[mikkupikku]

> From there, Nintendo relied on gimmicks and corporate mascots/IP.

I think you're underselling the role of their game design expertise. They figured out that there's more to games than high fidelity graphics, a concept which has somehow alluded most AAA game studios.

[mpyne]

Yeah, their "corporate mascots" are valuable IP because they are associated with fun games. The games aren't fun because of the mascots, it's the other way around.

[izacus]

Forming a relationship with children when they're most impressionable for marketing and later nostalgia trips helps too.