Nintendo

Nintendo is commonly known as one the major video game hardware and software manufacturers in the world.

Origins

Nintendo actually finds its roots in Hanafuda, a Japanese card game.

Nintendo Video game systems

NES - Nintendo Entertainment System
GAMEBOY - A classic handheld games console SNES - Super Nintendo / Super Nintendo Entertainment System
N64 - Nintendo 64, the World's FIRST 64bit console
GBC - GAMEBOY Color, evolution of the original with a colour screen
GBA - Gameboy Advance, a 32bit handheld. Gamecube - Nintendo's entry to the 128bit console war with Sony's PS2 (Playstation2) & Microsoft XBOX
NDS - Nintendo DS, an innovative 64bit handheld.
DS Lite - Nintendo DS Lite, an improved version of the original
Wii - Nintendo Wii, an innovative games console, and Nintendo's latest offering, with sales exceeding expectations against stuff competition between the XBOX360 & Playstation3

Legendary Game characters

Nintendo have brought out many games over the years, many of which have seen the characters achieve legendary status in the gaming world, such as:
Mario & Luigi (Super Mario Bros, Super Marioland, Super Mario world, etc) a pair plumbers, who are also brothers.
Bowser - Mario & Luigi's arch enemy
Wario - Mario's evil twin
Princess Peach - sort of like Mario's girlfriend
Donkey Kong - a giant gorilla type character (Mario vs Donkey Kong, etc)
Link - the main star of the "Legend of Zelda" series of games
Pikachu - A cutesy little yellow animal from the Pokemon series of games, star of "Pokemon Yellow: Pikachu edition".