disney characters. In 1963 it started making games and toys.

* 1970s: Nintendo developed an image projection system using a 16mm film projector in 1974 and entered the arcade business. It developed its first home video game machines, TV Game 15 and TV Game 6, in 1977.

* 1980: Nintendo developed Game and Watch portable video game players. In 1981 it developed and began distribution of a coin-operated video game, Donkey Kong. It started selling its Family Computer System home video game console in 1983.

* 1985: Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the U.S. version of its Family Computer System, and the Super Mario Bros video game became a big hit worldwide. During the 1980s it also launched the popular Legend of Zelda game, and introduced the Game Boy hand-held game player.

* 1990s: Nintendo made an aggressive push into Europe. The 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES) was released and Nintendo 64, the world's first true 64-bit home video game system, followed in 1996.

* 1997: The Pokemon TV series was launched in Japan, and a movie featuring the popular characters was released the following year.

* 2000: Nintendo introduced Kirby's Tilt'n Tumble for the Game Boy, the first video game software with motion sensor technology.

* 2001: The GameCube home console is launched. The GameCube accounted for about 15 percent of the previous-generation game console market, which was dominated by Sony's PlayStation 2.

* 2004: Nintendo launches the hand-held DS with dual screens, touch control, wireless communication and voice recognition technology.

* 2006: Nintendo launched the Wii video game console, which attracted consumers with its wireless motion-sensitive remote controllers and easy-to-play games. The popular Wii Fit product was launched in 2007.

* 2008: Nintendo launches the DSi, which can take pictures and play music, hoping to cement its lead over Sony's PlayStation Portable and compete in new areas with Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iPod and iPhone.

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT:

Nearly all of Nintendo's revenue comes from its electronic entertainment products, such as the Wii and the DS. Net sales in the division totaled 1.67 trillion yen ($18 billion) in the year to March 2008, whereas sales of the other products such as playing cards was just 3.6 billion yen.

(Yen, year to March 31) 2008 results 2009 forecast

Net sales: 1.7 trillion 2.0 trillion

Operating profit: 487 billion 630 billion

Total assets: 1.8 trillion

Cash & equivalents: 1.1 trillion

Employees: 3,768

MARKET SHARE

-- Nintendo sold 34.6 million Wii consoles up to September, outpacing Sony's PlayStation 3, which sold 16.8 million units and Microsoft's Xbox 360, which sold 22.5 million units. The Xbox 360 was launched in November 2005, a year ahead of the Wii and PlayStation 3.

-- Nintendo's DS handheld game machine sold 84.3 million units up to September, far outselling Sony's PlayStation Portable with 44.5 million units sold in the same period.

JAPAN MARKET RANKING:

-- With a market capitalization of 4.5 trillion yen ($49 billion) Nintendo is Japan's fifth-most valuable listed company after Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), NTT DoCoMo Inc (9437.T), Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (9432.T) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T).

Sources: Reuters; www.nintendo.com

(Writing by Jijo Jacob)