Nintendo opened this second Wednesday in a renovated factory in Kyoto, the first museum dedicated to the history of the Japanese electronic gaming company, from its beginnings as a producer of playing cards to the global success of franchises like “Super Mario.”

The company's history began in 1889, with the production of Japanese playing cards called “Hanafuda” as well as Western-style playing cards. It wasn't until 1977 when Nintendo released its first gaming machines.

The museum, which is located in the city of Uji on the outskirts of Kyoto, includes many interactive activities, including an area where visitors can play Mario or Donkey Kong on a giant console.

Other rooms feature products from other eras, such as a digital version of an ancient Japanese hair game or workshops for visitors to create their own “hanafuda” cards.

Tickets, which cost 3,300 yen ($22.60 or R$122) for adults, are already sold out for October and November.

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“Visitors can learn about Nintendo’s commitment to production that places importance on play and authenticity,” Shigeru Miyamoto, the famed creator of “Super Mario,” said in a video released in August.

The museum is part of Nintendo's strategy to expand the scope of its brand exposure, a plan that includes the animated film “Super Mario Bros” that was released last year and achieved great success. The company also built an area called “Super Nintendo World” at the Universal Studios theme park in Japan, which includes a Mario Kart roller coaster.

Kensaku Namera, an analyst at Nomura Securities, told AFP that the museum fits into Nintendo's strategy of presenting itself as a place “where people can interact” with its game franchises. Renovating the old factory built in 1969, which Nintendo used to produce playing cards and then to repair consoles, is also a well-thought-out move, he says.