The secret to Nintendo's success

This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode discusses Nintendo's business strategy, tracing its history from a playing card company to a global video game giant. The episode analyzes Nintendo's unconventional success, highlighting its three-pronged approach to entering the US market in 1985 (supplier financing, quality control over games, and focus on fun gameplay) after the video game crash of 1983. The podcast further explores Nintendo's philosophy of "lateral thinking with withered technology," exemplified by the Wii, which prioritized fun and accessibility over cutting-edge graphics, and how this approach fostered a unique brand culture and broad appeal.